Studies in American History 
399 
Douglas in 1858,^^ and that the fear remained that the party 
might be disrupted by the success of the antislavery cause 
under the operation of the principle of popular sovereignty. 
Writing to Schuyler Colfax in July, 1860, Lincoln states 
clearly his belief in the necessity of keeping the party united 
and his views concerning the danger from the results attained 
in Kansas. Avowing his main object to be the avoidance of 
divisions in the Republican ranks, particularly in relation to 
the coming presidential contest, he instanced the opposition 
to foreigners in Massachusetts, attacks on the Fugitive Slave 
Law in New Hampshire and Ohio, and support of squatter 
sovereignty in Kansas as containing “explosive matter 
enough to blow up half a dozen national conventions’". 
Massachusetts Republicans by “tilting against foreigners” 
could ruin the party in the Northwest. New Hampshire and 
Ohio by their methods of opposition to the Fugitive Slave 
Law could overwhelm the Republicans of Illinois on the issue 
of enmity to the Constitution itself. Concerning popular 
sovereignty, he -said: 
Kansas, in her confidence that she can be saved to freedom on 
‘‘squatter sovereignty”, ought not to forget that to prevent the spread 
and nationalization of slavery is a national concern, and must be at- 
tended to by the nation.^^ 
The people of Kansas having voted against slavery by an 
overwhelming majority on August 2, 1858, and, there be- 
ing no other Territory then belonging to the United States 
where a bitter conflict was likely to occur, it is difficult to 
demonstrate the necessity or the wisdom of a further advocacy 
of the Wilmot Proviso principle. The only defense for the 
Lincoln to Chai'les L. Wilson (Springfield), June 1, 1858, in John G. Nicolay 
and John Hay, Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln (New York, 1894), I, 238-239. In 
this letter Lincoln expresses his concern over the friendliness of the ATew York Tribune 
to Douglas, mentioning that Greeley’s paper was extensively read in Illinois. See Netv 
York Times of March 5, 1858, for an editorial concerning the attitude of William H. 
Seward at the time which also reveals the strong bias of the Times toward Douglas. 
James W. Sheahan argued in 1860 that the Republican party “was preparing for 
its demise’’ after Douglas had taken his stand against the Lecompton constitution, and 
that the party was saved only by the unexpected position assumed by President Buchanan. 
Sheahan declared: “There is no use disguising the fact, even if it were possible to do so, 
that, had the administration, in December, 1857, remained true to its previously main- 
tained policy, and urged upon Congress the duty of disregarding any and all propositions 
for the admission of Kansas tainted with fraud, and not approved by the free and 
deliberate choice of the people, the Republican party would virtually have ceased to 
exist as an organization in the Northwestern States.’’ James W. Sheahan, The Life 
of Stephen A. Douglas (New York, 1860), 383. 
Lincoln to Schuyler Colfax (Springfield), July 6, 1859, in Nicolay and Hay, 
Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln, I, 535. 
