able to make
his way to the favor of the people without outside aid. The Democratic
nominee proved his ability to stand before the luminous oratory of Ben
Hill himself. Brown had courage, clearness, and tact, with growing
ability and confidence. He soon developed the full strength of the
Democratic party, which, in Georgia, was overwhelming. Joseph E. Brown
was elected Governor, and the last vestige of the American party went
down in 1857. The legislature was overwhelmingly Democratic.

On the 6th of November, 1857, Mr. Toombs wrote from Milledgeville to his
wife, pending the election of United States Senator:

I got here Wednesday and found the usual turmoil and
excitement. Governor McDonald is here and has been trying
hard to beat me, but I find very unexpected and gratifying
unanimity in my favor. The party met this evening and
nominated me by acclamation, with but two or three
dissenting votes, and they speak of bringing on the
election to-morrow. I am very anxious to see you, and am
tired of wandering about in excited crowds; but I suppose
after to-morrow I will have peace, so far as I am
concerned, for the next six years. I think I shall be
entitled to exemption from the actual duties of future
campaigns to stay at home with you.

He was reelected to the United States Senate for the term beginning
March 4, 1857.

When President Buchanan was inaugurated, he announced that a case was
pending in the Supreme Court upon the occupation of the Territories. By
this decision he would abide. The day after the inauguration the
decision was announced. It was the celebrated Dred Scott case. It fell
like a bomb into the antislavery camp. The great question involved was
whether it was competent for Congress, directly or indirectly, to
exclude slavery from the Territories of the United States. The Supreme
Court decided that it was not. Six judges out of eight made this
decision. The opinion was delivered by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney.

This decision added to the fury of the storm. It was announced that the
Chief Justice had announced the doctrine that "negroes had no rights
that a white man was bound to respect"; a sentiment so atrocious that
this official repelled it with indignation. Efforts were made to bury
the Chief Justice in obloquy.

The struggle over the admission of Kansas into the Union was prolonged
in Congress. But the situation in Kans