Newly “re-selected” US Senator Stephen Douglas went on the road during the Winter of 1858 - 1859 in the South, repeating his pro-slavery arguments from his debates with Lincoln. Lincoln remained in Illinois, and at a Republican gathering in Chicago, he stated that if slavery was authorized on one side of a drawn line on a map, then what was to stop slavery from being authorized in the future on the other side of that line. By early-1859, Lincoln’s ambition for national office in DC had intensified. He published the seven debates with Douglas, and delivered major speeches in Northern states. Instead of sinking into obscurity, the Republican Party at the national level was taking notice of Lincoln. By 1859 Southern whites were dug-in against even a whisper of opposition against slavery, defiant and self-absorbed, cloaked in Southern White Nationalism. Lincoln and the Republican Party knew that if they were to win the Election of 1860, it would have to be by winning almost all of the more populous Northern states.
16 - 18 October 1859 - Harpers Ferry: The Radical Abolitionist John Brown’s “Plan A” was to take possession of the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry (then in VA, now in WVA) with around 20 men, and that the area’s slaves would come to him, receive weapons, and then he would lead a revolution in the South. Brown’s “Plan B” was to become a martyr for the cause, which may have been his master plan all along, since he refused to escape on a still-open bridge when the tide turned against him. After his capture by US soldiers (under the command of
Robert E. Lee), Brown made masterful use of the press, holding the attention of the nation, using words as weapons before his execution by VA. To most Northerners, he was viewed as a hero, if not a martyr, while in the South he was viewed as an absolute villain. In a barn outside of Harpers Ferry, Brown's headquarters was discovered, and VA whites found proof, via letters and such, that Brown had moral and financial backing from some Northerners.
16 - 18 October 1859 - Harpers Ferry: The Radical Abolitionist John Brown’s “Plan A” was to take possession of the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry (then in VA, now in WVA) with around 20 men, and that the area’s slaves would come to him, receive weapons, and then he would lead a revolution in the South. Brown’s “Plan B” was to become a martyr for the cause, which may have been his master plan all along, since he refused to escape on a still-open bridge when the tide turned against him. After his capture by US soldiers (under the command of
Robert E. Lee), Brown made masterful use of the press, holding the attention of the nation, using words as weapons before his execution by VA. To most Northerners, he was viewed as a hero, if not a martyr, while in the South he was viewed as an absolute villain. In a barn outside of Harpers Ferry, Brown's headquarters was discovered, and VA whites found proof, via letters and such, that Brown had moral and financial backing from some Northerners.
The Southern reaction to Harpers Ferry was to recruit, arm, and mobilize state militias, since it was obvious to each Southern state that a vast Northern conspiracy was in play. Among others, future President of the Confederate States of America, Senator Jefferson Davis (D; MS), publicly held the Republican Party responsible for the raid. In Kansas, Lincoln tried to calm the uproar over Brown and Harpers Ferry, saying it was a violation of the law, and that the entire plan and attack was futile in terms of doing anything meaningful to end slavery. Lincoln kept insisting that he and the Republican Party were the ones being reasonable, and he put the South and pro-slavery supporters on notice by saying that if a Republican was elected President, and if people tried to destroy the Union as a result, “it will be our duty to deal with you as old John Brown has been dealt with”. For decades prior, the anti-slavery movement had provoked pro-slavery reactions, and John Brown had just thrown gasoline on that fire.
Talk of Lincoln’s presidential prospects also intensified, in that he was seen as a voice of reason, and was a sensible potential candidate in that he wasn’t viewed as radical by an increasing number of Republicans and moderate Democrats. Lincoln agreed to pursue the Republican nomination for President, and he continued to speak in various locations in the North. Lincoln wasn’t just speaking about freedom vs. slavery, but also of reason vs. unreason, Nationhood vs. Sectionalism, and that the South’s all-or-nothing defense of slavery was the path towards total war, not democracy. Lincoln went on to argue that the ruling Planter Class in the South wanted to rid the entire political, social, and economic landscape of not only opposition to slavery, but to insist on total support of slavery. To the vast majority of Southerners, Lincoln was viewed as a dangerous radical and an enemy to the region.
