This created the opening for the newly reformed Republican Party, mainly Abraham Lincoln, to win the White House.

The election of Lincoln, who was clearly opposed to slavery spreading to the outside of the existing states, was the last step as far as the South was concerned in proceeding with secession and eventually war.

In the six weeks following the election of Lincoln South Carolina seceded from the Union and over the next month five more states would follow.

James Buchanan, a now lame duck president, took no action against the South which only straighten the confidence of the already seceding states allowing them to set up a government and establish a military. Buchanan, a southern sympathizer, wanted to stay at arms length and do the minimum towards the treasonous South. He apparently wanted to up hold what he thought was the minimum standard under his presidential oath till he could vacate the White House.

When he finally did leave 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue he va

Stephens understood that the large democratic majority still in the House of Representatives could still block Lincoln’s agenda by southern leaders not vacating their seats by seceding.

President Buchanan could have, again, using the power of the Oval Office cite Yancy for conspiracy to commit treason. The results of the arrest of these men were lawful under the Constitution and as was already stated would have allowed for more time for a more human solution.

nished from public life and retreated to his home where he died in 1868.

He claims secession begins and ends with election of Lincoln.Toombs goes on to say that it is a sign of corruption by the non-slave holding states to infuse more aggression on the south and specially concerning slavery. “I say the election of Lincoln with all it’s surrounding is sufficient. What is the significance of his election? It is the endorsement, by the non-slave holding states, of all those acts of aggression upon our rights by all these states, legislatures, governors, judgers, and people. He is elected by the perpetrators of these wrongs with the purpose and intent to aid and support them in wrong doing“. (GienappP.57) Further along in his speech Toombs makes his declaration against Lincoln perfectly clear” their main purpose, as indicated by all their acts of hostility to slavery, is its final total abolition“. (GienappP.58)

Some topics in this essay:
Robert Toombs, Oval Office, Nebraska Kansas, William Yancy, James Buchanan, President Buchanan, GienappP60 Stevens, Jefferson Davis, House Representatives, Sumter April, president buchanan, southern leaders, election lincoln, slave holding, power oval office, oval office, white house, non-slave holding, buchanan southern, throughout south, lame duck,