Disunion Feed

America has argued itself to the edge before. The words come from 1854–1861; the arguments are the ones we are still having.

Walker Brooke @WalkerBrookeJan 9, 1861 · Warren County, Miss. · original ↗

I was elected a co-operationist: for united Southern action to demand guarantees, or, failing that, a Southern Confederacy. I feel it my duty, painful as it may be, to part from those with whom I have acted, and cast at least one of Warren county's votes for the Ordinance.

Next post: New York Daily News, Jan 9, 1861 →

The post above is condensed. From the original, word for word
"I was elected by a large majority, as what is known as a co-operationist--which means, as I understand it, one who was in favor of united Southern action for the purpose of demanding further guarantees, from the North, or, failing in that, the formation of a Southern Confederacy. [...] I therefore feel it my duty, painful as it may be, to part from those with whom I have heretofore acted, to assume the responsibility of casting at least one of the votes of Warren county for the passage of the Ordinance as reported."

The human face of the cooperationists' collapse. Brooke was elected to insist the South act only in concert — the very counsel Charleston's fire-eaters had attacked as 'delay' (ch2 se-009). On the floor as Mississippi votes to secede, he abandons his own bloc and casts a yes, 'painful as it may be.' The ordinance carried overwhelmingly; fifteen delegates held out. Verified against the Documenting the American South (UNC) transcription of the convention proceedings.

Next post: New York Daily News, Jan 9, 1861 →

Next in order

Between the posts

While the states leave, Washington argues. The one plan still alive — Senator Crittenden's, to write slavery permanently into the territories below a line — is dying in the Senate, and the North cannot agree whether that is a tragedy or a duty.

New York Daily News @NYDailyNews · New York, N.Y.

The "no compromise" policy of the Republican party, which at first had only a few ultramontane advocates, is now the watchword of that entire organization.

Original passage & context
"The 'no compromise' policy of the Republican party, which at first had only a few ultramontane advocates, is now the watchword of that entire organization."

The Northern Democratic complaint as the Crittenden Compromise — a plan to save the Union by writing slavery permanently into the territories below the old Missouri line — died in the Senate. To this Democratic paper the Republicans' refusal to concede, once a fringe view, is now the party's whole creed, and it is that rigidity, not the fire-eaters, that is breaking the country. The Republican reply is se-027. Verified verbatim against the AHA "Sixteen Months to Sumter."

Where this sits

Post 21 of 54 from the secession winter, Nov 9, 1860 – Apr 13, 1861 — each post linked to its primary source.

Part of 134 verified passages across 5 flashpoints, Jan 6, 1854 – Apr 13, 1861 — read the feed from the start.

How this was made