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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.

Link to previous thread

Another New Serial – 1
Hon. John Wentworth, of Chicago – 1
Terrible Accident at Cincinnati – 1-3
Editorials – 3-4
The Lounger – 4-5
Humors of the Day – 6
The Mistress of the Parsonage, by Ela Rodman, Part III concluded – 7-9
The New Partner, or “Clingham & Co., Bankers, by Fitz Hugh Ludlow Chapter IX, Continued – 9-12
Literary – 12
Domestic Intelligence – 12-14
Foreign News – 14
The Sack of Deerfield, March, 1704 – 15-20
The Cash-Boy – 20-22
The Cadet’s Baby – 22-23
Nelson’s Gold-Washer – 23, 25
Hon. Elihu B. Washburne, of Illinois – 24-27
The Superintendent of Police in the Fetters Arranged for Him by the Commissioners – 26
The Woman in White, by Wilkie Collins, Miss Halcombe’s Narrative Continued – 27, 29-30
Frightful Explosion on the Delaware – 28, 30

Governor Salmon P. Chase to James S. Pike, March 19, 1860

COLUMBUS, March 19, 1860.

MY DEAR FRIEND: Your letter came just as an imperious business necessity compelled me to go to Cincinnati. Returning, I found the announcement that it is determined to suspend the publication of the Era. The necessity of this step is greatly to be deplored. Surely a very little activity among our friends at Washington might have averted it. I fear the effect of it upon any attempt to obtain the surrender of the certificates in the Chicago Block Property. If I were only able I would myself take the responsiblity of carrying it on through the year; but I am literally exhausted by the expense of my residence here for the past four years, coupled with the great depreciation of property in the State.

I regret now that I did not recommend Mr. French to you. Although not the man to take the helm of the Era exactly, he is prompt, talented, and faithful, and might have organized a support which would have continued it. I believe I will write to him yet on the subject. Meantime please let me know what you are doing or propose to do, what propositions are made, if any, etc., etc.

As to the Chicago nomination, I possess my soul in patience. That I shall have some friends outside of Ohio who prefer me to all others, I know; that many more prefer me as a second choice is plain enough. What the result will be nobody can tell. If I were certain of the nomination I can hardly tell whether I should be more gratified by the confidence implied in it, or alarmed by the responsibilities and trials which it would impose. There seems to be at present a considerable set towards Seward. Should the nomination fall to him, I shall not at all repine. If the best interests of our cause and country will be best promoted by it, I shall not only not repine, but shall rejoice. Many, however, think he cannot be nominated; many, that if nominated he cannot be elected; many, that if elected, his administration will divide the Republicans, reorganize the Democracy, and insure its triumph. Situated as I am, I cannot enter into these speculations, but prefer to let opinions form themselves.

I wish I could come to Washington without seeming to seek votes. If I could, I would. There are some things of a business nature I want to do, and there are friends I want to see. But I suppose it will not do for me at present. I would rather never have a place than seem even to be importunate for it.

Give my best love to the children, and believe me,

Affectionately and faithfully yours,

S. P. CHASE.

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. 502-3

civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com

In the editorial on page 3 referring to Illinois Senator Douglas's chance for the presidential nomination it notes that he is first choice of, "the entire Northern democracy" while he's opposed by "those Southern Democrats who claim the Constitution carries slavery with it...".
"Next to Douglas on the Democratic side are President Buchanan, Vice President Breckenridge...Senator Davis...
Senator Davis as a representative of the fire-eating section of the South, though a man or remarked ability...may perhaps be ruled out on the ground that his views would not be palatable at the North."

I notice that "the... democracy" is not capitalized here, though it is elsewhere, while Democrat and Democratic are.
Would be curious to learn during what period of years "the Democracy" was used to mean the Democrat party.

Also curious to notice that Senator Davis himself is not called a fire-eater, only that he comes from the fire-eater section of the country.
So I wonder if they mean the same thing by "fire-eater" that we understand today?
Despite his role in the Confederacy Davis is not today considered a fire-eater because he did not lead the charge for secession.

On the Republican side the editorial lists six possible candidates, in order of their preference & likehood:

New York Senator Seward, as Mr. Republican considered the obvious choice, he later became Lincoln's Secretary of State, wounded but survived the assassination plot which killed Lincoln.
Missouri Senator Edwin Bates, less of a Republican than old Whig, Southern slaveholder, he became Lincoln's Attorney General but opposed the Emancipation Proclamation and resigned in 1864 after being passed over for Supreme Court Chief Justice.
Former Ohio Governor, now Senator Salmon Chase became Lincoln's Treasury Secretary and then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after the death of crazy Roger Taney.
Chase is here called "a thorough out-and-out Republican", but he ran for President in 1868 as a Democrat!
Massachusetts Governor, former US House speaker Nathaniel Banks appointed by Lincoln a major general, sent to take charge of Louisiana (from Beast Butler), Banks launched the Red River campaign (failed) in which one of my ancestors took part.
Pennsylvania Senator Cameron, appointed Secretary of War by Lincoln proved unsuited and likely corrupt, replaced by Edwin Stanton (from Ohio), a serious war horse.
Last and certainly least likely, they mentioned a little known country lawyer from Illinois, what was his name... Abraham London?

George L. Stearns to Senator Charles Sumner, March 22, 1860

[March 22, 1860]

DEAR SIR:

Please accept my thanks for the check, which came to hand yesterday, and also for the Globe. I will try to have your Speech published in our Republican papers.

It is the only one that hit the mark. Hale hit Fessenden, but overshot the question; all the rest are Republican and Democratic talk. In the meantime public opinion is slowly taking the right direction, one of the Judges of the S. J. C. declaring openly that the Senate is wrong, and another that the court would like to hear an argument on it, especially before any decision has been had elsewhere. They will be sure to have the opportunity.

Truly your friend,

GEORGE L. STEARNS.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 215

civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com

Thomas Wentworth Higginson, March 22 1860

March 22, 1861

In Boston I was much interested in looking over Leigh Hunt's library which J. T. Fields bought and had for sale. It carried one nearer to a past era in English literature than anything else could do, to see his name and notes, all written in ink, in a delicate Italian hand and very abundant.

SOURCE: Mary Potter Thacher Higginson, Editor, Letters and Journals of Thomas Wentworth Higginson, 1846-1906, p. 102

civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com