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THE ORIGIN
Im B. 2365
OF
THE LATE WAR:
TRACED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CONSTITUTION TO
THE REVOLT OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.
BY
GEORGE LUNT.
Origin
NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
443 & 445 BROADWAY.
ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by
D. APPLETON & CO.,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.
CONTENTS.
187532
SEP 7 60
CHAPTER I.
Statement of the Question.-General Sentiment of the Country, in regard to Slavery, be-
fore the War.-Condition of the Negroes in the North and in the South.-The Slaves
of Jonathan Edwards.-The Declaration of Independence, and Mr. Jefferson's Com-
ment.-A Provision of the Constitution, and Votes of Northern Members of the
Convention.-Alexander Hamilton in "The Federalist" upon the Mixed Character of
Slaves.-Washington, in regard to a Fugitive Slave.-The Ordinance of 1787.-The
Resolution of Congress in 1790.-Views of Southern Members at that Time.-Article
X. of the Constitution.—Memorials to Congress for Abolition in the District of Co-
lumbia-J. Q. Adams on the Subject.-Virginia and other States early for Emanci-
pation by Gradual Process, but set back by Abolition Movements in the North.
Page 1
CHAPTER II.
Sectionalism.-The Right of Petition.-The District of Columbia.-The Missouri Com-
promise.-State of Political Parties.-The Tariff Question.-" Aggression.”—Mr.
Jefferson, on the Missouri Question.-Admission of States before 1820.-Territories
Organized in Conformity with the Wishes of the Inhabitants.-State of Sentiment at
the North-Southern Youths in Northern Colleges.-Northern School-books-Exag-
gerated Descriptions of Slavery at the South,
85
CHAPTER III.
The former "Federalist" and "Republican" Parties.-Political Questions during Mr.
Monroe's Administration, and that of Mr. Adams and General Jackson.-Certain
Sources of Good Feeling between the Sections.-West Indian Emancipation.-George
Thompson.--Anti-Abolition Meeting in Boston.-John Henry.-Great Britain and
the United States.-Washington's Advice.-Mr. Roebuck's Speech at Sheffield, June
10th, 1865.-Progress of Abolition.-Viows of President Jackson, Governor Marcy,
Governor Everett, and Mr. Clay, 62
CHAPTER IV.
"Aggression " against the South in Active Operation at the North for Thirty Years be-
fore the War.-Resolutions of Congress, in 1836.-Action of the Legislature of Massa-
chusetts upon the Resolutions of Five Southern States.-Conflict in Congress, in re-
gard to Abolition Memorials, in 1837.-Its Resolution.-Remarks of Mr. Benton upon
the Result.-The "Partisan Leader."-Mr. Van Buren.-The "21st Rule."-The
Whig Party.-The Liberty Party.-The Shufflers among the Northern Democratic
Leaders, Page 104
CHAPTER V.
The Political Canvass of 1840.-The Whig Party Success.-A Whig Governor's Abolition
Address to the Massachusetts Legislature, in 1844.-Revolutionary Resolutions of the
same Legislatur, their Presentation in Congress, and the Disposition made of them.
-Resolutions of United States House of Representatives.-Appointment of a Massa-
chusetts Commissioner to Charleston, South Carolina, and his Reception.-Its Effect.
-The Expediency of the Measure considered.-Repeal of the 21st Rule."-The
Texas Question.-The State of Parties.-Dissolution menaced by the Legislature of
Massachusetts, in 1845, 125
CHAPTER VI.
The Whig Party and Democratic Party compete with each other for Liberty Party Votes.
-"The Higher Law."-The "Slave Power."-The Uniformly Superior Physical
Power of the North.-Mr. Cass and Mr. Seward in the Senate.-President Taylor.-
Condition of Slavery.-National Greatness does not consist in the Extent of Popu-
lation, or any mere Physical Causes, 155
CHAPTER VII.
State of Public Sentiment at the Close of the Year 1849.-California and New Mexico.-Mr.
Webster's Speech of March 7th, 1850.-Trimming Politicians.-Sentimental Politicians.
-The Church as a Political Engine.-M. Clay's Compromise Resolutions.-Petition for
Dissolution of the Union.-Mr. Hale, Mr. Seward, and Mr. Chase vote to receive it.—
Washington's Farewell Address.-Mr. Calhoun's Resolutions.-Action of Southern
Members of Congress.-Mr. Webster.-The Compromise Measures of 1850.-State
Sovereignty. The Fugitive Slave Laws of 1798 and of 1850.-The Missouri Compro-
mise abrogated by the Measures of 1850,
178
CHAPTER VIII.
