Chapter X: Preface (8)

Just before the convention opened I saw the New York delegation file in and fill the only vacant place in the immense building. They were appalled when they saw how they had been outgeneralled. Almost immediately behind the New York men, who were under the lead of Evarts as Chairman of the delegation, sat Horace Greeley at the head of the Oregon delegation. That new State, just admitted into the Union, was so far from civilization, as the iron horse had not yet been heard in either the Rockies or the Sierra Nevadas, that the Republican convention selected a number of prominent men in the East, including Greeley, to represent the State. I never saw a more benignant face than that of Greeley’s when the nomination of Lincoln was declared. It was known by the supporters of Seward that Pennsylvania and Indiana had both decided to support Lincoln, the Pennsylvanians having declared for Lincoln by four majority over Bates, after giving a complimentary ballot to Cameron.

With very little preliminary movement the ballot began, and Seward’s two-thirds vote of the convention dwindled down to 173-1/2 when 234 were necessary to a choice. Lincoln, with Pennsylvania and Ohio giving complimentary ballots to Cameron and Chase, had 102 votes. As the ballots were announced, every vote for Lincoln was cheered to the echo, while there were but few cheers for Seward except from the delegates themselves. When the 2d ballot was called the Seward people felt that they must largely increase their strength or fall in the race. As Lincoln gained most of the vote of Pennsylvania, with important gains from other States, the wildest cheering greeted the announcements, and when the ballot was given with only 10 votes gained by Seward and 75 votes gained by Lincoln, it became evident to all that Seward’s strength was exhausted and that Lincoln was the coming man. The next and last ballot soon showed Lincoln as leading Seward, and from that time on it was difficult to announce the votes of the States because of the frenzied cheers for “Abe Lincoln.”

When the last State was called it was known that Lincoln was either nominated or very close to it. The vote as recorded was 231-1/2 for Lincoln, being 2-1/2 votes short of a majority, and 180 for Seward, with some 50 scattering. Before the result was announced Chairman Carter, of Ohio, got up on his chair to assure the attention of the President, and said:

“I rise to announce the change of four votes from Ohio from Mr. Chase to Abraham Lincoln.”

It was known then that this gave Lincoln the majority, and I have never before nor since witnessed such a scene as was made by the great mass of the Lincoln people who were in the hall. A large charcoal picture of Lincoln was presented in the gallery at the rear of the hall, and the whole vast audience, with few exceptions outside of the New York delegation, rose to indulge in the wildest enthusiasm for some minutes.

When order was finally restored, Maine, Massachusetts, and Missouri changed a number of votes to Lincoln, giving him a total of 354, being 120 odd votes more than he needed. When the vote was announced by the President cheers broke out afresh, but they soon quieted down to await the action of the New York delegation that was expected to move the unanimous nomination. There was certainly fully five minutes of dead silence in the body, as the New York delegates were mortified beyond expression at their discomfiture; but after a long wait that seemed to be vastly longer than it was, the tall form of William M. Evarts arose, and with reluctance that was unconcealed said:

“Mr. President, I move that the nomination of Abraham Lincoln be made unanimous.”

Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts, rose as soon as he saw Evarts rise, and when Evarts’s motion was made Andrew seconded it, and with the unanimous vote of the convention and the heartiest huzzas from the many thousands who witnessed the proceedings, Abraham Lincoln was declared the Republican candidate for President. The convention adjourned to meet again in the evening to nominate a candidate for Vice-President.

As there will be general interest felt in the proceedings of the Republican National Convention that gave the country the first Republican President in Abraham Lincoln, I give the detailed vote of each State represented in the convention on the three ballots for President, as follows:

═════════════╤══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
│ 1ST BALLOT.
STATES. ├───────┬────────┬─────┬────────┬──────┬───────┬─────┬──────┬───────┬───────┬────────┬─────────
│Seward.│Lincoln.│Wade.│Cameron.│Bates.│McLean.│Read.│Chase.│Dayton.│Sumner.│Fremont.│Collamer.
─────────────┼───────┼────────┼─────┼────────┼──────┼───────┼─────┼──────┼───────┼───────┼────────┼─────────
Maine │ 10 │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
New Hampshire│ 1 │ 7 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ 1 │ ――
Vermont │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 10
Massachusetts│ 21 │ 4 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Rhode Island │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 1 │ 5 │ 1 │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Connecticut │ ―― │ 2 │ 1 │ ―― │ 7 │ ―― │ ―― │ 2 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
New York │ 70 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
New Jersey │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 14 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Pennsylvania │ 1-1/2│ 4 │ ―― │ 47-1/2│ ―― │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Maryland │ 3 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Delaware │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Virginia │ 8 │ 14 │ ―― │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Kentucky │ 5 │ 6 │ 2 │ ―― │ ―― │ 1 │ ―― │ 8 │ ―― │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
Ohio │ ―― │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 4 │ ―― │ 34 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Indiana │ ―― │ 26 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Missouri │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 18 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Michigan │ 12 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Illinois │ ―― │ 22 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Texas │ 4 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 2 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Wisconsin │ 10 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Iowa │ 2 │ 2 │ ―― │ 1 │ 1 │ 1 │ ―― │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
California │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Minnesota │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Oregon │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 5 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Kansas │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Nebraska │ 2 │ 1 │ ―― │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 2 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
District of │ 2 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Columbia │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
├───────┼────────┼─────┼────────┼──────┼───────┼─────┼──────┼───────┼───────┼────────┼───────────
Totals │173-1/2│ 102 │ 3 │ 50-1/2│ 48 │ 12 │ 1 │ 49 │ 14 │ 1 │ 1 │ 10
═════════════╧═══════╧════════╧═════╧════════╧══════╧═══════╧═════╧══════╧═══════╧═══════╧════════╧═══════════

