Davis,whowasdestinedeventuallytobecomethetargetofYancey\'sbitterestenmity,hadrefusedtenyearsbeforetojoininthesecessionmovementwhichignoredCalhoun\'sdoctrinethattheSouthhadbecomeasocialunit。Thoughabelieverinslaveryundertheconditionsofthemoment,Davishadnoneofthepassionoftheslavebaronforslaveryatallcosts。Furthermore,aseventsweredestinedtoshowinastartlinglydramaticway,hewascarelessofSouthCarolina\'spassionforstaterights。Hewasapracticalpolitician,butnotatalltheoldtypeofthepartyofpoliticalevasion,thetypeofToombs。NoothermanofthemomentwasonthewholesowellabletocombinetheelementsofSouthernpoliticsagainstthosemorenegativeelementsofwhichToombswasthesymbol。ThehistoryoftheConfederacyshowsthatthecombinationwhichDavisnoweffectedwasnotasthoroughashesupposeditwas。ButatthemomentheappearedtosucceedandseemedtogivecommonpurposetothevastmajorityoftheSouthernpeople。WithhisallyBenjamin,hestruckattheToombspolicyofaNationalDemocraticparty。
OnthedayfollowingtheelectionofPennington,DavisintroducedintheSenateaseriesofresolutionswhichweretoserveastheSouthernultimatum,andwhichdemandedofCongresstheprotectionofslaveryagainstterritoriallegislatures。ThiswasbutcarryingtoitslogicalconclusionthatDredScottdecisionwhichDouglasandhisfollowersproposedtoaccept。IfCongresscouldnotrestrictslaveryintheterritories,howcoulditscreature,aterritoriallegislaturedoso?AndyettheDouglasmenattemptedtotakeawaythepowerfromCongressandtoretainitfortheterritoriallegislatures。SenatorPughofOhiohadalreadylockedhornswithDavisonthispoint,andhadattemptedtoshowthataterritorialLegislaturewasindependentofCongress。\"ThenIwouldasktheSenatorfurther,\"retortedthelogicalDavis,\"whyitishemakesanappropriationtopaymembersoftheterritoriallegislature;howitisthatheinveststheGovernorwithvetopowerovertheiracts;andhowitisthatheappointsjudgestodecideuponthevalidityoftheiracts。\"
IntheDemocraticconventionwhichmetatCharlestoninApril,1860,thewaningpowerofpoliticalevasionmadeitslastrealstandagainsttherisingpowerofpoliticalpositivism。ToacceptDouglasandtheideathatsomehowterritoriallegislatureswerefreetodowhatCongresscouldnotdo,ortorejectDouglasandendorseDavis\'sultimatum——thatinsubstancewastheissue。
\"Inthisconventionwherethereshouldbeconfidenceandharmony,\"saidthe\"CharlestonMercury\",\"itisplainthatmenfeelasiftheyweregoingintoabattle。\"InthecommitteeonresolutionswheretheStateswereequallyrepresented,themajoritywereanti-Douglas;theysubmittedareportaffirmingDavis\'spositionthatterritoriallegislatureshadnorighttoprohibitslaveryandthattheFederalGovernmentshouldprotectslaveryagainstthem。TheminorityrefusedtogofurtherthananapprovaloftheDredScottcaseandapledgetoabidebyallfuturedecisionsoftheSupremeCourt。Afterbothreportshadbeensubmitted,therefollowedthecentraleventoftheconvention——thenowfamousspeechbyYanceywhichrepudiatedpoliticalevasionfromtoptobottom,franklydefendedslavery,anddemandedeithercompleteguaranteesforitscontinuedexistenceor,asanalternative,Southernindependence。PughinstantlyrepliedandsummedupYancey\'sspeechasademanduponNorthernDemocratstosaythatslaverywasright,andthatitwastheirdutynotonlytoletslaveryalonebuttoaidinextendingit。\"GentlemenoftheSouth,\"heexclaimed,\"youmistakeus——youmistakeus——wewillnotdoit。\"
Inthefullconvention,wheretherepresentationoftheStateswasnotequal,theDouglasmen,afterhotdebate,forcedtheadoptionoftheminorityreport。ThereupontheAlabamadelegationprotestedandformallywithdrewfromtheconvention,andotherdelegationsfollowed。TherewaswildexcitementinCharleston,wherethateveninginthestreetsYanceyaddressedcrowdsthatcheeredforaSouthernrepublic。TheremaininghistoryoftheDemocraticnominationsisamatterofdetail。TheCharlestonconventionadjournedwithoutmakingnominations。Eachofitsfragmentsreorganizedasaseparateconvention,andultimatelytwoDemocraticticketswereputintothefield,withBreckinridgeofKentuckyasthecandidateontheYanceyticketandDouglasontheother。
WhiletheDemocratswerethusmakinghistorythroughtheirfatefulbreak-upintoseparateparties,aconsiderablenumberoftheso-calledbestpeopleofthecountrydeterminedthattheyhadnowherepoliticallytolaytheirheads。AfewoftheoldWhigswerestillunabletoconsorteitherwithRepublicansorwithDemocrats,oldornew。TheKnow-Nothings,likewise,thoughtheirnumberhadbeensteadilymeltingaway,hadnotentirelydisappeared。Tounitethesepoliticalremnantsinanydefinitepoliticalwholeseemedbeyondhumaningenuity。Acommonsentiment,however,theydidhave——arealloveoftheUnionandarealunhappiness,becauseitsexistenceappearedtobethreatened。TheoutcomewasthattheyorganizedtheConstitutionalUnionParty,nominatingforPresidentJohnBellofTennessee,andforVicePresidentEdwardEverettofMassachusetts。TheirplatformwaslittlemorethanaprofessionofloveoftheUnionandacondemnationofsectionalselfishness。
