THOMAS CORWIN

In February of 1861, in a last ditch effort to hold the Union together the Senator offered this proposed Constitutional amendment which would not only guarantee the existence of slavery in the South, but would assure that there could be no later Constitutional amendment to do so—the so-called "unamendable amendment." Surprising to us today is the fact that this amendment was not only supported by incoming President Abraham Lincoln, but was passed by the required two-thirds of both houses of Congress. However, before it could be ratified by the States, events overtook the amendment, the South seceded, and the Civil War began.

In the midst of the Mexican War:

The statement was made in response to Senator Lewis Cass argument that “We want room.” There is an interesting parallel between Corwin, and American arguing for the Mexican side, and that of William Pitt, an Englishman who made an argument for the Americans during the American Revolution. See {626047}.

In February of 1861, in a last ditch effort to hold the Union together the Senator offered this proposed Constitutional amendment which would not only guarantee the existence of slavery in the South, but would assure that there could be no later Constitutional amendment to do so—the so-called "unamendable amendment." Surprising to us today is the fact that this amendment was not only supported by incoming President Abraham Lincoln, but was passed by the required two-thirds of both houses of Congress. However, before it could be ratified by the States, events overtook the amendment, the South seceded, and the Civil War began.

In the midst of the Mexican War:

The statement was made in response to Senator Lewis Cass argument that “We want room.” There is an interesting parallel between Corwin, and American arguing for the Mexican side, and that of William Pitt, an Englishman who made an argument for the Americans during the American Revolution. See {626047}.