The Crusade against Slavery, 1830-1860 (review)

Book Reviews339 that the changing emphasis causes the central theme to suffer because it is assigned repeatedly to a secondary role. It is regrettable tiiat the authors failed to give a title to each of the fifteen chapters. This limitation creates confusion and becomes all die more pronounced because of the absence of a smooth style which could serve to connect and establish chapter relationships. There is also no explanation as to why the authors made use of the same methodology in writing Appendix A (theme, footnotes, documentation, etc.) that they used for writing the regular chapters. It would appear more appropriate therefore for Appendix A to appear as an additional chapter. In Appendix B the authors included four of Baker's speeches. How or why these particular ones were selected is not revealed nor is the original source identified from which three were taken. The exception was the fourth speech, the Atlantic Cable Address, phonographically reported for pubUcation in the Sacramento Daily Union and appearing therein on September 30, 1858. Though the subject matter of the book is arranged chronologically there aremany gaps which need to be filled and expanded. This is true with respect to Baker's early life, his relationship with Lincoln in Illinois, and especially with reference to the period from June, 1852, to August, 1857, when Baker was a resident of California. On page 114, the authors assert that "it was Baker who did most to make possible the Republican victory in the Pacific Coast states [in the election of 1860] and to keep them in die Union." Such statement appears ill-advised and fails to take into consideration numerous facts: at that time secession was not a fait accompli by any state; in January, 1860, California's Governor John Weiler had stated to die legislature that in case of war tiie state would not go either to the North or to the South; the Fort Sumter incident was yet months away; there was present in both Oregon and California strong opposition to Baker; and, finally, once the war had begun the tremendous contributions to the Union cause that were to be forthcoming from California would serve to challenge and discredit the claim that the authors set forth. Leo P. Kibby San Jose State College The Crusade against Slavery, 1830-1860. By Louis Filler. (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1960. Pp. xvii, 218. $5.00.) While it is not concerned directly with the Civil War of the 1860'«, students of that war who are interested in the causative factors will find just the work needed in Dr. Filler's carefully compiled survey of the antislavery movement. Overshadowing all other issues anddisagreements, the sound and fury raised by the opponents of slavery, and the issues aroused by that basic question, unquestionably contributed heavily—if not preponderantly—to the final division and hostility between the sections. Dr. Filler has directed his study to antislavery as a humanitarian reform 340CIVIL WAR HISTORY movement which burgeoned into a crusade that was sometimes unwise, irresponsible , and ül-directed, though its ideals were on the highest level. He covers the entire field of the myriad of sects, parties, splinter groups, and radicals, as well as the unorganized masses who mildly opposed the institution for conscience' sake. Not aU who opposed slavery were abolitionists, and not all agreed on means and methods. There werethe Garrisonians—the noisy, radical group which is best known, whose vitriolic writings and preachings so enraged the South; the moral and political abolitionists—antislavery advocates in varying degrees and beliefs, even anti-Negro colonization societies and political organizations, on down or up (according to point of view) to the forthright armed raids of John Brown. Over the years the outpourings of the radicals and the intervention by force, as well as the encouragement and assistance given to escaped slaves, made a terrific impact on the pubhc mind, particularly in the South, creating a climate of distrust, hate, and political contention. Inescapably, the antislavery agitation had much to do with dividing the country and paving the road to war. The survey of the tumultuous and crucial period under study not only considers the impact of the antislavery movement but...