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Maine's War Governor: Israel Washburn, Jr. And The Race To Save The Union, Kerck Kelsey
Maine's War Governor: Israel Washburn, Jr. And The Race To Save The Union, Kerck Kelsey
Maine History
Almost forgotten today, Israel Washburn, Jr. was one of the greatest political leaders to come out of Maine. Washburn was a self-taught country lawyer in Orono. He won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as 11 Whig in 1850 and served four additional terms. In Congress, he challenged southern control of the federal government, especially in matters pertaining to the protection and expansion of slavery. Discouraged by the passage of the K11nsas-Nebraska Bill, he and others sparked the political revolt among northerners and westerners that resulted in the formation of the Republican Party. Washburn was elected governor of …