═════════════╤════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
│ 2D BALLOT.
STATES. ├───────┬─────────┬──────┬────────┬───────┬──────┬───────┬───────────
│Seward.│Lincoln. │Bates.│Cameron.│McLean.│Chase.│Dayton.│C. M. Clay.
─────────────┼───────┼─────────┼──────┼────────┼───────┼──────┼───────┼───────────
Maine │ 10 │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
New Hampshire│ 1 │ 9 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Vermont │ ―― │ 10 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Massachusetts│ 22 │ 4 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Rhode Island │ ―― │ 3 │ ―― │ ―― │ 2 │ 3 │ ―― │ ――
Connecticut │ ―― │ 4 │ 4 │ ―― │ ―― │ 2 │ ―― │ 2
New York │ 70 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
New Jersey │ 4 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 10 │ ――
Pennsylvania │ 2-1/2│ 48 │ ―― │ 1 │ 2-1/2│ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Maryland │ 3 │ ―― │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Delaware │ ―― │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Virginia │ 8 │ 14 │ ―― │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Kentucky │ 7 │ 9 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 6 │ ―― │ ――
Ohio │ ―― │ 14 │ ―― │ ―― │ 3 │ 29 │ ―― │ ――
Indiana │ ―― │ 26 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Missouri │ ―― │ ―― │ 18 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Michigan │ 12 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Illinois │ ―― │ 22 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Texas │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Wisconsin │ 10 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Iowa │ 2 │ 5 │ ―― │ ―― │ 1/2 │ 1/2 │ ―― │ ――
California │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Minnesota │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Oregon │ ―― │ ―― │ 5 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Kansas │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Nebraska │ 3 │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 2 │ ―― │ ――
Dist. of │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Columbia│ 2 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
├───────┼─────────┼──────┼────────┼───────┼──────┼───────┼───────────
Totals │184-1/2│ 181 │ 35 │ 2 │ 8 │42-1/2│ 10 │ 2
═════════════╧═══════╧═════════╧══════╧════════╧═══════╧══════╧═══════╧═══════════

═════════════╤═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
│ 3D BALLOT.
STATES. ├───────┬──────┬───────┬────────┬───────┬───────┬───────────
│Seward.│Bates.│ Chase.│Lincoln.│McLean.│Dayton.│C. M. Clay.
─────────────┼───────┼──────┼───────┼────────┼───────┼───────┼───────────
Maine │ 10 │ ―― │ ―― │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
New Hampshire│ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ 9 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Vermont │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 10 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Massachusetts│ 18 │ ―― │ ―― │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Rhode Island │ 1 │ ―― │ 1 │ 5 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
Connecticut │ 1 │ 4 │ 2 │ 4 │ ―― │ ―― │ 1
New York │ 70 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
New Jersey │ 5 │ ―― │ ―― │ 8 │ ―― │ 1 │ ――
Pennsylvania │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 52 │ 2 │ ―― │ ――
Maryland │ 2 │ ―― │ ―― │ 9 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Delaware │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Virginia │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ 14 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Kentucky │ 6 │ ―― │ 4 │ 13 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Ohio │ ―― │ ―― │ 15 │ 29 │ 2 │ ―― │ ――
Indiana │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 26 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Missouri │ ―― │ 18 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Michigan │ 12 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Illinois │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 22 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Texas │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Wisconsin │ 10 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Iowa │ 2 │ ―― │ 1/2 │ 5-1/2│ ―― │ ―― │ ――
California │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Minnesota │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Oregon │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ 4 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Kansas │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Nebraska │ 3 │ ―― │ 2 │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
Dist. of │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Columbia │ 2 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
├───────┼──────┼───────┼────────┼───────┼───────┼───────────
Totals │ 180 │ 22 │ 24-1/2│ 231-1/2│ 5 │ 1 │ 1
═════════════╧═══════╧══════╧═══════╧════════╧═══════╧═══════╧═══════════

So keen were the disappointments of the New York delegation, and Mr. Weed, who was the Seward leader, that when earnestly urged to name a candidate for Vice-President, who would have been accepted by a nearly unanimous vote, they churlishly refused to do so. Governor Morgan would have been taken as the candidate to emphasize the desire of the friends of Lincoln to recognize the friends of Seward, but he peremptorily refused to accept it, and the convention then nominated Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, as a representative of the Democratic-Republican element; but New York divided her vote between five candidates, giving a bare majority to Hamlin from personal choice.

