Posted on 12/03/2019 5:05:00 AM PST 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.
Posting history, in reverse order
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.
VINE STREET, Saturday evening, December 3,1859.
DEAR WILLIAM, — . . . Well, poor old Brown’s gone. What a death for such a man. It makes me mad to hear the way some of our Northern conservatives talk about him. I believe Governor Wise himself does him more justice than they do.
As to his being crazy, of course excessive lack of prudence, judgment, and foresight, which every one admits that he showed, is craziness in its very definition, and so every rash man is crazy; but his heroic devotion to what he thought was right is surely not to be confounded with the craziness that he showed in judging whether it was really right and best. What do people say about it all in Boston?
SOURCE: Alexander Viets Griswold Allen, Life and Letters of Phillips Brooks, Volume 1, p. 337
Phillips Brooks was a prominent clergyman in the Episcopal Church. He held forth in Boston, is a saint in the Episcopal liturgical calendar, and is wrote the words to “Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem.” William Brooks was his father.
What a delight having both “Tale of Two Cities” and “The Woman in White” to read.
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
WASHINGTON, December 4, 1859.
DEAR MR. PIKE: I am surprised and pained at what I learn from you of the affairs of Dr. B. . . .
Every anti-Slavery man is his debtor, and I shall rejoice in any opportunity of testifying, by word or act, to this conviction.
Pray let me know frankly what I can do to this end.
I shall see Mrs. B. to-day.
There are other things of which I shall be glad to talk with you. But you will surely be here with the New Year.
Present my compliments to Mrs. Pike, and believe me,
Charles Sumner.
SOURCE: James Shepherd Pike, First Blows of the Civil War: The Ten Years of Preliminary Conflict in the United States from 1850 to 1860, p. 451
COUNCIL OFFICE: December 5.
We are here in a state of rifle fever, which I do not think will be allayed by the imperial smooth words. Palmerston is not to go to the Congress, and France, I fear, will do as she pleases.
I was glad to have your account of Brown. His behaviour before his death struck me quite in the way in which you regard it: nothing could be plainer, and more composed and upright.
SOURCE: Arthur Hugh Clough, Letters and Remains of Arthur Hugh Clough, p. 294
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
SHADY HILL, 6 December, 1859.
. . . Have you read the accounts of John Brown's invasion of Virginia, of his capture, trial, and death? If so you have been greatly interested in the man. His scheme was a mad one; he was legally punishable with death; but he is not the less a martyr in the cause of freedom. The whole affair has excited the deepest feeling both at the North and the South. Its results promise to be great, — whether good or not Heaven only knows. John Brown's name will be famous in our history, — and perhaps even more than famous. He is of a race of men rare in all time and lands, rare especially in our days; he was one of those men who thought themselves commissioned to do the work of the Lord, — and were ready to meet death or whatsoever else in the cause. Pray read his speech at the close of his trial; and read too the account of his death. We have had nothing like it since the days of the Regicides. He mounts his coffin to be driven to the gallows, and looks round on the landscape, and says, “What a fine prospect!” There has been no rhetoric or mere words in his talk; and the letters he has written from prison add a noble chapter to the volume of the literature of the cell.1 . . .
1 Above Norton's mantelpiece in his study at Ashfield, there hung a photograph of Lincoln, and, near it, one of “Old Brown.”
SOURCE: Sara Norton and M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Letters of Charles Eliot Norton, Volume 1, p. 196-7
WASHINGTON CITY, December 6, 1859.
DEAR SIR: — I perceive that a debate has arisen in Congress in which Mr. Helper's book, the “Impending Crisis,” is brought up as an exponent of Republican principles. As the names of many leading Republicans are presented as recommending a compendium of the volume, it is proper that I should explain how those names were obtained in advance of the publication. Mr. Helper brought his book to me at Silver Spring to examine and recommend, if I thought well of it, as a work to be encouraged by Republicans. I had never seen it before. After its perusal, I either wrote to Mr. Helper, or told him that it was objectionable in many particulars, to which I adverted; and he promised me, in writing, that he would obviate the objections by omitting entirely or altering the matter objected to. I understand that it was in consequence of his assurance to me that the obnoxious matter in the original publication would be expurgated, that Members of Congress and other influential men among the Republicans were induced to give their countenance to the circulation of the edition so to be expurgated
F. P. BLAIR,
Silver Spring.
