Tide Turns Case 2
James Sidney Rollins and the 13th Amendment
Rollins was a Missouri representative in the House as part of the 38th Congress that passed the 13th Amendment. In June 1882, when he wrote Osbourn Oldroyd, he was president of the board of curators at the University of Missouri. In this letter, Rollins reminisced about Abraham Lincoln calling him to the White House asking for support for the 13th Amendment. The president also appealed to his “old Whig friend” to get the support of border state representatives like Austin King, Joseph McClurg, John Noell, and Robert Mallory. President Lincoln courted border state House votes because “the passage of this amendment [would] clinch the whole subject; it will bring the war I have no doubt rapidly to a close.” The amendment passed on January 31, 1865, and the war ended that April.
Label Audio
MS-SC2892
James Rollins to Osborn H. Oldroyd, 4 June 1882
Columbia, Mo.
June 4th 1882.
O.H. Oldroyd, Esqr.
My Dear Sir:
I had a slight acquaintance with Presdt Lincoln prior to 1860. We were both native Kentuckians, he casting his lot in Illinois, & I in Missouri. We were both ardent whigs, followers, & admirers of that great, & eminent statesman, & patriot Henry Clay.
In 1860 I was nominated as a candidate for Congress in the 11th district of this State, composed of the 11 counties lying in the forks of the Missouri & Mississippi Rivers, Marion being the most northern on the Mississippi side, & Boone, the County in which I reside, being the most western on the Missouri side- I was nominated by the Whig Party, & ran upon what was know[n] as Bell-Everett Ticket- My competitor was the Hon. James B. Henderson afterwards U.S. Senator from this State, and now my warm personal friend, & who ran upon the Democratic Douglas.Johnson Ticket- At that time their were but few republicans in the district and they did not see fit to put a candidate in the field- It is proper to say that neither Mr: H. or my self were very hostile to Mr. Lincoln, altho not belonging to the same political organization with him, he….
I have not now before me the date of Mr. Lincolns Emancipation proclamation, but he often spoke to me about it. He had no great faith in its efficacy. I heard him say a number of times, it only affected those who were free, i.e. those behind the federal lines, & of course it would not reach the vast number of slaves who remained still within the lines of the southern army- This made him exceedingly anxious in reference to the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. abolishing african slavery in our Country- This amendment has failed to passing during the session of Congress of 1863.-1864, but it was again introduced into the Senate by its author the Hon. John B. Henderson, of this State, & having passed that body, was sent to the House of Representatives to be acted upon there. The President had several times in my presence expressed his deep anxiety in favor of the passage of this great measure- He & others had repeatedly counted the vote in order to ascertain as far as they could the strength of the measure upon a second trial in the House. He was doubtful about its passage, & some ten days or two weeks before it came up for consideration in the House, I recd a note from him written in pencil on a card, when sitting in my desk in the House, stating he wished to see me, & asking that I call on him at the White House- I responded that I would be there the next morning at 9” oclock- I was prompt in calling upon him, & found him down in his office: he rec’d me in the most cordial manner, & said in his usual familiar way “Rollins, I have been wanting to talk to you for some time about the 13th Amendment proposed to the Constitution of the US. which will have to be voted on now before a great while.” I said, well I am here, & ready to talk upon that subject. “He said you, & I were old whigs both of us followers of that great statesman Henry Clay, & I tell you I never had an opinion upon the subject of slavery in my life, that I did not get from him.” “I am very anxious that the war should be bro’t to a close, at the earliest possible date, and I dont believe this can be accomplished as long as these fellows down south can rely upon the border states to help them, but if the members from the border states would just unite, at least enough of them to pass the 13th amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. they would soon see, they could not expect much help from that quarter, & be willing to give up their opposition, and quit their war upon the government; this is my chief hope, & main reliance to bring the war to a speedy close, and I have sent for you as an old whig friend to come, & see me, that I might make an appeal to you to vote for this amendment- It is going to be very close; a few votes one way, or the other will decide it.” To this I responded, Mr: President so far as I am concerned I you need not have sent for me to ascertain my views on this subject, for altho I represent perhaps the strongest slave district in Mo. & have the misfortune to be one of the largest slave owners in the county where I reside, I had already determined to vote for the 13th amendment; when he arose from his chair, & grasping me by the hand, gave it a hearty shake, & said, “I am most delighted to hear that.” He asked me how many more of the Mo. Delegation in the House would vote for it.” I said I could not tell: the Republicans of course would, Genl Loan, Mr Blow, Mr. Boyd, & Col: McClurg. ‘He said would[d] Genl Price vote for it, he is a good union man.” I said I could not answer. “Well what about Gov. King?” I told him I did not know. He then asked about Judges Hall & Norton. I told said they would both vote against it, I thought. Well he said, are you on good terms with Price & King?” I responded in the affirmative & that I was on easy terms with the entire delegation; he then asked me if I would not talk with those who might be persuaded to vote for the amendment? I report to him as soon as I could find out what the prospect was. I answered I would do so with pleasure & remarked at the same time, that when a young man in 1848, I was the whig competitor of King, for Governor of Mo, and as he beat me very badly. I think now he should pay me back by voting as I desire him to in this important question; I further remarked that King, & Price, were good union men, & added that Gov: King is an old Tennessee politician, without very strong convictions upon moral subjects, & if he was assured the administration would favor him in his district I thought it might be a potent argument towards getting his vote for the 13th amendment. Mr Lincoln laughed heartily at this criticism of mine upon Gov. King, and jestingly remarked, I would almost make a member of Congress a foreign minister who would vote for this amendment- I promised the President I would talk to these gentlemen upon the subject. He said, I would like you to talk to all the border state men who you can approach properly, & tell them of my anxiety to have the measure pass, & let me know the prospect of the border state vote,’ which I agreed to do. He again said the passage of this amendment will clinch the whole subject; it will bring the war I have no doubt rapidly to a close. I have never seen any one [ ] deeper interest & anxiety upon any subject, than Mr. Lincoln, upon the
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