Talk of Lincoln’s presidential prospects also intensified, in that he was seen as a voice of reason, and was a sensible potential candidate in that he wasn’t viewed as radical by an increasing number of Republicans and moderate Democrats. Lincoln agreed to pursue the Republican nomination for President, and he continued to speak in various locations in the North. Lincoln wasn’t just speaking about freedom vs. slavery, but also of reason vs. unreason, Nationhood vs. Sectionalism, and that the South’s all-or-nothing defense of slavery was the path towards total war, not democracy. Lincoln went on to argue that the ruling Planter Class in the South wanted to rid the entire political, social, and economic landscape of not only opposition to slavery, but to insist on total support of slavery. To the vast majority of Southerners, Lincoln was viewed as a dangerous radical and an enemy to the region.
Lincoln was a busy man, traveling and speaking in many locations before the Republican National Convention in Chicago. Lincoln rejected suggestions that he “buy” support from delegates in the upcoming convention. Lincoln believed he was the best-positioned candidate to unite the party, but Senator William Seward (R; NY) seemed to be the clear favorite to win the nomination, perhaps on the very first ballot. Seward, and other candidates such as Salmon P. Chase, had more initial support than Lincoln as the convention started, but also more opposition, a reality on which Lincoln used in his favor, winning the nomination on the third ballot. None of the candidates were in attendance at the convention, which was the political tradition. It wasn’t until President Franklin Roosevelt personally attended the Democratic Convention in 1936 that the tradition ended. The convention closed by selecting Senator Hannibal Hamlin
(R; ME) as Lincoln’s Vice-Presidential candidate.
In the South by 1860, especially in the Lower South (SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX), slavery was not a “Constitutional Evil”. Rather, slavery was to be celebrated as an “eternal good”, a “Gift from God”, an absolutely rational and justified institution. In the Senate, Jefferson Davis demanded that Negroes be declared property, and that the federal government would protect and guarantee that property. In that political atmosphere, the
Democratic National Convention convened in Charleston (SC) on 23 April 1860, and immediately procedural squabbles occurred. The Democrats were basically split between Northern and Southern factions, with the Southern Democrats feeling judged, and collectively had a huge chip on their shoulder. The Southern Democrats were able to steer through a statement on the majority report on the Democrat’s Platform that was 100% pro-slavery. Northern Democrats didn’t quite have the two-thirds majority to nominate Stephen Douglas, whom Southern Democrats thought was far too soft on promoting and protecting slavery. After losing a platform vote, in essence the Southern Democrats bolted the convention in protest, and there wasn’t a quorum remaining in order to continue the convention.
(R; ME) as Lincoln’s Vice-Presidential candidate.
In the South by 1860, especially in the Lower South (SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX), slavery was not a “Constitutional Evil”. Rather, slavery was to be celebrated as an “eternal good”, a “Gift from God”, an absolutely rational and justified institution. In the Senate, Jefferson Davis demanded that Negroes be declared property, and that the federal government would protect and guarantee that property. In that political atmosphere, the
Democratic National Convention convened in Charleston (SC) on 23 April 1860, and immediately procedural squabbles occurred. The Democrats were basically split between Northern and Southern factions, with the Southern Democrats feeling judged, and collectively had a huge chip on their shoulder. The Southern Democrats were able to steer through a statement on the majority report on the Democrat’s Platform that was 100% pro-slavery. Northern Democrats didn’t quite have the two-thirds majority to nominate Stephen Douglas, whom Southern Democrats thought was far too soft on promoting and protecting slavery. After losing a platform vote, in essence the Southern Democrats bolted the convention in protest, and there wasn’t a quorum remaining in order to continue the convention.
The fractured and disbanded Democratic convention was of course great news to the Republicans, who saw their chances of winning the White House skyrocket due to a certain split vote among at least two Democratic candidates. The Northern Democrats held a separate convention in Baltimore, nominating Stephen Douglas. The Southern Democrats held their own convention, and nominated Vice-President John C. Breckenridge (KY). In addition to Lincoln, there was a fourth presidential candidate, John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party, a moderate that represented the remnants of the Whigs.
Many historians, as well as contemporary political observers in 1860, concluded that the idea was that Douglas, Breckenridge, and Bell would realize that they had irreparably split the Democratic vote, and would withdraw their candidacies so the Democrats could rally around former President Franklin Pierce. However, Breckenridge absolutely refused to withdraw; while he wasn’t necessarily in favor of disunion, the “Disunionists” were 100% behind Breckenridge. On 4 June 1860, Senator Charles Sumner (R; MA) spoke on the Senate floor, saying that “slavery must breed barbarians” (he had used the word barbarians many times before that phrase). To Southern whites, Sumner’s speech, which had been printed in all the Southern newspapers, was a portend of a Republican "Reign of Terror." To question slavery was to question the entire value system, faith, and intelligence of the South, and the region’s reaction was raw anger - the South thought that “everything” was at stake, and absolutely nothing would be conceded.
Many historians, as well as contemporary political observers in 1860, concluded that the idea was that Douglas, Breckenridge, and Bell would realize that they had irreparably split the Democratic vote, and would withdraw their candidacies so the Democrats could rally around former President Franklin Pierce. However, Breckenridge absolutely refused to withdraw; while he wasn’t necessarily in favor of disunion, the “Disunionists” were 100% behind Breckenridge. On 4 June 1860, Senator Charles Sumner (R; MA) spoke on the Senate floor, saying that “slavery must breed barbarians” (he had used the word barbarians many times before that phrase). To Southern whites, Sumner’s speech, which had been printed in all the Southern newspapers, was a portend of a Republican "Reign of Terror." To question slavery was to question the entire value system, faith, and intelligence of the South, and the region’s reaction was raw anger - the South thought that “everything” was at stake, and absolutely nothing would be conceded.
As predicted, Lincoln’s path to the Presidency was through the North. Lincoln’s Electoral math indicated that he would carry the same states as John C. Fremont in 1856, as well as MN, PA, and NJ, which would put him over the top in the Electoral College. By the early-morning of 7 November 1860, the day after Election Day, Lincoln knew he was elected President. The results showed the factions in the US: Lincoln won 53.9% of the popular vote in 18 Northern states (Lincoln was not on most ballots in the South). Breckenridge won 44.7% of the popular vote in the South, while Bell received 40.4%, and Douglas 12.8%. Lincoln received 1.2% of the popular vote in the Border States (MO, KY, DE, MD) and VA. South Carolina didn’t even bother with a popular vote; the state legislature simply awarded the state’s Electoral Votes to Breckenridge.
As President-Elect, Lincoln crafted his Cabinet to include all the factions of the Republican Party. Lincoln tabbed Seward as SecState, Chase as SecTreas, while also including the very powerful Blair family by appointing Montgomery Blair as Postmaster General. The Blairs had been national-level power brokers since the Age of Jackson, and in 1860, Montgomery Blair’s anti-slavery views coincided with Lincoln’s views. Less than a week after the election, both US Senators from South Carolina resigned their seats, and a secession convention was scheduled in South Carolina for 17 December 1860. One week after winning the election, Lincoln was seen reading President Jackson’s proclamation to the people of South Carolina, which was dated 10 December 1832, during the Nullification Crisis. Jackson’s key phrase bore into Lincoln’s brain: “Disunion by armed force is treason”. To Lincoln, the issue of whether a state had the right to secede had long been settled, but that certainly wasn’t the belief of South Carolina and several other Southern states. Lincoln thought that a resolution short of war was still possible, but the President-Elect grossly underestimated the scope and scale of the desire of Southern states to secede from the Union.
As President-Elect, Lincoln crafted his Cabinet to include all the factions of the Republican Party. Lincoln tabbed Seward as SecState, Chase as SecTreas, while also including the very powerful Blair family by appointing Montgomery Blair as Postmaster General. The Blairs had been national-level power brokers since the Age of Jackson, and in 1860, Montgomery Blair’s anti-slavery views coincided with Lincoln’s views. Less than a week after the election, both US Senators from South Carolina resigned their seats, and a secession convention was scheduled in South Carolina for 17 December 1860. One week after winning the election, Lincoln was seen reading President Jackson’s proclamation to the people of South Carolina, which was dated 10 December 1832, during the Nullification Crisis. Jackson’s key phrase bore into Lincoln’s brain: “Disunion by armed force is treason”. To Lincoln, the issue of whether a state had the right to secede had long been settled, but that certainly wasn’t the belief of South Carolina and several other Southern states. Lincoln thought that a resolution short of war was still possible, but the President-Elect grossly underestimated the scope and scale of the desire of Southern states to secede from the Union.