Southern Pamphlets on Secession, November 1860-April 1861Jon L. Wakelyn The election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860 initiated a heated debate throughout the South about what Republican control of the federal government would mean for the slaveholding states. During the secession crisis of the winter of 1860-61, Southerners spoke out and wrote prolifically on the subject, publishing their views in pamphlets that circulated widely. These tracts constituted a regional propaganda war in which Southerners vigorously debated how best to react to political developments on the national level. In this valuable reference work, Jon Wakelyn has collected twenty representative examples of this long-overlooked literature. Although the pamphlets reflect deep differences of opinion over what Lincoln's intentions were and how the South should respond, all indicate the centrality of slavery to the Southern way of life and reflect a pervasive fear of racial unrest. More generally, the pamphlets reveal a wealth of information about the South's political thought and self-identity at a defining moment in American history. The twenty items included here represent the views of leaders and opinion makers throughout the slaveholding states and are fully annotated. An additional sixty-five pamphlets are listed and briefly described in an appendix. Originally published in 1996. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value. |
Contents
Maria Henrietta Pinckney | 3 |
William Henry Trescot | 14 |
Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry | 35 |
Copyright | |
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abolitionism abolitionists action African Andrew Johnson argument attempt believe Border Charleston citizens civil claimed coercion commerce common compact compromise Confederate Congress Constitution convention cotton Court Crittenden declared destroy disunion doctrine duty election England equality evil existence fathers federacy Federal Government force foreign Fort Sumter fugitive slave law fugitive slaves Georgia give honor hope hostility institution of slavery interests Jabez L. M. Curry James Henley Thornwell Kentucky labor land legislation Legislature liberty Lincoln Lower South majority ment Mississippi negro never non-slaveholding North Northern opinion pamphlet patriotism Peace Conference political population present President principle proposition protection purpose question race Republican party resistance result revolution Robert M. T. Hunter secede secession Senator separate slaveholding social South Carolina speech Tennessee territory tion trade U.S. Senate Union Unionist United Upper South violation Virginia vote Washington whole