As the friends of Seward declined to indicate a candidate for Vice-President the convention reassembled in the evening to enter a free-for-all race for the second place on the ticket. Hamlin commanded nearly a solid vote from New England that attracted others. He was known throughout the country as the man who had resigned the chairmanship of his committee in the Senate in 1856 to declare himself for Fremont, although an earnest Democrat up to that time, and that he had accepted the Republican nomination for Governor and won out by an overwhelming majority. There was a strong sentiment in the convention in favor of Cassius M. Clay, not because he was personally preferred, but because it was thought wise by many to desectionalize the party by taking a candidate for Vice-President from a Slave State. Hamlin had a good lead on the 1st ballot, and on the 2d won an easy victory. The two ballots were as follows:

═════════════╤════════════════════════════════════════════╦══════════════════════
│ 1ST BALLOT. ║ 2D BALLOT.
STATES. ├───────────┬───────┬───────┬────────┬───────╫───────┬─────┬────────
│C. M. Clay.│ Banks.│Reeder.│Hickman.│Hamlin.║Hamlin.│Clay.│Hickman.
─────────────┼───────────┼───────┼───────┼────────┼───────╫───────┼─────┼────────
Maine │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 16 ║ 16 │ ―― │ ――
New Hampshire│ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 10 ║ 10 │ ―― │ ――
Vermont │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 10 ║ 10 │ ―― │ ――
Massachusetts│ ―― │ 20 │ 1 │ 1 │ 1 ║ 26 │ ―― │ ――
Rhode Island │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 8 ║ 8 │ ―― │ ――
Connecticut │ 2 │ 1 │ ―― │ 2 │ 5 ║ 10 │ ―― │ 2
New York │ 9 │ 4 │ 2 │ 11 │ 35 ║ 70 │ ―― │ ――
New Jersey │ 1 │ ―― │ 7 │ ―― │ 6 ║ 14 │ ―― │ ――
Pennsylvania │ 4-1/2 │ 2-1/2│ 24 │ 7 │ 11 ║ 54 │ ―― │ ――
Maryland │ 2 │ ―― │ ―― │ 1 │ 8 ║ 10 │ 1 │ ――
Delaware │ 3 │ ―― │ ―― │ 1 │ 2 ║ 6 │ ―― │ ――
Virginia │ 23 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― ║ ―― │ 23 │ ――
Kentucky │ 23 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― ║ ―― │ 28 │ ――
Ohio │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 48 ║ 46 │ ―― │ ――
Indiana │ 18 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 8 ║ 12 │ 14 │ ――
Missouri │ ―― │ 9 │ ―― │ 9 │ ―― ║ 13 │ 5 │ ――
Michigan │ 4 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 8 ║ 8 │ 4 │ ――
Illinois │ 2 │ ―― │ 16 │ 2 │ 2 ║ 20 │ 2 │ ――
Texas │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― ║ ―― │ 6 │ ――
Wisconsin │ 5 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 5 ║ 5 │ 5 │ ――
Iowa │ ―― │ 1 │ 1 │ ―― │ 6 ║ 3 │ ―― │ ――
California │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 8 │ ―― ║ 7 │ 1 │ ――
Minnesota │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ 1 │ 6 ║ 7 │ 1 │ ――
Oregon │ ―― │ 1 │ ―― │ 3 │ 1 ║ 3 │ ―― │ 2
Kansas │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ 6 │ ―― ║ 2 │ 1 │ 3
Nebraska │ 1 │ ―― │ ―― │ 5 │ ―― ║ ―― │ ―― │ 6
District of │ │ │ │ │ ║ │ │
Columbia│ 2 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― ║ 2 │ ―― │ ――
├───────────┼───────┼───────┼────────┼───────╫───────┼─────┼────────
Totals │ 101-1/2 │ 38-1/2│ 51 │ 58 │ 194 ║ 367 │ 86 │ 13
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The Chicago convention that nominated Lincoln for President was not only the ablest national political body that ever met in the country up to that time, but it exhibited the highest type of political strategy. It has never since then been equalled in ability and leadership, with the single exception of the Republican convention of 1880, in which the friends of Grant made their last stand to give their chieftain a third term. As compared with these two, all subsequent conventions were tame.

The following platform was unanimously adopted:

_Resolved_, That we, the delegated representatives of the Republican electors of the United States, in convention assembled, in discharge of the duty we owe to our constituents and our country, unite in the following declarations:

1. That the history of the nation, during the last four years, has fully established the propriety and necessity of the organization and perpetuation of the Republican party, and that the causes which called it into existence are permanent in their nature, and now, more than ever before, demand its peaceful and constitutional triumph.

2. That the maintenance of the principles promulgated in the Declaration of Independence and embodied in the Federal Constitution—“that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”—is essential to the preservation of our republican institutions; and that the Federal Constitution, the rights of the States, and the union of the States, must and shall be preserved.

3. That to the union of the States this nation owes its unprecedented increase in population, its surprising development of material resources, its rapid augmentation of wealth, its happiness at home, and its honor abroad; and we hold in abhorrence all schemes for disunion, come from whatever source they may; and we congratulate the country that no Republican member of Congress has uttered or countenanced the threats of disunion so often made by Democratic members, without rebuke and with applause from their political associates; and we denounce those threats of disunion, in case of a popular overthrow of their ascendancy, as denying the vital principles of a free government, and as an avowal of contemplated treason, which it is the imperative duty of an indignant people sternly to rebuke and forever silence.

