partly on anti-slavery and partly on personal | a large portion of New Mexico. Finally a comgrounds. An agreement was soon made be- promise was proposed by Henry Clay in the tween these seceding whigs and democrats and senate as a final settlement of the whole questhe liberty party to unite their forces in oppo- tion of slavery, and after a long discussion the sition to the extension of slavery; and a con- result aimed at by Mr. Clay was attained by vention was held at Buffalo, Aug. 9, 1848, separate acts, which provided for: 1, the adwhich was attended by delegates from all the mission of California as a free state; 2, terrifree states and from Delaware, Maryland, Vir- torial governments for New Mexico and Utah ginia, and the District of Columbia. A free- without excluding slavery, but leaving its exsoil or free democratic party was formed, and clusion or admission to the local population; Martin Van Buren was nominated for presi- 3, the settlement of the Texas boundary quesdent and Charles Francis Adams for vice presi- tion; 4, the abolition of the slave trade in the dent. A platform was adopted, declaring that District of Columbia; 5, the enactment of a the new party was formed "to maintain the stringent law for the arrest and return of fugirights of free labor against the aggressions of tive slaves. Ten of the southern senators, inthe slave power, and to secure free soil to a cluding Mason and Hunter of Virginia, Soulé free people; that slavery, in the several states of Louisiana, and Jefferson Davis of Misof this Union which recognize its existence, de- sissippi, published a final protest against the pends upon the state laws alone, which cannot admission of California after the vote was be repealed or modified by the general govern- taken; and the free-soil party at the north dement, and for which laws that government is nounced the concessions to Texas and the renot responsible; we therefore propose no in- fusal to prohibit slavery in New Mexico and terference by congress with slavery within the Utah as unjust and unwise, and proclaimed the limits of any state; that the only safe means of fugitive slave law unconstitutional, immoral, preventing an extension of slavery into terri- and cruel. While the compromise bills were tory now free is to prohibit its extension in all yet before congress, President Taylor died, such territory by an act of congress; that we July 9, 1850, and was succeeded by the vice accept the issue which the slave power has president, Millard Fillmore, who soon after forced upon us, and to their demand for more reconstructed the cabinet as follows: Daniel slave states and more slave territory, our calm Webster, secretary of state; Thomas Corwin, but final answer is, no more slave states and of the treasury; Charles M. Conrad, of war; no more slave territory." Van Buren and Alexander H. H. Stuart, of the interior; WilAdams received at the presidential election, in liam A. Graham, of the navy; Nathan K. Ha, November, 1848, a popular vote of 291,263, but postmaster general; and John J. Crittenden, secured no electoral vote. The democratic attorney general. The acts relating to Calicandidates, Cass and Butler, received 127 elec- fornia, New Mexico, Utah, and Texas were toral votes; and the whig candidates, Taylor signed by Mr. Fillmore on Sept. 9, the fugitive and Fillmore, received 163 electoral votes, and slave act on the 18th, and the District of Cowere elected. The popular vote for Taylor lumbia act on the 20th; and the whole weight was 1,360,099 and for Cass 1,220,544.-Presi- of his administration was given to the support dent Taylor was inaugurated on Monday, March of these measures. During the remainder of 5, 1849, and appointed as his cabinet John his term the events of most importance were M. Clayton, secretary of state; William M. the invasion of Cuba, in August, 1851, by a Meredith, of the treasury; George W. Craw-band of "filibusters" from New Orleans, led ford, of war; William B. Preston, of the navy; Thomas Ewing, of the interior (an office created by congress two days before, March 3, 1849); Jacob Collamer, postmaster general; and Reverdy Johnson, attorney general. One of the earliest and most difficult of the questions which pressed on the new administration arose out of the acquisition of California, the people of which in 1849 framed a constitution prohibiting slavery. This being presented to congress early in 1850 with a petition for the admission of that region as a state, great excitement in congress and throughout the country arose. The extreme slavery party, led by Mr. Calhoun, demanded not only the rejection of California, but, among other concessions, an amendment of the constitution that should equalize the political power of the free and slave states. The question was still further complicated by the application of New Mexico for admission, and by a claim brought forward by Texas to a western line of boundary which would include by Gen. Lopez, who was speedily captured and executed with many of his followers; the visit of Louis Kossuth to the United States in December, 1851; a dispute with England on the subject of the fisheries in 1852, which was settled by mutual concessions; and lastly the negotiation of a treaty with Japan by Commodore Perry, in command of an American fleet, by which the commerce of that empire was thrown open to the world.