Chapter 13: Destruction of the Union

Compromise of 1850 failed to anneal the nation: instead, distrust infused every issue, broke up Democrats and Whigs.

--The Divisive Issue

--The Kansas-Nebraska Bill: Introduced by Stephen A. Douglas<---distrusted and disliked by both extreme proslavery and abolitionist people. But Douglas gave impression of caring neither way for slavery: all he wanted to see was the West developed and strong economically. On a nationalistic program of economic expansion, he hoped to reach presidency. Bill proposed that Kansas and Nebraska be admitted to Union regardless of slavery<---to be determined by people of Kansas and Nebraska, and outright repe al of Missouri Compromise. Confidence in popular sovreignty.

--But Douglas failed to realize that slavery = become a moral issue.

--The Republican Party: Bill = passed. N.E. and N.W. exploded in angry protests.Some of strongest opponents = Democrats: territorial issue threatened to destroy Democrats as well. Anti-Nebraska Whigs and Democrats united to form Republican party in 18 54. Democrats became increasingly Southern.

--Republicans = made entirely of voters from North, totally devoted to confinement of slavery. Also called themselves the "People's Party." Some = against slavery on moral gorunds, others on economic.

--The Test in Kansas: Missourians flooded in to skew the vote. Pro-slavery won overwhelmingly. 2 governments formed: proslavery = legal, but formed by fraud; abolitionist = lacked legal foundation, produced Topeka Constitution. Violence between the tw o camps.

--"Bleeding Kansas": John Brown wrought savage retribution for proslavery attacks and killings. Executed the Potawatomie Creek Massacre, killing five. Brown went into hiding. Much fighting, quelled by federal troops.

--Charles Sumner insulted Preston Brooks' cousin in speech against slavery. Brooks returned with cane, bludgeoned him into unconsciousness. Both became heroes.

--Election of 1856: Pierce did miserably: Proslavery intentions in annexation of Cuba made mockery of professed intent of helping Cuban people. Popular sovreignty became euphemism for no restriction on slavery. In Kansas, slavery question reached open conflict. Democrats drifted aimlessly, and the nation with them.

--Most of North = sympathizing with Republicans, which = strongly free-soil, anti-slavery: chose Fremont, a popular soldier. Republicans made no attempt to appeal to South: condemned the Ostend Manifesto.

--Democrats chose Buchanan, one of architects of Manifesto. Democrats offered chance to avoid a critical regional confrontation. Democrats won, but only with support of South. Hints that next time, Republicans could win. Buchanan's cabinet = the most pro-slavery ever.

--The House Divided

--Dred Scott, 1857: 2 main questions: did Dred Scott have right to bring his case to Federal courts (or could a black person ever be citizen of USA), and was Missouri Compromise constitutional? Both questions = politcally volatile. Chief Justice Tane y declared that Scott could not claim rights of US citizen: blacks = thought as beings of an inferior order, with no rights any white man had to respect. Also, Fifth Amendment, which denied Congress the ability to take a person's property without due proc ess of law, made Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. This = an essentially political answer to a moral question, served only to intensify conflict, polarize parties: even mildly antislavery Northerners = outraged by harshness of Taney's language. Many b lacks left for Africa, did not return until after the Civil War.

--Buchanan's prior knowledge of Taney's ruling made Northeners fear a Southern conspiracy against North.

--Lecompton vs Topeka: Buchanan sent Gov. Walker to Kansas to get constitution under a fair vote. Free-soilers = 3 times more populous than proslavery. Walker called constitutional convention, but free-soilers feared that it = rigged, refused to parti cipate. Thus, proslavery dominated convention, drew up document that tried to please both factions by prohibiting entry of free blacks into Kansas. But Freesoilers found constitution very bad, could not even vote against main body of constitution, which = the part allowing slavery: thus, refused to vote at all. But Walker secured Free participation in elections for legislature, which they won handily. Legislature called for referendum on Lecompton, in '58. This tiem, proslavery refused to participate.

--But before referendum, Buchnan asked congress to accept Kansas under Lecompton. When Buch refused Walker's request to first get a consitution acceptable to majority of Kansas voters, Walker resigned, Douglas = infuriated<---realized that N. Democra ts would not accpet another capitulation to South. Douglas defied president, led senate in opposition of Lecompton. House of Representatives blocked constitution<---resubmitted to voters of Kansas. Again rejected in '58, and question of Kansas = put aside . Only in'61 did Kansas gain admission, as non-slavery.