4. That the maintenance inviolate of the rights of the States, and especially the right of each State to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment exclusively, is essential to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depends; and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed force of the soil of any State or Territory, no matter under what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes.

5. That the present Democratic administration has far exceeded our worst apprehensions, in its measureless subserviency to the exactions of a sectional interest, as especially evinced in its desperate exertions to force the infamous Lecompton Constitution upon the protesting people of Kansas; in construing the personal relation between master and servant to involve an unqualified property in person; in its attempted enforcement, everywhere, on land and sea, through the intervention of Congress and of the Federal courts, of the extreme pretensions of a purely local interest; and in its general and unvarying abuse of the power entrusted to it by a confiding people.

6. That the people justly view with alarm the reckless extravagance which pervades every department of the Federal Government; that a return to rigid economy and accountability is indispensable to arrest the systematic plunder of the public treasury by favored partisans; while the recent startling developments of frauds and corruptions at the Federal metropolis show that an entire change of administration is imperatively demanded.

7. That the new dogma that the Constitution, of its own force, carries slavery into any or all of the Territories of the United States, is a dangerous political heresy, at variance with the explicit provisions of that instrument itself, with contemporaneous exposition, and with legislative and judicial precedent; is revolutionary in its tendency, and subversive of the peace and harmony of the country.

8. That the normal condition of all the territory of the United States is that of freedom; that as our republican fathers, when they had abolished slavery in all our national territory, ordained that no person should be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, it becomes our duty, by legislation, whenever such legislation is necessary, to maintain this provision of the Constitution against all attempts to violate it; and we deny the authority of Congress, of a territorial legislature, or of any individual, to give legal existence to slavery in any Territory of the United States.

9. That we brand the recent reopening of the African slave-trade, under the cover of our national flag, aided by perversions of judicial power, as a crime against humanity, and a burning shame to our country and age; and we call upon Congress to take prompt and efficient measures for the total and final suppression of that execrable traffic.

10. That in the recent vetoes, by their Federal governors, of the acts of the Legislatures of Kansas and Nebraska, prohibiting slavery in those Territories, we find a practical illustration of the boasted Democratic principle of non-intervention and popular sovereignty, embodied in the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and a demonstration of the deception and fraud involved therein.

11. That Kansas should of right be immediately admitted as a State under the Constitution recently formed and adopted by her people and accepted by the House of Representatives.

12. That, while providing revenue for the support of the General Government by duties upon imports, sound policy requires such an adjustment of these imposts as to encourage the development of the industrial interests of the whole country; and we commend that policy of national exchanges which secures to the workingmen liberal wages, to agriculture remunerating prices, to mechanics and manufacturers an adequate reward for their skill, labor, and enterprise, and to the nation commercial prosperity and independence.

13. That we protest against any sale or alienation to others of the public lands held by actual settlers, and against any view of the free-homestead policy which regards the settlers as paupers or suppliants for public bounty; and we demand the passage by Congress of the complete and satisfactory homestead measure which has already passed the House.

14. That the Republican party is opposed to any change in our naturalization laws, or any State legislation by which the rights of citizenship hitherto accorded to immigrants from foreign lands shall be abridged or impaired; and in favor of giving a full and efficient protection to the rights of all classes of citizens, whether native or naturalized, both at home and abroad.

The bitter estrangement of Douglas and President Buchanan made an impassable gulf between Douglas and the radical Southerners who stood by Buchanan. Douglas had a desperate contest in his State for re-election to the Senate in 1858, when he was opposed by Lincoln as the Republican candidate, and was even more vindictively opposed by all the power of the national administration. Lincoln won the State, as he carried the Republican or Union State ticket, but the legislative districts were so gerrymandered that Douglas won the Legislature and came back in triumph to defy the President. There was no reasonable prospect, therefore, of Democratic unity in the campaign of 1860. Douglas, who was the most astute of all the Democratic politicians of his day, clearly foresaw that the violent attitude of the South must result in the defeat of the slavery party and the early extinction of slavery; but slavery had always been omnipotent since the battle began, and it would not learn that its mastery could be overthrown.

The Democratic National Convention was called for the first time to meet far South, in the city of Charleston, the home of Calhoun, the cradle of nullification, and the one place in the Union where secession ran rampant. It was obviously intended to environ the convention with an army of the ablest Southern leadership. The convention met on the 23d of April, 1860, and every State was fully represented, with double delegations from Illinois and New York. The few administration followers in Illinois had made a rump Democratic organization and sent an anti-Douglas delegation to Charleston, and in New York they had another contest between the “Hards” and the “Softs,” the “Hards” being opposed to Douglas and the “Softs” for him. Caleb Cushing was made permanent president, and it was decided that no ballot should be had for President until a platform was adopted. On the following day the convention did not get beyond the settlement of contested seats, admitting the “Softs” of New York and the Douglas men from Illinois, and the debates on even the most trivial disputes were unusually bitter. On the third day threats of bolting became common among the Southern delegates, as the admission of the Douglas delegates from New York and Illinois clearly indicated that the Douglas people controlled the convention. On the fourth day majority and minority reports were made on the platform, the majority by Mr. Avery, of North Carolina, and the minority by Mr. Payne, of Ohio. General Benjamin F. Butler, who was a prominent delegate in the convention, as he would be anywhere, and who voted for Jefferson Davis for the Presidency right along, presented a minority report of his own, and Senator Bayard, of Delaware, followed with a platform of his invention. On the fifth day Senator Bigler, of Pennsylvania, moved to recommit the platforms to the committee with instructions to report in an hour, and the motion to recommit was carried, 152 to 151, while the motion to instruct was lost by a very large vote. On the same day Mr. Avery, from the majority of the committee on platform, reported a new declaration of principles, and an elaborate discussion followed, and Mr. Samuels, of Iowa, presented a new minority report.

