Twenty Years of Congress, Vol. 1 | Page 2

Measures.--Defeat of Compromise Bill.--Passage of the
Measures separately.--Memorable Session of Congress.--Whig and
Democratic Parties sustain the Compromise Measures.--National
Conventions.--Whigs nominate Winfield Scott over Fillmore.--Mr.
Clay supports Fillmore.--Mr. Webster's Friends.--Democrats nominate
Franklin Pierce.--Character of the Campaign.--Overwhelming 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.--Frémont.--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