-On the approach of the presidential election of 1852 it became evident that, notwithstanding the apparent acquiescence of the great mass of the people in the compromise measures of 1850, the question of slavery was still a source of political agitation. The democrats of the south were divided into "Union men" and "southern rights men," the latter maintaining the right of a state to secede from the Union whenever its rights were violated by the general government. On the other hand, the whigs of the south were mostly Union men and satisfied with the compromise measures, while a majority of the whigs of the by leaving to the states the whole subject of north were opposed to the fugitive slave law, slavery and the extradition of fugitives from though not offering resistance to its execution, justice." At the election, Nov. 2, 1852, the and were still desirous of preventing the ex- democratic candidates, Pierce and King, retension of slavery by national legislation. The ceived 254 electoral votes from 27 states. Scott democratic national convention met at Balti- and Graham received the 42 votes of Vermore, June 1, 1852, and nominated for presi- mont, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Tennesdent Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire, who see. The popular vote for Pierce and King was known to hold opinions satisfactory to the was 1,601,474, for Scott and Graham 1,386,578, south on the subject of slavery. William R. and for Hale and Julian 155,825. President King of Alabama was nominated for vice presi- Pierce was inaugurated March 4, 1853, and dent. The platform declared resistance to "all appointed as his cabinet William L. Marcy, attempts at renewing in congress or out of it secretary of state; James Guthrie, of the treathe agitation of the slavery question, under sury; Jefferson Davis, of war; James C. Dobwhatever shape or color the attempt may be bin, of the navy; Robert McClelland, of the made;" and also a determination to "abide by interior; James Campbell, postmaster general; and adhere to a faithful execution of the acts and Caleb Cushing, attorney general. One of known as the compromise measures settled by the first questions that occupied the adminthe last congress, the act for reclaiming fugi- istration was a boundary dispute with Mextives from service or labor included." The ico concerning a tract of land bordering on whig national convention met at Baltimore, New Mexico and comprising 45,535 sq. m., June 16, and nominated for president Gen. which finally by negotiation and purchase beWinfield Scott and for vice president William came a part of the United States. It is known A. Graham of North Carolina. The platform as the Gadsden purchase, from the American declared that "the series of acts of the 31st minister who negotiated the treaty, and forms congress, commonly known as the compromise part of Arizona and New Mexico. In 1853 vaor adjustment, the act for the recovery of fu- rious expeditions were sent out to explore the gitives from labor included, are received and routes proposed for a railroad from the Missisacquiesced in by the whigs of the United States sippi to the Pacific. In January, 1854, Stephen as a final settlement in principle and substance A. Douglas, chairman of the senate committee of the subjects to which they relate; . on territories, reported a bill for the organizaand we deprecate all further agitation of the tion of two new territories, Kansas and Nequestions thus settled, as dangerous to our braska, in the region west of Missouri and north peace, and will discountenance all efforts to of lat. 36° 30'. By this bill the Missouri comcontinue or renew such agitation, whenever, promise act of 1820 was repealed, and slavery wherever, or however made." The national allowed to enter where it had been formally convention of the free-soil party was held at and for ever excluded. The measure Pittsburgh, Aug. 11, all the free states being warmly supported by the administration and represented, together with Delaware, Maryland, by the leaders of the democratic party, and Virginia, and Kentucky. John P. Hale was was strenuously opposed in debates of extraornominated for president, and George W. Ju- dinary length and interest by Chase and Wade lian for vice president. A platform was adopt- of Ohio, Everett and Sumner of Massachusetts, ed declaring that the acts of congress known Seward of New York, Fessenden of Maine, as the compromise measures of 1850, by making Houston of Texas, and