ThisBellandEveretttickethasadeepersignificancethanhasgenerallybeenadmitted。ItrevealsthefactthatthesentimentofUnion,indistinctionfromthebeliefintheUnion,hadbecomearealforceinAmericanlife。Therecouldbenoclearertestimonytothestrengthofthisfeelingthanthisspectacleofagreatcongregationofmoderatepeople,unabletoagreeuponanythingexceptthissentiment,steppingbetweenthesectionalpartieslikearesolutewayfarergoingforwardintodarknessalongaperilousstrandbetweentworagingseas。ThatthisfeelingofUnionwasthesamethingastheeagerdeterminationoftheRepublicans,in1860,tocontroltheGovernmentisoneofthosehistoricalfallaciesthathavehadtheirday。TheRepublicanpartybecame,intimeandunderstressofwar,therefugeofthissentimentandprovedsufficientlyfar-sightedtomergeitsidentitytemporarilyinthecompositeUnionpartyof1864。Butin1860itwasstillasectionalparty。AmongitsleadersLincolnwasperhapstheonlyUnionistinthesamesenseasBellandEverett。
PerhapsthetruestUnionistsoftheNorth,outsidetheConstitutionalUnionParty,in1860,werethoseDemocratsinthefollowingofDouglaswho,afterfightingtothelastditchagainstboththesectionalparties,weretoaccept,in1861,thealternativeofwarratherthandissolution。ThecourseofDouglashimself,asweshallseehereafter,showedthatinhismindtherewasafixedlimitofconcessionbeyondwhichhecouldnotgo。Whencircumstancesforcedhimtothatlimit,thesentimentofUniontookcontrolofhim,sweptasidehispoliticaljugglery,abolishedhistime-serving,anddrovehimintocooperationwithhisbitterestfoesthattheUnionmightbesaved。NorwasthepuresentimentofUnionconfinedtotheNorthandWest。ThoughundoubtedlythesentimentoflocalitywasmorepowerfulthroughtheSouth,yetwhenthetestcameintheelectionof1860,theleadingcandidateoftheupperSouth,inVirginia,Kentucky,andTennessee,wasJohnBell,theConstitutionalUnionist。IneverySouthernStatethissentimentwasabletocommandaconsiderablepartofthevote。*
*ApossibleexceptionwasSouthCarolina。Asthepresidentialelectorswereappointedbythelegislature,thereisnocertainrecordofminoritysentiment。
Widelydifferentintemperwerethosesternandresolutemenwhoseorganization,inperfectfightingtrim,facedeagerlythedividedDemocrats。TheRepublicanshadnodivisionamongthemselvesupondoctrine。Suchdivisionasexistedwasduetotheordinaryrivalryofpoliticalleaders。IntheopinionofallhisenemiesandofmostAmericans,SewardwastheRepublicanmanofthehour。Duringmuchof1859hehaddiscreetlywithdrawnfromthecountryandhadlefttohispartisanstheconductofhiscampaign,whichseemstohavebeengoingwellwhenhereturnedinthemidstoftheturmoilfollowingthedeathofJohnBrown。
Neverthelesshewasdisturbedoverhisprospects,forhefoundthatinmanyminds,bothNorthandSouth,hewaslookeduponastheultimatecauseofalltheturmoil。Hisfamousspeechonthe\"irrepressibleconflict\"waseverywherequotedasanexultantprophecyoftheseterriblelatterdays。
ItwaslongthecustomtodenytoSewardanygoodmotiveinaspeechwhichhenowdelivered,justasitwastodenyWebsteranygoodmotiveforhisfamous7thofMarchspeech。Butsuchcriticismisnowlessfrequentthanitusedtobe。BothmenwereseekingthePresidency;both,wemayfairlybelieve,wereshockedbytheturmoilofpoliticalcurrents;eachtriedoilingthewaters,andintheattempteachruinedhiscandidacy。Seward\'sspeechincondemnationofJohnBrowninFebruary,1860,wasanappealtotheconservativeNorthagainsttheradicalNorth,andtomanyofhisfollowersitseemedachangeoffront。Itcertainlygainedhimnonewfriendsanditlosthimsomeoldones,sothathisstarasapresidentialcandidatebeganitsdecline。
ThefirstballotintheRepublicanconventionsurprisedthecountry。Ofthevotes,233werenecessaryforachoice。Sewardhadonly1731/2。Nexttohim,with102votes,stoodnoneoftheleadingcandidates,butthecomparativelyobscureLincoln。Agapofmorethan50votesseparatedLincolnfromCameron,Chase,andBates。OnthesecondballotSewardgained11votes,whileLincolngained79。TheenemiesofSeward,findingitimpossibletocombineonanyoftheconspicuouscandidates,weremovingtowardLincoln,themanwithfewestenemies。ThethirdballotgaveLincolnthenomination。
