A House Divided (Civil War): The Great Congress I

Lead: One hundred and fifty years ago the Republic was facing its greatest crisis. This continuing series examines the American Civil War. It is "A House Divided."

Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts.

Content: The position of a legislature in a republic is essentially conservative. Elected representatives tend to reflect the sentiments of their constituents who are not particularly inclined toward revolutionary enterprise. This is not difficult to understand as voters are usually required to pay the price in blood and treasure for their leaders’ ambitions. In U.S. history this has tended to insure that Congress has acted as a brake on Executive pretension. Presidents propose, Congresses dispose, or more often reject, the motivations of Chief Executives.