Book Review: Radical of Radicals: Austin Blair, Civil War Governor – In His Own Words

Radical of Radicals: Austin Blair, Civil War Governor – In His Own Words. Edited by Jack Dempsey. Traverse City, MI: Mission Point Press, 2025. Paperback, 329 pp. $18.95.

Reviewed by Greg Romaneck

In 1860, when Austin Blair launched his campaign to be governor of Michigan, he was criticized for lacking the prerequisite experience to hold that position. Over the years, Blair, a lawyer, had served in his home state as a county clerk, state representative, and state senator. In the 1850s Blair had also been a member of a committee charged with developing the Republican Party’s platform. In 1860, Blair was a delegate to the Republican convention, where he was a strong supporter of Abraham Lincoln’s candidacy. 1860 also marked a watershed event in Blair’s political life as, in the election that launched Lincoln’s presidential career, Blair succeeded in earning the governorship of Michigan. Once established as governor of his home state, Blair put in motion his philosophy of governance which was grounded on progressive policies that would stamp him as one of the more radical northern governors to serve during the Civil War.

Here, in Jack Dempsey’s documentary-style biography, readers will revisit, or be introduced to, the work and words of Austin Blair, a truly remarkable, and often overlooked, Civil War leader. This book takes the form of dozens of primary source documents crafted by Blair during his political service, each of which clarify the views of a man who held beliefs that were quite radical for his times. Each document is appropriately presented and explained by Dempsey in short introductions or follow-ups that offer the reader legitimate context for Blair’s words. In this way, readers are taken through Blair’s wartime governorship and the many progressive policies, decisions, and actions taken by this unheralded, yet impactful leader.

When considering Austin Blair, his time as Michigan’s governor, and the impact his actions had, readers will be struck by the contemporary nature of some of his beliefs. For example, at a time when slavery was acceptable in the minds of many Americans, Blair not only stood out as an abolitionist, but also an advocate of extending voting rights to African Americans. In Blair’s words, “the time has come when the colored men of America should be allowed to assume their rightful position as citizens of the republic, upon an equality in all respects with their white brethren.” (7) Likewise, Blair supported women’s suffrage and often commented that, “he should make no objection to females voting if the right was asked for.” (7)

Blair, as revealed in his own writings and actions, was also unusual in terms of his expectations of the Civil War once it commenced. A diehard supporter of the Union, Blair saw the secessionists as an existential threat to the nation’s democracy. That democracy was, for Blair, a bastion of freedom in the world. When writing or speaking about the powerful virtue of American democracy, Blair described it in this way, “It has always been regarded as the great ark of our political safety. The severest tests have thus far left it unscathed and every friend of his country still clings to it. With undiminished faith and hope. He who seeks to destroy it is a traitor & deserves the reward of a traitor.” (33) Once secession became a reality, and war was in the offing, Blair was among the few leaders who truly understood just how arduous and costly the Civil War would be.

As a wartime governor, from the very outset of the military struggle Blair pulled no punches in terms of his expectations for the conflict. While many political leaders expected the war to be quick and relatively bloodless, Austin Blair took a different perspective. Early in the war he called for the full use of Federal power to crush the secessionists, “Secession is revolution, and revolution, in the overt act, is treason, and must be treated as such. The Federal Government has the power to defend itself and I do not doubt that that power will be exercised to the utmost.” (82)

For Blair, this remorseless struggle pitted opposing forces that represented vastly different interests, “The time for gentle dalliance has long since passed away. We meet an enemy, vindictive, bloodthirsty and cruel, profoundly in earnest…devoted to his one wicked purpose to destroy the government and establish his slaveholding oligarchy in its stead.” (127)

In 1864, with Union victory in the offing, Blair chose not to run for a third term. Governor Blair left office proud of his accomplishments, but also somewhat financially adrift as he had donated much of his personal wealth to the wartime cause. Strangely, this firebrand governor has received little attention from Civil War scholars. Fortunately, in this book, and an upcoming companion second volume which will focus on Blair’s post-war accomplishments, the words and ideas of this somewhat radical leader will be kept alive for study, analysis, and comparison to contemporary American values.

Greg M. Romaneck is retired after working for 34 years as a professional educator and consultant. During those years he held positions such as special education teacher, assistant principal, elementary principal, adjunct professor, director of special education, student teaching supervisor, and associate superintendent. Mr. Romaneck has also trained as a counselor and worked in areas such as crisis intervention, mediation, problem solving, and conflict resolution.  Greg has had several books and numerous articles published on a variety of subjects such as Education, Psychology, Self-Improvement, Backpacking, Eastern Philosophy, Civil War history, Poetry, and Bible studies. Greg has also had nearly 3,500 book reviews published by Childrenslit.com, a popular source of information for educators, librarians, and parents regarding books for younger readers and has reviewed Civil War books for four decades for a variety of publications and magazines. Most recently Greg was the featured book reviewer for more than a decade with the Civil War Courier. Greg resides in DeKalb, Illinois and enjoys spending time with his family & friends, hiking, kayaking, backpacking, reading, and writing.