WehaveseenthatoneofthebasalquestionsofthetimewaswhichnewpoliticalgroupshouldabsorbtheWhigremainder。TheConstitutionalUnionpartyaimedtoaccomplishthis。TheRepublicanssoughttoout-maneuverthem。TheymadetheirplatformastemperateastheycouldandyetconsistentwiththemaintenanceoftheiroppositiontoDouglasandpopularsovereignty;andtheywentnofurtherintheiranti-slaverydemandsthanthattheterritoriesshouldbepreservedforfreelabor。
AnotherbasalquestionhadbeenconsideredintheRepublicanplatform。WherewouldNortherncapitalstandinthereorganizationofparties?Wascapital,likemen,tobecomefranklysectionalorwoulditremainimpersonal,carelesshownationsroseorfell,solongasdividendscontinued?Tosomeextentcapitalhadgivenananswer。When,intheexcitementfollowingtheJohnBrownincident,aSouthernnewspaperpublishedawhitelistofNewYorkmerchantswhosepoliticalviewsshouldcommendthemtoSoutherners,andablacklistofthosewhowereobjectionable,manyNewYorkerssoughtaplaceinthewhitelist。
Northerncapitalhaddoneitspartinfinancingtherevivedslavetrade。AugustBelmont,theNewYorkrepresentativeoftheRothschilds,wasoneoftheclosealliesofDavis,Yancey,andBenjaminintheirwaruponDouglas。Inaword,agreatportionofNortherncapitalhaditsheartwhereitsinvestmentswere——intheSouth。Buttherewasothercapitalwhichobeyedthesamelaw,andwhichhadinvestmentsintheNorth;andwiththiscapitaltheRepublicanshadbeentrafficking。TheyhadsucceededinwinningoverthepowerfulmanufacturinginterestsofPennsylvania,thepivotalStatethathadelectedBuchananin1856。
ThestepsbywhichthenewpartyofenthusiasmmadeitsdealwiththebodyofcapitalwhichwasnotatonewithBelmontandtheDemocratsarenotessentialtothepresentnarrative。Twofactssuffice。In1857agreatcollapseinAmericanbusiness——\"thepanicoffifty-seven\"——ledthecommercialworldtoturntothepartyinpowerforsomeschemeofredress。Buttheirveryprinciples,amongwhichwasnon-interventioninbusiness,madetheDemocratsfeebledoctorsforsuchaneed,andtheyevadedthesituation。TheRepublicans,withtheirinsistenceonpositivismingovernment,hadthereforeanopportunitytomakeanewapplicationofthedoctrineofgovernmentalaidtobusiness。Inthespringof1860,theRepublicanHouseofRepresentativespassedtheMorrilltariffbill,considerationofwhichwaspostponedbytheDemocraticSenate。Butitserveditspurpose:
itwasaRepublicanmanifesto。TheRepublicansfeltthatthisbill,togetherwiththeirpartyplatform,gavethenecessaryguaranteetothePennsylvaniamanufacturers,andtheythereforeenteredthecampaignconfidenttheywouldcarryPennsylvanianorwastheirconfidencemisplaced。
Thecampaignwascharacterizedbythreethings:byanominousquietcoupledwithgreatintensityoffeeling;bytheorganizationofhugepartysocietiesinmilitaryform——\"Wide-awakes\"forLincoln,numbering400,000,and\"MinuteMen\"forBreckenridge,withamembershipchieflySouthern;andbytheperfectfrankness,inallpartsoftheSouth,ofthreatsofsecessionincasetheRepublicanswon。
InnoneoftheStateswhicheventuallysecededwereanyvotescastforLincoln,withtheexceptionofasmallnumberinVirginia。InalmostalltheotherSouthernStatesandintheslave-holdingborderStates,alltheothercandidatesmaderespectableshowings。InVirginia,Tennessee,andKentucky,Bellled。Buteverywhereelseintheotherslave-holdingStatesBreckinridgeled,exceptinginMissouriwhereDouglaswonbyafewhundred。EveryfreeStateexceptNewJerseywentforLincoln。Andyethedidnothaveamajorityofthepopularvote,whichstood:Lincoln,1,866,459;Douglas,1,376,957;
Breckinridge,849,781;Bell,588,879*。ThemajorityagainstLincolnwasnearlyamillion。ThedistributionofthevoteswassuchthatLincolnhadintheElectoralCollege,180electors;
Breckinridge,72;Bell,39;Douglas,12。InneitherHouseofCongressdidtheRepublicanshaveamajority。
*Thefiguresofthepopularvotearevariouslygivenbydifferentcompilers。ThesearetakenfromStanwood,\"AHistoryofthePresidency\"。
CHAPTERV。SECESSION
IntracingAmericanhistoryfrom1854to1860wecannotfailtoobservethatitreducesitselfchieflytoaprobleminthatsciencewhichpoliticiansunderstandsowell——appliedpsychology。
Definitetypesofmenmouldedbytheconditionsofthosedaysarethedeterminingfactors——nottheslaveryquestioninitself;not,primarily,economicforces;notatheoryofgovernment,noraclashoftheories;notanyonething;butthefluid,changefulforcesofhumannature,battlingwithcircumstancesandexpressingthemselvesinthefashionofmen\'sminds。Tosaythisistoacknowledgethefatefulnessofsheerfeeling。Davisdescribedthesituationexactlywhenhesaid,in1860,\"A
sectionalhostilityhasbeensubstitutedforageneralfraternity。\"Tohisownquestion,\"Whereistheremedy?\"hegavetheanswer,\"Intheheartsofthepeople。\"There,afterall,istheconclusionofthewholematter。ThestrifebetweenNorthandSouthhadceasedtobeathingofthehead;ithadbecomeathingoftheheart。Grantedtheemotionsof1860,thewayinwhichourcountrystaggeredintowarhasalltheterriblefascinationofatragedyonthethemeoffate。
