A Short History of the United States by Channing

by Edward Channing

  The horse reaper had been much improved, and countless machines had been invented to make agricultural labor more easy and economical. Hundreds of homely articles, as friction matches and rubber shoes, came into use in these years. In short, the thirty years from Jackson's inauguration to the secession of the Southern states were years of great progress.

  But this progress was confined almost wholly to the North. In the South, living in 1860 was about the same as it had been in 1830, or even in 1800. As a Southern orator said of the South, "The rush and whirl of modern civilization passed her by."

  CHAPTER 36

  SECESSION, 1860-1861

  [Illustration: WILLIAM H. SEWARD.]

  [Sidenote: Candidates for the Republican nomination 1860.]

  [Sidenote: Lincoln nominated. The platform.]

  369. The Republican Nomination, 1860.--Four names were especially mentioned in connection with the Republican nomination for President.

  These were Seward, Chase, Cameron, and Lincoln. Seward was the best known of them all. In the debates on the Compromise of 1850 he had declared that there was "a higher law" than the Constitution, namely, "the law of nature in men's hearts." In another speech he had termed the slavery contest "the irrepressible conflict." These phrases endeared him to the antislavery men. But they made it impossible for many moderate Republicans to follow him. Senator Chase of Ohio had also been very outspoken in his condemnation of slavery. Senator Cameron of Pennsylvania was an able political leader. But all of these men were "too conspicuous to make a good candidate." They had made many enemies.

  Lincoln had spoken freely. But he had never been prominent in national politics. He was more likely to attract the votes of moderate men than either of the other candidates. After a fierce contest he was nominated.

  The Republican platform stated that there was no intention to interfere with slavery in the states where it existed; but it declared the party's opposition to the extension of slavery. The platform favored internal improvements at the national expense. It also approved the protective system.

  [Sidenote: The Charleston convention, 1860. McMaster, 360-361.]

  [Sidenote: The Douglas Democrats.]

  [Sidenote: The Breckinridge Democrats.]

  370. The Democratic Nominations.--The Democratic convention met at Charleston, South Carolina. It was soon evident that the Northern Democrats and the Southern Democrats could not agree. The Northerners were willing to accept the Dred Scott decision and to carry it out. But the Southerners demanded that the platform should pledge the party actively to protect slavery in the territories. To this the Northerners would not agree. So the convention broke up to meet again at Baltimore.

  But there the delegates could come to no agreement. In the end two candidates were named. The Northerners nominated Douglas on a platform advocating "popular sovereignty." The Southerners nominated John C.

  Breckinridge of Kentucky. In their platform they advocated states' rights, and the protection of slavery in the territories by the federal government.

  [Sidenote: The Constitutional Union party.]

  371. The Constitutional Union Party.--Besides these three candidates, cautious and timid men of all parties united to form the Constitutional Union party. They nominated Governor John Bell of Tennessee for President. In their platform they declared for the maintenance of the Constitution and the Union, regardless of slavery.

  [Illustration: LINCOLN'S SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS AND SADDLEBAG.]

  [Sidenote: The campaign of 1860.]

  [Sidenote: Lincoln elected.]

  372. Lincoln elected President, 1860.--With four candidates in the field and the Democratic party hopelessly divided, there could be little doubt of Lincoln's election. He carried every Northern state except Missouri and New Jersey. He received one hundred and eighty electoral notes. Breckenridge carried every Southern state except the "border states" of Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and received seventy-two electoral votes. Bell carried the three "border" Southern states and Douglas carried Missouri and New Jersey. There was no doubt as to Lincoln's election. He had received a great majority of the electoral votes. But his opponents had received more popular votes than he had received. He was therefore elected by a minority of the voters.

  [Illustration: LINCOLN'S BOOKCASE. From the Keyes-Lincoln Memorial Collection, Chicago.]

  [Sidenote: Weakness of the Republicans.]

  [Sidenote: Southern fears.]

  373. The North and the South.--Lincoln had been elected by a minority of the people. He had been elected by the people of one section. Other Presidents had been chosen by minorities. But Lincoln was the first man to be chosen President by the people of one section.

  The Republicans, moreover, had not elected a majority of the members of the House of Representatives, and the Senate was still in the hands of the Democrats. For two years at least the Republicans could not carry out their ideas. They could not repeal the Kansas-Nebraska Act. They could not admit Kansas to the Union as a free state. They could not carry out one bit of their policy. In their platform they had declared that they had no intention to interfere with slavery in the states.

  Lincoln had said over and over again that Congress had no right to meddle with slavery in the states. The Southern leaders knew all these things. But they made up their minds that now the time had come to secede from the Union and to establish a Southern Confederacy. For the first time all the southernmost states were united. No matter what Lincoln and the Republicans might say, the Southern slaveholders believed that slavery was in danger. In advising secession, many of them thought that by this means they could force the Northerners to accept their terms as the price of a restored Union. Never were political leaders more mistaken.

  [Sidenote: Southern conventions.]

