XVII. ADMINISTRATION OF FRANKLIN PIERCE (1853-57). Cabinet.—Secrclary of State, Wil liam L. Marcy, New York, March 7, 1853. Secre tary of the Treasury, James Guthrie, Kentucky, March 7, 1853. Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis. Mississippi. March 7. 1853. Secretary of the Nary, James C. Dobbin, North Carolina, March 7, 1853. Secretary of the Interior, Robert McClelland, Michigan. March 7, 1353; Jacob Thompson, Mississippi. March 0. 1856. A.ttorney General, Caleb Cushing, Massachusetts, March 7, 1853. Postai (1st cr-Gcncral, James Campbell, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1853.
In spite of the 'finality' planks in the Presi dential campaign, the question of slavery soon came once more to the front. The leader in re viving the struggle was Stephen A. Douglas (q.v.) , by whom, in January, 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Bill was introduced into Congress. divided the territory previously known as Nebraska into two Territories, one between parallels 37° and 10° to be called Kansas and the other between 10° and 43° to be called Nebraska. In both of these Territories, by the Missouri Compromise of 1820, slavery was prohibited : hut the hill now introduced was framed upon the theory that the Missouri Compromise had been repealed by the Compromise of 1850. in spirit at least• and accordingly in the bill it was left to the people of each new Territory to determine whether or not slavery should be tolerated on its soil. The Senate promptly passed this bill, and two months later it was by the House. (See KANSAS NEBRASKA BILL; POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.) This led to the final disruption of the old Whig Party. A party, based on opposition to slavery, now arose in the North, whose members at first gen erally styled themselves 'Anti-Nebraska Men,' and which soon developed into the Republican Party (q.v.). It was composed of men opposed to the extension of slavery without regard to former party affiliations—Whigs, Democrats• Know-Nothings, and Frcc-Soile•s. The bulk of the Southern Whigs for the time being became Know-Nothings. The so-called American Party, or Know-Nothings, who about this time began to exercise great influence, demanded especially more stringent naturalization laws and the elec tion to high office of none but native-born citizens.
This virtual repeal of the Missouri Compro mise, which left the new Territories to decide for themselves whether they would admit slavery or not, turned Kansas, as the Territory nearest the settled States, into a battleground for the two parties. The partisans of the North and those of the South kept pouring in fresh immigrants to outnumber the other side. At first the South was successful. and a code of laws was established with many and stringent provisions in behalf of slavery, although this was brought about, not by legitimate immigrants, hut chiefly by a mob of Missourians. who passed across the border, took possession of the polling places, and carried the elections. A succession of outrages, amounting to civil war, followed, each faction establishing its own Government and electing its dele gate to Congress. President Pierce issued a proclamation (February 11, 1856) calling for obedience to the laws and a cessation of violence and interference. Civil war, however, actually existed in Kansas. The two anti-slavery towns, and Osawatomie, were sacked. and the Free-Soil Legislature was twice dispersed. The outrages continued and no solution of the problem was reached during this admiuistration. (See KAN8As.) In the meantime, public senti ment was excited to a still greater intensity by the assault upon Senator Charles Sumner (q.v.). of AlasAiachusetts. by Preston S. Brooks (q.v.), of South Carolina (Slay 22, 1856).
In diplomacy during this administration fric tion arose between the United States and Austria over the Koszta affair (q.v.), and an important treaty was negotiated by Commodore Perry with Japan, by which intercourse was first opened between that country and the Western world.
In the Presidential election of 1856 the fol lowing tickets were in the field: Democratic, James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania. and :Wm C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky; Republican, John C. Frionont. of California, and William A. Dayton, of New Jersey; Know-Nothing, Millard Fillmore, of New York, and A. J. Donelson, of Tennessee. The Democratic ticket received 174 electoral votes, the Republican 114, the Know-Nothing S.