ThatasecessionmovementwouldbeginsomewhereintheSouthbeforetheendof1860wasaforegoneconclusion。SouthCarolinawasthelogicalplace,andinSouthCarolinatheinevitableoccurred。Thepresidentialelectionwasquicklyfollowedbyanelectionofdelegates,onthe6thofDecember,toconsiderinconventiontherelationsoftheStatewiththeUnion。TheargumentsbeforetheConventionwerefamiliarandhadbeenadvocatedsince1851。Theleadersofthedisunionistswerethesamewhohadledtheunsuccessfulmovementoftenyearsbefore。
ThecentralfigurewasRhett,whoneverforamomenthadwavered。
ConsumedhislifelongbytheoneideaoftheindependenceofSouthCarolina,thatsternenthusiastpressedontoatriumphantconclusion。Thepowerswhichhaddefeatedhimin1851werenoweithersilentorconverted,sothattherewaspracticallynoopposition。InaburstofpassionatezealtheindependenceofSouthCarolinawasproclaimedonDecember20,1860,byanordinanceofsecession。
Simultaneously,byoneofthosedramaticcoincidenceswhichmakehistorystrangerthanfiction,Lincolntookastepwhichsupplementedthisactionandestablisheditstragicsignificance。
Whatthatstepwaswillappearinamoment。
Evenbeforethesecessionbegan,varioustypesofmeninpoliticshadbeguntodoeachafterhiskind。Thosewhomdestinydrovefirstintoacornerweretheloversofpoliticalevasion。TheissuewasforceduponthembytheinstantaneousdemandofthepeopleofSouthCarolinaforpossessionoffortsinCharlestonHarborwhichwerecontrolledbytheFederalGovernment。
Anticipatingsuchademand,MajorRobertAnderson,thecommandantatCharleston,hadwrittentoBuchananonthe23dofNovemberthat\"FortSumterandCastlePinckneymustbegarrisonedimmediately,iftheGovernmentdeterminestokeepcommandofthisharbor。\"
InthemindofeveryAmericanofthepartyofpoliticalevasion,therenowbeganasad,internalconflict。Everyoneofthemhadtochooseamongthreecourses:toshuthiseyesandtocontinuetowailthatthefunctionofgovernmentistodonothing;tomakeanendofpoliticalevasionandtocomeoutfranklyinapprovaloftheSouthernposition;ortobreakwithhisownrecord,toemergefromhisevasionsontheoppositeside,andtoconfesshimselffirstandbeforeallasupporteroftheUnion。Oneoranotherofthesethreecourses,soonerorlater,everymanofthePresident\'sfollowingchose。Weshallseepresentlytherelativestrengthofthethreegroupsintowhichthatfollowingbrokeandwhatstrangecoursessometimestragic,sometimescomic——twoofthethreepursued。ForthemomentourconcernishowthedivisionmanifesteditselfamongtheheadsofthepartyatWashington。
ThePresidenttookthefirstofthethreecourses。Hehelditwiththenervousclutchofaweaknatureuntilovermasteredbytwogrimmenwhograduallyhypnotizedhiswill。Theturning-pointforBuchanan,andthelastpoorcrisisinhisingloriouscareer,cameonSunday,December30th。Beforethatdayarrived,hisvacillationhadmovedhisfriendstopityandhisenemiestoscorn。Oneofhisbestfriendswroteprivately,\"ThePresidentispalewithfear\";andthehostilepointofviewfoundexpressioninsuchcommentsasthis,\"Buchanan,itissaid,divideshistimebetweenprayingandcrying。Suchaperfectimbecileneverheldofficebefore。\"
Withthequestionwhattodoaboutthefortshangingoverhisbewilderedsoul,BuchanansentamessagetoCongressonDecember4,1860,inwhichhesoughttodefendthetraditionalevasivepolicyofhisparty。Hedeniedtheconstitutionalrightofsecession,buthewasalsodeniedhisownrighttoopposesuchacourse。SewardwasnotunfairtothementalcaliberofthemessagewhenhewrotetohiswifethatBuchananshowed\"conclusivelythatitisthedutyofthePresidenttoexecutethelaws——unlesssomebodyopposeshim;andthatnoStatehasarighttogooutoftheUnionunlessitwantsto。\"
ThismessageofBuchanan\'shastenedtheinevitableseparationoftheDemocraticpartyintoitselements。TheablestSouthernmemberoftheCabinet,Cobb,resigned。Hewastoostronganintellecttocontinuethepolicyof\"nothingdoing\"nowthatthecrisishadcome。HewastoodevotedaSouthernertocomeoutofpoliticalevasionexceptononeside。OnthedayCobbresignedtheSouthCarolinaRepresentativescalledonBuchananandaskedhimnottomakeanychangeinthedispositionoftroopsatCharleston,andparticularlynottostrengthenSumter,afortressonanislandinthemidstoftheharbor,withoutatleastgivingnoticetothestateauthorities。Whatwassaidinthisinterviewwasnotputinwritingbutwasrememberedafterwardindifferentwayswithunfortunateconsequences。
