Robert Hatton Speech
This collection consists of an eight-page reprint of a speech that Robert Hopkins Hatton gave in the U. S. House of Representatives on February 8, 1861. It documents Hatton's opinion that secession from the United States would cause "our fair land [to be] scourged and blighted as by the hand of an angry God." Among the methods Hatton proposes to avert war are repealing personal liberty laws, amending the U. S. Constitution to prohibit the abolition of slavery, and resolving the question of whether or not slavery will be legal in newly acquired territories.
Dates
- 1861
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection consists of an eight-page reprint of a speech that Robert Hopkins Hatton gave in the U. S. House of Representatives on February 8, 1861. It documents Hatton's opinion that secession from the United States would cause "our fair land [to be] scourged and blighted as by the hand of an angry God." Among the methods Hatton proposes to avert war are repealing personal liberty laws, amending the U. S. Constitution to prohibit the abolition of slavery, and resolving the question of whether or not slavery will be legal in newly acquired territories.
Biographical/Historical Note
Robert Hopkins Hatton was born in Ohio, but moved to Tennessee with his family at an early age. He earned both a bachelor's degree and a legal degree from Cumberland University and was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1850. He soon became involved in politics, and was elected to the Tennessee State Legislature in 1855 and to the U. S. Congress in 1859.
Although Hatton originally believed that secession should be avoided, he reconsidered his position when President Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to invade the Confederate States of America. Hatton formed a military unit, the Lebanon Blues, and was soon elected Colonel of the 7th Tennessee Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Brigadier General on May 23, 1862, and was killed in the Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks) just eight days later.
Arrangement
Collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
The Special Collections Library purchased this collection in January of 2006.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository