CH. X.] CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 551 Railroad and the tariff was deferred till republican party, charging them with and the consideration of the Pacific violating the entire spirit of the Constitution, and with refusing to obey its plain and time-honored provisions. Mr. Sumner, of Massachusetts, took the earliest opportunity after the brutal as sault upon him (see p. 518), to deliver another pungent philippic against slavery in all its connections; while, on the other side, equally hard, contemptuous and vindictive words were freely and frequently uttered.* The Harper's Ferry committee, after careful inquiry the president's earnest protest against into the subject committed to them, concluded their labors just before the end of the session; reports from the majority and minority of the committee were presented; but in substance they agreed, that there was no evidence of any complicity in John Brown's scheme on the part of other citizens at the north. 1860. In the House, there were more than the ordinary violence and disorder, which, indeed, at times, seemed calcu lated to render the national legislature a by-word and scorn in the eyes of all honest, decent men. Comparatively little business was accomplished. A homestead bill was agreed upon and passed, in June, but Mr. Buchanan vetoed it; a bill to admit Kansas into the Union passed in the House, but was not acted on in the Senate; so, also, the post-office appropriation bill was lost by want of agreement between the two houses; * Mr. Sumner's famous speech on "The Barbarism of Slavery," was delivered in the Senate, June 4th, 1860. It excited great indignation on the part of southern senators, and called forth threats of vengeance. such a committee, as in violation of his rights, the committee vigorously prosecuted their work. Towards the close of the session a report was presented, which, among other things, brought to light a letter from Mr. Buchanan to Mr. Walker, in July, 1857 (see p. 535), fully justifying the latter's course in Kansas, and also unearthed various frauds and abuses for which the administration was severely censured by the House. Congress adjourned on the 25th of June, and the members dispersed in various directions to take an active share in the political agitations at that time prevailing throughout the country. 1860. The democratic national convention assembled at Charleston, April 23d, with delegates from every state, amounting to 303 in number. Caleb Cushing, of Massachusetts, was chosen president, and a "platform" was discussed; but after a great deal of dispute, it was found impossible to agree upon the "Cincinnati platform" (1856), or any other. Some fifty delegates withdrew, and the remainder balloted fiftyseven times for presidential candidates. Mr. Douglas received, as the highest on the list, 152 votes; others, 66, 42, etc. This not being two-thirds of the whole number, the convention gave up the attempt to agree upon a nomination, and adjourned to meet at Baltimore on the 18th of June. At that daté the convention re-assembled. Great difficulty occurred as to filling the vacancies caused by the withdrawal of the delegates mentioned above. A large portion of the members seceded, with Mr. Cushing at their head, and organized into a separate convention. The former of these two bodies proceeded to ballot, and on the 23d of June, Mr. Douglas was nominated for president, and Her schel V. Johnson, of Georgia, for vicepresident. The latter went through the same operation, when John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, were nominated for president and vice-president. way; in favor of internal improvements, of a homestead bill (such as had passed the House, p. 552), of the Pacific Rail road, etc. On the 18th of May, theconvention went into a ballot; on the first, Mr. Seward, of New York, received 173 votes, and on the second, 184; but as 230 votes were necessary for a choice, it was evident that Mr. Seward could not obtain that number; so, on the third ballot, the convention gave Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, 354 votes. Thus he became the republican candidate for the presidency; Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, was also nominated for the vice-president's chair. As a variety, amidst the din of preparation for the coming contest, we may make mention of the visits of some distinguished foreigners to our shores, we mean the ambassadors from Japan, and the Prince of Wales, from Eng land. In respect to the Japanese embassy, it is worthy of note that it was the first ever sent to any "outside barbarians,” and its being sent at all was mainly due to the efforts of Mr. Townsend Harris, United States minister to Ja 1860. The constitutional union convention met at Baltimore, on the 10th of May. The setting forth of a "platform" was dispensed with, and the convention adopted as their candidates John Bell, of Tennessee, and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts." The republican national convention pan. The princes and attenmet at Chicago, on the 16th of May. A dants composing the embassy crossed "platform" was agreed upon without difficulty, the substance of which consisted in the declaration of the party, strongly in favor of the Union; against the slave trade; against the further extension of slavery; in favor of the absolute and entire right of each state to manage its domestic affairs in its own * Of the several candidates for these high offices, Breckenridge and Bell joined the secessionists in the spring of 1861 the Pacific in the Powhatan; arrived at San Francisco on the 27th of March; thence, by way of the Isthmus, they proceeded to Washington, in May; visited Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, in June; and re-embarked for home in the Niagara, on the 29th of June. They were every where treated with the highest distinction, and beneficial results were expected from their visit to the United States. CH. X.] THE EIGHTH CENSUS. 553 which was taken this year. Total white population, 27,003,314; free colored, 487,996; slaves, 3,953,- 1860. 760. The population of the The increase of population in the free The Prince of Wales, having made a tour through the British Provinces, arrived at Detroit, Sept. 21st; thence he proceeded by way of Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Baltimore, to Washing- free States was, 18,912,454. The popu ton, where he arrived on the 3d of lation of the slave States was, 8,090,860, October. He remained for several days making, with the slaves, 12,044,620, as the guest of the President; visited Richmond, Philadelphia, and New York, in which latter city especial honor was done to him; he visited also West Point, Albany, and Boston; and having total of the population of the United reached Portland, October 20th, he States (including territories) in 1860, embarked for home. The manifestations of good feeling towards the heir of the English throne were in all respects cordial and freely tendered, and there is reason to believe that they were fully appreciated by the Queen and people of England. was, 31,445,080*. In the new appor tionment of Representatives (the number being, by law, 233) the free States gained six, making their number 149; and the slave States lost six, reducing their number to 84. This includes taxed Indians in the several States and Territories, and Chinese; there being 37,329 In We may take occasion here, also, to give the results of the eighth census dians, and 23,140 Chinese; total, 60,469. VOL III.