Showdown in Virginia
Subtitle: the 1861 convention and the fate of the Union
By: edited by William W. Freehling and Craig M. Simpson.
Contributors: Freehling, William W., 1935-; Simpson, Craig M., 1942-
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Charlottesville
Language: eng
Number of pages: 210
ISBN-13: 9780813929484; 9780813929644; 9780813929910
Subjects: Secession -- Virginia -- Sources; Taxation -- Virginia -- History -- 19th century -- Sources; Speeches, addresses, etc., American -- Virginia; Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865 -- Sources; United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865 -- Sources
Genres: Sources
Description: In the spring of 1861, Virginians confronted destiny - their own and their nation's. Pivotal decisions awaited about secession, the consequences of which would unfold for a hundred years and more. But few Virginians wanted to decide at all. Instead, they talked, almost interminably. The remarkable record of "The Virginia State Convention", edited in a fine modern version in 1965, runs to almost 3,000 pages, some 1.3 million words. Through the diligent efforts of William W. Freehling and Craig M. Simpson, this daunting record has now been made accessible to teachers, students, and general readers. With important contextual contributions - an introduction and commentary, chronology, headnotes, and suggestions for further reading - the essential core of the speeches, and what they signified, is now within reach. This is a collection of speeches by men for whom everything was at risk. Some saw independence and even war as glory; others predicted ruin and devastation. They all offered commentary of lasting interest to anyone concerned about the fate of democracy in crisis.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Chronology; title: Map of Virginia in 1861; title: pt. 1. Secession debated; title: Jeremiah Morton's Secessionist speech, February 28; title: Waitman Willey's Unionist speech, March 4; title: John Carlile's Unionist speech, March 7; title: George Brent's Unionist speech, March 8; title: George Summers's Unionist speech, March 12; title: George Wythe Randolph's Secessionist speech, March 16; title: James Holcombe's Secessionist speech, March 20; title: John Baldwin's Unionist speech, March 21-23; title: Hugh Nelson's Unionist speech, March 26; title: Thomas Flournoy's Unionist speech, March 30; title: James Barbour's Secessionist speech, March 30-April 1; title: Robert Montague's Secessionist speech, April 1-2; title: George Richardson's Secessionist speech, April 3-4; title: Chapman Stuart's Unionist speech, April 5.; title: pt. 2. Taxation debated; title: William G. Brown initiates the taxation debate, March 7; title: Waitman Willey introduces his motion, March 16; title: The confrontation that Willey's motion provoked, March 18-19; title: William G. Brown again; title: Miers Fisher; title: Benjamin Wilson; title: Thomas Branch; title: Allen Taylor Caperton; title: Marmaduke Johnson; title: Samuel Woods; title: Willey's climactic taxation speech, March 28 and April 2; title: The final presecession confrontation on taxation, April 10-11; title: Henry Wise; title: Cyrus Hall; title: Williams Carter Wickham; title: Willey's motion adopted, April 11.; title: pt. 3. Decisions; title: The quest for Lincoln's intentions, Saturday, April 6; title: William Ballard Preston's initiative; title: Virginia's division foreshadowed; title: The beginning of the end, Saturday, April 13; title: Jubal Early's ironic appeal; title: The Early-Goode near duel; title: Decision barely averted, Monday, April 15; title: Robert Scott's new Unionist strategy; title: Henry Wise's pro salute populi; title: John Baldwin's desperation for delay; title: Eve of decision, Tuesday, April 16; title: George Wythe Randolph's militarism; title: Alexander H.H. Stuart's open-ended Unionism; title: Even the trans-Allegheny divided : John Jackson again answers William Ballard Preston; title: Robert Scott versus George Wythe Randolph; title: Waitman Willey's and Jubal Early's alarm; title: Samuel Staples versus John Baldwin; title: The Convention's secession ordinance adopted, Wednesday, April 17; title: Alpheus Haymond's plea; title: John Hughes's conversion; title: Chapman Stuart's warning; title: Henry Wise's strike and John Baldwin's outrage; title: The climactic Wise-Baldwin debate, April 17; title: The Clarksburg call, April 22; title: The Convention's ad valorem taxation ordinance adopted, April 26; title: Popular decisions in May.