Bell of Tennessee, in the admission of a sovereign state contingent the senate, where it finally passed by a vote upon the adoption of other measures demanded of 37 to 14. In the house it was opposed by by the special interest of slavery, by their Thomas H. Benton of Missouri and others; omission to guarantee freedom in the free ter- but it passed by a vote of 113 to 100, and the ritories, by their attempt to impose uncon- bill became a law on the last day of May. This stitutional limitations on the power of congress bill roused great excitement and indignation and the people to admit new states, and by in the free states, where it was denounced as their invasion of the sovereignty of the states a flagrant breach of faith, and its enactment and the liberties of the people through the greatly increased the strength of the antienactment of an unjust, oppressive, and un- slavery party. Much dissatisfaction also was constitutional fugitive slave law, are proved caused in those states by a conference at Osto be inconsistent with all the principles and tend between the United States ministers to maxims of democracy, and wholly inadequate England, France, and Spain (Buchanan, Mason, to the settlement of the questions of which and Soulé), in the circular issued by whom it they are claimed to be an adjustment. That was proposed to buy Cuba from Spain, or, if no permanent settlement of the slavery ques- necessary to prevent emancipation in the isltion can be looked for except in the practical and, to take it by force. The attempt to obrecognition of the truth that slavery is sec- tain Cuba was regarded at the north as prompttional and freedom national; by the total sepa-ed, like the repeal of the Missouri compromise, ration of the general government from slavery, and the exercise of its legitimate and constitutional influence on the side of freedom; and 66 was chiefly by a desire to extend and strengthen the slaveholding influence in the United States. So also were the filibuster expeditions against Nicaragua led by William Walker, whose envoy at Washington, Vijil, was formally recognized by the president in 1856. (See WALKER, WILLIAM.) As, by the terms of the Kansas and Nebraska act, the people of those territories were to be left free to determine for themselves whether or not slavery should be tolerated there, a struggle soon began in Kansas, to which chiefly emigration was directed, between the anti-slavery and pro-slavery parties, which, after many acts of violence and a long period of confusion amounting almost to civil war, terminated in the adoption by the people of Kansas of a state constitution excluding slavery. (See KANSAS.) In the course of the debates on the Kansas question Mr. Sumner of Massachusetts made a speech in the senate, May 19 and 20, 1856, and two days afterward was assailed in the senate chamber by Preston S. Brooks of South Carolina for expressions therein, and so much injured that he was long unable to resume his duties. This event increased still further the anti-slavery feeling at the north; and when the canvass for president began in 1856, an anti-slavery party appeared in the field of far more formidable dimensions than any previous organization of the kind. This party assumed the name of republican, and absorbed the entire free-soil party, the greater part of the whig party, and considerable accessions from the democratic party. The first decisive exhibition of its strength was the election in the congress of 1855-'6 of N. P. Banks, a former democrat, as speaker of the house of representatives. The whig party about this period disappeared from the field, that portion of it opposed to anti-slavery measures having been merged, especially at the south, in an organization called the American party from its opposition to foreign influence, and particularly to Roman Catholic influence, in our political affairs, but popularly known as the "Know-Nothing party" from the secrecy of its organization and the reticence of its members. This party held a national convention at Philadelphia, Feb. 22, 1856, and, after adopting a platform virtually recognizing the principles of the Kansas-Nebraska act and approving the fugitive slave law, nominated Millard Fillmore for president, and Andrew J. Donelson of Tennessee for vice president. The democratic national convention met at Cincinnati, June 2, and reaffirmed the Baltimore platform of 1852, with the addition of resolutions condemning the principles of the American party, recognizing the Kansas-Nebraska act as the only safe solution of the slavery question, affirming the duty of upholding state rights and the Union, and assenting generally to the doctrines of the Ostend circular. James Buchanan of Pennsylvania was nominated for president, and John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky for vice president. The republican national convention met at Philadelphia, June 17, and adopted a