Although five territories were about to be organized by congressional action; although Kansas was not yet admitted; and notwithstanding many southern congressmen were daily urging a slave code for the territories, or that the slave trade be reöpened, a few presses and many timid citizens seemed contented to ignore the issues of the day and to be satisfied with vague resolutions concerning the integrity of the Union.

The meetings resulted in a gathering of very respectable citizens from many states at Baltimore on the 10th day of May, 1860, who organizing a convention, resolved, in substance, that the constitution of the United States was their only platform of principles; and proceeded to nominate for president of the United States John Bell of Tennessee, and for Vice-President Edward Everett of Massachusetts. The convention assumed the name of the "constitutional union party."

On the 23d day of May, 1860, the delegates to the national democratic convention assembled at Charleston, South Carolina. Caleb Cushing of Massachusetts was made permanent chairman, and for more than a week the most violent debates and ingenious parliamentary tactics were had over the question of resolutions for a platform. The delegates were seemingly divided into three classes; one representing the extreme southern views upon slavery, in regard to slaves being property under the constitution and protected by its terms in territories; another upholding the popular sovereignty doctrines of Mr. Douglas; and a third anxious to promote partizan success by saying as little as possible on the engrossing topic of the day, except in the most ambiguous and obscure manner. A combination of the two latter classes resulted in adopting a platform which reäffirmed that adopted at Cincinnati in 1856, with the addition of a resolution referring the question of slave property under the constitution to the supreme court of the United States; and two other resolutions concerning the acquisition of Cuba and the rights of citizens in foreign countries, which were not remarkable for definite expression. Upon the adoption of this platform, the delegates from seven slave states seceded and organized a separate convention.

The first convention, after four days of unsuccessful balloting, adjourned in considerable disorder to meet again in Baltimore on the 18th of June.

The seceding convention adopted resolutions in its platform affirming the right of property in slaves in the territories, under the constitution of the United States, and the duty of congress to protect such property in the territories and on the high seas. This convention then adjourned to meet in Richmond on the 11th day of June-one week previous to the meeting of the other convention in Baltimore.

During the recess of the two conventions, the senate of the United States adopted a series of resolutions, introduced by Senator Davis, of Mississippi, embodying the principles of the seceders' platformall the democrats voting aye, excepting Mr. Pugh. Mr. Douglas was absent, on account of illness. The administration, also, was understood to favor the seceders; and the conflict which raged at Charleston soon spread throughout the democratic party. In the meantime, new delegates were chosen to fill the vacancies caused by the secession, which served to increase the feud between the contending factions.

The northern democrats were nearly unanimous in favor of the platform adopted by the majority convention, and of Mr. Douglas as the candidate for president; while the party in the south was almost a unit in favor of the seceders' platform, but divided as to a candidate, although bitterly opposed to Mr. Douglas. In striking contrast with this distracted condition of the democratic party, the republicans were entirely harmonious in sentiment, and with no irreconcilable differences as to their candidate for president.

The two factions of the democratic convention assembled again, pursuant to adjournment-one at Richmond, on the 11th of June, and the other, on the 18th, at Baltimore. The former adjourned from day to day, without transacting any business. In the latter, the old conflict between those who would protect slavery everywhere, and those who would not, was renewed. After a stormy debate, interrupted by personal collisions, those who favored slavery protection again seceded, and organized a separate convention. They were joined by Caleb Cushing, the chairman of the original convention. The remaining members, with a new presiding officer, proceeded to nominate candidates for president and vice-president of the United States.

Stephen A. Douglas was nominated for president on the second ballot, receiving one hundred and eighty-one and a half votes of the one hundred and ninety-four and a half cast. Benjamin Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, was named for vice-president. He, however, declined the nomination, after the convention had adjourned, and Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, was substituted by the national democratic committee. The platform, as adopted by this convention at its session in Charleston, reflects the sentiments of Senator Douglas and that portion of the democratic party in the northern states who no longer support all the demands of the slave power.

The seceders, who held their convention at the same time in another part of the city, nominated for president of the United States, John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, and for vice-president, Joseph Lane, of Oregon,' and adopted as their platform, substantially, the one rejected at Charleston by the original convention. It boldly denies the power of any territorial legislature to exclude slavery from its domain; and maintains that it is the duty of congress to protect slavery, to the fullest extent, on the high seas, in the territories, and wherever its constitutional power extends.

The second national convention of the republican party, met at Chicago on the 16th day of May, 1860-the fifty-ninth birthday of Mr. Seward. The convention was called to order at noon by Governor Morgan, of New York, the chairman of the national committee. David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, was chosen temporary chairman by a unanimous vote. At a subsequent session a permanent organization was completed by the election of George Ashmun, of Massachusetts, as president, with twenty-seven vice-presidents, and as many secretaries, representing each state and territory in convention."

3

A platform of principles was adopted by the convention with great enthusiasm and unanimity. It recognizes the great doctrine of the declaration of independence "that all men are created equal,"

1 Mr. Breckinridge received eighty-one votes, and Daniel S. Dickinson twenty-four. Mr. Lane's vote was unanimous, one hundred and five.

2 The following table shows the number of delegates in attendance, entitled to votes, from each state and territory: Maine, 16; New Hampshire, 10; Vermont, 10; Massachusetts, X; Rhode Island, 8; Connecticut, 12; New York, 70; New Jersey. 14; Pennsylvania, 54; Maryland, 11; Delaware, 6; Virginia, 23: Kentucky, 23; Ohio, 46; Indiana, 26; Missouri, 18; Michigan, 12; Illinois, 22; Wisconsin, 10: Iowa. 8; California, 8; Minnesota, 8; Oregon, 5: Texas, 6: Kansas, 6; Nebraska, 6; District Columbia, 2. Total, 466. Pennsylvania, Iowa and New Jersey sent a larger number of delegates, but were only entitled to vote as stated above.

8 See Appendix.

and declares that the normal condition of all the territories is that of freedom; and denies 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.

On the third day of the session the convention proceeded to ballot for candidates for president and vice-president of the United States. On the first ballot for president, the votes were divided as follows:

Whole number of votes cast, 465; necessary to a choice, 233.

The following table exhibits the vote of each state on the first ballot:

There being no choice a second ballot was taken, Mr. Seward

receiving one hundred and eighty-four and one-half votes, and Mr.

Lincoln one hundred and eighty-one; scattering, ninety-nine and one-half. A third ballot resulted in the nomination of Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Seward received on this ballot one hundred and eighty votes; Mr. Lincoln two hundred and thirty-one and one-half; Mr. Bates twenty-two; Mr. Chase twenty-four and one-half; Mr. McLean five; Mr. Dayton one; C. M. Clay one. Before the result of the voting was announced Mr. Lincoln's vote was increased, by changes, to three hundred and sixty four.

The states which cast a majority of their respective votes for Mr. Seward on the last ballot were Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, Texas, Kansas territory and the District of Columbia.

At the close of the third ballot, when the result had been an nounced, Mr. Evarts, chairman of the New York delegation, moved that the nomination of Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, as the republican candidate for president of the United States, be made unaniHis motion was seconded by Mr. John A. Andrew, of Massachusetts, Mr. Carl Schurz, of Wisconsin, and Mr. Austin Blair, of Michigan, and adopted by the convention."

mous.

Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, was nominated for vice-president. On the first ballot he received one hundred and ninety-four votes; Cassius M. Clay, of Kentucky, one hundred and one and one-half; John Hickman, of Pennsylvania, fifty-eight; A. H. Reeder, of Pennsylvania, fifty-one; N. P. Banks, of Massachusetts, thirty-eight and one-half; H. Winter Davis, of Maryland, eight; Sam Houston, of Texas, six; W. L. Dayton, of New Jersey, three; John M. Read, of Pennsylvania, one. On the second and last ballot, Mr. Hamlin received three hundred and sixty-seven votes; Mr. Clay eighty-six, Mr. Hickman thirteen. Mr. Hamlin's nomination was then made unanimous.

These nominations, as well as the platform adopted by the convention, received the cordial approval of Mr. Seward. In private and in public he promptly gave them his hearty indorsement. On the day on which the nominations were made he wrote for the Auburn Daily Advertiser, as follows:

1 For the eloquent remarks made by these gentlemen, and others, at the time, see Ap pendix