David Atchison

David Atchison was a Democratic U.S. Senator from Missouri who served in the mid-19th century. His political career included notable roles such as president pro tempore of the United States Senate and a significant involvement in the contentious issues surrounding slavery and territorial expansion during his time. Atchison's tenure in the Senate was marked by his strong advocacy for pro-slavery policies and his participation in the events leading up to the American Civil War.

Early life and career

David Rice Atchison was born on August 11, 1807, in Frogtown, which is now part of Lexington, Kentucky. He was the son of William Atchison and his wife. Atchison received his education at Transylvania University in Lexington, where he was contemporaneous with several future Democratic senators. After completing his studies, he pursued a legal career, gaining admission to the Kentucky bar in 1829.

In 1830, Atchison relocated to Liberty, a town in Clay County, Missouri, where he established a law practice. He quickly became a prominent figure in the legal community and acquired a plantation that relied on enslaved labor. Among his notable clients was Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint Movement, whom Atchison represented in land disputes against non-Mormon settlers in Caldwell and Daviess Counties.

Atchison's legal career flourished, and he formed a close friendship with fellow lawyer Alexander William Doniphan, who joined his practice in 1833. The two engaged in various social activities, including hunting and attending political events. Atchison was also involved in local militia activities, being a member of the Liberty Blues, a volunteer militia group.

His political career began in earnest when he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1834. During his time in the legislature, he advocated for the Platte Purchase, which involved the cession of Native American lands to the United States and the expansion of Missouri's boundaries. Atchison's involvement in the Mormon War of 1838 saw him appointed as a major general in the Missouri State Militia, where he played a role in attempting to quell violence between conflicting factions.

Atchison continued his political ascent, being re-elected to the Missouri House in 1838 and later appointed as a circuit court judge in 1841. In 1843, he was named a county commissioner in Platte County, where he resided.

Senate tenure

Atchison's entry into the U.S. Senate came in October 1843 when he was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the deceased Lewis F. Linn. Atchison made history as the first senator from western Missouri and, at the age of 36, he was the youngest senator from the state at that time. His popularity among fellow Democrats led to his re-election for a full term in 1849.

His influence within the Senate grew when the Democratic Party gained control in December 1845, leading to his selection as president pro tempore. This position placed him second in the presidential line of succession and required him to preside over the Senate in the absence of the vice president. Atchison's tenure as president pro tempore was characterized by his relatively low seniority, having only served two years in the Senate at the time of his appointment.

In 1849, Atchison temporarily stepped down from the role of president pro tempore, but he was reinstated in December 1852 after the election of William R. King as Vice President. He continued to serve in this capacity until December 1854.

Throughout his Senate career, Atchison was a staunch supporter of slavery and territorial expansion. He backed the annexation of Texas and the U.S.-Mexican War, aligning himself with pro-slavery interests. His political rivalry with fellow senator Thomas Hart Benton, who opposed slavery, intensified during this period. In 1851, Atchison allied with the Whigs to defeat Benton in his re-election bid.

As tensions over slavery escalated, Atchison sought to counter Benton's efforts to organize territories west of Missouri. He proposed the repeal of the Missouri Compromise's ban on slavery in those territories, advocating for the principle of popular sovereignty, which would allow settlers to determine the legality of slavery in their territories. This proposal led to the introduction of the Kansas-Nebraska Act by Senator Stephen Douglas in November 1853, which was enacted into law in May 1854 and established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska.

Legislative focus and committees

Atchison's legislative focus was heavily influenced by his pro-slavery stance and his commitment to expanding slaveholding territories. He believed that the settlement of Nebraska would attract free-state supporters from the North, while Kansas would be populated by pro-slavery settlers from the South, thereby maintaining a balance between free and slave states in the Union.

In 1854, Atchison played a pivotal role in founding the town of Atchison, Kansas, as a pro-slavery settlement. The town, named in his honor, was part of his broader strategy to ensure that Kansas would become a slave state. However, the anticipated migration of pro-slavery settlers did not materialize as expected. Instead, many free-soil activists from the North viewed Kansas as a battleground for the future of slavery in the United States. This led to the formation of societies aimed at encouraging free-state settlers to move to Kansas, which ultimately contributed to the violent confrontations known as "Bleeding Kansas."

Atchison's involvement in these events reflected his commitment to the pro-slavery cause and his belief in the necessity of maintaining the institution of slavery in the expanding United States. His actions during this tumultuous period were indicative of the broader national conflict over slavery that would eventually culminate in the American Civil War.

Atchison's Senate career concluded on March 3, 1855, marking the end of his two terms in Congress. Following his departure from the Senate, he continued to be involved in military affairs, serving as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. His legacy remains intertwined with the contentious issues of his time, particularly regarding slavery and the expansion of the United States.