Part 19

════════╤════════╤════════╤═══════╤══════════╤═══════════╤══════╤════════════╤═══════╤══════════ 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: