Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[134] war on Virginia. The selection of Colonel Lee to command this expedition seems to have been because of his soundness on the slavery question. He went to Harper's Ferry and succeeded in capturing Brown and his sixteen men, and in releasing the prisoners. This military feat seems to have been the first great victory of Gen. Robert E. Lee. It certainly was a complete one.

This performance was criticised by the strict constructionists of such provisions of the Constitution as declared against the interference of the United States in such matters by the use of troops, except in case of war or invasion by a foreign power. But greater events soon overshadowed criticisms on constitutional law.

The Democratic National Convention of 1860 was held at Charleston, South Carolina. To this convention I was a delegate, as I had been to every national Democratic convention since 1844. It was presided over by Gen. Caleb Cushing, of Massachusetts.

Having become satisfied that there was danger of an attempt to sever the Union of the States upon the slavery question, I sedulously devoted myself to an endeavor to keep the peace, and keep the Democratic party together, because I looked to that as the only source of safety to the Union. Upon the slavery question Mr. Douglas was the leader of that part of the convention which advocated the principle known as “squatter sovereignty,” that is, the right of a people who settle in any part of the territory of the United States, to organize themselves under such laws precisely as they choose to enact, and then to be admitted into the Union without being subjected by Congress to any conditions or any provision as to freedom or slavery in their statehood.

This doctrine seemed to me to be fraught with very great dangers. I did not believe that another slave State could be admitted into the Union by any Congress that could be elected, even if the squatters settling that State should so desire. I did believe that the control by Congress of this power of admission was necessary to the perpetuity of the government. The whole South substantially agreed in opinion that the passage of a resolution acknowledging such control would be followed by instant secession by one or more States. The Southern States had already said that one or two States ought not to secede unless they were sure of being supported by other States.