USA > New York > History of the state of New York, political and governmental, Vol. VI > Part 15
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NATIONAL PARTY PLATFORMS
1860]
"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 Constitu- tion against all attempts to violate it; and we deny the authority of Congress, of a Territorial Legislature, or of any individuals 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 sover- eignty 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 gen- eral 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 remunerative prices, to mechanics and manu- facturers 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 sup- pliants for public bounty ; and we demand the passage by Congress
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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 citizens 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.
"15. That appropriations by Congress for river and harbor im- provements of a national character, required for the accommodation and security of an existing commerce, are authorized by the Con- stitution and justified by the obligation of government to protect the lives and property of its citizens.
"16. That a railroad to the Pacific Ocean is imperatively de- manded by the interests of the whole country; that the Federal gov- ernment ought to render immediate and efficient aid in its construc- tion; and that, as preliminary thereto, a daily overland mail should be promptly established.
"17. Finally, having thus set forth our distinctive principles and views, we invite the cooperation of all citizens, however dif- fering on other questions, who substantially agree with us in their affirmance and support."
Constitutional Union Party
This new party was an extemporized organization basing itself upon opposition to sectionalism and all disunionizing tendencies. It chiefly represented the conservative Whigs and Know-Nothings, and was strong at the south.
Convention held in Baltimore, May 9, 1860; Wash- ington Hunt, of New York, chairman. Twenty States were represented.
On the second ballot for President John Bell, of Ten-
ZACHARY TAYLOR
Zachary Taylor, 12th president ; born in Orange County, Va., November 24, 1784; soldier; served in war of 1812, in Black Hawk war of 1832 and in the Mexican war, 1845-47; elected president, 1848 ; died in office at Washington, D. C., July 9, 1850.
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NATIONAL PARTY PLATFORMS
1860]
nessee, was nominated, receiving 138 votes. Other candidates voted for were Samuel Houston, of Texas ; Edward Everett, of Massachusetts ; John J. Crittenden, of Kentucky ; John McLean, of Ohio; William A. Gra- ham, of North Carolina; William C. Rives, of Vir- ginia; William L. Sharkey, of Mississippi; William L. Goggin, of Virginia; and John M. Botts, of Vir- ginia.
Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, received the nomination for Vice-President unanimously.
Platform :
"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 principles 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 our- selves 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 reestablished, 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 defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity."
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The Election
Electoral vote for President and Vice-President:
Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin, Republicans :- Cali- fornia, 4; Connecticut, 6; Illinois, 11; Indiana, 13; Iowa, 4; Maine, 8; Massachusetts, 13; Michigan, 6; Minnesota, 4; New Hampshire, 5; New Jersey, 4; New York, 35; Ohio, 23; Oregon, 3; Pennsyl- vania, 27; Rhode Island, 4; Vermont, 5; Wisconsin, 5. Total, 180. Elected.
John C. Breckenridge and Joseph Lane, Southern Democratic party :- Alabama, 9; Arkansas, 4; Delaware, 3; Florida, 3; Georgia, 10; Louisiana, 6; Maryland, 8; Mississippi, 7; North Carolina, 10; South Carolina, 8; Texas, 4. Total, 72.
Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V. Johnson, Northern Demo- cratic party :- Missouri, 9; New Jersey, 3. Total, 12.
John Bell and Edward Everett, Constitutional Union party :- Kentucky, 12; Tennessee, 12; Virginia, 15. Total, 39.
Popular vote :
Lincoln, 1,866,352; Douglas, 1,375,157; Breckinridge, 847,514; Bell, 587,830. These votes were divided as follows between the free and slave States :
Free States :- Lincoln, 1,839,922; Douglas, 1,211,633; Breckin- ridge, 276,8281 ; Bell, 71,907.
Slave States (excepting South Carolina, where the Electors were chosen by the Legislature) :- Lincoln, 26,430; Douglas, 163,525; Breckinridge, 570,686; Bell, 515,923.
1Of Breckinridge's northern votes, 178,871 were cast in Pennsylvania- Douglas, the northern Democratic candidate, having in that State only 16,765. This remarkable result was due to the strong preference of the Buchanan administration for the Breckinridge ticket. Pennsylvania was Buchanan's home State, and in deference to him the Breckinridge Electors received the support of the Democratic organization.
1864 Republican Party
Owing to the exigencies of the Civil War the Repub- lican organization adopted the name of "Union Party," and its convention of 1864 received the official name of "National Union Convention." Held in Baltimore, June 7-8, 1864; temporary chairman, Robert J. Breck- inridge, of Kentucky; permanent chairman, William Dennison, of Ohio. Delegates were present from all the northern and border States and from Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, the District of Columbia, and the Territories of Colorado, Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Washington.
