Original signed political manuscript by John G. Phelan of Connecticut, written during the secession crisis immediately preceding Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration and the outbreak of the Civil War.

The manuscript is an unusually detailed contemporary political essay discussing Abraham Lincoln, Horace Greeley, the Republican and Democratic parties, slavery, abolitionism, Stephen A. Douglas, John C. Breckinridge, the Electoral College, concessions to the South, Fort Moultrie, Northern poverty, Connecticut politics, and the Personal Liberty laws.

The document can be dated very closely to early 1861.

Phelan specifically writes about Lincoln revealing the principles of the incoming administration “before the 13th of Feb when the electoral are counted.” The electoral votes confirming Lincoln’s victory were formally counted by Congress on February 13, 1861.

At the conclusion, Phelan urges Connecticut Democrats to vote for James C. Loomis for governor and A. G. Hazard for lieutenant governor. Loomis and Hazard were the Democratic candidates in the Connecticut state election of 1861.

John Garvin Phelan was born April 1, 1848, making him approximately twelve years old when this manuscript was written. He later became known as Judge John G. Phelan and remained closely associated with Northford and Wallingford, Connecticut.

The political sophistication and intensity of the manuscript are remarkable considering the writer’s age.

Phelan strongly criticizes Republicans for refusing to compromise over slavery, attacks Horace Greeley, refers mockingly to Lincoln as a “railsplitter,” discusses the split Democratic vote between Douglas and Breckinridge, attempts to explain the Electoral College, questions abolitionism, discusses Fort Moultrie, and argues that compromise with the South is necessary.

The manuscript also contains period racial terminology and arguments concerning slavery that are offensive by modern standards but are historically significant evidence of Northern Democratic attitudes during the secession crisis. These passages are transcribed below exactly or as closely as possible from the original manuscript.

The document concludes with Phelan’s full manuscript signature:

“John Phelan.”

FULL TRANSCRIPTION:

“Why do not the Republicans want to Compromise (Horace Greeley is lecturing throughout the west for them not to yield one inch even if the Country goes to nothingness) I will tell you.

they know that if an amendment is put to the Constitution so that they Cannot harp on slavery the party is gone. that is the only plank in thier platform that they Can stand on then they must assume national principles or break up.

Oh! shall the democratic party which has stood so many presidential battles be broke up by a few Black republicans who put up a railsplitter for a president and who had in their processions a man splitting rails just as though that was a qualification for the presidency.

No siree; it has stood over the Federal party, the know nothing party and it will [unclear] the Republican yet.

was Lincoln elected by a majority of the people. I think not I might well say I know he was not. he had not one vote in the Southern States unless a few in Missouri and perhaps Maryland.

I do not pretend to say the democratic party got them all. they never got one [entire?] State for how could they, one part voting for Douglas another for Breckenridge.

why does not Honest Abe as the Blackies call him say something to quell this disturbance. why he is half ‘scart to death.’

the Niger said, I will tell you, the people of the different States vote for say electors on each party, these electors meet in the Capital of their respective states, the Republicans vote for their electors and if they carry the state the electors vote for the Republican Candidate.

well these Eastern States are against granting any concessions to the South. So you see that if Honest Abe says anything to show the principles of the incoming administration before the 13th of Feb when the electoral are counted by two persons who are appointed for that purpose called tellers. the electors of these states may not vote for him and then he cannot be elected.

Mr [Choate?] says the Southerners got mad because they could not elect a president or something to that effect. but I think I have proof enough a little way back that there was something else beside the disappointment of not electing a president.

Mr Foote recommends some sort of pills. I would like to know if they will Cure Abolitionism. I do not suppose they are a much better remedy than those in Fort Moultrie.

they talk of the inhumanity of Slavery. but these slaves down South are a great sight better than a great many white folks up North. we go into any large city up North New York for instance. we see the thousands out of employment and starving. while the slaves if they are hungry—

They are fed and if they are sick they are Cared for and if they lie and steal they are whipped.

I will now [text partly obscured by fold] by saying let each true and honest democrat of Conn vote for James C Loomis for governor and A G Hazard for lieut governor under the banner of Repeal of the Liberty Bill.

John Phelan.”

The transcription preserves Phelan’s original spelling, capitalization, grammar, and terminology wherever reasonably legible. A few words are uncertain or obscured by folds and are identified accordingly rather than guessed.

The manuscript survives as several leaves stitched together along one edge. Condition is worn, with old folds, toning, staining, edge wear, creases, small losses, folded corners and other age-related defects. The writing remains generally dark and highly legible. Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition.

An unusually evocative primary-source document from the secession winter of 1860–61, preserving the political opinions of an approximately twelve-year-old Connecticut writer while the country was actively debating slavery, compromise, secession and the incoming Lincoln administration.

Particularly suitable for collections relating to Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, secession, slavery and abolition, Connecticut politics, Democratic Party history, juvenile writing, or 19th-century American manuscripts.