Agitation

Murray Mason files a report for a couple who are petitioning to get compensated for the loss of slaves during the War of 1812.

James Murray Mason, Senator from Virginia, on behalf of a Virginia couple, write the Senate in hopes of compensation for slaves who were taken during the War of 1812 by the British. This report is only meant to agitate the Northern States and push the divide between the slave owning and non slave owning states.

From early 1860 on, Mason fought hard against what he saw as the Northern states "taking" away the constitutional rights of southern states to own slaves. He would frequently bring up the issue on the Senate floor, "If you are not Abolitionists, why this constant war upon slavery?" Mason continued, "the experience of the southern States has shown that the condition of African bondage elevates both races," and even claiming in the north, "where, unhappily for them, they can have no slavess, they yet have a class of servants who are not as free as those whom they serve-whose will is subjected to that of another by contract." [1] Mason's appraoch on the Senate Floor was consisent as an early leader against the Abolition movement. His predicition of secession brings the idea to southern states.

James Murray Mason leads the select committee of the Senate in investigating the incident at Harper's Ferry involving John Brown and the raid on the armory. 

The report details what they believe happened, why it happened, and who was behind it all. The Mason Report as it became known as, is very important in showing how Murray Mason used the report to make the North look like the aggressors. On page 18 specifically, we see how he uses the words like invasion, insurrection and protection to make make the south seem innocent. While pushing this rhetoric, he is only diving the country even more.

Mason uses the attack as a way to pit north and south against one another. Mason would suggest the northen states were the financial backing behind the plot and he took "steps" to protect his home state of Virginia. "Mason announced regretfully that the deterioration of relationships between states had casued the Virginia state legislature to appropriate money for the purchase of arms to defend the commonwealth." [1] Mason is preparing for what he sees as an impending split between north and south:

“Do not hold it incumbent on them, after the experience of the country, to guard in future by appropriate legislation against occurrences similar to the one here inquired into, the committee can find no guarantee elsewhere for the security of peace between the states.” [1]