Abraham Lincoln was renominated for President, receiving 484 votes to 22 for Ulysses S. Grant. The votes for Grant were complimentary on behalf of the State of Missouri, and were changed to Lincoln before the announcement of the result.
For Vice-President the roll-call showed 200 for Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee; 150 for Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine; 108 for Daniel S. Dickinson, of New York; and 61 for seven others. Before another ballot could be taken numerous changes were made to Johnson, resulting in his nomination by 494 out of a total of 521.
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Platform :
"1. Resolved, That it is the highest duty of every American citizen to maintain against all their enemies the integrity of the Union and the paramount authority of the Constitution and laws of the United States; and that, laying aside all differences of politi- cal opinion, we pledge ourselves as Union men, animated by a com- mon sentiment and aiming at a common object, to do everything in our power to aid the government in quelling by force of arms the rebellion now raging against its authority, and in bringing to the punishment due to their crimes the rebels and traitors arrayed against it.
"2. Resolved, That we approve the determination of the govern- ment of the United States not to compromise with rebels or to offer them any terms of peace except such as may be based upon an uncon- ditional surrender of their hostility and a return to their just allegi- ance to the Constitution and laws of the United States; and that we call upon the government to maintain this position and to prosecute the war with the utmost possible vigor, to the complete suppression of the rebellion, in full reliance upon the self-sacrificing patriotism, the heroic valor, and the undying devotion of the American people to their country and its free institutions.
"3. Resolved, That as slavery was the cause and now consti- tutes the strength of this rebellion, and as it must be always and everywhere hostile to the principles of republican government, justice and the national safety demand its utter and complete extirpation from the soil of the republic; and that while we uphold and main- tain the acts and proclamations by which the government, in its own defense, has aimed a deathblow at this gigantic evil, we are in favor, furthermore, of such an amendment to the Constitution, to be made by the people in conformity with its provisions, as shall terminate and forever prohibit the existence of slavery within the limits of the jurisdiction of the United States.
"4. Resolved, That the thanks of the American people are due to the soldiers and sailors of the army and navy who have periled their lives in defense of their country and in vindication of the honor
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1864]
of its flag; that the nation owes to them some permanent recognition of their patriotism and their valor, and ample and permanent pro- vision for those of their survivors who have received disabling and honorable wounds in the service of the country; and that the memo- ries of those who have fallen in its defense shall be held in grateful and everlasting remembrance.
"5. Resolved, That we approve and applaud the practical wis- dom, the unselfish patriotism, and the unswerving fidelity to the Constitution and the principles of American liberty with which Abraham Lincoln has discharged, under circumstances of unparal- leled difficulty, the great duties and responsibilities of the Presi- dential office; that we approve and endorse, as demanded by the emergency and essential to the preservation of the nation, and as within the provisions of the Constitution, the measures and acts which he has adopted to defend the nation against its open and secret foes; that we approve especially the Proclamation of Emancipation and the employment as Union soldiers of men heretofore held in slavery; and that we have full confidence in his determination to carry these and all other constitutional measures essential to the salvation of the country into full and complete effect.
"6. Resolved, That we deem it essential to the general welfare that harmony should prevail in the national councils, and we regard as worthy of public confidence and official trust those only who cor- dially endorse the principles proclaimed in these resolutions and which should characterize the administration of the government.
"7. Resolved, That the government owes to all men employed in its armies, without regard to distinction of color, the full protec- tion of the laws of war; and that any violation of these laws, or of the usages of civilized nations in time of war, by the rebels now in arms, should be made the subject of prompt and full redress.
"8. Resolved, That foreign immigration, which in the past has added so much to the wealth, development of resources, and increase of power to the nation-the asylum of the oppressed of all nations,- should be fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy.
"9. Resolved, That we are in favor of the speedy construction of the railroad to the Pacific coast.
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"10. Resolved, That the national faith, pledged for the redemp- tion of the public debt, must be kept inviolate, and that for this pur- pose we recommend economy and rigid responsibility in the public expenditures, and a vigorous and just system of taxation; and that it is the duty of every loyal State to sustain the credit and promote the use of the national currency.
"11. Resolved, That we approve the position taken by the gov- ernment, that the people of the United States can never regard with indifference the attempt of any European power to overthrow by force, or to supplant by fraud, the institutions of any republican gov- ernment on the western continent; and that they will view with extreme jealousy, as menacing to the peace and independence of their own country, the efforts of any such power to obtain new footholds for monarchical governments, sustained by foreign military force, in near proximity to the United States."
Radical Republicans
Previously to the assembling of the regular Repub- lican or National Union convention, there had been a development in the Republican party of opposition to the renomination of Lincoln. The malcontents took the name of Radical Republicans and held a national convention in Cleveland on May 21; chairman, John Cochrane, of New York.
Nominations :- For President, John C. Fremont; for Vice-President, John Cochrane.
On September 21 both candidates withdrew in favor of the regular Republican nominees, Lincoln and Johnson.
Platform :
"1. That the Federal Union shall be preserved.
"2. That the Constitution and laws of the United States must be observed and obeyed.
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NATIONAL PARTY PLATFORMS
1864]
"3. That the rebellion must be suppressed by force of arms and without compromise.
"4. That the rights of free speech, free press, and habeas corpus be held inviolate, save in districts where martial law has been pro- claimed.
"5. That the rebellion has destroyed slavery; and the Federal Constitution should be so amended as to prohibit its reestablishment and to secure to all men absolute equality before the law.
"6. That integrity and economy are demanded at all times in the administration of the government, and that in time of war the want of them is criminal.
"7. That the right of asylum, except for crime and subject to law, is a recognized principle of American liberty ; and that any vio- lation of it cannot be overlooked and must not go unrebuked.
"8. That the national policy known as the Monroe doctrine has become a recognized principle; and that the establishment of any anti-republican government on this continent by any foreign power cannot be tolerated.
"9. That the gratitude and support of the nation are due to the faithful soldiers and the earnest leaders of the Union army and navy for their heroic achievements and deathless valor in defense of our imperiled country and civil liberty.
"10. That the one-term policy for the Presidency adopted by the people is strengthened by the force of the existing crisis, and should be maintained by constitutional amendment.
"11. That the Constitution should be so amended that the President and Vice-President shall be elected by a direct vote of the people.
"12. That the question of the reconstruction of the rebellious States belongs to the people, through their representatives in Con- gress, and not to the Executive.
"13. That the confiscation of the lands of the rebels and their distribution among the soldiers and actual settlers is a measure of justice."
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Democratic Party
Convention held in Chicago, August 29-31, 1864; temporary chairman, William Bigler, of Pennsylvania ; permanent chairman, Horatio Seymour, of New York. The delegates admitted were restricted to the non- seceding States, all of which were represented except Nevada and West Virginia.
George B. McClellan, of New Jersey, was nomi- nated for President on the first ballot, which, after changes in his favor, stood : McClellan, 20212 ; Thomas H. Seymour, of Connecticut, 231/2.
The Vice-Presidential nomination also was made on a single ballot. The roll-call resulted in 6512 for James Guthrie, of Kentucky ; 551/2 for George H. Pen- dleton, of Ohio; and complimentary votes for various others. As soon as the totals were announced the names of all but Pendleton were withdrawn, and he was then nominated unanimously.
Platform :
"Resolved, That in the future, as in the past, we will adhere with unswerving fidelity to the Union under the Constitution as the only solid foundation of our strength, security, and happiness as a people, and as a framework of government equally conducive to the welfare and prosperity of all the States, both northern and southern.
"Resolved, That this convention does explicitly declare, as the sense of the American people, that after four years of failure to restore the Union by the experiment of war, during which, under the pretense of a military necessity or war power higher than the Constitution, the Constitution itself has been disregarded in every part, and public liberty and private right alike trodden down, and the material prosperity of the country essentially impaired-justice,
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NATIONAL PARTY PLATFORMS
1864]
humanity, liberty, and the public welfare demand that immediate efforts be made for a cessation of hostilities with a view to an ultimate convention of the States, or other peaceable means, to the end that, at the earliest practicable moment, peace may be restored on the basis of the Federal Union of the States.
"Resolved, That the direct interference of the military authori- ties of the United States in the recent elections held in Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, and Delaware was a shameful violation of the Constitution; and a repetition of such acts in the approaching elec- tion will be held as revolutionary and resisted with all the means and power under our control.
"Resolved, That the aim and object of the Democratic party is to preserve the Federal Union and the rights of the States unimpaired ; and they hereby declare that they consider that the administrative usurpation of extraordinary and dangerous powers not granted by the Constitution-the subversion of the civil by military law in States not in insurrection ; the arbitrary military arrest, imprisonment, trial, and sentence of American citizens in States where civil law exists in full force; the suppression of freedom of speech and of the press; the denial of the right of asylum ; the open and avowed disregard of State rights; the employment of unusual test oaths; and the interference with the denial of the right of the people to bear arms in their de- fense-is calculated to prevent a restoration of the Union and the perpetuation of a government deriving its just powers from the con- sent of the governed.
"Resolved, That the shameful disregard of the administration to its duty in respect to our fellow-citizens who now are and long have been prisoners of war in a suffering condition, deserves the sever- est reprobation on the score alike of public policy and common humanity.
"Resolved, That the sympathy of the Democratic party is heartily and earnestly extended to the soldiers of our army and sailors of our navy who are and have been in the field and on the sea under the flag of their country, and in the event of its attaining power they will receive all the care, protection, and regard that the brave soldiers and sailors of the republic have so nobly earned."
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The Election
States not voting :- Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Electoral vote for President and Vice-President :
Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, Republicans :- Califor- nia, 5; Connecticut, 6; Illinois, 16; Indiana, 13; Iowa, 8; Kansas, 3; Maine, 7; Maryland, 7; Massachusetts, 12; Michigan, 8; Minne- sota, 4; Missouri, 11; Nevada, 21; New Hampshire, 5; New York, 33; Ohio, 21; Oregon, 3; Pennsylvania, 26; Rhode Island, 4; Ver- mont, 5; West Virginia, 5; Wisconsin, 8. Total, 212. Elected.
George B. McClellan and George H. Pendleton, Democrats :- Delaware, 3; Kentucky, 11; New Jersey, 7. Total, 21.
Popular vote :
Lincoln, 2,216,067; McClellan, 1,808,725.
1Nevada chose three Electors, one of whom died before the meeting of the Electoral College.
1868
Republican Party
The convention of this year was officially called the National Union Republican convention. Held in Chicago, May 20-21, 1868; temporary chairman, Carl Schurz, of Missouri; permanent chairman, Joseph R. Hawley, of Connecticut.
By unanimous vote (650) Ulysses S. Grant, of Illi- nois, was nominated for President.
Five ballots were taken for Vice-President. On the first four ballots Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio, was in the lead. The fifth ballot resulted in the nomination of Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, the vote being: ยท Colfax, 541; Reuben E. Fenton, of New York, 69; Wade, 38. Platform :
"The National Union Republican party of the United States, as- sembled in national convention in the city of Chicago on the 21st day of May, 1868, make the following declaration of principles :
"1. We congratulate the country on the assured success of the reconstruction policy of Congress, as evinced by the adoption, in a majority of the States lately in rebellion, of Constitutions securing equal civil and political rights to all; and regard it as the duty of the government to sustain those Constitutions and to prevent the people of such States from being remitted to a state of anarchy or military rule.
"2. The guarantee by Congress of equal suffrage to all loyal men at the south was demanded by every consideration of public safety,
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of gratitude, and of justice, and must be maintained ; while the ques- tion of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs to the people of those States.
"3. We denounce all forms of repudiation as a national crime ; and national honor requires the payment of the public indebtedness in the utmost good faith to all creditors at home and abroad, not only according to the letter but the spirit of the laws under which it was contracted.
"4. It is due to the labor of the nation that taxation should be equalized and reduced as rapidly as national faith will permit.
"5. The national debt, contracted as it has been for the preser- vation of the Union for all time to come, should be extended over a fair period for redemption ; and it is the duty of Congress to reduce the rate of interest thereon whenever it can be honestly done.
"6. That the best policy to diminish our burden of debt is to so improve our credit that capitalists will seek to loan us money at lower rates of interest than we now pay and must continue to pay so long as repudiation, partial or total, open or covert, is threatened or suspected.
"7. The government of the United States should be administered with the strictest economy; and the corruptions which have been so shamefully nursed and fostered by Andrew Johnson call loudly for radical reform.
"8. We profoundly deplore the untimely and tragic death of Abra- ham Lincoln, and regret the accession to the Presidency of Andrew Johnson, who has acted treacherously to the people who elected him and the cause he was pledged to support; has usurped high legislative and judicial functions ; has refused to execute the laws; has used his high office to induce other officers to ignore and violate the laws; has employed his Executive powers to render insecure the property, peace, liberty, and life of the citizen; has abused the pardoning power; has denounced the national legislature as unconstitutional ; has persistently and corruptly resisted, by every means in his power, every proper attempt at the reconstruction of the States lately in rebellion ; has perverted the public patronage into an engine of whole-
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