Posted on 07/17/2018 6:31:09 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts
First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed. To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.
Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher
This image was presumably taken by Preston Butler the day after Lincoln delivered a speech in Springfield in which Lincoln urges that slavery be placed on the course of "ultimate extinction." He attacks Stephen Douglas and defends himself by stating that he supports the principles of equality put forth in the Declaration of Independence. This speech preceded his debates with Douglas.
Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher
Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years, Vol. II
MISSOURI LINE (ON KANSAS SIDE), July 20, 1858.
F. B. SANBORN, ESQ., AND FRIENDS AT BOSTON AND WORCESTER, — I am here with about ten of my men, located on the same quarter-section where the terrible murders of the 19th of May were committed, called the Hamilton or trading-post murders. Deserted farms and dwellings lie in all directions for some miles along the line, and the remaining inhabitants watch every appearance of persons moving about, with anxious jealousy and vigilance. Four of the persons wounded or attacked on that occasion are staying with me. The blacksmith Snyder, who fought the murderers, with his brother and son, are of the number. Old Mr. Hairgrove, who was terribly wounded at the same time, is another. The blacksmith returned here with me, and intends to bring back his family on to his claim within two or three days. A constant fear of new troubles seems to prevail on both sides of the line, and on both sides are companies of armed men. Any little affair may open the quarrel afresh. Two murders and cases of robbery are reported of late. I have also a man with me who lied from his family and farm in Missouri but a day or two since, his life being threatened on account of being accused of informing Kansas men of the whereabouts of one of the murderers, who was lately taken and brought to this side. I have concealed the fact of my presence pretty much, lest it should tend to create excitement; but it is getting leaked out, and will soon be known to all. As I am not here to seek or secure revenge, I do not mean to be the first to reopen the quarrel. How soon it may be raised against me I cannot say; nor am I over anxious. A portion of my men arc in other neighborhoods. We shall soon be in great want of a small amount in a draft or drafts on New York, to feed us. We cannot work for wages, and provisions are not easily obtained on the frontier.
I cannot refrain from quoting, or rather referring to, a notice of the terrible affair before alluded to, in an account found in the “New York Tribune” of May 31, dated at Westport, May 21. The writer says: “From one of the prisoners it was ascertained that a number of persons were stationed at Snyder's, a short distance from the Post, a house built in the gorge of two mounds, and flanked by rock-walls, — a fit place for robbers and murderers.” At a spring in a rocky ravine stands a very small open blacksmith's-shop, made of thin slabs from a saw-mill. This is the only building that has ever been known to stand there, and in that article is called a “fortification.” It is today, just as it was on the 19th of May, — a little pent-up shop, containing Snyder's tools (what have not been carried off) all covered with rust, — and had never been thought of as a “fortification” before the poor man attempted in it his own and his brother's and son's defence. I give this as an illustration of the truthfulness of that whole account. It should be left to stand while it may last, and should be known hereafter as Fort Snyder.
I may continue here for some time. Mr. Russell and other friends at New Haven assured me before I left, that if the Lecompton abomination should pass through Congress something could be done there to relieve me from a difficulty I am in, and which they understand. Will not some of my Boston friends “stir up their minds” in the matter? I do believe they would be listened to.1
You may use this as you think best. Please let friends in New York and at North Elba2 hear from me. I am not very stout; have much to think of and to do, and have but little time or chance for writing. The weather, of late, has been very hot. I will write you all when I can.
I believe all honest, sensible Free-State men in Kansas consider George Washington Brown's “Herald of Freedom” one of the most mischievous, traitorous publications in the whole country.
1 The allusion here 1s to Brown's contract with Charles Blair, who was to make the thousand pikes. Brown had not been able, for lack of money, to complete the payment, and was afraid his contract would he forfeited, and the money paid would be lost. He therefore communicated the facts to Mr. Russell, who was then the head of a military school at New Haven, and had some assurance from him of money to be raised in Connecticut to meet this contract.
2 Gerrit Smith, and his own family.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 474-6
The poet Emily Dickinson was a later “love” interest to Thomas Westworth Higginson who was a member of the Secret Six that funded the Harper’s Ferry raid.
In fact, he was her original publishing mentor in her letter to him regarding his “Letter to a Young Contributor” which he’d published in the Atlantic Monthly, and in which she had responded with four of her poems.
She moved in lofty, if even sometimes dark circles, despite staying at home near constantly.
“My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun -....”
An invoice written that way, by a lawyer no less, would find its way into the trash these days.
I wonder if Lincoln fared any better?
Previous excerpt from this volume was July 9 (reply #22).
Allen C. Guelzo, Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
Apparently Lincoln took Mather’s advice.
He was probably a donor too.
5.56mm
Lincoln said he would in his reply to Mather (see reply #5.) What he needs to do is figure a way to change the campaign routine so that Douglas has to reply to him for a change.
Conservatives have been levying the same criticism of Lincoln’s political strategy against Republicans for almost two centuries.
Allen C. Guelzo, Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America
Sounds like what the Dems in 2016 were saying about the Hillary-Trump debates, before they happened
Woo-hoo, here we go!
Webelos Adventure Camp is over, so I’ll have time to read 1858 news again.
Oh, President Monroe died. Bummer. Cranky old gent, but the Founding Fathers are getting thin on the ground these days. Sympathies to his family and friends.
Oh, I see. He died a long time ago. Why are they rehashing his funeral now? For the 100th anniversary of his birthday?
Oh, bloody hell. I now see they moved his body to Virginia recently. Poor old fellow, let him rest in peace.
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