platform declaring that "the maintenance of the principles promulgated in the Declaration of Independence and embodied in the federal constitution is essential to the preservation of our republican institutions, and that the federal constitution, the rights of the states, and the union of the states shall be preserved;" and that "the constitution confers upon congress sovereign power over the territories of the United States for their government, and in the exercise of this power it is the right and the duty of congress to prohibit in the territories those twin relics of barbarism, polygamy and slavery." John C. Fremont of California was nominated for president, and William L. Dayton of New Jersey for vice president. The election resulted in the choice of Buchanan and Breckinridge by 174 electoral votes, against 114 for Fremont and 8 for Fillmore. The popular vote for Buchanan was 1,838,169, for Fremont 1,341,264, and for Fillmore 874,534. Fillmore received the vote of Maryland, Buchanan the votes of all the other slave states and of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and California (19 in all), and Fremont those of the 11 remaining free states.-President Buchanan appointed as his cabinet Lewis Cass, secretary of state; Howell Cobb, of the treasury; John B. Floyd, of war; Isaac Toucey, of the navy; Jacob Thompson, of the interior; Aaron V. Brown, postmaster general; and Jeremiah S. Black, attorney general. With the exception of a rebellion of the Mormons in Utah in 1857-'8, which was suppressed without bloodshed, and of the admission into the Union of Minnesota in 1858 and of Oregon in 1859, the chief interest of Mr. Buchanan's administration centred around the slavery controversy, which still continued in Kansas, in the halls of congress, and in the legislatures of the free states. Several of the latter bodies, under the influence of a growing public opinion in opposition to the justice and constitutionality of the fugitive slave law, passed acts designed to impede its operation, and to secure to alleged fugitives the right to trial by jury and to the legal assistance usually given to those charged with criminal offences. These acts were commonly called personal liberty laws. An important element in the slavery controversy was the decision of the supreme court in the case of Dred Scott, rendered soon after the inauguration of Presidant Buchanan. (See TANEY, Roger Brooke.) A constitution for Kansas framed at Lecompton in 1857 was laid before congress in the session of 1857-'8, and was strongly opposed by the republicans on the ground that it had been fraudulently concocted by the pro-slavery party there, that it did not represent the wishes of the people of Kansas, and that some of its provisions were cunningly framed for the purpose of forcing slavery into the new state in spite of the opposition of the inhabitants. A powerful section of the democratic party, headed by Stephen A. Douglas, sided with the republicans in this matter; but the so-called "Lecompton bill," submitting this | constitution to the people under certain conditions, after a parliamentary struggle of extraordinary intensity and duration, was passed by congress by the votes of the democratic majority, led in the house by Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, and in the senate by Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, John M. Mason of Virginia, and John Slidell of Louisiana. The president lent all his influence to the measure, on the ground that it would pacify the country, and would not prevent Kansas from becoming a free state if the people desired to exclude slavery. This contest resulted in a schism in the democratic party, and eventually in its division into two bodies, one of which looked upon Mr. Douglas as its leader, while the other supported for the presidency John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky. An attempt to free slaves by force of arms, made at Harper's Ferry in October, 1859, by John Brown of Kansas, for which he was hanged by the authorities of Virginia, Dec. 2, created a profound sensation throughout the country. (See BROWN, JOHN, vol. iii., p. 338.) In January, 1861, after the withdrawal of southern members of congress, Kansas was admitted into the Union under a constitution framed at Wyandotte in 1859.The democratic national convention met at Charleston, April 23, 1860, and a controversy on the subject of slavery immediately arose. On the 30th a platform was adopted by a vote of 165 to 138, the essential portion of which was as follows: "Inasmuch as differences of opinion exist in the democratic party as to the nature and extent of the powers of a territorial legislature, and as to the powers and duties of congress, under the constitution of the United States, over the institution of slavery within the territories; resolved, that the democratic party will abide by the decisions of the supreme court of the United