Pierre Soule: campaigning as a co-operative revolutionary
I found out that similar to our day politicians in 1860 bought media spots to explain their views.
From The New-York Times December 1860:
PROGRESS OF SECESSION.; LOUISIANA. POSITION OF HON. PIERRE SOULE.
Hon. PIERRE SOULE publishes in the New-Orleans Bee a card defining his position as a co-operative candidate for the State Convention. He declares that he is no submissionist; that it is his opinion that resistance to actual wrong is a paramount duty with States as well as with individuals. He denies the right of coercion and claims that as soon as the compact ceases to be respected the bond of Union is broken, and that the associates are at liberty to return to their individual and separate existence. Leaving out of consideration the causes which have led to the present difficulties, he says that it is not safe to leave the management of affairs in the present crisis to those who with all the federal power at their bidding have subverted the Government and destroyed the most powerful party ever organized. He adds:
These are, however, the men who now urge the expediency of separate action on the part of the States, and who advocate openly the policy of precipitating Louisiana, of herself, and without seeking concert with other States, into the vortex of revolution!!
That the present distracted condition of the country — the complexion so full of meaning and significancy of the late Presidential canvass — the attitude, perhaps too precipitate, of a majority of the Southern States -the crisis so hurriedly brought about by the why maneuvers and the reckless aspirations of unprincipled politicians — have placed the South in the unavoidable dilemma of abject submission or open resistance, is but too obvious.
Having, therefore, to choose between ignominy or revolution, I am for revolution! — but not for an inconsiderate and disheveled revolution, like that which so miserably transformed the great and potent empire once possessed by Spain on this continent, into those innumerable petty sovereignties constantly at war with each other, which have sunk in desolation and ruin the brightest spot on which the sun of God over shed its light.
I am for keeping Louisiana in concert and union with her sister States of the South. It were not too much of the united wisdom of them all, to consider and decide how the contemplated separation is to be effected; and, when effected, on what principles a new Confederacy should be organized and instituted. In other words, I am in favor of the State Convention sending discreet and experienced commissioners to commune with the other states, and adopt, in concert with them, such measures as may palliate, if not avert, the dangers which I see ahead of us in a proximate future.
1) I’m pretty sure Pierre Soulé did not win the race for secession convention delegate. He apparently did not sign Louisiana’s Ordinance of Secession, which was passed on January 26, 1861.
2) The entire article at The New York Times Archive includes a letter from Louisiana’s U.S. Senator, Judah P. Benjamin to the state legislature dated December 8, 1860. He was in favor of Louisiana’s secession well ahead of his Senate speech on December 31st in 1860. He differed from Soule; Benjamin thought that independent state action was a necessary first step because of the difficulties inherent in setting up a confedracy:
That to effect this purpose, separate State action is virtually necessary. That all attempts at concerted action should be conserved for the work of reconstructing a Government. Concert of action amongst numerous independent States is the result of long and patient efforts to reconcile divergent interests and harmonize conflicting opinions. The emergency does not admit of this delay, unless the South is prepared to submit to the degradation of seeing LINCOLN peacefully inaugurated as its President as well as that of the North.
March 4th is looming – there’s nothing worse than having a Black Republican inaugurated as Louisiana’s President.
As it turned out Louisiana would independently secede and also later join the Confederacy before the dread event.
