USA > Illinois > The era of the Civil War, 1848-1870 > Part 19
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The state convention also completed the arrangements for participation in the Chicago convention. Resolutions were adopted which instructed the delegation to the Chicago con- vention to use all honorable means to secure Lincoln's nomina- tion. Thereupon, " for fifteen minutes, cheer upon cheer went up from the crowd." 31 Upon consultation with Lincoln, Gus- 29 Chicago Democrat, November 7, 1859; Joliet Signal, December 13, 1859. 30 Chicago Press and Tribune, May 11, 1860; Illinois State Journal, May 16, 1860.
31 Arnold, Life of Abraham Lincoln, 162.
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THE ELECTION OF 1860
tave Koerner, Norman B. Judd, Orville H. Browning, and Judge David Davis were selected as delegates-at-large. A week later they were in Chicago, the center of a noisy bustling crowd at the Lincoln headquarters, assisted by Yates, Jesse K. Dubois, Palmer, Judge Stephen T. Logan, and others.
The metropolis of the northwest had enthusiastically accepted the obligations that accompanied the choice of that city for the national convention. A huge wooden structure, christened the "Great Wigwam," rose rapidly on Lake Street with a seating capacity of ten thousand persons. But even it was entirely inadequate for the accommodation of the tremen- dous crowds of hilarious holiday-makers that kept streaming in. The hotels, especially the Tremont House, where 1, 500 persons were stored away, were largely taken up by various state delegations and by campaign headquarters. Private hospitality made up for what the hostelries were unable to provide; the latchstrings were all out in true western style. Every now and then above the uproar of the crowds would be heard the din of martial music, a band would come in sight heading a procession of Seward or Cameron or Bates support- ers in uniform attire bearing banners and mottoes; there was marching and countermarching with friendly clashes between the rival paraders. The attitude of the convention crowd as a whole was that the republican party should wipe out a disgraceful reputation; neither the straight-laced puritanism of the antislavery movement nor the dignity and decorum of whig respectability should longer characterize it. On the con- trary, it was now to show a spirit, an abandon that had hereto- fore been the monopoly of the democrats. To that end "Captain Whisky" was enlisted as evidence that the repub- licans had imbibed "the spirit as well as the substance of the old Democratic party;" accordingly, midnight processions, serenades, and champagne suppers drove dull care away in the satanic style "that would do honor to Old Kaintuck on a bust." 32
Behind the scenes party workers were busy preparing their campaigns ; there was caucusing and speech-making; there was scheming, intriguing, and bargaining. The uninstructed dele- 32 Halstead, National Political Conventions, 121, 140, 145.
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THE ERA OF THE CIVIL WAR
gates were courted on every side. When the convention opened, Edward Bates, Salmon P. Chase, Simon Cameron, and the others seemed to be getting nowhere, and current political gossip conceded but two important republican camps: the "irrepressibles " who backed the favorite, Seward, and the "conservatives" who talked of the unpopularity of Seward's ultraisms and gave their backing to "Old Abe."
Seward was opposed by all the doubtful states - Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey as well as Illinois; as yet, how- ever, they had given their united support to no one candidate. But the favorable Illinois atmosphere was beginning to count for Lincoln. During the preliminaries of the convention the uninstructed Indiana delegation was gradually induced, aided by the logic and eloquence of Koerner and Browning, to throw their support to Lincoln rather than to Bates, while Pennsyl- vania, though committed to Cameron, its favorite son, grad- ually became more favorably inclined toward Lincoln. "Old Abe," the representative of conservatism, respectability, and availability, went the current of talk, will win the race.33
In the tense atmosphere, the convention was organized and quickly disposed of the regular business. The platform was then drawn up and adopted. It was in various ways influenced by the Decatur resolutions which were presented by Koerner, the Illinois member of the committee; 34 but the general draft, especially the forcible indictment of the sins of the democratic party, was the work of Judge William Jessup of Pennsylvania, the chairman of the committee. The eastern- ers insisted on a tariff plank, but it was toned down into a very harmless declaration for incidental protection ..
Though there was no definite alignment over the platform, Seward seemed to be gaining strength in a very subtle way. His opponents had hoped to down him by forcing the adoption of a rule that a majority of the whole electoral college should be required to nominate candidates. This was almost equiva- lent to a two-thirds rule; but although the majority report recommended this method, it was rejected by the convention
33 Halstead, National Political Conventions, 122; Koerner, Memoirs, 2 : 88-89.
34 With the aid of Carl Schurz he was able to secure the incorporation of a plank opposing any change in the naturalization laws and any legislation by the states to impair the rights of naturalized citizens. Ibid., 2: 87.