The Several Compromises in regard to Slavery.-Death of Mr. Calhoun.-Death of President
Taylor. The "Seward Whigs" and Mr. Webster's 7th of March Speech.-Political
Calm after the Passage of the Measures of 1850.-The Conservative Interest strongly in
the ascendant.-The Fugitive Slave Act and " Personal Liberty Bills."-Sectional Senti-
ment and its Local Causes.-Coalition of 1851, between Democrats and Freesoilers in
Massachusetts, to choose a Senator in place of Mr. Webster, and State Officers.-Rescues
of Fugitive Slaves, and Rendition of them.-Mr. Choate.-Demoralizing Influence of
the Coalition, 209
CHAPTER IX.
National Politics-Union Sentiment.-Mr. Fillmore's Administration.-The Democratic
National Convention of 1852.-It adopts fully the Compromises of 1850.-The Whig
National Convention of that Year does the same.-Resolutions of the Freesoll Conven-
tion at Pittsburg, denouncing those Measures.-Insignificance of the latter Party, at
that Period.-Action of the Whig Convention.-Availability, instead of Sound Policy.-
Growing Conservatism of the Democracy.-The Native American Party.-How com-
posed. Its National Council," in 1855, adopts the Compromises of 1850.-But its
"Lodges" corrupted by admitting Political Freesoflers into Fellowship.-The
"National Council," in 1856, changes Front.-Decay of Public Virtue.-The faithful
of the old Whig Party.-Policy of the Democrats,
CHAPTER X.
Page 236
Administration of President Pierce.-Position of the Democratic Party.-President
Pierce's Message to Congress in December, 1853.-" Domestic Controversies passing
away.”—The Civil War began in Kansas-Statement of the Question in regard to
Kansas.-Mr. Webster's Views of the Effect of the Compromise of 1850.-Mr. Clay's
Opinion of the Impolicy of an Imaginary Line.-The Bill for the Organization of the
Territory passes the House, making no Mention of Compromise or Slavery, and is
introduced into the Senate by Mr. Douglas, from the Committee on Territories, with-
out amendment.-The Debate in the Senate chiefly in regard to the Rights of the
Aborigines.-The Bill laid on the Table, for further Consideration of this Topic, and not
taken up during the Session.-At the next Session, Mr. Douglas introduces (January
4th, 1854) an Amendment to the Bill, proposing the Specific Repeal of the Missouri
Compromise. The large Majority in favor of it.-Memorials to Congress, in opposi-
tion to its Passage-one from three thousand and fifty Clergymen of New England.-
Effect of this Clerical Movement upon the Public Mind.-Final Passage of the Bill by
the House.-Action of the North.-The "Emigrant Aid" Companies.--Secret Associa-
tion of Members of Congress to resist the Objects of the Act.-The several Reports to
Congress Further Proceedings as to Kansas.-Opposite Opinions of Mr. Davis and
Mr. Yancey.-Position of Mr. Douglas.-Extension of Slave Territory does not mean
Increase of Slavery. The reasons why the Adoption of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill was
unavoidable,
269
CHAPTER XI.
Availability as the Motive of Nomination a Mistake of the Democracy in 1856, as it was of
the Whig Party in 1852.-Seditious Legislative Proceeding.-The Nomination of Fre-
mont and Dayton the first Instance of Sectionalism, as to Candidates for the Pres-
idency and Vice-Presidency.-Party Success, on merely available Grounds, insecure.--
Southern Leaders seeking to inform themselves as to Northern Sentiment.-Visit of
Mr. Davis to New England in 1858.-Mr. Toombs gives a Lecture in Boston. Mr.
Lincoln's Opinion of the State of Union Sentiment at the South, during the War. 810
CHAPTER XII.
Hostility to a fundamental Provision of Law led to the War.-Other Causes which
concurred.-Mr. Webster's Expression-" A Bargain broken on one side is broken on
all Sides," in 1851, showing his Opinion of the State of Things at that Period.-The
Book, called "The Impending Crisis of the South," recommended by Republican
Members of Congress and others.-The "Harper's Ferry Invasion"
818