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To: jeffersondem; jdsteel; eartick
jdsteel: "I have heard many times that there was not one Whig or Republican slave owner owned slaves at the time of the Civil War."

jeffersondem: "When you get a better engine, search Benjamin Burton, Republican, Delaware. Slaveowner."

In 1860 Delaware had fewer slaves per capita than any other slave state, and Burton with 28 was said to be the state's largest slaveholder.
In 1862 he met with Lincoln to negotiate compensated gradual emancipation, similar to but more generous than abolition in Washington, DC.
Lincoln had great hopes for the abolition plan he negotiated with Burton, it could set the example for other Border slave-states.

But Burton's plan was defeated in Delaware's legislature, twice, both times by one vote.
So, yes, Burton was a slaveholder himself, but also active in the abolition movement.

As for which party did 1860 secessionists belong to, Green are Breckenridge Democrats, Brown are John Bell's Constitutional Unionists.
Democrats were, of course, the party of slavery, while Constitutional Unionists were strongest in areas with fewer slaves or stronger commercial ties to the North.
As their party name suggests, Constitutional Unionists opposed secession in early 1861.

519 posted on 01/10/2020 12:04:29 AM PST by BroJoeK ((a little historical perspective...))
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To: BroJoeK

Do you have a link. I wish I could read the key off of your image but cannot.


525 posted on 01/10/2020 1:45:26 AM PST by eartick (Stupidity is expecting the government that broke itself to go out and fix itself. Texan for TEXIT!)
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