EveryactionofBuchananinthisfatefulmonthcontinuedthedisintegrationofhisfollowing。JustasCobbhadtochoosebetweenhisreasoningsasaDemocraticpartymanandhisfeelingsasaSoutherner,sotheagedCass,hisSecretaryofState,andanoldpersonalfriend,nowfeltconstrainedtochoosebetweenhisDemocraticreasoningandhisNorthernsympathies,andresignedfromtheCabinetonthe11thofDecember。Buchananthenturnedinstinctivelytothestrongestnaturesthatremainedamonghiscloseassociates。ItisacomplimenttotheinnateforceofJeremiahS。Black,theAttorney-General,thatBuchananadvancedhimtothepostofSecretaryofStateandallowedhimtonameashissuccessorintheAttorney-GeneralshipEdwinM。Stanton。BothweretriedDemocratsoftheoldstyle,\"let-\'em-alone\"sort;andbothhadsupportedthePresidentinhisKansaspolicy。Buteach,likeeveryothermemberofhisparty,wasbeingforcedbycircumstancestomakehischoiceamongthethreeinevitablecourses,andeachchosetheNorthernside。AtoncethequestionofthemomentwaswhetherthenewSecretaryofStateandhispowerfulhenchmenwouldhypnotizethePresident。
Foracoupleofweekstheissuehunginthebalance。ThenthereappearedatWashingtoncommissionersfromSouthCarolina\"empoweredtotreat……forthedeliveryofforts……andotherrealestate\"heldbytheFederalGovernmentwithintheirState。Onthedayfollowingtheirarrival,BuchananwasinformedbytelegraphthatAndersonhaddismantledFortMoultrieonthenorthsideoftheharbor,hadspikeditsguns,andhadremoveditsgarrisontotheislandfortress,Sumter,whichwassupposedtobefarmoredefensible。AtCharlestonhisactionwasinterpretedaspreparationforwar;andallSouthCarolinianssawinitaviolationofapledgewhichtheybelievedthePresidenthadgiventheircongressmen,threeweeksprevious,inthattalkwhichhadnotbeenwrittendown。Greatlyexcitedandfearfulofdesignsagainstthem,theSouthCarolinacommissionersheldtwoconferenceswiththePresidentonthe27thand28thofDecember。
Theybelievedthathehadbrokenhisword,andtheytoldhimso。
Deeplyagitatedandrefusingtoadmitthathehadcommittedhimselfattheearlierconference,hesaidthatAndersonhadactedonhisownresponsibility,butherefusedtoorderhimbacktothenowruinedFortMoultrie。Oneremarkwhichheletfallhasbeenrememberedasevidenceofhisquerulousstateofmind:
\"Youarepressingmetooimportunately\"exclaimedtheunhappyPresident;\"youdon\'tgivemetimetoconsider;youdon\'tgivemetimetosaymyprayers;Ialwayssaymyprayerswhenrequiredtoactuponanygreatstateaffair。\"OneremembersHampden\"seekingtheLord\"aboutshipmoney,andonerealizesthatthesameactmayhaveavastlydifferentsignificanceindifferenttemperaments。
Buchanan,however,wasvirtuallyreadytogivewaytothedemandofthecommissioners。HedrewupapapertothateffectandshowedittotheCabinet。Thentheturning-pointcame。Inapainfulinterview,Black,longoneofhismosttrustedfriends,toldhimofhisintentiontoresign,andthatStantonwouldgowithhimandprobablyalsothePostmaster-General,Holt。TheideaoflosingthesupportofthesestrongpersonalitiesterrifiedBuchanan,whoimmediatelyfellintoapanic。HandingBlackthepaperhehaddrawnup,Buchananbeggedhimtoretainofficeandtoalterthepaperashesawfit。TothisBlackagreed。Thedemandforthesurrenderofthefortswasrefused;
AndersonwasnotorderedbacktoMoultrie;andforthebriefremainderofBuchanan\'sadministrationBlackactedasprimeminister。
AverypowerfulsectionoftheNortherndemocracy,welltypifiedbytheirleadersatWashington,hadthusemergedfrompoliticalevasionontheNorthernside。Thesemen,knownafterwardsasWarDemocrats,combinedwiththeRepublicanstoformthecompositeUnionpartywhichsupportedLincoln。ItissignificantthatStantoneventuallyreappearedintheCabinetasLincoln\'sSecretaryofWar,andthatalongwithhimappearedanotherWarDemocrat,GideonWelles,Lincoln\'sSecretaryoftheNavy。Withthem,atlast,Douglas,thegreatestofalltheoldDemocratsoftheNorth,tookhisposition。WhatbecameoftheotherfactionsoftheoldDemocraticpartyremainstobetold。
WhileBuchanan,earlyinthemonth,wasweepingoverthepitilessnessoffate,morepracticalNorthernersweregrapplingwiththequestionofwhatwastobedoneaboutthesituation。Intheirthoughtstheyanticipatedalaterstatesmanandrealizedthattheywereconfrontedbyaconditionandnotbyatheory。
Secessionwasatlastareality。Whichcourseshouldtheytake?
Whatstrikesusmostforcibly,aswelookbackuponthatday,isthewidespreaddesireforpeace。Theabolitionistsformaconspicuousexample。Theirwatchwordwas\"Lettheerringsistersgoinpeace。\"WendellPhillips,theirmostgiftedorator,amasterofspokenstyleatoncesimpleandmelodious,declaimedsplendidlyagainstwar。Garrison,in\"TheLiberator\",followedhisexample。Whittierputthesamefeelingintohisverse:
TheybreakthelinksofUnion;shallwelightTheflamesofhelltoweldanewthechainOnthatredanvilwhereeachblowispain?
