Chapter 1: Lincoln and Liberty
Until Every Drop of Blood is Paid
A More Radical American Civil War
By: Red_Galiray
"Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
Chapter 1: Lincoln and Liberty
Even though President Pierce was at first opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, he caved to the southern pressure and vowed to make it a “test of Party Orthodoxy”. When his party passed the test and he signed the bill into law in May 30th, 1854, he probably believed that it would strengthen the position of his party and deal a fatal blow to the already divided Whig opposition. The Act indeed killed the Whig Party, which was irremediably split between its Northern and Southern factions. This coup de grace, the brainchild of the Illinois democrat Stephen A. Douglas, however also had negative consequences for the Democrat Party, for it did "create a deep-seated, intense, and ineradicable hatred of the institution [slavery] which will crush its political power, at all hazards, and at any cost", like the New York Times predicted.A More Radical American Civil War
By: Red_Galiray
"Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
Chapter 1: Lincoln and Liberty
Anti-Nebraska meetings sprang up through the North, while Democratic politicians and voters who opposed the Act started to leave their party in favor of new anti-slavery coalitions that would eventually adopt the name of Republicans. This new party was ready to challenge the Slavocrats in the 1854 midterms. During the campaign season they proved to be a powerful opponent to the Democrats, going toe to toe or even defeating them in several pivotal and hard-fought battles. One of the fiercest was fought in Illinois, Douglas’ state.
One especially eloquent campaigner was a lanky politician and prairie lawyer from the state who still identified as a Whig despite the collapse of the party. Abraham Lincoln had served in the state legislature and been elected for one term to Congress. During his time there, he protested the Mexican War and introduced plans for gradual abolition in the District of Columbia. A declared enemy of slavery but still a moderate with respect for southern rights, Lincoln hoped to be elected to the Senate to replace Senator Shields.
Lincoln managed to get the support of most of the former Whigs and Free Soilers, but he was unable to convince the Anti-Nebraska Democrats, who wanted to elect one of their own. Lincoln decided that he needed to campaign more vigorously so that some seats of the Legislature could be won by members of the Republican coalition. One of the other contenders for the Senate seat, Lyman Trumbull, saw this with preoccupation. A lawyer like Lincoln, Trumbull was one of the Illinois’ most prominent anti-slavery men, and was now an Anti-Nebraska Democrat. Lincoln was making inroads with Northern Illinoisans through eloquent speeches.
Abraham Lincoln
Emulating his example, Trumbull went north and gave a speech in Chicago, where he reminded his audience of his record of defending African Americans from involuntary servitude and his opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, harshly attacking the pro-slavery settlers. Unfortunately for Trumbull, his speech was heard by the farmer John J. Walker, a Kentuckian slaveowner who hoped to start anew in Kansas after failing miserably in his business enterprises. A man of no talent or prominence, with nothing but a slave and a small family, Walker went to Chicago hoping to borrow money from an uncle. But when he heard Trumbull’s speech, he was blinded with fury. Walker waited until Trumbull ended his speech and stepped down from the stump. Then he ambushed him with a revolver, and with three shots the Kentucky farmer murdered the Senate candidate.
The murder of the moderate and respectable Trumbull by a lowly pro-slavery farmer caused fury and horror through the state, possibly deciding the race in favor of the Republican coalition which won 62 seats. The state elected Lincoln to the Senate, with many anti-Nebraska Democrats openly stating that Walker’s horrifying crime and Lincoln’s respectful obituary of his rival led them to decide in favor of ol’ Abe. And thus with his actions the Kentucky farmer helped to elect the Kentucky lawyer to the United States Senate.
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POD: Lyman Trumbull is murdered by a pro-slavery fanatic and Lincoln is elected to the Senate as a result. While in Washington, Lincoln broadens his horizons and his views evolve faster, leading to a more Radical Civil War.
The Battle Cry of Freedom, the Civil War Era, by James M. McPherson.
Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men, by Eric Foner.
The Road to Secession II, by William W. Freehling.
The Fiery Trial, by Eric Foner.
Team of Rivals, by Doris Goodwin.
The Civil War, a Narrative, by Shelby Foote.
McClellan's War, by Ethan S. Rafuse.
Tried by War and Embattled Rebel, by James M. McPherson.
What they fought for and For Cause and Comrades, by James M. McPherson.
The Destructive War, by Charles Royster.
The Fate of Liberty, by Mark E. Neely.
Freedom National, by James Oakes.
Reconstruction, America's unfinished revolution, by Eric Foner.
Lincoln: A Biography, by David Herbert Donald.
Grant, by Ron Chernow.
Breckinridge: Statesman, Soldier, Symbol, by William C. Davis.
Disunion! The Coming of the Civil War, by Elizabeth R. Varon.
The Impending Crisis, by David Potter.
Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men, by Eric Foner.
The Road to Secession II, by William W. Freehling.
The Fiery Trial, by Eric Foner.
Team of Rivals, by Doris Goodwin.
The Civil War, a Narrative, by Shelby Foote.
McClellan's War, by Ethan S. Rafuse.
Tried by War and Embattled Rebel, by James M. McPherson.
What they fought for and For Cause and Comrades, by James M. McPherson.
The Destructive War, by Charles Royster.
The Fate of Liberty, by Mark E. Neely.
Freedom National, by James Oakes.
Reconstruction, America's unfinished revolution, by Eric Foner.
Lincoln: A Biography, by David Herbert Donald.
Grant, by Ron Chernow.
Breckinridge: Statesman, Soldier, Symbol, by William C. Davis.
Disunion! The Coming of the Civil War, by Elizabeth R. Varon.
The Impending Crisis, by David Potter.
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