who blogs at Dirigo Blue and Kennebec Blues.
Charleston 1860 - In a surprise move, South Carolina Governor Francis Wilkinson Pickens who spoke openly about the sucession of his state from the Union announced he will run for President.
In reference to Governor Pickens' boastful and forceful talk of states rights, many political observers are stunned that any significant portion of the public would even be open to his seeking the Presidency given his strong anti-Federal rhetoric and stance. The question of where his actual loyalties would lie and how, if eventually elected, he would deal with any states threatening sucession would seem to be a concern that the primary electorate would factor into its consideration of him.
Governor Pickens, coincidentally made his announcement during the late summer Iowa straw harvest for no apparent reason. He spoke at a conservative conference in Charleston, South Carolina, home of the Union’s Fort Sumter.