HoraceGreeleysaidinaneditorialinthe\"NewYorkTribune\":
\"IfthecottonstatesshalldecidethattheycandobetteroutoftheUnionthaninit,weshallinsistonlettingthemgoinpeace。WheneveraconsiderablesectionofourUnionshalldeliberatelyresolvetogoout,weshallresistallcoercivemeasuresdesignedtokeepthemin。Wehopenevertoliveinarepublicwhereonesectionispinnedtotheresiduebybayonets。\"
TheDemocratsnaturallyclungtotheirtraditions,and,evenwhentheywentover,asBlackandStantondid,totheAnti-Southerngroup,theystillhopedthatwarwouldnotbetheresult。
EquallyearnestagainstwarweremostoftheRepublicans,thoughafew,tobesure,werereadytoswingthe\"Northernhammer。\"
Summerprophesiedthatslaverywould\"godowninblood。\"ButthebulkoftheRepublicanswereforasectionalcompromise,andamongthemtherewasgeneralapprobationofaschemewhichcontemplatedrevivingthelineoftheMissouriCompromise,andthusfranklyadmittingtheexistenceoftwodistinctsections,andguaranteeingtoeachthesecurityofitsowninstitutions。
ThegreatestRepublicanbossofthatday,ThurlowWeed,cameoutindefenseofthisplan。
Nopowerwasarrayedmorezealouslyonthesideofpeaceofanykindthanthepowerofmoney。ItwasestimatedthattwohundredmillionsofdollarswereowedbySouthernerstoNortherners。
War,itwasreasoned,wouldcausethecancellationoftheseobligations。TosavetheirSouthernaccounts,themoneyedinterestsoftheNorthjoinedtheextremistsofAbolitioninpleadingtolettheerringsistersgoinpeace,ifnecessary,ratherthanprovokethemtowarandtheconfiscationofdebts。
Itwasthedreadofsuchanoutcome——whichfinallyhappenedandruinedmanyNorthernfirms——thatcausedthestock-marketinNewYorktogoupanddownwithfeverishuncertainty。BankssuspendedpaymentinWashington,Baltimore,andPhiladelphia。
Theoneimportantandall-engrossingthinginthemind\'seyeofallthefinancialworldatthismomentwasthatspecterofunpaidSouthernaccounts。
Atthisjuncture,SenatorCrittendenofKentuckysubmittedtotheSenateaplanwhichhasbeenknowneversinceastheCrittendenCompromise。ItwassimilartoWeed\'splan,butitalsoprovidedthatthedivisionofthecountryontheMissouriCompromiselineshouldbeestablishedbyaconstitutionalamendment,whichwouldthusforeversolidifysectionalism。Thoseelementsofthepopulationgenerallycalledtheconservativeandtheresponsibleweredelighted。EdwardEverettwrotetoCrittenden,\"Isawwithgreatsatisfactionyourpatrioticmovement,andIwishfromthebottomofmyheartitmightsucceed\";andAugustBelmontinalettertoCrittendenspokeforthemoneyedinterest:\"IhaveyettomeetthefirstUnion-lovingman,inoroutofpolitics,whodoesnotapproveyourcompromiseproposition……\"
TheSenatesubmittedtheCompromisetoaCommitteeofThirteen。
InthiscommitteetheSouthernleaders,ToombsandDavis,werebothwillingtoaccepttheCompromise,ifamajorityoftheRepublicanmemberswouldagree。Indeed,iftheRepublicanswouldagreetoit,thereseemednoreasonwhyanewunderstandingbetweenthesectionsmightnotbereached,andnoreasonwhysectionalism,ifacceptedasthebasisofthegovernment,mightnotsolvetheimmediateproblemandthusavertwar。
InthiscrisisalleyeswereturnedtoSeward,thatconspicuousRepublicanwhowasgenerallylookeduponastherealheadofhisparty。AndSeward,atthatverymoment,wasdebatingwhethertoacceptLincoln\'sofferoftheSecretaryshipofState,forheconsidereditvitaltohaveanunderstandingwithLincolnonthesubjectoftheCompromise。HetalkedthematteroverwithWeed,andtheydecidedthatWeedshouldgotoSpringfieldandcometotermswithLincoln。ItwastheinterviewbetweenWeedandLincolnheld,itseems,ontheverydayonwhichtheOrdinanceofSecessionwasadopted——whichgavetothatdayitsdoublesignificance。
Lincolnrefusedpoint-blanktoacceptthecompromiseandheputhisrefusalinwriting。Thehistoricmeaningofhisrefusal,andthesignificanceofhisdeterminationnottosolvetheproblemofthehourbyacceptingadualsystemofgovernmentbasedonfranklysectionalassumptions,wereprobably,inameasure,lostonbothWeedandSeward。Theyhad,however,nomisunderstandingofitspracticaleffect。ThiscrudeWesternlawyerhadcertainideasfromwhichhewouldnotbudge,andthepartywouldhavetogoalongwithhim。WeedandSewardthereforepromptlyfellintoline,andSewardacceptedtheSecretaryshipandcameoutinoppositiontotheCompromise。OtherRepublicanswithwhomLincolnhadcommunicatedbylettermadeknownhisviews,andGreeleyannouncedtheminTheTribune。TheoutcomewasthesolidalignmentofalltheRepublicansinCongressagainsttheCompromise。Asaresult,thislastattempttoreunitethesectionscametonothing。
Notmorethanonceortwice,ifever,inAmericanhistory,hastherebeensuchananxiousNewYear\'sDayasthatwhichusheredin1861。Afewdaysbefore,aRepublicanCongressmanhadwrittentooneofhisconstituents:\"Theheavensareindeedblackandanawfulstormisgathering……IseenowaythateitherNorthorSouthcanescapeitsfury。\"Eventswereindeedmovingfasttowarddisaster。ThegarrisonatSumterwasinneedofsupplies,andinthefirstweekofthenewyearBuchananattemptedtorelieveitswants。Butamerchantvessel,theStaroftheWest,bywhichsuppliesweresent,wasfireduponbytheSouthCarolinaauthoritiesasitapproachedtheharborandwascompelledtoturnback。ThisincidentcausedthewithdrawalfromtheCabinetofthelastoppositionmembers——Thompson,ofMississippi,theSecretaryoftheInterior,andThomas,ofMaryland,theSecretaryoftheTreasury。InthecourseofthemonthfiveSouthernStatesfollowedSouthCarolinaoutoftheUnion,andtheirSenatorsandRepresentativesresignedfromtheCongressoftheUnitedStates。
