No Taint of Compromise highlights the motives and actions of those who played instrumental if not central roles in antislavery politics -- those who undertook the yeoman's work of organizing parties; holding conventions; editing newspapers; and generally animating and agitating the discussion of issues related to slavery. They were a small but critical number of voices who; beginning in the late 1830s; battled the institution of slavery through political activism. Frederick J. Blue provides an in-depth account of the trials and accomplishments of eleven men and women who; in the face of great odds and powerful opposition; insisted that emancipation and racial equality could only be achieved through the political process: Alvan Stewart; a Liberty party organizer from New York; John Greenleaf Whittier; a Massachusetts poet; journalist; and Liberty activist; Charles Henry Langston; an Ohio African American educator; Owen Lovejoy; a congressman from Illinois; Sherman Booth; a journalist and Liberty organizer in Wisconsin; Jane Grey Swisshelm; a journalist in Pennsylvania and later Minnesota; George W. Julian; a congressman from Indiana; David Wilmot; a congressman from Pennsylvania; Benjamin and Edward Wade; a senator and a congressman; respectively; from Ohio; and Jessie Benton Frémont of Missouri and California; wife of the Republican presidential nominee.Their stories; brought together in this comparative biographical study; enrich our understanding of the political crisis over slavery that led to the Civil War.
#3037150 in Books Louisiana State University Press 2000-10-01 2000-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.39 x 1.31 x 6.31l; 1.63 #File Name: 0807125768343 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Excellent ReadBy Robert WheelerAn excellent look into Manly and; perhaps more importantly; evangelical Protestantism in the decades before the Civil War. Fuller captures the religious mood of the future Confederacy by examining the life of Manly.7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A readable biography of a neglected figureBy A CustomerI usually don't write reviews of the books I read; but I thought I should come to Mr. Fuller's defense after seeing what a previous reviewer wrote. I; too; had the privilege of hearing the author speak; but my impression was that he was a very sincere and humble man who was genuinely interested in the study of history. He was humorous and self-deprecating; not arrogant. He was also very knowledgeable about the subject. This is a readable book by an academic. It is not a novel. It is not for everyone. I am a pastor of a church and I found this to be a sympathetic and balanced biography of a Baptist minister who has been neglected by historians. It was clear to me that Mr. Fuller did not agree with Manly on many issues--such as slavery--but he treated his subject with respect. And he treated Evangelical Christianity with respect; which is far too rare among academics. I think the other reviewer's personal attack is unfounded and should be ignored. Even if it is true; it says nothing about the quality of this book; which will be valuable for historians and for many others interested in the Civil War; the South; and the history of Baptists in America. And; from what I know; this is not Mr. Fuller's only publication and I'm looking forward to reading his future books as well as recommending this biography to my fellow pastors.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. An Insightful Study of an Important Southern FigureBy A CustomerHistorians have long argued about the causes of the Civil War. This biography of Basil Manly; a neglected-but-important Southern Baptist minister and educator; illuminates our understanding of how the Civil War was a culture war. Manly's long career as a preacher and university president; his experiences as a father; husband; and slaveowner; all show the complexities of life in the Old South. Fuller argues that Manly resolved the many tensions and problems in his life through a steadfast reliance on Calvinist theology; especially the doctrines regarding Christian duty. Duty as a Christian intertwined with the ethics of Southern honor; allowing Manly to develop a sense of Christian gentility. Throughout his career; Manly worked hard to establish a distinctive Southern culture; including separate institutions. Thus he led the movement to form the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845; as well as helping to found Southern schools like Furman University and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1861; Manly helped found the Confederate States of America; serving as official chaplain to the Confederate congress in Montgomery and delivering the prayer at the inauguration of Jefferson Davis as president of the new Southern nation that the Baptist viewed as the fulfillment of God's plan for history. This well-written book provides a detailed study of a working minister; delves into nearly every aspect of life in the South; including family life; gender relations; slavery; economics; and higher education. It is a must read for Southern historians and anyone interested in how and why the Civil War came.
