Referring to Flemming’s book linked to by Pelham above:
Is anyone else familiar with this book?
Do you have opinions on it?
Please note, I’ve never denied that Fire Eater secessionists felt strongly about it.
But before November, 1860, they were a distinct minority, even in the Deep South.
Then Lincoln’s victory became their victory over Southern unionists.
That only happened through careful electioneering and over-the-top anti Republican propaganda.
But while the Fire Eaters’ propaganda was adequate to drive Deep South secessions, it did not help instill a sense of cautious good judgment necessary to delay Civil War until the Confederacy was ready and able to win it.
By the time his body hung from the gallows for his crimes at Harper's Ferry, abolitionists had made John Brown a "holy martyr" in the fight against Southern slave owners. But Northern hatred for Southerners had been long in the making. Northern rage was born of the conviction that New England, whose spokesmen and militia had begun the American Revolution, should have been the leader of the new nation.It looks like the sort of pablum that pelly would be drawn to. I found a used copy for $6 so I'll give it a go but I doubt that there will be anything other than neo-confederate nonsense there.