After a protracted and ill-tempered debate, it was finally decided that the vote on the platform should be taken on Monday, the 30th, and on that day the convention proceeded to vote without debate. Butler’s platform was rejected by 198 to 105. Next the minority report of Mr. Samuels, being the Douglas platform, was carried by 165 to 138. The report of the committee as amended was then adopted without a vote by States, upon which the Alabama delegation presented a written protest announcing the purpose of the delegates to withdraw from the convention. The Mississippi, Florida, and Texas delegations gave like notice, and the Louisiana delegation excepting two, the South Carolina delegation excepting three, with three of the Arkansas delegation, two of the Delaware delegation, including Senator Bayard, and one from North Carolina then withdrew from the convention. There were great pomp and ceremony in this proceeding, as formal protests and elaborate speeches were made by the retiring delegates. The convention was thus largely depleted, but a resolution, declaring that two-thirds of a full convention, being 202 votes, shall be necessary to make nominations, was adopted by 141 to 112. The convention then proceeded to ballot for President with the following result:

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BALLOTS.│Douglas.│Guthrie.│Hunter.│Dickinson.│A. Johnson.│Lane. │Jeff. Davis.│Toucey.│F. Pierce.
────────┼────────┼────────┼───────┼──────────┼───────────┼──────┼────────────┼───────┼──────────
1 │ 145-1/2│ 35 │ 42 │ 7 │ 12 │ 6 │ 1-1/2 │ 2-1/2│ 1
2 │ 147 │ 36-1/2│ 41-1/2│ 6-1/2 │ 12 │ 6 │ 1 │ 2-1/2│ ――
3 │ 148-1/2│ 42 │ 36 │ 6-1/2 │ 12 │ 6 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
4 │ 149 │ 37-1/2│ 41-1/2│ 5 │ 12 │ 6 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
5 │ 149-1/2│ 37-1/2│ 41 │ 5 │ 12 │ 6 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
6 │ 149-1/2│ 39-1/2│ 41 │ 3 │ 12 │ 7 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
7 │ 150-1/2│ 38-1/2│ 41 │ 4 │ 11 │ 6 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
8 │ 150-1/2│ 38-1/2│ 40-1/2│ 4-1/2 │ 11 │ 6 │ 1-1/2 │ ―― │ ――
9 │ 150-1/2│ 41 │ 39-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ 6 │ 1-1/2 │ ―― │ ――
10 │ 150-1/2│ 39-1/2│ 39 │ 4 │ 12 │ 5-1/2│ 1-1/2 │ ―― │ ――
11 │ 150-1/2│ 39-1/2│ 38 │ 4 │ 12 │ 6-1/2│ 1-1/2 │ ―― │ ――
12 │ 150-1/2│ 39-1/2│ 38 │ 4 │ 12 │ 6 │ 1-1/2 │ ―― │ ――
13 │ 149-1/2│ 39-1/2│ 28-1/2│ 1 │ 12 │20 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
14 │ 150 │ 41 │ 27 │ 1/2 │ 12 │20-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
15 │ 150 │ 41-1/2│ 26-1/2│ 1/2 │ 12 │20-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
16 │ 150 │ 42 │ 26 │ 1/2 │ 12 │20-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
17 │ 150 │ 42 │ 26 │ 1/2 │ 12 │20-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
18 │ 150 │ 41-1/2│ 26 │ 1 │ 12 │20-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
19 │ 150 │ 41-1/2│ 26 │ 1 │ 12 │20-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
20 │ 150 │ 42 │ 26 │ 1/2 │ 12 │20-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
21 │ 150-1/2│ 41-1/2│ 26 │ 1/2 │ 12 │20-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
22 │ 150-1/2│ 41-1/2│ 26 │ 1/2 │ 12 │20-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
23 │ 152-1/2│ 41-1/2│ 25 │ 1/2 │ 12 │19-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
24 │ 151-1/2│ 41-1/2│ 25 │ 1-1/2 │ 12 │19-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
25 │ 151-1/2│ 41-1/2│ 25 │ 1-1/2 │ 12 │19-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
26 │ 151-1/2│ 41-1/2│ 25 │ 12 │ 12 │ 9 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
27 │ 151-1/2│ 42-1/2│ 25 │ 12 │ 12 │ 8 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
28 │ 151-1/2│ 42 │ 25 │ 12-1/2 │ 12 │ 8 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
29 │ 151-1/2│ 42 │ 25 │ 13 │ 12 │ 7-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
30 │ 151-1/2│ 45 │ 25 │ 13 │ 11 │ 5-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
31 │ 151-1/2│ 47-1/2│ 32-1/2│ 3 │ 11 │ 5-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
32 │ 152-1/2│ 47-1/2│ 22-1/2│ 3 │ 11 │ 5-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
33 │ 152-1/2│ 47-1/2│ 22-1/2│ 3 │ 11 │14-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
34 │ 152-1/2│ 47-1/2│ 22-1/2│ 5 │ 11 │12-1/2│ 1 │ ―― │ ――
35 │ 152 │ 47-1/2│ 22 │ 4-1/2 │ 12 │13 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
36 │ 151-1/2│ 48 │ 22 │ 4-1/2 │ 12 │13 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
37 │ 151-1/2│ 64-1/2│ 16 │ 5-1/2 │ 1/2 │12-1/2│ 1-1/2 │ ―― │ ――
38 │ 151-1/2│ 66 │ 16 │ 5-1/2 │ ―― │13 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
39 │ 151-1/2│ 66-1/2│ 16 │ 5-1/2 │ ―― │12-1/2│ ―― │ ―― │ ――
40 │ 151-1/2│ 66-1/2│ 16 │ 5-1/2 │ ―― │12-1/2│ ―― │ ―― │ ――
41 │ 151-1/2│ 66-1/2│ 16 │ 5-1/2 │ ―― │12-1/2│ ―― │ ―― │ ――
42 │ 151-1/2│ 66-1/2│ 16 │ 5 │ ―― │13 │ ―― │ ―― │ ――
43 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 5 │ ―― │13 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
44 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 5 │ ―― │13 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
45 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 5 │ ―― │13 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
46 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 5 │ ―― │13 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
47 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 5 │ ―― │13 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
48 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 5 │ ―― │13 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
49 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 4 │ ―― │14 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
50 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 4 │ ―― │14 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
51 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 4 │ ―― │14 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
52 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 4 │ ―― │14 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
53 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 4 │ ―― │14 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
54 │ 151-1/2│ 61 │ 20-1/2│ 2 │ ―― │16 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
55 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 4 │ ―― │14 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
56 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 4 │ ―― │14 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
57 │ 151-1/2│ 65-1/2│ 16 │ 4 │ ―― │14 │ 1 │ ―― │ ――
════════╧════════╧════════╧═══════╧══════════╧═══════════╧══════╧════════════╧═══════╧══════════

