RICE UNIVERSITY The Slaveholding Crisis: The Fear of Insurrection, the Wilmot Proviso, and the Southern Turn Against American Exceptionalism by Carl Lawrence Paulus A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE Doctor of Philosophy Approved, Thesis Committee: Jo n . Boles, Chair, W am P. Hobby Professor of History 6() dek-ev. kta.Z W. Caleb McDaniel Assistant Professor of History Caroline Levander Carlson Chair in the School of Humanities Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Initiatives Eric H. Walther Professor of History, University of Houston Houston. Texas April 2012 Abstract The Slaveholding Crisis: The Fear of Insurrection, the Wilmot Proviso, and the Southern Turn Against American Exceptionalism by Carl Lawrence Paulus On December 20, 1860, South Carolinians voted to abandon the Union and sparked the deadliest war in American history. Led by a proslavery movement that viewed Abraham Lincoln’s place at the helm of the federal government as a real and present danger to the security of the South's system of slavery, southerners—both slaveholders and nonslaveholders—willingly risked civil war by seceding from the United States. Rather than staying within the fold of the Union and awaiting the new president’s conduct regarding slavery in the territories and in the slave states, secessionists took bold action to change their destiny. By acting on their expectations of what the new president would do instead of waiting for his actual policy initiatives, they wagered on the possibility of a different future. This dissertation contends that the southern fear of slave insurrection, which was influenced by the Haitian Revolution, and the belief that northern antislavery forces would use violent uprising to end southern slavery shaped the planter ethos over the arc of the antebellum period, affecting national politics. Furthermore, this project explains why secessionists viewed Abraham Lincoln's support of the Wilmot Proviso as a valid reason for disunion. ii Acknowledgements I wish to show my gratitude for everyone who has played a vital role in assisting me in completing this dissertation. Projects like this are years in the making. The first person I would like to thank is my mother. Being a single parent with a small child is not an easy task. Being a single parent and going to night school is doubly tough. The long nights when I watched her pound away on the typewriter showed me the value of getting a degree, and I have no doubt that she is one of the reasons I went to graduate school. My stepfather also played a crucial role in how I approached my education. His example made me want to become writer and historian. My sister Kathryn also encouraged me when I needed it and put up with me when I did not. The love and support of my family was invaluable throughout the entire process. I am also grateful for the incredible support of Rice University and the History Department. The financial support offered to me, through the stipend and for research trips and conferences, proved vital to my scholarship. I owe a huge thank you to the administrative staff: Paula Platt, Lisa Tate, Rachel Zepeda, and Anita Smith. When I had a question, they were always helpful in providing the right direction. Carl Caldwell and Edward Cox were both very generous and understanding directors of graduate studies, and their advice was greatly appreciated. I gained much as a Rice graduate student from Carl Caldwell, Ira Gruber, Kerry Ward, Lora Wildenthal, Stephanie Camp, Doug Brinkley, and Kathryn de Luna. Rebecca Goetz showed me how I should write and iii research. W. Caleb McDaniel helped build my knowledge of nineteenth-century history by offering me an individual reading. Edward Cox's class on Caribbean history played a key role in this dissertation. Without our discussions about slavery in the West Indies, this dissertation would not exist. The teachers and professors who influenced me before coming to Rice should also be thanked. Kent Weier shared his love of history and helped to inspire me to become a historian. Peter Knupfer first introduced me to antebellum history as an undergraduate and converted someone interested in colonial America into an antebellum historian by handing me David Potter's The Impending Crisis for summer reading. John Rubadeau taught me how to write coherently. Victor Lieberman, Megan Raphoon, and Catherine Cangany all encouraged me to go to graduate school while I was studying at the University of Michigan. The archivists at the William Clements Library have helped me immensely throughout my time as a historian. Finally, there is no doubt in my mind that I would not have attended Rice without the guidance of J. Mills Thornton III, who first talked to me about studying the Wilmot Proviso a