HON. JOHN SHERMAN.
SOURCE: John Sherman, John Sherman's Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet, Volume 1, p. 170
Senate Chamber, December 6th
This body was organized yesterday; Mason, of Virginia, immediately introduced Harper's Ferry resolutions, which are to be taken up, and discussed this morning on the assembling of the Senate. So you see the excitement is to be kept up upon the irrepressible conflict question.
Mr. Sumner appeared in his seat yesterday, looking in vigorous health. We expect to hear from him in a great speech during the session. There is an immense crowd of people here for one purpose and another, but I keep out of it pretty much. I am as retired here as ordinarily at home.
SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 121
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
Wow, he really dislikes Fernando Wood!
Rome (Poste Restante), Dec. 7, 1859.
I am rejoiced to hear such good tidings of the Küchlers. I will set about my papers immediately, and will do nothing else till both are finished. Shall I send them to you by mail, or wait till you come here en route for Naples? My wife shall copy them out in a good, fair hand. I have not felt in spirits to write anything of late: affairs at home have filled me with anxiety. You have not, perhaps, heard that Captain Brown, with fifteen or twenty men, made an attempt to free the slaves of Virginia, at Harper's Ferry. His two sons were shot, and most of his men. He and five or six men were taken prisoners, and have had such a “trial” as slave-holders give such men; are convicted, and hung before now. Brown was a friend of mine — his two sons have been at my house. Other friends of mine have been forced to fly from their country. Attempts are made to implicate many prominent men at the North, and there will be a deal of trouble. I should not be surprised to see Dr. Howe in Rome this winter, for there seems to be some evidence against him which makes the slave-holders suspect him. So he may have to flee off for his life, or to avoid exposing other men. The South talk very big, and utter threats against all the leading men of the North — Seward, Hale, Wilson, Sumner, &c. Congress came together yesterday, and there will be a stupid message from the President, and a stormy session all winter. I look for more broken heads before summer. We are coming upon a great crisis in American history, and a civil war seems at no great distance. The slave-holders will be driven, by the logic of their principles, to demand what the free men of the North will not consent to: then comes the split — not without blood! All national constitutions are writ on the parchment of a drum-head, and published with the roar of cannon!
I have no hope for the people of Italy, specially none for the Romans. These are a miserable people, out of whom all virtus seems to have perished utterly. I am told the Pope is in sad want of money: “Es fehlt ihm jetzt an Ablassgelt!” He gets nothing from Romagna, and as he owes more than 70,000,000 dollars, he can't borrow, except at great and ruinous interest. The sooner he and the like of him go to the Devil the better. He has just published an edictum against crinolines, and forbids women accoutred therein to enter the churches. We all send our heartiest love to you, the Apthorps included. Remember me to the good Marie.
THEODORE PARKER.
My little book, "Experience," &c., which you have, has been republished in London, and here a Swede is translating it into his own melodious Northern tongue. I don't know whether or not he will find anybody to publish it in Sweden, for I see a Bill has been introduced to their Popular (!) Assembly to make the priests censors of the press, with unconditional power.
SOURCE: John Weiss, Life and correspondence of Theodore Parker, Volume 2, p. 388-9
Continued from November 29 (reply #6.)
Douglas Southall Freeman, Lee, an abridgement by Richard Harwell
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
LEXINGTON, VA., December 9th, 1859.
MY DEAR SIR:
I received your letter of the 6th (postmarked 8th) this morning.