Douglas had a large plurality of the votes, but could not obtain even a two-thirds vote of the remaining delegates. After the 57th ballot a motion was made to adjourn the convention to reassemble at Baltimore on the 18th of June. That was adopted by 195 to 55, whereupon President Cushing adjourned the convention to reconvene in Baltimore. The retiring delegates met at St. Andrew’s Hall, in Charleston, elected Senator Bayard, of Delaware, president, and after much discussion adopted a platform of its own. After spending four days wholly devoted to discussion, that body adjourned to reconvene in Richmond on the second Monday in June. This convention reconvened in Richmond on the 11th of June, with delegates from Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia. John Erwin, of Alabama, was made President, when it adjourned to meet again in Richmond on the 21st of June, and reassembled on that day and awaited the action of the Democratic seceders of the Baltimore convention, who nominated Breckenridge and Lane, when it accepted the candidates of the seceders and their platform, and adjourned _sine die_.

The regular Democratic National Convention reassembled in Baltimore on the 18th of June, and the first three days were devoted to a wrangling discussion on rules, platforms, rights of delegates, etc. The first disturbing questions the convention had to meet were the admission of delegates and the right of partial delegations representing States to cast the full vote of the State. The decision of the convention started another small tidal wave of secession and Virginia retired. North Carolina followed, then Tennessee, and a portion of Maryland. Later California and Delaware withdrew with a part of Kentucky, and President Cushing became so disgusted that he resigned his position and bolted himself. The convention finally proceeded to ballot for President, and two ballots were had, with the following result:

