Letter of Hon. L. O'B. Branch, of North Carolina, to His Constituents.
(Letter of Hon. L. O'B. Branch, of North Carolina, to his ...)
Letter of Hon. L. O'B. Branch, of North Carolina, to his constituents. is a historical publication which is considered to be one of the top primary source publications on the subjects of African American's and slavery. Qontro Historical Reprints is republ
Congressional Intervention in Regard to Slavery in the Territories : Letter of Lawrence O'B. Branch to His Constituents, May 15, 1860.
(Congressional intervention in regard to slavery in the te...)
Congressional intervention in regard to slavery in the territories : letter of Lawrence O'B. Branch to his constituents, May 15, 1860. is a historical publication which is considered to be one of the top primary source publications on the subjects of African American's and slavery. Qontro Historical Reprints is republishing high quality copies of the original publications to allow those conducting research, collectors of this type of historical documents to obtain complete copies of the original documents as they were published. Our reprints are of the highest quality and we take pride in publishing high quality editions of all publications that we produce.
Speech of Hon, Lawrence O'B. Branch, of North Carolina, on the presidential election
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Lawrence O'Bryan Branch was an American lawyer, congressman, and Confederate soldier.
Background
Lawrence O'Bryan Branch was born on November 28, 1820 at Enfield, North Carolina. He was of a prominent and wealthy family, was at an early age left an orphan when his parents (Joseph and Susan Simpson O'Bryan Branch) died. Brought back from Tennessee, where his father had been living, he became a member of the household of his uncle and guardian, John Branch.
Education
After being tutored by William J. Bingham and Salmon P. Chase, he studied for a part of one year at the University of North Carolina. He then entered Princeton, from which institution he graduated with distinction in 1838. While editing a newspaper in Tennessee, he studied law.
Career
After studying law, Lawrence O'Bryan Branch soon moved to Florida, and under special act of the territorial legislature he was admitted to practise, though not then of age. The Seminole war breaking out shortly thereafter, he volunteered, serving throughout as aide-de-camp to General Reid. Despite his success as a lawyer in Florida, he returned to North Carolina in 1848 and there supplemented his professional activities by management of his estates and by engaging in industrial undertakings, especially in railroads.
In the last connection, he became (1852 - 55) president of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad Company.
His participation in politics began in 1852, when he was chosen presidential elector on the Pierce ticket. Effectively active in the Democratic party, he was, in 1854, elected--although an unwilling candidate--to the House of Representatives, in which body he was a member continuously from 1855 to 1861.
His speeches on the Kansas-Nebraska Act and its operation are valuable sources of information for those seeking the views and attitude of moderate Southerners.
An consistent supporter of President Buchanan and an exponent of party policy in public finance, he was offered, on the resignation of Howell Cobb, the place of secretary of the treasury. Earlier he had declined Buchanan's offer of the position of postmaster general. Feeling that the secession of North Carolina was imminent, he again refused. His good sense and practical comprehension of politics were at no time better demonstrated than in the campaign of 1860.
In a letter to his constituents of May 15, 1860, he opposed the plan of the "fire-eaters" and the inclusion in the party platform of the new doctrine of "Congressional protection to slavery in the Territories. " The disruption of the party, its defeat for the sake of an abstraction, and the surrender of "all the fruits of twenty years of successful struggle with Freesoilism and Abolitionism"--i. e. , the principle of non-intervention by Congress--were results he saw and stated. When it was clear that seceded states were to be "coerced, " he withdrew from Congress to advocate the secession of North Carolina. When that state called for troops, he volunteered as a private, but was, upon the governor's appointment, promptly given the joint office of quartermaster and paymaster-general. Wishing active service, he resigned to become colonel of the 33rd North Carolina Regiment.
Later, on January 17, 1862, he was commissioned brigadier-general by President Davis and was placed in command of the Confederate forces around New Bern. Operating against the greatly superior army of General Burnside, he was forced to retreat, skilfully withdrawing his troops from the peninsula--a feat highly praised. He was then ordered to join Stonewall Jackson.
Between January and September of 1862, he took part creditably in the battles of Hanover Court House, the Seven Days battles around Richmond, Cedar Run, Second Manassas, Fairfax Court House, Ox Hill, Harper's Ferry, and Antietam. At the last battle, after leading his brigade successfully, he was shot through the head and killed. He had been complimented by General Lee and his death occurred, it is thought, on the eve of a career of higher military responsibility.
(Letter of Hon. L. O'B. Branch, of North Carolina, to his ...)
Politics
Branch entered politics as Democrat in 1852 after being chosen as a presidential elector on the Pierce ticket. A partisan, Southern Democrat, Branch was not an extremist. He spoke forcefully in defense of his district, state, and section; yet he never hesitated to caution the South against extremism. His speeches were primarily those of a southern moderate.
Also effectively active in the Democratic party, he was elected to the House of Representatives, where he remained 1855 to 1861. He was a strong supporter of political views of President James Buchanan and was one of his devoted admirers.
Views
While speaking frankly for his district, state, and section, he repeatedly cautioned the South against immoderation. Not one of the foremost leaders, he was a forceful speaker and won sufficient distinction to be placed upon the then important Committee on Territories. He made speeches on finance, party politics, the Brooks-Sumner affair, the acquisition of Cuba, and various phases of the slavery dispute. Favoring low tariffs and the "depositing" among the states of the proceeds of the sale of public land, he opposed the "distribution" of these funds and the proposed Homestead Act.
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
General Hill wrote on Branch's death: "The Confederacy has to mourn the loss of a gallant soldier and accomplished gentleman. He was my senior brigadier, and one to whom I could have intrusted the command of the division, with all confidence. "
Connections
In 1844 Branch was married to Nancy Haywood Blount, daughter of General William Augustus Blount.