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  1. Overview: The Peace Conference of 1861
  2. Full Record: The Peace Conference of 1861
  3. Maine Delegation

The Peace Conference of 1861

In February 1861, following the inauguration of Lincoln and the secession of seven states from the Union, a convention of 131 politicians from the remaining states met in Washington, D. C., at the Willard Hotel. They aimed to prevent civil war, and the secession of further states, by proposing an amendment to the Constitution that would protect the existence and practice of slavery, within certain parameters, by enshrining them in constitutional law. An amendment was eventually agreed and recommended to Congress, where it was not passed.

Maine Delegation

This is one of the 22 delegations in the convention, accounting for 8 of 138 people who took part.

Members (8):

Name Visualize Details Delegations
Stephen Coburn Visualize (November 11, 1817 — July 4, 1882) Stephen Coburn, a Representative from Maine; born in Bloomfield (now Skowhegan), Maine, on November 11, 1817; attended Waterville and China Academies; was graduated from Waterville (now Colby) College, Waterville, Maine, in 1839; taught a plantation school in Tarboro, N.C., in 1839 and 1840; principal of Bloomfield (Maine) Academy 1840-1844; studied law at the Harvard Law School; was admitted to the bar in 1845 and commenced practice in Skowhegan; member of the State board of education in 1849 and 1850; delegate to several Republican State conventions; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth Congress on November 6, 1860, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Israel Washburn, Jr., and served from January 2 to March 3, 1861; was not a candidate for the Thirty-seventh Congress, that election having been held in September 1860, previous to his election to the Thirty-sixth Congress; member of the peace convention of 1861 held in Washington, D.C., in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war; resumed the practice of law; postmaster of Skowhegan from July 25, 1868, to January 23, 1877; was drowned in the Kennebec River, at Skowhegan, Maine, July 4, 1882; interment in South Cemetery, Skowhegan, Maine. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C000559] Maine Delegation (The Road to Civil War) , Maine Delegation (This negotiation)
William P. Fessenden Visualize (16 October, 1806 -- 8 September, 1869) Fessenden was an American lawyer and politician. Born in Boscawen, Merrimack County, N.H., Fessenden moved to Maine and studied law. After admittance to the bar in 1827, Fessenden was a member of the State house of representatives in 1832 and 1840. Fessenden was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress and later was elected as a Whig to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy in the term beginning March 4, 1853, caused by the failure of the legislature to elect. He was reelected in 1859 as a Republican, serving from February 10, 1854 to July 1, 1864. [Source: 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774- Present', available at http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp] Maine Delegation (United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866) , Maine Delegation (The Civil Rights Act of 1875) , Maine Delegation (United States Thirteenth Amendment 1863-65) , Maine Delegation (United States Fifteenth Amendment) , Maine Delegation (This negotiation) , Maine Delegation (The Road to Civil War)
Stephen C. Foster Visualize (December 24, 1799 — October 5, 1872) Stephen Clark Foster, a Representative from Maine; born in Machias, Maine, December 24, 1799; attended the common schools; learned the blacksmith's trade and subsequently became a shipbuilder; member of the State house of representatives 1834-1837; member of the State senate in 1840, and served as president; again elected to the State house of representatives in 1847; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1857-March 3, 1861); member of the peace convention of 1861 held in Washington, D.C., in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war; died in Pembroke, Washington County, Maine, October 5, 1872; interment in Forest Hill Cemetery. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/F000312] Maine Delegation (The Road to Civil War) , Maine Delegation (This negotiation)
Ezra B. French Visualize (September 23, 1810 — April 24, 1880) Ezra Bartlett French, a Representative from Maine; born in Landaff, Grafton County, N.H., September 23, 1810; attended the common schools and pursued an academic course; studied law in Bath, N.H., and Plymouth, N.H.; was admitted to the bar in 1833 and commenced practice in Portland and Waldoboro, Maine; moved to Noblesboro (later Damariscotta), Maine, and continued practice; member of the State house of representatives 1838-1840; served in the State senate 1842-1845; secretary of state of Maine 1845-1850; bank commissioner; newspaper editor in 1856; assisted in organizing the Republican Party in 1856; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1861); was not a candidate for renomination in 1860; member of the peace convention of 1861 held in Washington, D.C., in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war; appointed Second Auditor of the Treasury August 3, 1861, by President Lincoln, and continued during the administrations of Presidents Johnson, Grant, and Hayes, serving until his death in Washington, D.C., April 24, 1880; interment in Hillside Cemetery, Damariscotta, Maine. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/F000377] Maine Delegation (The Road to Civil War) , Maine Delegation (This negotiation)
Lot M. Morrill Visualize (3 May, 1813 -- 10 January, 1883) Morrill was an American lawyer and politician. Born in Belgrade, Maine, Morrill studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1839. In 1854, Morrill was a member of the State house of representatives and was a member of the State senate in 1856. From 1858 to 1860 Morrill was Governor of Maine, and in 1861 Morrill was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hannibal Hamlin. Morrill was reelected in 1863 serving from January 17th, 1861 to March 3rd, 1869. Afterwards in 1869, Morrill was elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Pitt Fessenden; he was reelected in 1871 and served from October 30th, 1869 until his resignation on July 7th, 1876. [Source: 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774- Present', available at http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp] Maine Delegation (United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866) , Maine Delegation (The Civil Rights Act of 1875) , Maine Delegation (United States Thirteenth Amendment 1863-65) , Maine Delegation (United States Fifteenth Amendment) , Maine Delegation (This negotiation) , Maine Delegation (The Road to Civil War)
Freeman H. Morse Visualize (February 18, 1807 — February 5, 1891) Freeman Harlow Morse, a Representative from Maine; born in Bath, Maine, February 18, 1807; attended private schools and the academy in Bath; engaged in business as a carver of figureheads for ships; member of the State house of representatives 1840-1844; elected as a Whig to the Twenty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1843-March 3, 1845); mayor of Bath, Maine, in 1849, 1850, and again in 1855; again served in the State house of representatives in 1853 and 1856; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1857-March 3, 1861); chairman, Committee on Naval Affairs (Thirty-sixth Congress); was not a candidate for renomination in 1860; delegate to the peace convention held in Washington, D.C., in 1861, in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war; appointed by President Lincoln as United States consul at London March 22, 1861, and consul general April 16, 1869, and served until July 1870; resided in England after his retirement from office; died in Surbiton, Surrey, England, February 5, 1891; interment in the parish churchyard of St. Mary's, Long Ditton, Surrey County, England. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/M001010] Maine Delegation (The Road to Civil War) , Maine Delegation (This negotiation)
John J. Perry Visualize None Maine Delegation (This negotiation)
Daniel E. Somes Visualize (May 20, 1815 — February 13, 1888) Daniel Eton Somes, a Representative from Maine; born in Meredith (now Laconia), N.H., May 20, 1815; received an academic education; moved to Biddeford, Maine, in 1846; established the Eastern Journal, later known as the Union and Journal; engaged in the manufacture of loom harnesses, reed twine, and varnishes; mayor of Biddeford 1855-1857; president of the City Bank of Biddeford 1856-1858; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1861); member of the peace convention of 1861 held in Washington, D.C., in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war; engaged in the practice of patent law in Washington, D.C., until his death in that city on February 13, 1888; interment in Rock Creek Cemetery. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000678] Maine Delegation (The Road to Civil War) , Maine Delegation (This negotiation)