  374. Threats of Secession, November, 1860.--The Constitution permits each state to choose presidential electors as it sees fit. At the outset these electors had generally been chosen by the state legislatures. But, in the course of time, all the states save one had come to choose them by popular vote. The one state that held to the old way was South Carolina. Its legislature still chose the state's presidential electors. In 1860 the South Carolina legislature did this duty and then remained in session to see which way the election would go. When Lincoln's election was certain, it called a state convention to consider the question of seceding from the United States. In other Southern states there was some opposition to secession. In Georgia, especially, Alexander H. Stephens led the opposition. He said that secession "was the height of madness." Nevertheless he moved a resolution for a convention. Indeed, all the southernmost states followed the example of South Carolina and summoned conventions.

  [Sidenote: Buchanan's compromise plan.]

  [Crittenden's plan of compromise. McMaster, 380-381.]

  [Sidenote: It fails to pass Congress.]

  375. The Crittenden Compromise Plan.--Many men hoped that even now secession might be stopped by some compromise. President Buchanan suggested an amendment to the Constitution, securing slavery in the states and territories. It was unlikely that the Republicans would agree to this suggestion. The most hopeful plan was brought forward in Congress by Senator Crittenden of Kentucky. He proposed that amendments to the Constitution should be adopted: (1) to carry out the principle of the Missouri Compromise (p. 222);(2) to provide that states should be free or slave as their people should determine; and (3) to pay the slave owners the value of runaway slaves. This plan was carefully considered by Congress, and was finally rejected only two days before Lincoln's inauguration.

  [Sidenote: South Carolina secedes, 1860. Eggleston, 304-305.]

  [Sidenote: Six other states secede.]

  376. Secession of Seven States, 1860-61.--The South Carolina convention met in Secession Hall, Charleston, on December 17, 1860.

  Three days later it adopted a declaration "that the union now subsisting between South Carolina and other states, under the name of the United States of America, is hereby d
issolved." Six other states soon joined South Carolina. These were Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

  [Sidenote: Confederate states constitution]

  [Sidenote: Views of Jefferson Davis.]

  377. The "Confederate States of America."--The next step was for these states to join together to form a confederation. This work was done by a convention of delegates chosen by the conventions of the seven seceding states. These delegates met at Montgomery, Alabama. Their new constitution closely resembled the Constitution of the United States.

  But great care was taken to make it perfectly clear that each member of the Confederacy was a sovereign state. Exceeding care was also taken that slavery should be protected in every way. Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was chosen provisional president, and Alexander H. Stephens provisional vice-president.

  [Illustration: CHARLESTON MERCURY EXTRA: The UNION is DISSOLVED!]

  [Sidenote: Views of Jefferson Davis.]

  [Sidenote: Views of Alexander H. Stephens. Source-Book, 296-299.]

  378. Views of Davis and Stephens.--Davis declared that Lincoln had "made a distinct declaration of war upon our (Southern) institutions." His election was "upon the basis of sectional hostility." If "war must come, it must be on Northern and not on Southern soil.... We will carry war ... where food for the sword and torch awaits our armies in the densely populated cities" of the North. For his part, Stephens said the new government's "foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man."

  [Sidenote: "Let the erring sisters" go in peace.]

  [Sidenote: Greeley's opinions.]

  [Sidenote: Buchanan's opinions.]

  379. Hesitation in the North.--At first it seemed as if Davis was right when he said the Northerners would not fight. General Scott, commanding the army, suggested that the "erring sisters" should be allowed to "depart in peace," and Seward seemed to think the same way.

  The Abolitionists welcomed the secession of the slave states. Horace Greeley, for instance, wrote that if those states chose to form an independent nation, "they had a clear moral right so to do." For his part, President Buchanan thought that no state could constitutionally secede. But if a state should secede, he saw no way to compel it to come back to the Union. So he sat patiently by and did nothing.

  QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

  CHAPTER 35

  §§ 361, 362.--a. Compare the area and population of the United States in 1800 and in 1860.

  b. Compare the white population of the North and the South. Were all the Southern whites slave owners?

  c. Why had the control of the House passed to the free states? Did a white man in the North and in the South have proportionally the same representation in the House? Why?

  d. What change in the control of the Senate had taken place? Why? Why was this change so important?

  §§ 363, 364.--a. What had caused the growth of the Northern cities? Why were there so few large cities in the slave states?

  b. How had the population of the states changed since 1790? What had caused the growth of the Northwest?

  c. Where was there the greatest density of population? Why?

  §§ 365, 366.--a. Describe the change of life in the cities. What arrangements were made for the comfort and health of the people?

  b. How had railroads increased, and what improvements had been made?

  §§ 367, 368.--a. Of what use are newspapers? How do they influence the opinions of the people? What policy did Horace Greeley uphold? Why?

  b. Who were some of the important writers? Mention two works of each.

  c. What influence did the telegraph have? Was this important?

  d. Describe some of the other inventions.

  e. Why had this progress been confined mainly to the North?

  CHAPTER 36

  § 369.--a. Who were the leading Republican candidates?

  b. Why was Lincoln nominated? What is the meaning of the phrase "too conspicuous"?

  c. What did Seward mean by saying that there was a "higher law" than the Constitution? Why was the slavery contest "irrepressible"?

  d. What declaration was made by the Republican party as to slavery? Compare this policy with the Wilmot Proviso.

  §§ 370, 371.--a. What divisions took place in the Democratic party? Why?

  b. What candidates were named? What policy did each uphold?

  c. How had the demands of the Southerners concerning slavery increased?

  d. What third party was formed? By whom? What does the name show?

  §§ 372, 373.--a. What was the result of the election?

  b. What was there peculiar in Lincoln's election?

  c. Were the Southern states in any particular danger?

  d. Why should the Southerners have felt so strongly about this election? What was their hope in threatening secession?

  §§374, 375.--a Give arguments for and against secession. In what other question similar to this had South Carolina led?

  b. Were the people of the South generally in favor of secession?

  c. What compromise did Buchanan suggest? What do you think of the wisdom of the plan?

  d. Explain carefully the points in Crittenden's plan. Discuss its value.

  §§ 376, 377.--a Could one state dissolve the Union? b. What other states followed South Carolina?

  c. What government was formed by them? What two points were especially emphasized in their constitution? Why these?

  §§ 378, 379.--a. What statement did Davis make as to Lincoln? Was it true or false? Give your reasons.

  b. Why did Davis advocate war on Northern soil?

  c. Why was there such hesitation in the North? State the opinions of Scott, Greeley, and Buchanan.

  d. What would Jackson probably have done had he been President?

  GENERAL QUESTIONS

  a. Was the South justified in thinking that the North would yield? Give illustrations to support your view.

  b. Were the years 1857-61 more or less "critical" than the years 1783-87? Why?

  c. How was the South dependent upon the North?

  TOPICS FOR SPECIAL WORK

  a. Comparison between the North and the South.

  b. Any invention mentioned in this part.

  c. Some writer of this period.

  d. The condition of your own state (or town or city) in 1860.

  SUGGESTIONS TO THE TEACHER

  The first chapter of this part should be taught very slowly, and at each point the contrast between the North and the South should be pointed out.

  In Chapter 36 the changed attitude of the Southern politicians should be noted and their demands clearly set forth. The fact that the slave owners while a minority in the South dominated public opinion should be pointed out.

  In considering the question of secession it will be well to review the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, the Hartford Convention, and the Nullification episode. The weakness of Pierce and Buchanan may be contrasted with the strength of Jackson, and will serve as an introduction to the study of Lincoln's character.

  XIII

  THE WAR FOR THE UNION,

  1861-1865

  Books for Study and Reading

  References.--Dodge's Bird's-Eye View; Scribner's Popular History, IV and V; McMaster's School History. chap, xxix (the cost of the war); Lincoln's Inaugurals and Gettysburg Address.

  Home Readings.--Battles and Leaders of the Civil War (composed largely of articles that had previously appeared in the Century Magazine; Whittier's Barbara Frietchie; Coffin's Winning his Way and other stories; Soley's Sailor Boys of '61; Trowbridge's Drummer Boy and other stories; Read's Sheridan's Ride; Champlin's Young Folks' History of the War for the Union).

  CHAPTER 37

  THE RISING OF THE PEOPLES, 1861

  [Sidenote: Lincoln's inaugural address, March 4, 1861.]

  380. Lincoln's Inauguration.--On March 4, 1861, President Lincoln made his first inaugural address. In it he declare
d: "The Union is much older than the Constitution.... No state upon its own motion can lawfully get out of the Union.... In view of the Constitution and the laws the Union is unbroken ... I shall take care that the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all the states." As to slavery, he had "no purpose ... to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists." He even saw no objection to adopt an amendment of the Constitution to prohibit the Federal government from interfering with slavery in the states. But he was resolved to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

  [Illustration: SLAVERY AND SECESSION.]

  [Illustration: "OLD GLORY" AS USED IN THE CIVIL WAR.]

  [Sidenote: Fort Sumter. Source-Book, 299-302.]

  [Sidenote: The call to arms, April 15, 1861.]

  381. Fall of Fort Sumter, April, 1861.--The strength of Lincoln's resolve was soon tested. When South Carolina seceded, Major Anderson, commanding the United States forces at Charleston, withdrew from the land forts to Fort Sumter, built on a shoal in the harbor. He had with him only eighty fighting men and was sorely in need of food and ammunition. Buchanan sent a steamer, the Star of the West, to Charleston with supplies and soldiers. But the Confederates fired on her, and she steamed away without landing the soldiers or the supplies.

  Lincoln waited a month, hoping that the secessionists would come back to the Union of their own accord. Then he decided to send supplies to Major Anderson and told the governor of South Carolina of his decision.

  Immediately (April 12) the Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter. On April 14 Anderson surrendered. The next day President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers.

  [Sidenote: The Northern volunteers. McMaster, 386-387; Source-Book, 303-305.]

  [Sidenote: Douglas, Buchanan, and Pierce]

  [Sidenote: Progress of secession.]