I was really impressed with Stephen Douglas during this time. While I obviously didn’t appreciate many of his views, I appreciated the results of his character when the country found itself in crisis. He didn’t agree with Lincoln's view on many issues, he didn’t like Lincoln, but when it came time to choose a side he never wavered in his support of the Union. It must have been so difficult for him to put aside his contempt and stand behind Lincoln. Douglas said he would “hang every man higher than Haman who would attempt … to break up the Union by resistance to its laws.” And later, “Mr. Lincoln is the next President. We must try to save the Union. I will go South.” He showed the same backbone when he fought against the Lecompton Constitution, despite the fact that it's passage would have supported the Democratic position.
In many ways he was your typical politician ... but in these moments he was an American.
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Brian,
ReplyDeleteI have never cared much for Stephen Douglas. I saw him as a self-serving politician. However, he does have his limits when it comes to the life of the Union, but by then it is too late. Moreover, I find it ironic that his death is shortly into the war that his policies helped to facilitate.
Todd B.
Brian,
ReplyDeleteI actually lost a lot of respect for Stephen Douglas as I read BCoF. I was really bothered, and still am, at the fact that he pushed the idea of Popular Sovereignty simply to get the $$$ from bringing the Transcontinental Railroad through Chicago. Then later, when he saw the possibility of Kansas entering the Union on the coat tails of his cause, he went to Buchanan and begged him to fix it. Here was a politician that clearly fought for a cause he didn't believe in and was horrified by the consequences of his work.
I do agree that his work in trying to keep the Union together, once it became obvious that Lincoln was going to be elected, was admirable, but I can't help but think he held a big role is the disunity of the country by advancing an idea that was only designed to make him rich.