TheresignationofJeffersonDaviswascommunicatedtotheSenateinaspeechoffarewellwhichevennowholdstheimaginationofthestudent,andwhichtothemenofthatday,withtheUnioncrumblingaroundthem,seemedoneofthemostmournfulanddramaticoforations。Davispossessedabeautiful,melodiousvoice;hehadanoblepresence,tall,erect,spare,evenascetic,withaflashingblueeye。Hewasdeeplymovedbytheoccasion;
hisaddresswasarequiem。Thathewithdrewinsorrowbutwithfixeddetermination,noonewholistenedtohimcoulddoubt。
EarlyinFebruary,theSouthernConfederacywasformedwithDavisasitsprovisionalPresident。Withthepropheticvisionofalogicalmind,hesawthatwarwasinevitable,andheboldlyproclaimedhisvision。InvariousspeechesonhiswaySouth,hehadassuredtheSouthernpeoplethatwarwascoming,andthatitwouldbelongandbloody。
ThewithdrawaloftheseSouthernmembersthrewthecontroloftheHouseintothehandsoftheRepublicans。TheirrealizationoftheirpowerwasexpressedintwomeasureswhichalsopassedtheSenate;Kansaswasadmitted——asaStatewithananti-slaveryconstitution;andtheMorrilltariff,whichtheyhadfailedtopassthepreviousspring,nowbecamelaw。ThustheRepublicansbeganredeemingtheirpledgestotheanti-slaverymenontheonehandandtothecommercialinterestontheother。ThetimehadnowarrivedfortheRepublicannomineetoproceedfromSpringfieldtoWashington。ThejourneywascircuitousinordertoenableLincolntospeakatanumberofplaces。Neverbefore,probably,hadtheNorthernpeoplefeltsuchtensestrainasatthatmoment;neverhadtheylookedtoanincomingPresidentwithsuchanxiousdoubt。Wouldhepreventwar?Or,ifhecouldnotdothat,wouldhebeabletoextricatethecountry——Heavenaloneknewhow!——withoutaterribleordeal?Sincehiselection,LincolnhadremainedquietlyatSpringfield。ThoughhehadinfluencedeventsthroughletterstoCongressmen,hisoneconspicuousactionduringthatwinterwasthedefeatoftheCrittendenCompromise。TheSouthernPresidenthadcalleduponhispeopletoputtheirhouseinorderaspreparationforwar。
What,now,hadLincolntosaytothepeopleoftheNorth?
ThebiographersofLincolnhavenotsatisfactorilyrevealedthestateofhismindbetweenelectionandinauguration。Wemaysafelyguessthathissilencecoveredagreatinternalstruggle。
ExceptforhisoneactionindefeatingtheCompromise,hehadallowedeventstodrift;butbythatoneactionhehadtakenuponhimselftheresponsibilityforthedrift。Thoughthecountryatthattimedidnotfullyappreciatethisaspectofthesituation,whonowcandoubtthatLincolndid?Hismindwasalwaysalonelyone。Hisveryhumorhasinit,sooften,thenoteofsolitude,ofonewhoislaughingtomakethebestofthings,ofonewhoisspirituallyalone。Duringthosemonthswhenthecountrydriftedfromitsmoorings,andwhenwarwasbecomingsteadilymoreprobable,Lincoln,afterthemanneroftheprophets,wrestledalonewiththeproblemswhichhesawbeforehim。Fromthelittleweknowofhisinwardstate,itishardforustoconcludethathewashappy。Astorywhichistoldbyhisformerpartner,Mr。
Herndon,seemssignificant。AsLincolnwasleavinghisunpretentiouslaw-officeforthelasttime,heturnedtoMr。
Herndonandaskedhimnottotakedowntheiroldsign。\"Letithangthereundisturbed,\"saidhe。\"GiveourclientstounderstandthattheelectionofaPresidentmakesnodifferenceinthefirm……IfIlive,I\'mcomingbacksometime,andthenwe\'llgorightonpractisinglawasifnothinghadhappened。\"
Howfarremovedfromself-sufficiencywasthemanwhosethoughts,ontheeveofhiselevationtothePresidency,lingeredinaprovinciallawoffice,fondlyinsistentthatonlydeathshouldpreventhisreturningsometimeandresuminginthosehomelysurroundingsthelifehehadledprevioustohisgreatness。Inamoodofwistfulnessandofintensepreoccupation,hebeganhisjourneytoWashington。Itwasnotthemoodfromwhichtostrikefireandkindlehope。Totheanxious,listeningcountryhisspeechesonthejourneytoWashingtonweredisappointing。
Perhapshisstrangelysensitivemindfelttoopowerfullythefatefulnessofthemomentandreactedwithasortoflightnessthatdidnotreallyrepresenttherealman。Bethatasitmay,hewasneverlessconvincingthanatthattime。Norwerepeopleimpressedbyhisbearing。Oftenheappearedawkward,toomuchinappearancethecountrylawyer。Heactedasamanwhowasillateaseandhespokeasamanwhohadnothingtosay。GloomdarkenedtheNorthasaconsequenceoftheseunfortunatespeeches,fortheyexpressedanoptimismwhichwecannotbelievehereallyfelt,andwhichhurthimintheestimationofthecountry。\"Thereisnocrisisbutanartificialone,\"wasoneofhisill-timedassurances,andanother,\"Thereisnothinggoingwrong……Thereisnothingthatreallyhurtsanyone。\"Ofhissupporterssomewerediscouraged;otherswereexasperated;andanablebutangrypartisanevenwentsofarastowriteinaprivateletter,\"LincolnisaSimpleSusan。\"
