Category Archives: The election of 1868

cabinet kerfuffle

Posted on March 30, 2019 by SUMPTER

In its March 5, 1869 issue The New-York Times kept coverage of Ulysses S. Grant’s inaugural address off its front page, unlike the previous two inaugurations. The times were certainly different, relatively crisis-free. After all, in 1861 a couple weeks … Continue reading →

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nothing to hear here?

Posted on March 4, 2019 by SUMPTER

Back around the New Year a couple New York City periodicals seemed to be eagerly awaiting the March 4th 1869 inauguration of President-elect Ulysses S. Grant “with the guarantees of future peace and prosperity and of a final settlement of … Continue reading →

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marching orders

Posted on November 7, 2018 by SUMPTER

On November 3, 1868 Republican candidate Ulysses S. Grant was elected President of the United States. He garnered about 300,000 more votes than his Democratic challenger Horatio Seymour. In the electoral college he won 214 votes compared to 80 for … Continue reading →

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election primer

Posted on November 2, 2018 by SUMPTER

150 years ago the presidential election in the United States was to be held on November 3rd. According to documentation at the Library of Congress, sometime during the campaign the Union Republican Congressional Committee published an election guide for the … Continue reading →

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September surprise?

Posted on October 31, 2018 by SUMPTER

Democratic politician John Dix was a Union general during the Civil War and in 1868 was serving as American Minister to France. In early September he sent a letter to friend in New York City. Mr. Dix wanted to deny … Continue reading →

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rigging vigorously

Posted on October 25, 2018 by SUMPTER

150 years ago this month three New York City newspapers published reports of alleged voter fraud. It seems that the October 10, 1868 issue of Harper’s Weekly is saying that the legal process of naturalization was being corrupted by men … Continue reading →

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tsunami?

Posted on October 17, 2018 by SUMPTER

On October 13, 1868 voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana elected Republicans in state races by substantial margins. The Democrats were reportedly in such deep distress that they considered replacing Horatio Seymour as their nominee for the U.S. Presidency, possibly … Continue reading →

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not in their backyard

Posted on October 11, 2018 by SUMPTER

In its September 22, 1868 issue the The New-York Times published a report of political violence in southeastern Georgia that occurred on September 19th. A couple of Republican politicians traveled to Camilla for a rally. As they neared the town … Continue reading →

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late summer of ’68

Posted on September 29, 2018 by SUMPTER

Some headlines from early September 1868. Statewide elections in Vermont resulted in large Republican majorities. The Georgia legislature expelled twenty-five black representatives (New York Times September 4, 1868). After a conference at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Union General William … Continue reading →

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Johnson acquitted

Posted on May 26, 2018 by SUMPTER

Spiro Agnew must have seemed like a godsend to our high school Latin teacher. When Vice-president Agnew got into some difficulties with the law in 1973 he eventually resigned from office after pleading no contest, or in Latin nolo contendere, … Continue reading →

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