The "Promises Broken, Promises Restored" theme takes a dark turn here. In a last-ditch attempt to prevent Southern secession, both houses of Congress passed a Constitutional amendment that would have prohibited any subsequent amendment to outlaw slavery in the states. It didn't stop secession, and the ratification process fell apart. Search on "Corwin Amendment" for full details.
Lyrics, music, and performance copyright 2022 Gary McGath.
Once President Buchanan had a plan
To keep the South within the USA.
He worked to get the Constitution changed
And guarantee that slavery would stay.
Then Congressman Tom Corwin wrote the draft,
To banish the repeal of slavery
And guarantee the states eternal power
To say some humans never could be free.
The House approved in eighteen sixty-one,
The Senate did the same after debates,
With two-thirds of each house the bill went on
And had to get approval from the states.
In Lincoln's first inaugural address,
He told the country he did not object.
To keep the Union whole at any cost
Was what he was determined to protect.
But then the South seceded anyway,
Just half a dozen states did ratify,
And when our nation fell to civil war,
It let the bill — and many people — die.
This isn't made up, dark alt-history,
The story that I've told to you is real.
The House and Senate nearly put an end
To any hope of slavery's repeal.
What is the lesson from this ugly tale,
And what rose-colored views should it affect?
The answer is a simple one, though hard:
Don't ever trust the people you elect.
@momentegalerie Feb 2022
So this is a classic song without chorus :) and it's interesting. Never heard anything like it. Nice vibrato in your voice.. I would enjoy it more with a summond chorus I think. Nice job anyway
@metricula Feb 2022
I'm really, really enjoying your historical songs
@mhorning Feb 2022
I assure you, I never trust anyone who has been elected to anything.