1837-1860 AN HISTORICAL STUDY OF POLITICAL ISSUES AND MISSION OF THE STATE TO SOME years ago when the author was a graduate student in the University of Michigan, Professor Van Tyne suggested the history of the Republican party in Michigan as an excellent subject for a doctoral dissertation; under the inspiration of this suggestion an investigation of the field was begun, but later it was decided to make a study of all political parties in the ante-bellum period. The study of the political history of a typical northern State in the period when the slavery question was the foremost issue before the people has been especially interesting to one who is descended from New England ancestry and whose near kinsmen fought in the war to save the Union. The author has tried to search out the truth wherever it could be found and to write an impartial history of ante-bellum politics. The year 1835 has been selected as the opening date of this study because certain developments important in the history of Michigan politics originated at this time. After the Constitutional Convention of 1835 the people no longer regarded Michigan as a Territory but made preparations to assume their responsibilities as citizens of a State in the Union. The formation of the Whig party was begun late in 1834 and the leading issues in the next two years tended to strengthen the organization. The factional character of the Democratic party was disclosed for the first time in that convention, and subsequent issues made the B division more evident. Furthermore the State Constitution drafted in that year was the one under which the people of Michigan lived for fifteen years. The State officers, and United States Senators and Representative in Congress elected in 1835 continued to hold office after the State was admitted into the Union. The student of politics has to take into consideration the many forces underlying the views of the people on political questions. Chief among these are the training in the homes, the schools and the churches, and the economic and social environment under which the people live. Men's preferences and prejudices in politics can usually be traced to some or all of these influences. The writer of this monograph has tried therefore to place proper emphasis on the origin and character of the voting population, the influence of economic and social conditions and questions, and the part which the churches and probably the schools played in the formation of public opinion. No attempt has been made to discuss all the local and national political issues before the people; space has been given only to those which were especially important in causing the alignment of the voters into parties and factions. Since the slavery question attracted the limelight of public attention in this quarter of a century, the views of the people on it have received extensive treatment, but not to the exclusion of other issues. Slavery involved economic, moral, social and racial questions and consequently more forces had a part in the formation of public opinion with reference thereto than was the case with most issues. The influence of the churches in this connection was especially great. It is impossible to acknowledge adequately the debt I owe to those who have aided me so generously in gathering my data and in writing this monograph. I am under very deep obligations to Professor W. W. Davis of the University of Kansas for his interest in. this investigation and for many valuable suggestions on the manuscript. I owe much to Professors C. H. Van Tyne, Carl Becker and U. B. Phillips for their generous assistance and for words of encouragement at times when such words were most needed. These, men are however in no way responsible for any errors in this book or for the author's shortcomings. I wish to thank the librarians for the courteous treatment extended to me at all times, and to express my gratitude for the many kindnesses of my relatives and friends. |