══════════════╤═══════════════════════════════╦═══════════════════════════════
│ 1ST BALLOT. ║ 2D BALLOT.
STATES. ├────────┬─────────────┬────────╫────────┬─────────────┬────────
│Douglas.│Breckenridge.│Guthrie.║Douglas.│Breckenridge.│Guthrie.
──────────────┼────────┼─────────────┼────────╫────────┼─────────────┼────────
Maine │ 5-1/2│ ―― │ ―― ║ 7 │ ―― │ ――
New Hampshire │ 5 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 5 │ ―― │ ――
Vermont │ 5 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 5 │ ―― │ ――
Massachusetts │ 10 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 10 │ ―― │ ――
Rhode Island │ 4 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 4 │ ―― │ ――
Connecticut │ 3-1/2│ 1 │ ―― ║ 3-1/2│ 1/2 │ ――
New York │ 35 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 35 │ ―― │ ――
New Jersey │ 2-1/2│ ―― │ ―― ║ 2-1/2│ ―― │ ――
Pennsylvania │ 10 │ 3 │ 3 ║ 10 │ 7 │ 2-1/2
Maryland │ 2-1/2│ ―― │ ―― ║ 2-1/2│ ―― │ ――
Virginia │ 1-1/2│ ―― │ ―― ║ 3 │ ―― │ ――
North Carolina│ 1 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 1 │ ―― │ ――
Alabama │ 9 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 9 │ ―― │ ――
Louisiana │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 6 │ ―― │ ――
Arkansas │ 1 │ 1/2 │ ―― ║ 1-1/2│ ―― │ ――
Missouri │ 4-1/2│ ―― │ 1-1/2║ 4-1/2│ ―― │ 1-1/2
Tennessee │ 3 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 3 │ ―― │ ――
Kentucky │ ―― │ ―― │ 4-1/2║ 3 │ ―― │ 1-1/2
Ohio │ 23 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 23 │ ―― │ ――
Indiana │ 13 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 13 │ ―― │ ――
Illinois │ 11 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 11 │ ―― │ ――
Michigan │ 6 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 6 │ ―― │ ――
Wisconsin │ 5 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 5 │ ―― │ ――
Iowa │ 4 │ ―― │ ―― ║ 4 │ ―― │ ――
Minnesota │ 2-1/2│ 1/2 │ 1 ║ 4 │ ―― │ ――
├────────┼─────────────┼────────╫────────┼─────────────┼────────
│ 173-1/2│ 5 │ 10 ║ 181-1/2│ 7-1/2 │ 5-1/2
══════════════╧════════╧═════════════╧════════╩════════╧═════════════╧════════

As Douglas had received nearly the unanimous vote of the remaining delegates, it was finally resolved that as he had two-thirds of all the votes given in the convention, he was the nominee of the party for President. Benjamin Fitzpatrick, Senator from Alabama, was nominated for Vice-President, receiving 198-1/2 votes to 1 for William C. Alexander, of New Jersey. Senator Fitzpatrick declined the nomination when notified of it, and the National Committee supplied the vacancy by the nomination of Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia. The platform adopted by this convention was as follows:

1. _Resolved_, That we, the Democracy of the Union, in convention assembled, hereby declare our affirmance of the resolutions unanimously adopted and declared as a platform of principles by the Democratic convention at Cincinnati in the year 1856, believing that Democratic principles are unchangeable in their nature when applied to the same subject-matters; and we recommend as the only further resolutions the following:

Inasmuch as differences of opinion exist in the Democratic party as to the nature and extent of the powers of a Territorial legislature, and as to the powers and duties of Congress, under the Constitution of the United States, over the institution of slavery within the Territories—

2. _Resolved_, That the Democratic party will abide by the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States on the questions of constitutional law.

3. _Resolved_, That it is the duty of the United States to afford ample and complete protection to all its citizens, whether at home or abroad, and whether native or foreign.

4. _Resolved_, That one of the necessities of the age, in a military, commercial, and postal point of view, is speedy communication between the Atlantic and Pacific States; and the Democratic party pledge such constitutional government aid as will insure the construction of a railroad to the Pacific Coast at the earliest practicable period.

5. _Resolved_, That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of the island of Cuba, on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain.

6. _Resolved_, That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of the Fugitive Slave law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolutionary in their effects.

7. _Resolved_, That it is in accordance with the interpretation of the Cincinnati platform, that, during the existence of the Territorial governments, the measure of restriction, whatever it may be, imposed by the Federal Constitution on the power of the Territorial Legislature over the subject of the domestic relations, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, finally determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, should be respected by all good citizens, and enforced with promptness and fidelity by every branch of the General Government.

The seceders from the Baltimore convention, who were really representing the seceders from the Charleston convention then in session at Richmond, immediately organized a new convention in the Front Street Theatre, of Baltimore, with 21 States fully or partially represented. Caleb Cushing was made chairman, and after adopting the two-thirds rule, a ballot was had for President, all of the votes being cast for J. C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, by the following States:

Vermont 1/2
Massachusetts 8
New York 2
Pennsylvania 4
Maryland 4-1/2
Virginia 11-1/2
North Carolina 8-1/2
Georgia 10
Florida 3
Alabama 9
Louisiana 6
Mississippi 7
Texas 4
Arkansas 4
Missouri 1
Tennessee 9-1/2
Kentucky 4-1/2
Minnesota 1
California 4
Oregon 3

Breckenridge, having received the unanimous vote of the convention, was declared the candidate with great enthusiasm, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, received a like unanimous vote for Vice-President on the 1st ballot. The convention then adopted the following platform, being the same that had been reported to the Charleston convention by the majority of the platform committee:

_Resolved_, That the platform adopted by the Democratic party at Cincinnati be affirmed, with the following explanatory resolutions:

1. That the government of a Territory organized by an act of Congress is provisional and temporary; and during its existence all citizens of the United States have an equal right to settle with their property in the Territory, without their rights either of person or of property being destroyed or impaired by Congressional legislation.

2. That it is the duty of the Federal Government, in all its departments, to protect, when necessary, the rights of persons and property in the Territories, and wherever else its constitutional authority extends.