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THE ELECTION OF 1860
for a simple majority rule. Although Seward's supporters were victorious in every preliminary skirmish, Lincoln's strength became immediately apparent when on the third day the convention began to ballot. The Wigwam was packed with a noisy Lincoln crowd, for the strategy of the Illinois workers had seen the emptiness of parades and of display on the city's streets; instead their time and energy had been utilized to provide Lincoln supporters with tickets before they were dis- tributed to others. The Lincolnites had taken little part in the general celebrations, but were saved for the convention- hall orgies of sound, and when the time came they were ready to overwhelm their opponents with the reverberating Lincoln "yawp."
After an irritating delay the nominating commenced; Seward was named and applause filled the hall. Judd, in a few highly impressive words, offered the name of "Honest Abe" Lincoln; and the Illinois stalwarts cut loose with a deafening shriek. Other candidates were brought out-the crowd waited in expectancy. Caleb B. Smith of Indiana seconded the nomination of Lincoln and a deafening roar followed. Then Seward's candidacy was seconded, and his supporters shrieked their applause with an infernal intensity that surpassed their rivals; Lincoln's supporters were given another turn; and the hall became a riot of sound that defied description, while Henry S. Lane, republican candidate for governor in Indiana, leaped upon a table and madly performed with hat and cane. All this had its significance. The caucusing had continued during the whole night that preceded this session, and delegates had arrived but half convinced as to the nature of the first vote they should cast and without a program for the balloting that would follow. The shouting impressed even the most skeptical that the contest would resolve itself into a duel between Seward and Lincoln and that the westerner had a chance to win. The Indiana delegation became convinced that Henry S. Lane, their leader, was correct in his desperate insistence that their vote go as a unit to Lincoln, lest Seward be nominated and kill the hopes of the republican ticket in the hoosier state. The Cameron men were satisfied that their candidate had no chance and showed less uncertainty in their
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THE ERA OF THE CIVIL WAR
decision to throw their strength to Lincoln at the time when it would bring about his nomination by the convention. Assured by Lincolnites that their favorite would be rewarded with a cabinet appointment, the Pennsylvania delegation repeatedly retired for vote consultation and delayed the roll call much to the amusement and disgust of the convention throng.35
The first ballot was taken; Seward led with 1731/2, Lin- coln was in second place with 102, while Cameron, Chase, and Bates each received approximately 50 votes. Seward lacked sixty votes of the required majority. As the balloting pro- ceeded, Cameron's name was withdrawn and Lincoln gained 79 votes, bringing him within 31/2 votes of his rival. Here was impressive evidence of the strength of his candidacy. Amid intense excitement the roll was called for the third ballot; busy pencils tabulating the vote counted a total of 2311/2 votes for Lincoln, within 1 1/2 of the nomination.
A stuttered announcement of a change of front by the Ohio chairman turned the trick for Lincoln. The statement was made in a tense silence of expectancy; then again burst out the Lincoln "yawp," swelling into a wild hosanna of vic- tory. It was followed by a stampede for "Old Abe:" ten Maine votes, ten Massachusetts votes, and the whole of the Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky, and Minnesota votes were changed. Amid the pandemonium, a man posted on the roof to signal the results to the huge crowd of ten or twenty thousand waiting anxiously outside demanded the meaning of the demonstra- tion. One of the secretaries, tally sheet in hand, shouted, "Fire the salute ! Abe Lincoln is nominated !" The message was relayed to the anxious mass of humanity below, which in turn took up the roar with insane energy, while the booming of the cannon scarcely made itself heard above the din. 36
When the enthusiastic demonstration finally subsided, William M. Evarts, the Seward spokesman, moved that the nomination be made unanimous; this motion passed after the usual indorsements of the successful candidates, followed by a brief speech in behalf of Lincoln by Orville H. Browning. In concluding its work, the convention nominated Hannibal
35 Halstead, National Political Conventions, 143.
36 Ibid., 149-150; Illinois State Journal, May 23, 1860.
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THE ELECTION OF 1860
Hamlin of remote Maine as Lincoln's running mate. The news of the nominations was telegraphed broadcast, and before many hours almost every town and village in Illinois was reproducing in miniature the scenes of the western metropolis. Lincoln enthusiasts rallied their resources to concoct cele- brations; processions formed of noisy youths bearing rails through the streets, tar barrels were heaped on blazing bon- fires, drums were beaten, old cannons were dragged out to rend the night air with their disturbing blasts.37 Hoarse throats were quenched with torrents of liquor, and the excitement con- tinued until intoxication or exhaustion prostrated the joyous celebrants.
As a part of the Springfield festivities Lincoln was sere- naded at his home by a large crowd of enthusiasts, who went wild at the appearance of his tall gaunt form and at the well- chosen remarks he addressed to them. The following evening the state capital held a formal jubilee when a committee headed by George Ashmun, president of the republican convention, came down from Chicago to notify Lincoln of his nomination and to receive his acceptance. An elaborate dinner was served to the committee; and, after the notification ceremony, a vast assemblage gathered in a ratification meeting in the statehouse square to listen to the speech-making. Brass bands marched through the streets; exploding fireworks sent out their lurid light; parties gathered in the hotels to drink toast after toast to the American union, to the republican party, and to its presidential nominee.
Republican enthusiasm continued undisturbed by the nomi- nation of rival candidates at Baltimore. Douglas' friends triumphed and secured his nomination from the adjourned meeting of the democratic convention; the southern democrats, however, put their own candidate in the field in the person of John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky. Old conservative union men engineered a new movement which resulted in the forma- tion of the constitutional union or national union party, with John Bell of Tennessee and EdwardVEverett as its candi- dates. The scattering Illinois supporters of each of these
37 In Springfield church bells were enlisted to the disgust of the democrats. Illinois State Register, May 19, 23, 1860.
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THE ERA OF THE CIVIL WAR
candidates hustled out their tickets for presidential electors and for state officers and entered the field with as much enthu- siasm as they could rally.
The republicans of Illinois had the advantage of having harmonized on their state candidates and of having entered the field several weeks before their opponents. The Douglas candidates were not selected until June 13, when it was found impossible to agree on a state ticket of any real strength; James C. Allen of Crawford county was nominated for gov- ernor over Samuel A. Buckmaster and James L. D. Morrison ; Lewis W. Ross for lieutenant governor, George H. Campbell for secretary of state, Bernard Arntzen for auditor, Hugh Maher for treasurer, and Dr. E. R. Roe for superintendent of public instruction completed the ticket.38 The Breckinridge party was made up of the remnants of the Buchanan national democrats. It became more than ever a corporal's guard of officeholders. Its main strength lay in the southern counties where proslavery sentiment flourished.
The Bell-Everett movement in Illinois had a subtle impor- tance in the campaign. It was the feeble successor of old-line whiggery and know nothingism; but it had a certain strength in southern Illinois, where there was no effective rival of Douglas democracy, and in the central counties, where a slight shifting of the vote might change the outcome of the election. The national union state convention at Decatur, August II, nominated an electoral ticket and a full state ticket headed by John T. Stuart for governor; the most prominent delegate present was Judge Buckner S. Morris, a bitter opponent of republicanism ; he had supported Douglas in 1858 and declared that Douglas had owed his election to American votes.39 After declaring himself willing to support Douglas or any democrat in order to defeat Lincoln, Morris became a controlling force in the state central committee. This naturally confirmed repub- lican suspicions that the union movement was a ruse to help Douglas accomplish the defeat of Lincoln.40
The campaign was now in full swing driven on by the
38 Illinois State Register, June 15, 1860.
39 Illinois State Journal, August 22, 1860.
40 Chicago Democrat, August 15, 1860; Belleville Advocate, July 27, August 24, 1860.
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THE ELECTION OF 1860
conviction that on the outcome in Illinois would to a large extent depend the result of the presidential contest. The gay holiday atmosphere of the canvass makes it stand out as one of the most picturesque of presidential elections; the prevailing enthusiasm duplicated that of the Lincoln-Douglas contest of 1858 with the situation reversed in Lincoln's favor. This time he had the advantage of being identified with the typical western spirit. The "rail-splitter" became the idol of the people; his early struggle in the wilderness carried more weight in the democratic west than the reputation of his rival. "Abe Lincoln; in Indiana he followed the plow and the path of rectitude ; in Illinois he mauled rails and Stephen A. Douglas," was the eloquent motto on many a Lincoln banner.41 Was he not too the representative of the party that stood for opening up the lands of the west to free settlement by the pioneer ? In vain did his opponents point to the emptiness of his political career; it was more important that he embodied a spirit that the people of the frontier could understand.
Early in June republican campaign preparations had begun to take form. The unique feature of the canvass was the "wide awake" organization. A company of enthusias- tic and "wide awake" Chicago republicans was organized to take a prominent place in the party parades and processions. 4? The idea was immediately taken up throughout the state until every village and hamlet had its "wide awakes," composed largely of young men, some under voting age. Shortly after nightfall one "hears the strains of martial music, and beholds a large body of men, bearing blazing torches, and marching in fine military order. Each man bears a thin rail, surmounted with a large swinging lamp and a small American flag, bearing the names of Lincoln and Hamlin. The uniform of the pri- vates is a black enamelled circular cape, quite full and of good length, and a glazed military fatigue cap, with a brass or silver eagle in front. Some companies are uniformed with blue, red, drab and silver gray caps and capes, and relieve the monotony of the darker uniforms. The captains and non-commissioned officers are distinguished by an Inverness over-coat, with black
41 Illinois State Journal, July 24, 1860.
+2 Chicago Press and Tribune, June 8, 1860.
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cape and undress military caps. In some companies the cap- tain carries a red, the aids a tri-colored, and the lieutenants a blue or green lantern; in others, the captain merely carried a painted baton. The measured tread, steady front and un- broken lines speak of strict attention to drill and the effective manner in which the various bodies are managed by their officers shows conclusively that men of military experience control their movements." 43
A half million young men constituted the "wide awake" army of the union. They were the nucleus of parades, supple- mented by marchers bearing banners and mottoes. Meetings of tremendous size brought together in impressive demonstra- tions the companies from neighboring towns. The great Spring- field meeting at the fair grounds attracted a crowd of over fifty thousand people. Lincoln was present but refused to respond to the clamor for a speech except to say a few words of acknowledgment of the honor conferred upon him. Four thousand "wide awakes" marched in a procession that passed for nearly two hours before the local "wigwam." The cele- bration on the occasion of Seward's speech in Chicago in October is said to have attracted over one hundred thousand strangers to the city; the Wigwam was the center of the festivities, and 10,000 "wide awakes " carried their torches in the procession.++ " The prairies are on fire," was the announce- ment that went out from republican headquarters.
Lincoln himself refused to take any direct part in the campaign. His record was subjected to careful scrutiny from every angle and old charges against him were revamped, but he was wise enough to recognize that he had capable friends campaigning in his behalf and that direct disavowal even of false charges would be playing into the hands of his oppo- nents. He maintained his headquarters at the statehouse at Springfield and conferred with some of the campaign speakers, but at the same time displayed a leisurely hospitality toward all visitors with whom he conversed, not so much on political matters as on personal experiences and interests.
Effective work on the stump was done by Senator Trum-
43 Chicago Democrat, September 24, 1860.
4+ Ibid., October 3, 1860.
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bull, Judd, Yates, Gillespie, Palmer, Koerner, Wentworth, and others, with outside aid from Senator James R. Doolittle and Carl Schurz of Wisconsin and Francis P. Blair of Missouri. It is to be noted that most of these leaders were former demo- crats disgusted with the subserviency of the "dough-faces" to the southern slave power; the talent of the democratic party had to a large extent been transferred to the republican organiza- tion. They carried with them the old fighting spirit, far supe- rior to anything that old whiggery had been able to arouse in its ranks, and were always ready for the hard work necessary for the success of the new party. Jesse K. Dubois had frankly admitted: " My observation is that we old line whigs belonging to the Republican ranks are not worth a curse to carry on a campaign and its only life is in the Democratic part of the ranks." 45
The democratic party started the canvass at a complete disadvantage. The republican campaign was well under way before Douglas' nomination was accomplished; then the news reached party members well-nigh nervously exhausted by the long-drawn-out fight at Charleston and Baltimore. An attempt was made at developing enthusiasm; much was accomplished but not enough to destroy the impression that whereas the democracy had occupied the position of vantage in 1858, it was now relegated to second place in the matter of popular favor.
Political oratory on behalf of Douglas was of a decidedly inferior brand. Realizing this, the "little giant" broke all traditions and entered the hustings in person, much to the dis- gust of his republican opponents. 46 He was soon in the midst of a most extraordinary canvass which took him on a tour through New England, into the southern seaboard states, and back to the region of the middle states, until, nearly exhausted by his strenuous efforts and convinced by the October elections that Lincoln's success was inevitable, he repaired to the south- · ern states to labor in behalf of the union and the peace of the country.
The Douglas leaders in Illinois, left largely to their own
45 J. K. Dubois to Trumbull, July 17, 1858, Trumbull manuscripts; cf. Illinois State Journal, May 23, 1860.
46 Belleville Advocate, July 27, August 24, 1860.
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THE ERA OF THE CIVIL WAR
resources, waged a spiritless campaign. The old charges as to Negro equality were rung against the republican party; the old wolf cry of abolitionism was shouted without effect. The German vote was courted on the strength of Arntzen's place on the state ticket; appeals were made to the Americans as union men. Since the legislative canvass which was to deter- mine the possibility of Trumbull's reelection to the senate was second in importance only to the presidential contest, there was a desire on the part of some of the more unscrupulous to save as much as possible from the ruins. In an effort to duplicate the victory of 1858 by capturing the middle counties the demo- crats colonized doubtful points with Irish laborers from Chicago.47
It proved, however, a losing fight. Election day on Novem- ber 6 bore out the forecast of the October elections in the pivotal states of Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio. Lincoln swept the north with a quarter of a million more votes than his doughty opponent. Illinois with a Lincoln plurality of 1,200 placed itself squarely in the republican column. Breckin- ridge and Bell each received only one per cent of the vote. Richard Yates and the entire republican state ticket were car- ried into office by 12,000 votes. Democratic control of the legislature was destroyed and the reelection of Senator Trum- bull was assured.
One of the most remarkable features of the campaign and election was the increase of republican strength in Egypt. In the region below Alton the party made a fourfold increase over Fremont's vote in 1856. Republicanism had fought an uphill battle in the southern counties, and these important gains were made against great odds. John A. Logan, the champion of Egyptian democracy, contested every inch of ground that was lost, sometimes by methods hardly scrupulous in character. It was by such tactics that the determined con- gressman acquired the cognomen of "Dirty Work" Logan. By threats of mob violence he compelled the editors and pub-
47 Amos C. Babcock to Trumbull, August 27, 1860, Trumbull manuscripts ; Canton Weekly Register, October 11, 30, 1860; Illinois State Journal, October 10, 31, 1860. S. G. Ward of Elgin explained in a letter to Trumbull, January 14, 1860 [x861], how he had colonized eleven Kane county republican voters in Peoria. Trumbull manuscripts.
FJO DAVIESB
STEPHENSON WINNEBAGO
BOONE
M.HENRY.LAKE
CARROLL
OGLE
DE KALB
KANE
On PAGE
COOK
KENDALL
WILL
1
LA SALLE
HENRY
TMERCER
REŢNAM
STARK
MARSHALL
HENDERSON
WARREN!
KNOX
FULTON
TAZEWELL
MCLEAN
. HANCOCK
MCDONOUGH
MASON
SCHUYLER
DE WITT
LOGAN
MENARD
- ADAMS
-CASE
PIATT
MACON
-SANGAMOS
MORGAN
EDGAR
PIKE
SCOTT
CHRISTIAN
COLES
GREENE
HELBY
CUMBERLAND
Presidential Election 1860
FAYETTE EFFINGHAM JASPER
CRAWFORD
BOND
MADISON
Democratic (Douglas)
47%
Republican
(Lincoln) 51%
EDWARD
WABASH
JEFFERSON
MONROELU
5
Over 7500
EANDOLPH!
PERRY
HNITE
FRANKLIN
65-75℃
7
JACKSON
SALYE
WILLIAMSON,
17
55-65%
HARDIS
9
UNION JOHNSON
POPE
6
Less than 55℃
ALEKAN
$7
MASSAC
Union (Bell) over 5%
001
0
Democratic (Breckin- ridge) over 5%
MOULTRIE
CALHOUN
MONTGOMERY
MACOUPIN
JERSEY
CLAY
RICHLAND
CLINTON
MARION
LAWRENCE
ST CLAIR
WAYNE
WASHINGTON
7
HAMILTON
7
OALLATIN
ROCK ISLAND
BUREAU
WOODFORD
PEORLA
RUNDY
KANKAKEE
JVINGSTON
FORD
CHAMPAIGN VERMILION
- DOUGLAS-
WHITESIDE
JO DAVIES8
STEPHENSON WINNEBAGO
MCHENRY
LAKE
CARROLL
OGLE
DE KALB
KANE
WHITESIDE
LEE
COOK
ROCK ISLAND -
BUREAU
1
LA SALLE
HENRY
IGRUNDY !!
MERCER
PUTNAM
STARK
MARSHALL
HENDERSON
WARREN !!
KNOX
WOODFORD -
PEORIA
IROQUOIS
HANCOCK
MCDONOUGH
FULTON
- TAZEWELL MCLEAN
MASON
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