David Wilmot, Free-soiler

Situation at the Opening of Taylor's Administration.
Stoddard, Schurz, Schouler and others on the Issue
Created by the Wilmot Proviso. The Temper of
Congress as Revealed in Debate. Six-Months' Dead-
lock on the California Bill. Clay's "Comprehensive
Scheme of Adjustment," Sacrificing the Wilmot
Proviso. Calhoun's Last Speech on the Question.
Webster's "7th of March Speech"-"the Fall of an
Archangel." Webster's Attitude and Policy Com-
pared with Wilmot's. Cass Repudiates the Proviso.
Lincoln's Description of Cass and "the Great Demo-
cratic Ox-Gad" Waving him back. Chase's Prophecy
that those who Thought they Were Killing the Pro-
viso Were only Committing Political Suicide.

XXIII. PASSAGE OF THE COMPROMISE BILLS.

The Committee of Thirteen and the Omnibus Bill.

Their Report that the Wilmot Proviso, as Applied

to New Mexico and California, Was a "Mere Ab-

straction." The Compromise Bills in the Senate.

Clay's Despair. Subdivision of the Omnibus Bill.

Adoption of the Various Measures. Action in the

House. Wilmot's Votes. His Part in the General

Legislation of that Session. Speech on the Presi-

dent's Message Transmitting the Constitution of

California. Speech on the California Question.

The Campaign of 1850. Endorsed by his District,

but Defeated by the Powers at Washington. Secret

Correspondence of Buchanan's Lieutenants. Estab-

lishment of a Hostile Press. Nominated a Fourth

Time by his Party. A Bolting Convention and a

Rival Candidate. Wilmot Withdraws to Save the

Ticket, Selecting Galusha A. Grow as his Successor.

Letters of the Three Candidates. Wilmot's Conclud-

ing Months in Congress. A Remarkable Tribute to

him in a Letter from F. P. Blair to Martin Van

Buren.

XXV. ON THE BENCH .

Chosen by a Large Majority as the First Elected

President Judge of the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Dis-

trict. Charge to his First Grand Jury. His Char-

acteristics in the Judicial Office.

XXVI. THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA STRUGGLE

An Unstable Peace Following the Compromise of

1850. Douglas's Bid for the Presidency-the Repeal

of the Missouri Compromise. Northern Reactions

against a New Aggression by the Slave Power. The

Response in Wilmot's District. Taking the Issue to

the People. His Welcome to Women in Politics.

Speeches to his Constituents. Letters to Public Meet-

ings. A Dark Horse in the Caucus for United States

Senator.

XXVII. BIRTH OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

Wilmot's Circular as Chairman of the First Repub-

lican State Committee in Pennsylvania. His Speeches

throughout the District. Results at the Polls. New

Attempts to Annihilate Wilmot. Vicious Newspaper

Attacks Silenced by a Libel Suit. The Bill Pro-

hibiting Judges from Taking Part in Politics. Its

Death in Committee.

XXVIII. THE FREMONT CAMPAIGN OF 1856

Call by the Republican Central Committee of Five

States, Wilmot Signing for Pennsylvania. His Cir-

cular to the Friends of Freedom. His Accompanying

Letter. The Appeal to the People of the United

States. The Harrisburg Convention of March 26.

The Philadelphia Convention. Wilmot's Draft of

the First Republican Platform. He Is Voted for as

Vice-President on the Ticket with Fremont. His

Speeches at the Convention. His Work in the Cam-

XXIX. CAMPAIGN FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP

A Sacrifice to Consolidate the New Republican Party.

Comments of the Press. Wilmot's Letters on the

Tariff and other Issues. Proposes Joint Debate with

his Opponent. A Single-Handed Attempt to Stump

the State. Horace Greeley's Comments. A Splendid

Defeat.

PAGE

495

XXX. THE SO-CALLED IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS 515

The Last Ineffectual Attempt to "Annihilate❞ Wilmot

by Abolishing his Judicial District, and thus Depriv-

ing him of Public Office. An Abstract of his De-

fense before the Pennsylvania Legislature. Mc-

Clure's Comment. The Defeat of the Conspiracy.

XXXI. THE CONVENTION THAT NOMINATED LINCOLN 527

Wilmot's Part as Temporary Chairman, and his Im-

portant Influence in Bringing the Pennsylvania Dele-

gation to the Support of Lincoln's Candidacy, and thus

Insuring his Nomination.

XXXII. FROM THE THRESHOLD OF LINCOLN'S CABINET

TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE .

Discovering the True Story of Lincoln's Invitation

to Wilmot to Enter his Cabinet, Wilmot's Declination

in Favor of a Place in the Senate, his Temporary

Defeat by Cameron, and his Ultimate Election in

March, 1861.

XXXIII. THE PEACE CONFERENCE

Its Origin and Work. The Part Wilmot Played as

Pennsylvania's Leading Delegate. His Opposition to

a "Patched-up Compromise." Constitutional Amend-

ments Proposed by the Conference. The Rejection

by the Senate.

XXXIV. IN THE SENATE .

Philadelphia Speech. Washington in War Time.

Support of the President's Measures. First Reports

XXXV. THE PURGING OF THE SENATE

584

Wilmot's Activity in Expelling Disloyal Members.

His Support of Sumner in Arraigning Jesse D.

Bright and Benjamin Stark.

XXXVI. THE CONFISCATION BILL

595

Digest of Wilmot's Speech on the Right and Duty of

Congress to Extinguish Slavery. Remarks on the

Substitute Bill. Accord with Lincoln.

CHAPTER

XXXVII. THE TARIFF BILL AND THE ACT ESTABLISH-

ING FREEDOM IN THE TERRITORIES

PAGE

602

Wilmot Sacrifices Low Tariff Views to Meet War
Emergencies. His Protest against Certain Features
of the Act. Participation in other War Legislation.
The Wilmot Proviso Adopted as an Act of Congress.
Letter to Cooper Institute Meeting Advocating Eman-
cipation.

XXXVIII. CLOSING MONTHS IN THE SENATE .

Remarks on the Revenue Bill, on the League Island

Navy Yard, the Conscription Bill, the Compensation

Bill. Attitude on other Questions. Support of the

Administration. Failing Health.

XXXIX. THE COURT OF CLAIMS.

Appointed by Lincoln to the New Tribunal. Part

in Organizing it. Important Concurring and Dissent-

ing Opinions. A Remarkable Tribute from the

Chief Justice.

XL. VALEDICTORY

618