His work, stopped
by the bullet of his enemy, was taken up by the people, and his name
became a rallying cry for the lovers of the Union, of honest labor, and
of free soil.
News that the war had really begun brought forth the strongest Union
sentiments from many of those who had before been careless or
indifferent. A mass meeting of the people of San Francisco was held--
business was suspended, flags were flying everywhere, while eager-faced
people listened to earnest Union speeches. A few days later the
legislature, by an almost unanimous vote, declared in the strongest
terms for the Union, offering to give any aid the government might
require. No one could longer have any doubt of the loyalty of the state
of California.
There were certainly many people from the South who were deeply in
sympathy with secession; but these, if honorable men who were able to
fight, hurried east to join the Confederate army, or if they chose to
remain under the protection of the flag, were generally wise enough to
keep their feelings to themselves.
Some there were, however, who, while they enjoyed the law and order of
the peaceful state, still spoke, plotted, and schemed for secession.
Pages:
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224