Twenty Years of Congress, Vol. 1 | Page 2

Defeat of Scott.--Destruction of the Whig Party.--Death of Mr. Clay.-- Death of Mr. Webster.--Their Public Characters and Services compared.
CHAPTER VI.
Review (continued).--The Strength of the Democratic Party in 1853.--Popular Strength not so great as Electoral Strength.--The New President's Pledge not to re-open the Slavery Question.--How he failed to maintain that Pledge.--The North-west Territory.--Anti- slavery Restriction of the Missouri Compromise.--Movement to repeal it by Mr. Clay's Successor in the Senate.--Mr. Douglas adopts the policy of repealing the Restriction.--It is made an Administration Measure and carried through Congress.--Colonel Benton's Position. --Anti-slavery Excitement developed in the Country.--Destruction of the Whig Party.--New Political Alliances.--American Party.--Know- Nothings.--Origin and Growth of the Republican Party.--Pro-slavery Development in the South.--Contest for the Possession of Kansas.-- Prolonged Struggle.--Disunion Tendencies developing in the South. --Election of N. P. Banks to the Speakership of the House.--The Presidential Election of 1856.--Buchanan.--Fr��mont.--Fillmore.-- The Slavery Question the Absorbing Issue.--Triumph of Buchanan.-- Dred Scott Decision.--Mr. Lincoln's Version of it.--Chief Justice Taney.
CHAPTER VII.
Review (continued).--Continuance of the Struggle for Kansas.-- List of Governors.--Robert J. Walker appointed Governor by President Buchanan.--His Failure.--The Lecompton Constitution fraudulently adopted.--Its Character.--Is transmitted to Congress by President Buchanan.--He recommends the Admission of Kansas under its Provisions. --Pronounces Kansas a Slave State.--Gives Full Scope and Effect to the Dred Scott Decision.--Senator Douglas refuses to sustain the Lecompton Iniquity.--His Political Embarrassment.--Breaks with the Administration.--Value of his Influence against Slavery in Kansas. --Lecompton Bill passes the Senate.--Could not be forced through the House.--The English Bill substituted and passed.--Kansas spurns the Bribe.--Douglas regains his Popularity with Northern Democrats. --Illinois Republicans bitterly hostile to him.--Abraham Lincoln nominated to contest the Re-election of Douglas to the Senate.-- Lincoln challenges Douglas to a Public Discussion.--Character of Each as a Debater.--They meet Seven Times in Debate.--Douglas re- elected.--Southern Senators arraign Douglas.--His Defiant Answer. --Danger of Sectional Division in the Democratic Party.
CHAPTER VIII.
Excited Condition of the South.--The John Brown Raid at Harper's Ferry.--Character of Brown.--Governor Wise.--Hot Temper.--Course of Republicans in Regard to John Brown.--Misunderstanding of the Two Sections.--Assembling of the Charleston Convention.--Position of Douglas and his Friends.--Imperious Demands of Southern Democrats. --Caleb Cushing selected for Chairman of the Convention.--The South has Control of the Committee on Resolutions.--Resistance of the Douglas Delegates.--They defeat the Report of the Committee.-- Delegates from Seven Southern States withdraw.--Convention unable to make a Nomination.--Adjourns to Baltimore.--Convention divides. --Nomination of both Douglas and Breckinridge.--Constitutional Union Convention.--Nomination of Bell and Everett.--The Chicago Convention.--Its Membership and Character.--Mr. Seward's Position. --His Disabilities.--Work of his Friends, Thurlow Weed and William M. Evarts.--Opposition of Horace Greeley.--Objections from Doubtful States.--Various Candidates.--Nomination of Lincoln and Hamlin.-- Four Presidential Tickets in the Field.--Animated Canvass.--The Long Struggle over.--The South defeated.--Election of Lincoln.-- Political Revolution of 1860 complete.
CHAPTER IX.
The Tariff Question in its Relation to the Political Revolution of 1860.--A Century's Experience as to Best Mode of levying Duties.-- Original Course of Federal Government in Regard to Revenue.--First Tariff Act.--The Objects defined in a Preamble.--Constitutional Power to adopt Protective Measure.--Character of Early Discussions. --The Illustrious Men who participated.--Mr. Madison the Leader.-- The War Tariff of 1812.--Its High Duties.--The Tariff of 1816.-- Interesting Debate upon its Provisions.--Clay, Webster, and Calhoun take part.--Business Depression throughout the Country.--Continues until the Enactment of the Tariff of 1824.--Protective Character of that Tariff.--Still Higher Duties levied by the Tariff of 1828. --Southern Resistance to the Protective Principle.--Mr. Calhoun leads the Nullification Movement in South Carolina.--Compromise effected on the Tariff Question.--Financial Depression follows.-- Panic of 1837.--Protective Tariff passed in 1842.--Free-trade Principles triumph with the Election of President Polk.--Tariff of 1846.--Prosperous Condition of the Country.--Differences of Opinion as to the Causes.--Surplus Revenue.--Plethoric Condition of the Treasury.--Enactment of the Tariff of 1857.--Both Parties support it in Congress.--Duties lower than at Any Time since the War of 1812.--Panic of 1857.--Dispute as to its causes.--Protective and Free-trade Theories as presented by their Advocates.--Connection of the Tariff with the Election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency. --General Review.
CHAPTER X.
Presidential Election of 1860.--The Electoral and Popular Vote.-- Wide Divergence between the Two.--Mr. Lincoln has a Large Majority of Electors.--In a Minority of 1,000,000 on Popular Vote.--Beginning of Secession.--Rash Course of South Carolina.--Reluctance on the Part of Many Southern States.--Unfortunate Meeting of South-Carolina Legislature.--Hasty Action of South-Carolina Convention.--The Word "Ordinance."--Meeting of Southern Senators in Washington to promote Secession.--Unwillingness in the South to submit the Question to Popular Vote.--Georgia not eager to Secede.--Action of Other States. --Meeting of Congress in December, 1860.--Position of Mr. Buchanan. --His Attachment to the Union as a Pennsylvanian.--Sinister Influences in his Cabinet.--His Evil Message to Congress.--Analysis of the Message.--Its Position destructive to the Union.--The President's Position Illogical and Untenable.--Full of Contradictions.--Extremists of the South approve the Message.--Demoralizing Effect of the Message in the North and in the South.--General Cass resigns from State Department.--Judge Black succeeds him.--Character of Judge Black.--Secretaries Cobb, Floyd, and Thompson.--Their Censurable Conduct in the Cabinet.--Their Resignation.--Re-organization of Cabinet.--Dix, Holt, Stanton.--Close of Mr. Buchanan's Administration. --Change in the