Panic of 1857

--Excessive investment in, borrowing for real estate and railroads. After Crimean War, Russian wheat returned, deflated wheat market. Western farmers suffered. Only market for cotton = firm. South = unscathed, but NE = hurt. Northern bankers, manufact urers blamed low tariffs (Tariff of 1857) supported by Southern politicians. Many became Republicans, thinking the South had sacrificed national good to sectional interest. Thus, Republicans got many people who = unaffected by slavery, but who = concerned only for economics.

Election of 1858: Congressional. Democrats = split over Lecompton. Douglas fought Buchanan for his political life, to please his Illinois constituents, to save Democratic party<---one of few trans-sectional institutions left in USA. His opponent for S enate = Lincoln, who = deeply anti-slavery.

--Lincoln-Douglas debates: Lincoln asked Douglas if it = lawfulfor inhabitants of territory to exclude slavery before achieving statehood. Douglas said that slavery needed by nature a slave code and local police to survive. Then opponents of slavery n eed only see to it that every effort to enact slave code = defeated. Answer satisfied Northern Dem's, but antagonized the South, already hostile to him for his stand on Lecompton. Sullied the South's moral victory in Dred Scott. Basically ruined his chanc es at Presidency. Douglas showed insensitivity to the moral issue slavery had become for many Northerners.

--Election established Lincoln's stature: he gve clearest statement of Republican thought yet.

Personal Liberty Laws: action, visible injustice of Fugitive Slave Law made many Northerners abolitionists. States enacted laws that hampered Fugitive Slave Laws, made slave-catching difficult. Northerners tried to held slaves escape. Trust = breaking down.

Heightened Violence:

--Harper's Ferry: John Brown tried to capture it, but failed to hold it. Surrendered, mdae himself a martyr. Southerners heard Northerners mourning his death, expected more Browns if Republicans came to power. Wave of fear of slave insurrections swept across South.

Election of 1860:

--Democrats: Party decided to adopt platform of federal protection of slavery in territories. Thus, excluded Douglas. Douglas tried to curry support, but failed. No candidate = nominated, and another convention = arranged for later date.

--Republicans: took advantage of discord in Democratic party to triumphantly nominate Lincoln. Firm, but not volatile stand (unlike Seward, the other candidate) on containment of slavery. But also affirmed belief that slavery should not be disturbed w here already exists. Condemned J. Brown' raids. Homestead legislation, Pacific Railroad Bill, internal improvements. Biggest weakness = that if Republicans previled, South would secede. Thus, downplayed the sectional issue.

--Whigs regrouped into Constitutional Union Party, for adherence to Constitution, union of states, and enforcement of laws. Nominated Bell.

--In second convention, Democrats split into N and S. N = Douglas, S = Breckenridge.

--Lincoln won handily with only Northern support. South's participation = only incidental to result, and they saw that.

Secession: Seems almost unavoidable in retrospect, and very orderly, to the South's credit. Concern for legal form = tribute to South's loyalty to concept that American liberties = guarded by government of laws, not of men.

--Few people turned out to ratify secession, so support = not unanimous. But by Feb 1861, deep Southern states = seceded, and adopted a constitution, based on the USA's.

Failure of Compromise: Buchanan, a lame duck, refused to recognize secession, but urged Congress to compromise. If could assure secessionists that slavery = safe within Union, then would retain slave states that had not left, and possibly recover othe rs. Crittenden of Kentucky proposed extension of Missouri Compromise line to Pacific and any new territories, hinting strongly at Carribean. Lincoln objected. Also proposed Federal slave codes, repeal of all personal liberty laws, unamendable amendment to Constitution guaranteeing existence of slavery forever.

--Republicans stood fast. Refused any return to Missouri Compromise, and southern congressmen returned to states. Congress then refused referendum to people of country.

--Peace Conference, Willard Hotel, Washington: no better. Lower South states boycotted.

--Confederate government = established in Montgomery, and south = seizing federal arsenals and forts. Buchanan, in annual December message, denied S. Carolina's right to secede, but also denied his right to stop them. Thus, inadvertently suggested tha t could secede without war.

--When state-rights southerners left Buch's cabinet, Buch replced with stauch Union men. Now, promised to protect Union property everywhere, including Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor, and Fort Pickens in Florida<---symbols of all that = left of feder al authority in South.

Two New Presidents: Davis = elected provisional pres of South. Never had a strong cabinet, always subject to change. Lincoln's = filled with good men. Still, Lincoln = always in command.

Fort Sumpter: nearly depleted supplies. Lincoln wrote to governor of S. Carolina that he would try to provision the fort, but would send no troops without notice unless S. Carolina attacked first. Thus, shifted the decision to the South. Davis decided to force troops out before federal ships arrived with supplies, and their naval guns. Thus bombarded Sumter, made them surrender.