Conspectus of the History of Political Parties and the Federal Government/Conspectus of Political History/Buchanan
Buchanan’s Administration.
The Dred Scott decision was made two days after the inauguration of Mr. Buchanan. The case was originally one of assault and battery. Dred Scott, a Missouri slave, was taken by his master to Illinois in 1834, then to Minnesota territory in 1838, and thence back to Missouri. Here, having been whipped for some offense, he sued for damages, claiming that he obtained his freedom by residing upon free soil, and, therefore, being a citizen, he had a right to sue in court. The Circuit Court decided in his favor. The Supreme Court of the State having reversed the decision, the case was taken to the Supreme Court of the United States, where Chief Justice Taney decided that slaves, or the descendants of those who had been sold into slavery, had no right to sue in a court of the United States; that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional; and that because slaves were property, Congress had no right to prohibit the carrying of them into any state or territory. This decision startled the free states, and was not satisfactory to many northern Democrats.
The Lecompton Constitution was formed for Kansas, Sept. 4th, 1857, by a pro-slavery convention, which had been authorized by the territorial legislature. It was submitted to the people, who were to vote “Constitution with Slavery,” or, “Constitution without Slavery.” The Free-State men, by this regulation, not being allowed to vote against the constitution, refused to take part in the election. The constitution with slavery was adopted. At a new election (Jan. 4th, 1858) ordered by the territorial legislature, the instrument was rejected by a vote of 10,000. This election was regarded as illegal by those who favored the constitution, and the question was submitted to Congress by the President. Legislation upon the subject resulted in the
English bill, which submitted the Lecompton Constitution to the people of Kansas, with the promise that large grants of lands would be given the state if the constitution were adopted. The bill became a law, but the constitution was rejected by a majority of 9,513 (August, 1858).
Wyandot constitution.—In 1859, the territorial legislature called an election for delegates to meet and form a constitution. They assembled in convention at Wyandot, in July, and prepared a constitution prohibiting slavery. When submitted to the people, it was adopted by a majority of 4,000. Under this constitution Kansas was admitted in 1861.
John Brown’s raid was an unsuccessful attempt (1859) made at Harper’s Ferry, Va., to incite the slaves to insurrection, with a view to their liberation. It created wild alarm in the south, and brought on bitter discussion between the friends and opponents of slavery.
The Constitutional Union party.—The American party, owing to the unpopularity of the principles upon which it was founded, went out of existence in Buchanan’s administration. Its successor, the Constitutional Union party, was organized in 1860. It failed to develop much strength, and was more influential in the southern than in the northern states.
Election of 1860.—The convention of the Constitutional Unionists met at Baltimore on the 9th of May, and nominated John Bell (Tenn.) and Edward Everett (Mass.). Their platform contained but one resolution. [See Platforms.]
The Republican national convention assembled at Chicago, on the 16th of May, and nominated Abraham Lincoln (Ill.), and Hannibal Hamlin (Me.). The platform, consisting of seventeen resolutions, was adopted with great enthusiasm. [See D. and Pl.]
The Democratic national convention met on the 23d of April, in the city of Charleston, every state being represented. The committee on resolutions presented a majority and two minority reports. After an exciting debate, the principal minority report was adopted. This imposed upon the party a platform which caused the delegations from Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Texas, and portions from Louisiana, South Carolina, Arkansas, and North Carolina, to retire from the convention. Balloting then began, but fifty-seven having been cast without selecting a candidate, the convention adjourned, to meet in Baltimore on the 18th of June. Those who had withdrawn decided to meet in Richmond on the 11th of June. On reassembling at Baltimore, it was found that from several states there were contesting delegations. The subject was referred to the committee on credentials, which made three reports. The convention having adopted the majority report, the entire delegations of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, California, and Delaware, and parts of Maryland, Kentucky, and Massachusetts, withdrew. Stephen A. Douglas (Ill.) and Herschel V. Johnson (Ga.) were then nominated. The Democratic platform of 1856 was adopted, with seven explanatory resolutions. [See D. and Pl.] The delegates who had withdrawn met at the Maryland Institute (June 28), and nominated John C. Breckinridge (Ky.) and Joseph Lane (Or.). The Democratic platform of 1856 was reaffirmed, with six explanatory resolutions. [See D. and Pl.] The convention which assembled at Richmond adopted this ticket and platform. The Democratic party was now dismembered. A heated canvass followed these nominations. Mr. Lincoln was elected, though he lacked nearly a million votes of receiving a popular majority.
Secession.—When the election of Lincoln was ascertained, the South Carolina legislature called a convention to consider the necessity of immediate secession, and southern members began to resign their seats in Congress. The President denied the right of a state to secede, but did not believe the government had the constitutional power to prevent it. South Carolina seceded Dec. 20, 1860. The next month, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana passed ordinances of secession. Texas withdrew on the first of February. Three days afterwards (Feb. 4), delegates from these states met at Montgomery, Alabama, and organized the Confederate States of America. When a state withdrew, it seized the forts, arsenals, and other Federal property within its limits. Several attempts at conciliation were made in Congress, but certain members declared that “the day for compromises had passed.” The long contest for the balance of power between “Slavery Extension” and “Slavery Restriction” was now culminating in war. The supremacy of the south was lost. “Disunion was the only remedy, and this could be obtained only through war.” Political distinctions were in a measure obliterated, and this administration closed, not on contentions between the Republican and Democratic parties, but on a conflict between Union and and Secession.