long time ago. Numerous historians helped me create this dissertation. Eric H. Walther accepted a spot on my dissertation committee even though he did not have to and was with me during every step the process. His advice and his editing played a very important role in the crafting of my argument, and he no doubt made me a better historian. W. Caleb McDaniel helped me develop the scope of my dissertation, and working with him made me broaden my horizons as a scholar. Jason K. Phillips talked to me about the role of anticipation of the future in the study of history and gave me great context from which to iv build my own work. Randall Hall, Bethany Johnson, and Pat Burgess provided a great academic atmosphere for my summer job at The Journal of Southern History, and the work they assigned me had a major impact on this dissertation. Rachel A. Shelden and Christopher Childers presented papers with me and their work influenced my own. Caroline Levander graciously accepted to be the outside reader on my dissertation committee despite her busy schedule, and for that I am very appreciative. My primary academic debt is to John Boles, the supervisor of my committee. As my advisor he always knew what to say and when to say it. His enthusiasm for my work on the Wilmot Proviso and encouragement of my studying political history in general made me glad to be doing what I was doing. He helped bring me to Rice and made me happy for that decision every day. I look forward to seeking his advice and wisdom in the future. The graduate community at Rice as a whole and my cohort in particular served as an important pillar in my academic career. Their friendship and support made difficult times not seem so bad and the good times feel great. Jim and Rebecca Wainwright, from going to the Mez to watching the Sopranos, made me feel like I had family down here. Drew Bledsoe let me know he was on my side and helped me whenever I needed it. Andy Lang always let me bounce ideas off of him and showed me that a Texan could like hockey. I could not have asked for a better role model in my studies as a graduate student than Luke Harlow. After Hurricane Ike tore a hole in my roof, Allison Madar I have valued our friendship since day one. Joe Locke and Ben Wright always gave me someone with whom to debate my ideas. Shani Roper always answered my simplest questions v about the Caribbean. Zach Dresser needs no description. Robin Sager and Wes Phelps were fantastic grad reps. Andrew Canady, Blake Ellis, Andrew Baker, John Marks, and Sam Abramson provided great camaraderie during my time at Rice. I also want to thank my friends and family outside of Texas. Andrew Mackenzie, Robert Greer, Nick Doherty, Brent Habitz, Steve Richert, Adam Long, John deVries, Erin Beck, Aaron Gadowski, John Keeton, Justin Combs, Donny Murdock, and Greg Moser all helped to boost my decision get a PhD at one time or another. One word in this dissertation is dedicated to Brian Cook for his sanity during uncertain times. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney helped me focus when I needed it. Thomas Lifson and Robert Gonzalez demonstrated to me what I can do with a history degree and gave me leeway to do it while completing my academic commitments. Ron and Kris Sawyer helped sustain my studying during a pivotal point in my career at Rice. Every aunt, uncle, and cousin always showed me support, especially Ryan Sawyer. Bob, Deb, Karsten, Hannah, and Mary Bischoff welcomed me with open arms when I joined their family in 2011. They always gave me encouragement and it was never underappreciated. The greatest debt I incurred during this entire process is to a brilliant writer and scholar in her own right, my wife Sarah Bischoff Paulus. She read and edited every single word in this dissertation while also pursuing her own academic career. She never let me quit on days when the task seemed insurmountable, and she made this dissertation, like everything else in my life, infinitely better. Any writing mistake in this dissertation is fully my responsibility. vi Table of Contents Introduction: The Role of Anticipation in the Actions of Slaveholders 1 Chapter One: The Haitian Revolution and Slaveholding Anxiety 14 Chapter Two: "Fanaticism" and Southern Fears of Insurrection 63 Chapter Three: Transnational Abolitionism and American Exceptionalism 110 Chapter Four: The Growing Proslavery Fear of the Abolitionist Power 159 Chapter Five: Texas Annexation and the Proslavery Promise 204 Chapter Six: Wilmot's Proviso and the Slaveholding Crisis 256 Chapter Seven: The Southern Turn Against American Exceptionalism 310 Bibliography 364 Introduction The Role of Anticipation in the Actions of Slaveholders For the generality of men are naturally apt to be swayed by fear rather than by reverence.