ThefourthofMarcharrived,andwithittheendofLincoln\'sblundering。OnegoodomenforthesuccessofthenewAdministrationwasthepresenceofDouglasontheinauguralplatform。Hehadacceptedfate,deeplyasitwoundedhim,andhadcomeoutoftheshatteredpartyofevasiononthesideofhissection。Forthepurposeofshowinghissupportoftheadministrationatthiscriticaltime,hehadtakenaplaceonthestandwhereLincolnwastospeak。Byoneofthosecuriouslittledramatictoucheswithwhichchancelovestoembroiderhistory,thepresenceofDouglasbecameagraciousdetailinthememoryoftheday。Lincoln,wornandawkward,continuedtoholdhishatinhishand。Douglas,withthetactbornofsocialexperience,steppedforwardandtookitfromhimwithout——exposingLincoln\'sembarrassment。
TheinauguraladdresswhichLincolnnowpronouncedhadlittlesimilaritytothoseunfortunateutteranceswhichhehadmadeonthejourneytoWashington。Thecloudthathadbeenoverhim,whateveritwas,hadlifted。Lincolnwasreadyforhisgreatlabor。Theinauguralcontainedthreemainpropositions。LincolnpledgedhimselfnottointerferedirectlyorindirectlywithslaveryintheStateswhereitthenexisted;hepromisedtosupporttheenforcementofthefugitiveslavelaw;andhedeclaredhewouldmaintaintheUnion。\"NoState,\"saidhe,\"uponitsownmeremotioncanlawfullygetoutoftheUnion……TotheextentofmyabilityIshalltakecare,astheConstitutionitselfexpresslyenjoinsuponme,thatthelawsoftheUnionbefaithfullyexecutedinalltheStates……Indoingthis,thereneedbenobloodshedorviolence;andthereshallbenone,unlessitbeforceduponthenationalauthority。Thepowerconfidedtomewillbeusedtohold,occupy,andpossessthepropertyandplacesbelongingtothegovernment。\"AddressingtheSoutherners,hesaid:\"Inyourhands,mydissatisfiedfellow-countrymen,andnotinmine,isthemomentousissueofcivilwar。TheGovernmentwillnotassailyou……Wearenotenemiesbutfriends……Themysticcordsofmemory,stretchingfromeverybattlefieldandpatriotgravetoeverylivingheartandhearthstone,alloverthisbroadland,willyetswellthechorusoftheUnion,whenagaintouched,assurelytheywillbe,bythebetterangelsofournature。\"
Gentle,aswasthephrasingoftheinaugural,itwasperfectlyfirm,anditoutlinedapolicywhichtheSouthwouldnotaccept,andwhich,intheopinionoftheSouthernleaders,broughtthemastepnearerwar。WallStreetheldthesamebelief,andasaconsequencethepriceofstocksfell。
CHAPTERVI。WAR
Onthedayfollowingtheinauguration,commissionersofthenewlyformedConfederacyappearedatWashingtonandappliedtotheSecretaryofStateforrecognitionasenvoysofaforeignpower。
Sewardrefusedthemsuchrecognition。Butheenteredintoaprivatenegotiationwiththemwhichisnearly,ifnotquite,thestrangestthinginourhistory。Virtually,SewardintriguedagainstLincolnforcontroloftheAdministration。Theeventsofthenextfiveweekshaveanimportanceoutofallproportiontothebrevityofthetime。ThiswasLincoln\'speriodoffinalprobation。Thepsychologicalintensityofthisepisodegrewfromtheconsciousnessineverymindthatnow,irretrievably,destinywastobedetermined。Warorpeace,happinessoradversity,onenationortwo——allthesewereinthebalance。Lincolnenteredtheepisodeadoubtfulquantity,notwithcertaintythemastereveninhisownCabinet。Heemergeddominatingthesituation,butcommittedtotheterriblecourseofwar。
Onecannotenteruponthisgreatepisode,trulytheturningpointinAmericanhistory,withoutpausingforaglanceatthecharacterofSeward。Thesubjectiselusive。Hisablestbiographer*plainlyissoconstantlyonguardnottoappearanapologistthatheendsbyreducinghisportraittoamereoutline,waveringacrossabackgroundofpoliticaldetails。ThemostrecentstudyofSeward**surelyrevealsbetweenthelinesthedoubtfulnessoftheauthoraboutpushinghispointshome。Thedifferentsidesofthemanarehardtoreconcile。Nowheseemedfrankandhonest;againsubtleandinsincere。Asanactivepoliticianinthenarrowsense,heshouldhavebeensagaciousandastute,yethedisplayedatthecrisisofhislifethemostabsolutefatuity。Attimeshehadabuoyantandpuerilewayofdisregardingfactandenvelopinghimselfinaworldofhisownimagining。Hecouldbluster,whenhewished,likeanydemagogue;
andyethecouldbepersuasive,agreeable,andevenpersonallycharming。
*FredericBancroft,\"LifeofWilliamH。Seward\"。
**GamalielBradford,\"UnionPortraits\"。
ButofonethingwithregardtoSeward,inthefirstweekofMarch,1861,therecanbenodoubt:hethoughthimselfagreatstatesman——andhethoughtLincoln\"aSimpleSusan。\"Heconceivedhisroleinthenewadministrationtoinvolveasubtleandpatientmanipulationofhischildlikesuperior。ThatLincolnwouldgraduallyyieldtohisspellandinsensiblybecomehisfigurehead;thathe,Seward,couldsavethecountryandwouldgodowntohistoryastatesmanabovecompare,hetookforgranted。
Norcanhefairlybecalledconceited,either;thatispartofhissingularity。
Lincoln\'sCabinetwas,asSewardsaid,acompoundbody。Withaviewtostrengtheninghisposition,LincolnhadappointedtocabinetpositionsallhisformerrivalsfortheRepublicannomination。BesidesSeward,therewasChaseasSecretaryoftheTreasury;SimonCameronofPennsylvaniaasSecretaryofWar;
EdwardBatesofMissouriasAttorney-General。TheappointmentofMontgomeryBlairofMarylandasPostmaster-GeneralwasintendedtoplacatetheborderSlaveStates。ThesamemotivedictatedthelaterinclusionofJamesSpeedofKentuckyintheCabinet。TheBlack-StantonwingoftheDemocratswasrepresentedintheNavyDepartmentbyGideonWelles,andincourseoftimeintheWarDepartmentalso,whenCameronresignedandStantonsucceededhim。
TheWestofthatdaywasrepresentedbyCalebB。SmithofIndiana。