Joel H. Silbey is President White Professor of History, Cornell University.

Silbey’s preface, introduction and head notes are excellent. In accordance with his previous work, Silbey is emphasizing campaign rhetoric while politicians work up issues both substantive and circumstantial as they seek to persuade the electorate that their particular position on affairs of state is the correct one. In making their case, they describe their achievements and their goals in positive terms while they view the opposition negatively. One would expect this dialogue to prevail in a heated political campaign, but the style of the argument and the facts presented give major clues to the state of the society at any given time. Thus the pamphlets serve as a useful probe to a better understanding of the basic tensions that were developing in American culture that led to the Civil War and the ensuing Reconstruction. Silbey has made a good selection of pamphlets to reflect the partisan mood over nearly fifty years of contention or, as he puts it in one of his topical heads, ‘the culmination of the battle for the soul of America.’

• VOLUME 2 New Issues and Parties: Americans, Republicans, andDivided Democrats, 1854-1860 A Few Considerations for Reflecting Voters (New York, 1855?) The Parties of the Day. Speech of William H. Seward at Auburn, October 21, 1856 (Washington, 1857) The Conspiracy to Break Up the Union. The Plot and Its Development...(Washington, 1860) Salient Points of the Campaign...(Springfield, 1860) The Culmination of the Battle for the Soul of America, 1861-1876 An Address...to the People of the States Which Adhere to the Federal Government (Washington, 1864) "Union" on Dis-Union Principles! The Chicago Platform, McClellan's Letter of Acceptance...A Speech Delivered byAbram Wakeman, of New York,...Nov. 3, 1864 (New York, 1864) Modern Philanthropy Illustrated. How They Tried to Make a White Man of a Negro...(n.p., 1868) The Three Secession Movements in the United States. Samuel J. Tilden...the Adviser, Aider, and Abettor of the Great Secession Movement of 1860...(Boston, 1876)

Joel H. Silbey is President White Professor of History, Cornell University.

Silbey’s preface, introduction and head notes are excellent. In accordance with his previous work, Silbey is emphasizing campaign rhetoric while politicians work up issues both substantive and circumstantial as they seek to persuade the electorate that their particular position on affairs of state is the correct one. In making their case, they describe their achievements and their goals in positive terms while they view the opposition negatively. One would expect this dialogue to prevail in a heated political campaign, but the style of the argument and the facts presented give major clues to the state of the society at any given time. Thus the pamphlets serve as a useful probe to a better understanding of the basic tensions that were developing in American culture that led to the Civil War and the ensuing Reconstruction. Silbey has made a good selection of pamphlets to reflect the partisan mood over nearly fifty years of contention or, as he puts it in one of his topical heads, ‘the culmination of the battle for the soul of America.’

• VOLUME 2 New Issues and Parties: Americans, Republicans, andDivided Democrats, 1854-1860 A Few Considerations for Reflecting Voters (New York, 1855?) The Parties of the Day. Speech of William H. Seward at Auburn, October 21, 1856 (Washington, 1857) The Conspiracy to Break Up the Union. The Plot and Its Development...(Washington, 1860) Salient Points of the Campaign...(Springfield, 1860) The Culmination of the Battle for the Soul of America, 1861-1876 An Address...to the People of the States Which Adhere to the Federal Government (Washington, 1864) "Union" on Dis-Union Principles! The Chicago Platform, McClellan's Letter of Acceptance...A Speech Delivered byAbram Wakeman, of New York,...Nov. 3, 1864 (New York, 1864) Modern Philanthropy Illustrated. How They Tried to Make a White Man of a Negro...(n.p., 1868) The Three Secession Movements in the United States. Samuel J. Tilden...the Adviser, Aider, and Abettor of the Great Secession Movement of 1860...(Boston, 1876)

Joel H. Silbey is President White Professor of History, Cornell University.

Silbey’s preface, introduction and head notes are excellent. In accordance with his previous work, Silbey is emphasizing campaign rhetoric while politicians work up issues both substantive and circumstantial as they seek to persuade the electorate that their particular position on affairs of state is the correct one. In making their case, they describe their achievements and their goals in positive terms while they view the opposition negatively. One would expect this dialogue to prevail in a heated political campaign, but the style of the argument and the facts presented give major clues to the state of the society at any given time. Thus the pamphlets serve as a useful probe to a better understanding of the basic tensions that were developing in American culture that led to the Civil War and the ensuing Reconstruction. Silbey has made a good selection of pamphlets to reflect the partisan mood over nearly fifty years of contention or, as he puts it in one of his topical heads, ‘the culmination of the battle for the soul of America.’

• VOLUME 2 New Issues and Parties: Americans, Republicans, andDivided Democrats, 1854-1860 A Few Considerations for Reflecting Voters (New York, 1855?) The Parties of the Day. Speech of William H. Seward at Auburn, October 21, 1856 (Washington, 1857) The Conspiracy to Break Up the Union. The Plot and Its Development...(Washington, 1860) Salient Points of the Campaign...(Springfield, 1860) The Culmination of the Battle for the Soul of America, 1861-1876 An Address...to the People of the States Which Adhere to the Federal Government (Washington, 1864) "Union" on Dis-Union Principles! The Chicago Platform, McClellan's Letter of Acceptance...A Speech Delivered byAbram Wakeman, of New York,...Nov. 3, 1864 (New York, 1864) Modern Philanthropy Illustrated. How They Tried to Make a White Man of a Negro...(n.p., 1868) The Three Secession Movements in the United States. Samuel J. Tilden...the Adviser, Aider, and Abettor of the Great Secession Movement of 1860...(Boston, 1876)