We are in the deepest distress, in consequence of the death of our second son, under the most afflictive circumstances. A week before his death he got a splinter in his hand, only a part of which as it turned out had been extracted. He attended school the entire week, and never complained of it. On Saturday last he was playing throughout the day. At supper he ate heartily, and remarked when we were leaving the table that it pained him to open his mouth. After supper he read until bed time, without further complaint. Twice during the night he complained that his neck was stiff, but after getting up and placing the clothing over him, he slept until morning, and we supposed he had taken a slight cold. At ten on Sunday morning, the first symptoms of Locked jaw appeared, and in spite of all that could be done, he died in fifteen hours. He was ten years old, sprightly, intelligent, noble hearted, and a universal favorite with old and young about the Town. His death makes a sad breach in our family circle.
My general health has greatly improved, but I still suffer from Erysipilis. I fear I shall never get clear of it. I have intended to visit Washington to consult Doct[or] Garnett before going to Richmond, as I have more confidence in him, than the physicians here, who are divided in opinion about it.
It really looks to me, as if the days of the Republic were numbered. All the indications seem to me to point to a dissolution of the Union, and that at an early day. There must be a speedy and a radical change in Northern sentiment, or we cannot remain a united people. They can save the Union, and it rests with them to do it. If I am to have a stormy administration, so be it, I am prepared for it, and will meet any issue that may be tendered promptly and with that decision which a Virginia Executive should exhibit. I know what my friends expect of me, and they shall not be disappointed.
I think I will be in Washington next week, perhaps on Wednesday.
SOURCE: Charles Henry Ambler, Editor, Correspondence of Robert M. T. Hunter, 1826-1876,p. 274-5
Robert M.T. Hunter Wikipedia page
Dec. 9, 1859.
MY DEAR EMERSON, — Mr. Apthorp leaves me a corner of his paper, which I am only too glad to fill with a word or two of greeting to you and yours. I rejoiced greatly at the brave things spoken by you at the Fraternity Lecture, and the hearty applause I knew it must meet with there. Wendell Phillips and you have said about all the brave words that have been spoken about our friend Captain Brown — No! J. F. Clarke preached his best sermon on that brave man. Had I been at home, sound and well, I think this occasion would have either sent me out of the country — as it has Dr. Howe — or else have put me in a tight place. Surely I could not have been quite unconcerned and safe. It might not sound well that the minister of the Twenty-Eighth Congregational Church had “left for parts unknown,” and that “between two days,” and so could not fulfil his obligations to lecture or preach. Here to me “life is as tedious as a twice-told tale;” it is only a strennous idleness, — studying the remains of a dead people, and that too for no great purpose of helping such as are alive, or shall ever become so. I can do no better and no more. Here are pleasant Americans, — Mrs. Crawford, my friend Dr. Appleton, and above all the Storys, — most hospitable of people, and full of fire and wit. The Apthorps and Hunts are kind and wise as always, and full of noble sentiments. Of course, the great works of architecture, of sculpture and painting, are always here; but I confess I prefer the arts of use, which make the three millions of New England comfortable, intelligent, and moral, to the fine arts of beauty, which afford means of pleasure to a few emasculated dilettanti. None loves beauty more than I, of Nature or Art; but I thank God that in the Revival of Letters our race — the world-conquering Teutons — turned off to Science, which seeks Truth and Industry, that conquers the forces of Nature and transfigures Matter into Man; while the Italians took the Art of Beauty for their department. The Brownings are here, poet and poetess both, and their boy, the Only. Pleasant people are they both, with the greatest admiration for a certain person of Concord, to whom I also send my heartiest thanks and good wishes. To him and his long life and prosperity!
THEODORE PARKER.1
1 Parker's letter to Francis Jackson on the deed and death of Brown was one of his last public utterances, — for he died and was buried in Florence, where Mrs. Browning was afterwards buried, in May, 1860.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 513
I had not realized there was so much open talk of secession even before Lincoln was a declared candidate.
Up until this fall readers have commented on how there didn't seem to be much focus on the building crisis over slavery. Since October 16 there is plenty of focus on it in Harper's and the diary of George Strong. Presumably elsewhere as well. The charge has been laid for many a year, but I now see that, truly, John Brown lit the fuse.
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