United States Civil War (1861 – 1865) in Real Time

Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 6th 1860

District of Columbia

By a vote of 145 to 38, the United States House of Representatives formed a select committee to entertain ideas to avert disunion. Known as the Committee of Thirty-three, the group composed of one representative from each of the 33 states and job it was to discuss the issues of the day and take measures to ensure the perpetuity of the United States.

Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 8th 1860

District of Columbia

(United States) Secretary of the Treasury, Howell Cobb resigns as confronted with the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency, abandoned his faith in the United States, because he felt that “Secession of my state was imminent.”

A South Carolina delegation of United States House House Representatives warns outgoing President Buchanan not to attempt reinforcement of Fort Sumter, which would be an act of coercion and war. The delegation presented Buchanan with a written statement promising not to attack the forts but admonishing him not to try to reinforce them. The South Carolinians got the impression there would be no change in the military situation in Charleston Harbor, and they promised to try and prevent any accidental confrontation. They implore him to negotiate with South Carolina Commissioners so the state could get title to all Federal property by paying for it. The South Carolina Representatives asked Buchanan not to make any change in the disposition of troops at Charleston, and particularly not to strengthen Sumter, a fortress on an island in the midst of the harbor, without at least giving notice to the state authorities.

Tennessee

Governor of Tennessee, Isham Harris calls for a special session of the Tennessee legislature to consider secession.

Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 10th 1860

Illinois

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln wrote Senator from Illinois Lyman Trumbull: "Let there be no compromise on the question of extending slavery. If there be, all our labor is lost, and, ere long, must be done again. The dangerous ground—that into which some of our friends have a hankering to run—is Pop. Sov. Have none of it. Stand firm. The tug has to come, & better now, than any time hereafter."

Louisiana

The Louisiana state legislature met to consider secession.

Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 12th 1860

District of Columbia

Outgoing President James Buchanan appointed Philip F Thomas, of Maryland as the 23rd United States Secretary of the Treasury.

Major-General Winfield Scott, General-in-Chief of the United States Army, arrived in Washington, D.C. to confer with President James Buchanan.

Committee of Thirty-three doing its job with a variety of proposals, bills and resolutions submitted.

Kentucky

Governor Beriah Magoffin of Kentucky declined offers of help from the Indiana State militia to quell servile insurrections in Kentucky.

Louisiana

The state of Louisiana received Commissioners from Mississippi.

The Governor of Louisiana Thomas Overton Moore was instructed to communicate with the Governors of other southern States.

Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 14th 1860

District of Columbia

Secretary of State Lewis Cass of Michigan resigns. He believes President Buchanan should reinforce the Charleston forts and is unhappy about Buchanan's lack of action.

Georgia

The Georgia state legislature asked South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida to appoint delegates to a convention to establish a Southern Confederacy.

Senator Jefferson Davis of Mississippi observes solemnly, “The argument is exhausted. All hope of relief in the Union through the agency of committees, congressional legislation or constitutional amendments, is extinguished.” There can be but one conclusion as he sees it: “We are satisfied the honor, safety, and independence of the Southern people require the organization of a Southern confederacy."

Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 16th 1860

South Carolina

South Carolina legislature elects Francis Wilkinson Pickens as the 69th Governor of South Carolina. 

Events leading up to the United States Civil War, December 18th 1860

District of Columbia

Senator of Kentucky, John Crittenden introduced an eleventh-hour compromise proposal in the United States Senate, called the Crittenden Plan/Crittenden Compromise it comprised six constitutional amendments and four Congressional resolutions.

Crittenden proposed that the United States Constitution be amended to:

1. Slavery would be prohibited in all territory of the United States "now held, or hereafter acquired," north of latitude 36 degrees 30 minutes. In territory south of this line, slavery was "hereby recognized" and could not be interfered with by Congress. Further, property in slaves was to be "protected by all the departments of the territorial government during its continuance." States would be admitted to the Union from any territory with or without slavery as their constitutions provided.

2. Congress was forbidden to abolish slavery in places under its jurisdiction within a slave state, such as a military post.

3. Congress could not abolish slavery in the District of Columbia so long as it existed in the adjoining states of Virginia and Maryland, and without the consent of the District's inhabitants. Compensation would be given to owners who refused consent to abolition.

4. Congress could not prohibit or interfere with the interstate slave trade.

5. Congress would provide full compensation to owners of rescued fugitive slaves. Congress was empowered to sue the county in which obstruction to the fugitive slave laws took place to recover payment; the county, in turn, could sue "the wrong doers or rescuers" who prevented the return of the fugitive.

6. No future amendment of the Constitution could change these amendments, or authorize or empower Congress to interfere with slavery within any slave state.

Crittenden also offered the following four resolutions:

1. That fugitive slave laws were constitutional and should be faithfully observed and executed.

2. That all state laws which impeded the operation of fugitive slave laws, the so-called "Personal Liberty laws," were unconstitutional and should be repealed.

3. That the Fugitive Slave act of 1850 should be modified (and rendered less objectionable to the North) by equalizing the fee schedule for returning or releasing alleged fugitives, and limiting the powers of marshals to summon citizens to aid in their capture.

4. That laws for the suppression of the African slave trade should be effectively and thoroughly executed.

North Carolina

The North Carolina state senate passed the Appropriation Bill debated the previous day.

South Carolina

South Carolina Secession Convention reconvenes in Institute Hall in Charleston.

Illinois

(United States) President-elect Abraham Lincoln wrote to Georgia's Alexander "Little Alec" Stephens, one of the South's most outspoken Unionists, to assure him that he (Lincoln) will not interfere with slavery in the South, directly or indirectly.

Maine

Eastern Argus (The Leading Democrat Newspaper) A sloop of War to go to Charleston:  A Washington correspondent says it is understood that while the President declines to re-enforce the garrison at Fort Moultrie, he has ordered the sloop-of-war BROOKLYN to be prepared for sea at once, and held ready to proceed to Charleston to aid in the defense of the Government forts, at a moment’s warning. The order has created quite a stir among naval men.

Portland advertiser (The Leading Republican Newspaper) U.S. Forts near Charleston: Forts Moultrie and Sumpter and Castle Pickney, are in a complete state of repair, fully armed and provisioned, and are only in want of men. The garrison at Moultrie numbers at most sixty-five men, well disciplined and brave, ready to be offered up as the first sacrifice on the shrine of secession, which seems to be the fate designed for them by President Buchanan , Commander in-chief…. Should an attack be made by the people of Charleston upon Fort Moultrie and result in the sacrifice of Anderson and his command, the President would be held responsible for every drop of blood shed in the fight.