1844 - TWENTY YEARS IN CONGRESS - CIVIL WAR SLAVERY KKK

TWENTY YEARS OF CONGRESS FROM LINCOLN TO GARFIELD With A Review of THE EVENTS WHICH LED TO THE POLITICAL REVOLUTION OF 1860 BY JAMES G. BLAIN FIRST EDITION COMPLETE TWO-VOLUME SET Vintage Publication Extensively a Civil War Political History and Reminiscence Handsome Cover Design with Gold Gilded Lettering Insights on Congressional Action and Debate Regarding Slavery, KKK, More Clean Book with Solid Binding Throughout PUBLISHED BY THE HENRY BILL PUBLISHING COMPANY, NORWICH, CONN, IN 1884-86 Senator James Blaine wrote Twenty Years of Congress chiefly as a political history, but also as a personal reminiscence. These two volumes cover the events which led up to the political revolution of 1860, and provide an insightful political history of the period from 1861 through 1881, the period of the Civil War and much of the reconstruction period. Volume one begins with a thorough review of events leading up to the formation of the Republican Party, the election of President Abraham Lincoln, and the secession of the Southern states. The second volume covers issues that arose during the Civil War and Reconstruction era and the people and political events of that tumultuous time. Blaine’s intent was to present an objective history, and he wrote respectfully of political opponents, including a portrait of his political foe. James Blaine began his career in public service in 1859 and remained at the forefront of American politics for 33 years, serving as U.S. representative, Speaker of the House, Senator from Maine, and twice as secretary of state. A powerful force in American politics, known for his personal charisma and oratory skills, he was considered one of the founders of the modern Republican Party. Thus he was positioned to have vast knowledge of the political issues preceding the Civil War and the formulation of American policy in the second half of the 19th century. Blaine sought the GOP nomination for president three times, including in 1876 when he unexpectedly lost the Republican nomination to Rutherford B. Hayes. Despite his personal success, Blaine remained awe-struck by the success of the U.S. political system in such trying times. “The twenty years between 1861 and 1881 are memorable in the history of the Congress of the United States. Senators and Representatives were called upon to deal with new problems from the hour in which they were summoned by President Lincoln to provide for the exigencies of a great war. They confronted enormous difficulties at every step; and if they had failed in their duty, if they had not comprehended the gravity and peril of the situation . . . the Union of the States might have been lost, the progress of civilization on the American Continent checked for generations.” Support and opposition for the war effort; legislation and Constitutional Amendments regarding slavery, voting, and various war measure; discussions regarding the handling of “the Southern Question” and how to deal with the issue of reconstruction; the government’s efforts to destroy the KKK; and other such events are all included in this wonderful, comprehensive, and detailed political history of one of the most important periods in American history. THIS BOOK SET IS IN VERY GOOD + CONDITION This is a complete, two-volume, antiquarian book set that constitutes Blaine’s historical Twenty Years in Congress. The book has truly amazing content. The book is bound in brown, octavo covers with beveled edges and bright gold gilded lettering on the cover and spine. The exteriors have no bumping, rubbing or discernable edge wear. The gold gilding remains bright, sharp and very readable. The interior is wonderful, clean condition with no smudging or foxing, but Volume has some writing and underlining on some pages. Most pages are free of writing however. The end pages are in a floral, tan design. The binding is solid throughout both books. There is no looseness or lean and all four hinges are in fine condition. The books contain a frontispiece of Blaine in one volume and a frontispiece of Grant in volume II. Both b... read more