-70. CHAPTER XI. 1860-1861. THE LAST YEAR OF BUCHANAN'S ADMINISTRATION. The great political struggle for the presidency -The election in November, 1860- Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin chosen president and vice-president of the United States - Excitement and violent denunciations of the Southern leaders - South Carolina takes the lead in the mad outbreak - Secession ordinance of the Palmetto State - Address, Declaration, etc - Congress meets for the second session - Mr. Buchanan's message - Difficulties of his position - Condemns secession, but thought there was no power of coercion to prevent it — Suggests an explanatory amendment of the Constitution The House and Senate committees - The Crittenden “Compromise measures"— The "peace propositions ❞— President's special messages · Peace conference at Washington Secession convention at Montgomery, Alabama — Davis and Stephens at head of new Confederacy - Dishonest course of the South-Charleston harbor, forts, etc Proceedings of the Charlestonians - Major Anderson-Resignations of members of the CabiResignations of Congressmen, speeches, etc - End of the session and result - Review of James Buchanan's administration - APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XI. — I. Buchanan's Administration on the Eve of the Rebellion. II. South Carolina's Address to the Slave-holding States. III. South Carolina's Declaration as to Secession. net - -- ed with as much moderation and fairness as is usual; although, at the South, there was no disguise of the hatred to wards the republicans and their principles, and no hesitation in avowing a settled purpose never to submit to the government, if placed in Mi Lincoln's hands. These bitter de nunciations and threatenings were, at the time, looked upon as only the ordin ary effervescence of political excitement, but subsequent events showed that the Southern disunionists were in earnest in their fell designs against the integrity and honor of the country. THE several distinguished gentlemen, On the whole, the canvass was conduct named on a preceding page, accepted the nominations for president and vicepresident, and each party had strong hopes of success. The republicans expected to carry the North and West without difficulty, while the democrats, although weakened by the divisions in their ranks, still believed themselves able to defeat Mr. Lincoln. The union party also persuaded themselves that it was quite possible to secure the election of their candidates. The canvass was vigorously prosecuted; speeches were made in all directions by Messrs. Douglas, Seward, Lincoln, and 1860. other prominent men; the The election took place, Tuesday, press entered as usual most warmly November 6th, and by means of the into the contest; and the people were telegraph, was immediately made roused to the consideration of the impor- known. Abraham Lincoln was elect tant issues. depending on the election. ed president of the United States, and CH. XI.] RESULTS OF THE ELECTION. 555 the absolute supremacy of the white race and the necessary perpetual slavery of the black race;-these were among the things talked of every where and by all; and to accomplish these the Southern leaders now set themselves resolutely at work.* Hannibal Hamlin vice-president, by a ists and mechanics, a nation founded on considerable majority. Mr. Lincoln received 1,857,610 votes, and 180 out of the 183 electoral votes of the free States; Mr. Douglas received 1,365,976 votes, but only twelve electoral votes (three from New Jersey, nine from Missouri); Mr. Breckenridge received 847,953 votes, and 72 electoral votes from the Southern States; Mr. Bell received 590,631 votes, and thirty-nine electoral votes from Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. South Carolina took the lead in this mad outbreak against the Union. Governor Gist, early in November, so soon as the presidential election became known, recommended the legislature, then in session, to make immediate preparation for the crisis, by organizing the militia for active service, calling for volunteers, collecting arms and ammuni tion, summoning a convention to com. plete the secession of the State, etc. Delegates were elected on the 6th of December; on the 10th, F. W. Pickens *We may here quote, in this connection, the letter of that notorious, unscrupulous politician, W. L. Yancey, dated Montgomery, Alabama, June, 1858; it was addressed to Mr. J. S. Slaughter:-"Your kind favor of the 15th is received. I hardly agree with you that a general movement can be made that will clear out the Augean stable. If the democracy were overthrown it would give place to a greater and Such was the result of the contest. It was plain to those who had been watching the progress of events, that the long-existing supremacy of the South in national affairs had now received its death-blow; it was plain, also, that they who had been defeated in the recent presidential election must now submit to the condition of things under republican rule, or seek to obtain redress in carrying out into action their violent and oft-repeated threats 1860. of disunion. The excitement was intense, and Southern leaders scrupled not to increase it in every way possible. By some strange hallucination, they seemed to consider it a personal wrong done to them, because the people of the United States, acting in the way appointed by the Constitution, had decided to place the government in the hands of Mr. Lincoln and his advisers. They threatened vengeance, and all other horrible things, and they soon, States into a revolution. The idea has been shadowed began to make it evident what were forth in the South by Mr. Ruffin; has been taken up their long cherished designs. Secession, a breaking up of the Union, a Southern Confederacy, a new republic free from contamination with Northern abolition hungrier swarm of flies. The remedy of the South is not in such a process. It is in a diligent organization of her true men for prompt resistance to the next aggression. It must come in the nature of things. No additional party can save us: no sectional party can ever do it. But if we could do as our fathers did, organize 'committees of that we can hope for any effective movement), we shall fire the southern heart, instruct the southern mind, give courage to each other, and at the proper moment, by one safety' all over the cotton States (and it is only in them organized, concerted action, we can precipitate the cotton and recommended in the Advertiser, under the name of League of United Southerners,' who keeping up their old party relations on all other questions, will hold the southern issue paramount, and will influence parties, legislatures and statesmen."-Yancey died, July 29th, 1863 |