States on the questions of constitutional law." Most of the southern delegates thereupon withdrew, and on May 3 the convention adjourned to meet at Baltimore on June 18, after recommending that the vacant seats be filled prior to that date. The seceding delegates met, adopted a platform, and adjourned after calling a convention to assemble at Richmond on June 11. The portion of their platform relating to slavery was as follows: "That the government of a territory organized by an act of congress is provisional and temporary; and, during its existence, all citizens of the United States have an equal right to settle with their property in the territory, without their rights, either of person or property, being destroyed or impaired by congressional or territorial legislation. That it is the duty of the federal government, in all its departments, to protect, when necessary, the rights of persons and property in the territories, and wherever else its constitutional authority extends. That when the settlers in a territory having an adequate population form a state constitution, the right of sovereignty commences, and, being consummated by admission into the Union, they stand on an equal footing with the people of other states; and the state thus organized ought to be admitted into the federal Union, whether its constitution prohibits or recognizes the institution of slavery." The regular convention assembled in Baltimore pursuant to adjournment, and nominated Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois for president and Benjamin Fitzpatrick of Alabama for vice president, though a further withdrawal of delegates took place. Mr. Fitzpatrick subsequently declined, and Herschel V. Johnson of Georgia was substituted by the national committee. The convention called by the seceding delegates met first at Richmond, but adjourned, and convened finally at Baltimore on June 23, when it adopted the Charleston platform and nominated John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky for president and Joseph Lane of Oregon for vice president. The "Constitutional Union" party, composed mainly of the American party, held its national convention at Baltimore May 9, and nominated for president John Bell of Tennessee, and for vice president Edward Everett of Massachusetts. This party declared that it recognized no political principle other than the constitution of the country, the union of the states, and the enforcement of the laws." The republican national convention assembled at Chicago on May 16, and nominated for president Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, and for vice president Hannibal Hamlin of Maine. The portion of the platform adopted by the convention relating to slavery was as follows: "That the maintenance of the principle promulgated in the Declaration of Independence and embodied in the federal constitution, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,' is essential to the preservation of our republican institutions; and that the federal constitution, the rights of the states, and the union of the states, must and shall be preserved. That the maintenance inviolate of the rights of the states, and especially the right of each state to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment exclusively, is essential to that balance of powers on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depend; and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed force of the soil of any state or territory, no matter under what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes. That the new dogma that the constitution, of its own force, carries slavery into any or all of the territories of the United States, is a dangerous political heresy, at variance with the explicit provisions of that instrument itself, with contemporaneous exposition, and with legislative and judicial pre cedent; is revolutionary in its tendency, and | to seize the arsenals, custom houses, navy 'subversive of the peace and harmony of the yards, and forts throughout the south. At country. That the normal condition of all the the close of his term only Fort Sumter at territory of the United States is that of free- Charleston, S. C., and Fort Pickens at Pensadom; that, as our republican fathers, when cola, Fla., with the posts on the Florida keys, they had abolished slavery in all our national remained in the possession of the government territory, ordained that 'no person should be in the seven states that had then seceded. deprived of life, liberty, or property, without Various measures were proposed looking to due process of law,' it becomes our duty, by conciliation, but without effect. For details legislation whenever such legislation is neces- of these, as well as of the progress of secession sary, to maintain this provision of the consti- and the organization of the confederacy, see tution against all attempts to violate it; and CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. In his we deny the authority of congress, of a terri- inaugural address, March 4, 1861, President torial legislature, or of any individuals to give Lincoln declared that the accession of a republegal existence to slavery in any territory of lican administration afforded no ground to the the United States." In the presidential elec- southern states for apprehending any invasion tion of Nov. 6, 1860, Mr. Lincoln received the of their rights, and that the power confided electoral votes of all the free states (except to him would be used "to hold, occupy, and three votes in New Jersey, which were given possess the property and places belonging to to Mr. Douglas), to the number of 180, and the government, and collect the duties and was elected. Mr. Bell received the votes of imposts; but, beyond what may be necessary Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, 39; Mr. for these objects, there will be no invasion, Douglas the 9 votes of Missouri, which added no using of force against or among the people to 3 from New Jersey gave him a total of 12 anywhere." "The course here indicated will votes; and the remaining southern states cast be followed, unless current events and experitheir 72 electoral votes for Breckinridge. The ence shall show a modification or change to be popular vote for Lincoln was 1,866,452; for proper." (See LINCOLN, ABRAHAM.) He apDouglas, 994,139; for Breckinridge, 669,082; pointed as his cabinet. William H. Seward, for Bell, 575,193; and 575,327 votes were cast secretary of state; Salmon P. Chase, of the for fusion tickets opposed to Lincoln. The treasury; Simon Cameron, of war; Gideon total vote was 4,680,193. When this result Welles, of the navy; Caleb B. Smith, of the became known, the legislature of South Caro- interior; Edward Bates, attorney general; and lina ordered the election of a convention to Montgomery Blair, postmaster general. The consider the question of secession. The con- last two were from the slave states of Missouri vention assembled Dec. 17, and on Dec. 20 and Maryland. In 1862 Cameron was sucunanimously adopted a secession ordinance, ceeded by Edwin M. Stanton (Jan. 14) and declaring that "the union now subsisting be- Smith by John P. Usher; in 1864 Chase was tween South Carolina and other states, under succeeded by William P. Fessenden, Blair by the name of the United States of America, is William Dennison, and Bates by James Speed. hereby dissolved." The alleged reason for this Upon Lincoln's second inauguration (1865) action was hostility on the part of the success- Hugh McCulloch succeeded Fessenden. ful party to the institution of slavery. Before army at the beginning of active measures on the end of May, 1861, 11 states had passed the part of the south was only 16,000 strong ordinances of secession, in the following order: (on Jan. 1, 1861, it consisted of 16,402 officers South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, and men, of whom 14,657 were present for Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, duty), and by orders from Mr. Floyd, the secTennessee, and North Carolina. The western retary of war, who was himself a party to the portion of Virginia refused to be bound by the secession movement, had been dispersed in the ordinance of that state, and in 1863 was ad-remotest parts of the country, while the navy mitted into the Union as a separate state under the name of West Virginia. In eastern Tennessee also the prevailing sentiment continued favorable to the Union. On Feb. 4, 1861, a congress, composed of delegates from the states that had then seceded, assembled at Montgomery, Ala., and framed a constitution for the "Confederate States of America." Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was chosen president, and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia vice president; a government was organized, and measures were taken to create an army. The senators and representatives from the seceded states withdrew from the United States congress. Nothing was done by President Buchanan's administration to thwart the purposes of the secessionists, who proceeded The was mostly absent on foreign stations. Under Floyd's orders also an extensive transfer of arms and ammunition from northern to southern arsenals was made during 1860. Before the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln Gen. Twiggs, commanding in Texas, had surrendered to the Texan authorities half the military force of the Union. Most of the army and many of the navy officers from the south resigned upon the secession of their states. The first warlike act was the bombardment by the confederates, under Gen. Beauregard, of Fort Sumter, which was commanded by Major Anderson with a garrison of 109 men. Fire was opened on April 12, 1861, and continued on the 13th, and Major Anderson was compelled to evacuate the fort on the 14th, sailing with his garrison to |