Modern writers, North and South-Garrison, Chadwick, T. C. Smith,
Merriam, for instance[108]--now recognize the menace of disunion
in 1850 and the service of Webster in defending the Union.
Rhodes, though condemning Webster's support of the fugitive slave
bill, recognizes that the speech was one of the few that really
altered public opinion and won necessary Northern support for the
Compromise. "We see now that in the War of the Rebellion his
principles were mightier than those of Garrison." "It was not the
Liberty or Abolitionist party, but the Union party that
won."[109]

[108] Garrison, Westward Expansion, pp. 327-332; Chadwick, The
Causes of the Civil War, pp. 49-51; Smith, Parties and Slavery,
p. 9; Merriam, Life of Bowles, I. 81.

[109] Rhodes, I. 157, 161.


Postponement of secession for ten years gave the North
preponderance in population, voting power, production, and
transportation; new party organization; and convictions which
made man-power and economic resources effective. The Northern
lead of four million people in 1850 had increased to seven
millions by 1860. In 1850, each section had thirty votes in the
Senate; in 1860, the North had a majority of six, due to the
adrhission of California, Oregon, and Minnesota. In the House of
Representatives, the North had added seven to her majority. The
Union states and territories built during the decade 15,000 miles
of railroad, to 7,000 or 8,000 in the eleven seceding states. In