Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-309) and index.
In the forks of the Yadkin, 1829-1850 -- To the land of gold, 1851-1854 -- Negotiating race in a "human menagerie" -- Pushed to the limits : writing The impending crisis of the South, 1854-1857 -- The logical outcome of the nonslaveholders' philosophy? -- Blowing up a storm, 1857-1859 -- Impending crisis : the speakership contest and the coming of the Civil War, 1859-1860 -- American spokesman in Buenos Aires : consul, 1861-1866 -- A rage for whiteness, 1867-1871 -- Railway to the moon, 1871-1909