3. That when the settlers in a Territory, having an adequate population, form a State constitution, the right of sovereignty commences, and, being consummated by admission into the Union, they stand on an equal footing with the people of other States; and the State thus organized ought to be admitted into the Federal Union, whether its constitution prohibits or recognizes the institution of slavery.

4. That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of the island of Cuba, on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain, at the earliest practicable moment.

5. That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of the Fugitive Slave law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolutionary in their effect.

6. That the Democracy of the United States recognize it as the imperative duty of this Government to protect the naturalized citizen in all his rights, whether at home or in foreign lands, to the same extent as its native-born citizens.

_Whereas_, One of the greatest necessities of the age, in a political, commercial, postal, and military point of view, is a speedy communication between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts—

_Therefore be it Resolved_, That the Democratic party do hereby pledge themselves to use every means in their power to secure the passage of some bill, to the extent of the constitutional authority of Congress, for the construction of a Pacific railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, at the earliest practicable moment.

A convention of delegates, representing the Constitutional Union party, met at Baltimore on the 9th of May and nominated John Bell, of Tennessee, for President, and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, for Vice-President. Two ballots were had, as follows:

═══════════════════╤═════════════╤════════════
│ 1st Ballot. │ 2d Ballot.
───────────────────┼─────────────┼────────────
John Bell │ 68-1/2 │ 138
Samuel Houston │ 57 │ 69
John M. Botts │ 9-1/2 │ 7
John McLean │ 21 │ 1
J. J. Crittendon │ 28 │ 1
Edward Everett │ 25 │ 9-1/2
William Goggin │ 3 │ ――
William A. Graham │ 22 │ 18
William L. Sharkey │ 7 │ 8-1/2
William C. Rieves │ 13 │ ――
═══════════════════╧═════════════╧════════════

Mr. Bell was declared the unanimous choice of the convention, and Mr. Everett was unanimously nominated without the formality of a ballot. The following platform was adopted by this convention:

_Whereas_, Experience has demonstrated that platforms adopted by the partisan conventions of the country have had the effect to mislead and deceive the people, and at the same time to widen the political divisions of the country by the creation and encouragement of geographical and sectional parties, therefore—

_Resolved_, That it is both the part of patriotism and of duty to recognize no political principle other than the Constitution of the country, the union of the States, and the enforcement of the laws, and that, as representatives of the constitutional Union men of the country in national convention assembled, we hereby pledge ourselves to maintain, protect, and defend, separately and unitedly, these great principles of public liberty and national safety, against all enemies at home and abroad, believing that thereby peace may once more be restored to the country, the rights of the people and of the States re-established, and the Government again placed in that condition of justice, fraternity, and equality which, under the example and Constitution of our fathers, has solemnly bound every citizen of the United States to maintain a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

It will be noticed that the American party had entirely disappeared as a political factor in 1860, and what was called the Constitutional Union party had its origin from a number of old and conservative Americans who could not follow either of the old parties. The movement originated chiefly with the friends of General Houston, of Texas, who had separated from the Democratic party and was elected Governor of his State after he identified himself with the American organization. It was expected by those who did the preliminary work of organizing the Constitutional Union party that Houston would be made the candidate for President, and it will be seen that on the 1st ballot he was within 9 votes of Bell. The movement gained unexpected strength through the North, and when the delegates assembled at Baltimore a majority of them regarded it as a necessity to nominate two of the ablest, cleanest, and most conservative men of the country, and John Bell was taken because it was known that he could command a much larger vote from the old Whigs and Americans of the South, where the Republicans could have no votes, than any other candidate. The American party never reappeared in the political arena after 1856, when it succeeded in carrying the electoral vote of Maryland for Fillmore.

The contest was one of great activity, with much more bitterness exhibited by the Democratic factions toward each other than either displayed toward the Republicans. Douglas took the stump and spoke as far South as New Orleans, throughout the West, in various places in New York and other Eastern States. His speeches were the ablest and most aggressive ever delivered in a national contest. Lincoln, Breckenridge, and Bell took no prominent individual part in the battle. One of the peculiar features of the campaign of 1860 was the development of a war spirit in the North that was quickened by the organization known as “The Wide-Awakes.” They were Republican organizations uniformed by caps and capes, and each one carrying a lantern in night processions. Many of them drilled as military companies, for the threat of war came up with almost every echo from the South. The young men of the North, and especially the young men just from our colleges, entered largely and very enthusiastically into the Lincoln ranks, and in no previous Presidential battle was there such able and general discussion of public questions on the hustings. The slavery question had presented a new phase to the people of the North. It was not a mere battle against slavery, although that appealed very strongly to the convictions of most of the Republicans, but the South had, by the deliverances of its leading men, made the issue directly against the mastery of the free labor of the North. It was denounced by some of the ablest Southern leaders as unworthy of respect or recognition, holding that labor was menial, and that the North was made up very largely of “small-fisted farmers” and “greasy mechanics,” and Senator Chestnut, of South Carolina, who delivered the most honest and one of the ablest speeches on the labor question, compared the slave labor of the South most favorably with the “mud-sills of the North.” This attitude of the South logically brought the most intelligent labor classes of all conditions into the support of the Republican ticket to vindicate their own manhood and independence. The following table presents the popular and electoral vote: