Category Archives: The election of 1860

News from the presidential election of 1860

temple tussle

The day before the 1860 U.S. presidential election the governor of South Carolina advised secession in the event of Abraham Lincoln’s probable victory. Thanks to the telegraph, that news got up North very quickly. On Election Day, November 6, 1860, … Continue reading

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minority majority president

160 years ago four different candidates divvied up the votes in the United States presidential election. Republican party candidate Abraham Lincoln won a plurality (about 40%) of the popular vote on November 6, 1860, but under the United States Constitution’s … Continue reading

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all over the space …

and the time Back on the day, I was absorbed in my own mini-liberation from almost-daily war posting. Here is General Gordon Granger’s June 19, 1865 order at Galveston Texas as the Unio army took control: General Order No. 3 … Continue reading

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Doughface Convention in New York City

Ex-president Millard Fillmore was right – there was going to be another meeting of Southern sympathizers in New York State – specifically in New York City on Saturday, December 15th. Here are excerpts from a very long article in the … Continue reading

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What London (Times) Thinks

The New-York Times of December 15, 1860 published a good deal from the London Times. Here are some excerpts. The article titles link back to the complete stories in The New York Times Archive. I. We Like Those American States … Continue reading

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Vicksburg Rally Against Disunion

From The New-York Times December 10, 1860: GREAT ANTI-DISUNION DEMONSTRATION AT VICKSBURG. A mass meeting to consider the issues of the day, way held at Vicksburg, Miss., on the afternoon and evening of the 29th ult. The Whig says: “It … Continue reading

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What South Carolina Fears

From The New-York Times December 7, 1860: A CANDID VIEW OF SECESSION.; EXTRACT OF A PRIVATE LETTER FROM A LADY IN SOUTH CAROLINA RECEIVED IN THIS CITY. K_____, S.C., Saturday, Dec. 1, 1860. MY DEAR UNCLE: It is with different … Continue reading

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Yankee, (You Better) Go Home!

December 2, 1860. Congressmen from around the United States are accumulating in Washington, D.C. as they await the reconvening of Congress tomorrow, December 3rd. Some southern senators, such as Breckinridge from Kentucky, are speaking words of moderation and conciliation. Congressmen … Continue reading

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Pondering Economics of Secession: Stalwart Giant vs. Infant

150 years ago today The New-York Times reacted to a bill in the Georgia Legislature that would place an extreme fine on commerce with the North. The editorial used the bill’s intent to predict the effect a hostile secession would … Continue reading

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(Almost) Kissing Babies in Chicago

Lincoln’s quietness during the election and its immediate aftermath was usual in his day. Senator Douglas broke tradition during the 1860 presidential canvas by personally campaigning throughout the country, but the norm was for the candidate to remain at home … Continue reading

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