The Republican Party: Overall Issues, 1860-1868
The Republican party during the 1860's was known as the party more concerned with "civil
rights" and the common American. This came about through a series of sweeping changes in
the party that occurred during two major time periods: the 1860-1864 and 1864-1868. The
changes in the party reflected the attitude in the North as opposed to the confederate,
democratic South. The main issue that divided the two was slavery and its implications
for control of the nation.
The best illustration of the party's anti-slavery sentiment (as contrasted to
abolitionism) in 1860, is the fact that although the party was against slavery , it
refused to attempt to stamp it out of the regions it was already present. For example,
in the Republican Party Platform for 1860, the party states its abhorrence for slavery
and declares that slavery should not be instituted into new territories, but it never
tries to outlaw it from Southern states.
"That the normal conditions of all the territory of the United States is that of
freedom...and we deny the authority of Congress, of a territorial legislature or of any
individuals, to give existence to Slavery in any Territory of the United States."
In the first four years of the 1860's, the North and South waged war over these issues,
with the Republican North emerging victorious. The Republicans took charge of the
national political power. Although he worked with an anti-slavery platform, President
Lincoln attempted to make a generous peace with the South, with hopes of expanding the
power of the Republican party with support from the South. Examples of this can be found
in the fact that Confederate officials were not barred from public office, compensation
for lost slaves was not ruled out and Lincoln hinted that he would be generous with
pardons to rebel leaders. With the Emancipation Proclamation, the Republicans gained
freedom for slaves, but not social or political equality.
During the years of 1864-1868, the Republican platform again changed with the public
opinion in the North to one of abolition. In the platform for the National Union
Convention, the party affirmed its support for an Amendment to "terminate and forever
prohibit the existence of slavery within the limits or jurisdiction of the United
States." The 13th Amendment confirmed the death of slavery. However, the so-called
"Black Codes" that Southern governments implemented forced abolitionist Republicans in
Congress to clash with President Andrew Johnson over the passage of a new Freedmen's
Bureau bill and a Civil Rights Act. This clash signified a division between the old
Republican values of tolerance and the new platform of slave rights. This led to the
passage of the 14th amendment, which declared all slaves as citizens and defined their
voting privileges as equal to every other citizen. The radical republicans had achieved
their goal. With freedmen able to vote, the Republic party would be able to carry more
of the Southern states in elections and maintain control.
Near the end of the Reconstruction Era, the Republican party underwent even more
changes. With the slavery issue settled in their eyes, scandals in the party, and the
threat of violence from various hate groups keeping freedmen from voting, its attentions
began to turn elsewhere. The metamorphosis that the party underwent through the 1860's
was a direct result of the popular opinion in the North at the time. As the detestment
of slavery grew in the North, so did the Republican legislation grow more severe against
it, starting with the party platforms and ending with the ratification of the 14th
Amendment.
|