Posted on 05/12/2020 6:23:00 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.
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.
Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher
21 West 22d Street, May 12, 1860.
MY DEAR YANKEE: I am sorry not to be able to adopt your advice. I prefer not to publish it at all, as to do it by the help of Greeley and of the Tribune. I have my own personal feeling about it. I am sorry to hear that you are so unwell as to be disabled to go to Chicago. What is the matter? You ought to have told me.
Good-by. The world will not be a bit better if I do not publish my book. After all, if it would be a Helper, help would have been found.
Mes amities à Madame.
GUROWSKI.
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. 515
Lincoln had the shortest entry when Harper’s listed all the contenders. Looks like a lot of pretty ladies are attending the Republican Convention.
Lincoln was a very dark horse going into the convention. But, Baltimore just nominated a Westerner. And the Northern Democrats will probably nominate Douglas from Illinois. Hmmm.
Tremont House,
Gage, Bro. & Drake, Proprietors
Chicago, 10 P M May 13th 1860
Hon A Lincoln
My Dear Sir
Since your Springfield friends have been fairly located matters have been looking up. I have taken to their quarters a number of the Iowa Delegates, some of the Minnesota and all the Kansas. I have taken “Cottenwood” into my Room, he is sound. Ross & Proctor of Kansas I think can be managed their prefference is Chase. But even with the Seward Delegates you are their 2nd Choice – Greely is here as a Proxie for Origon, and is telling a Crowd now around him that NY can be carried for Bates I think he is Calculated rather to injure Seward – Some of the N. J. men talk very well as I just learned from Col Ross – and so do some of the Mass men – they say they are for a success – I have induced the Penna Delegates to stop talking about their man as an ultum attim. They have mooted one thing, that would Kill them off and I have admonished them to abandon it, which was to call Ills Ind Penna & N. J. Delegates together to harmonize between you & Cameron, such a move would appear like a “Slate” and Seward is too potent here to attempt such a meeting, his friends would probably Slate us, if it were done – I have been up late & Early and am perfectly cool & hopeful –
Delahay
SOURCE: Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
In the editorial on page 4 Harper's notices that US specie exports remain strong (they were averaging over $60 million per year) thanks to California gold and Nevada silver.
These not only balanced out our trade deficit of nearly $40 million per year, but produced a nice financial surplus.
That surplus, Harper's self-admittedly fantasizes, could in time move the world's financial capital from London to New York!
In it's editorial Harper's barely mentions cotton, says nothing about potential threats to "money flows from Europe" nor even a peep about "Northeastern power brokers".
No, none of that is on Harper's radar screen in May of 1860.
But, never fear, Harper's is on the case, and has dug deep to find the real source of America's trade deficit problems -- those dastardly globalists who steadfastly refuse to "put America first", and are driving our financial future into the ground.
Who are these terrible people, you may well ask?
Well, never fear, Harper's is unafraid of the truth, even the most politically incorrect unbearable truths of all, and so, here you'll see they spill the beans:
The worst of the worst profligate international spenders are... (wait for it...), yes, women, especially the wives & daughters of successful businessmen.
Here Harper's reveals the crux of the problem: women compete with each other to insure that each one has just as much fancy foreign stuff as her friends & relations.
Is there a solution?
Maybe, first Harper's hopes the gold & silver flows from California & Nevada will continue & grow, but then it warns all those pretty young women that their fancy foreign dresses will actually drive away worthy young men, and so their spending could lead to the worst possible fait -- worse that war or pandemic -- they could end up as old maids!
There, problem solved, right?
;-)
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
One is the level of enthusiasm in the North for the Republicans versus the lack of enthusiasm in the South for the Democrats and their downright depression about the divisions in their party.
Two, Southern threats and demands are making no impression on Northerners.
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals
Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
Private.
CHICAGO, Monday A. M., May 16, 1860.
MY DEAR SIR, — I arrived here Saturday night. . . . I may mention, however, that the Seward force is on the ground and assume an air of dictation which is at once unwarranted and offensive, and which I think will create a reaction before Wednesday. They cannot count up more than a third of the votes from States that can carry the ticket, and how much they intend or expect to make from such delegates as come from slave States has not yet transpired. Should he be nominated by the aid of the delegates that can promise him no support, the Pennsylvanians would consider it a most insulting disregard of their rights and wishes. I do not myself believe that he will be nominated, though a great many here think otherwise. If he is not, I will adhere to the opinion I expressed to you in Portland, that the game lies between Lincoln and yourself — Chase, McLean, Banks, and Bates stand no chance. Cameron is hotly urged by a majority of the Pennsylvanians, but the proposition is scouted on all hands outside of that State. Wade cannot be made a compromise candidate. His speeches in Maine and on the Western Reserve are remembered by too large a number.
SOURCE: Francis Fessenden, Life and Public Services of William Pitt Fessenden, Volume 1, p. 112
"Painted ladies", "women of the town", schoolgirls for $.25??
At a Republican convention?
Oh dear me, what can we say... except that, well... Republicans have always supported small business & professions, which I guess could include the oldest profession...
And besides, honestly hiring a woman to attend a political convention would not necessarily bring disgrace on either the woman or the convention, would it?
I better stop here... probably said too much already. ;-)
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals
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