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ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by

THE TRIBUNE ASSOCIATION,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

W. H. TINSON, Stereotyper.

679

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE single end of this book is the presentation, in a compact and convenient form, of the more important facts, votes, resolves, letters, speeches, reports and other documents, which elucidate the political contest now agitating this country. It has been our aim to let every candidate and other important personage speak for himself, make his own platform, and vindicate (if he may) his own consistency and the soundness of his views on the great questions which underlie our current politics.

Of course, such a work can have but a comparative merit. Make it ever so large, and still many things must be omitted that the compiler would wish to insert; and every critic will plausibly ask, "Why insert this and omit that? Why give so much of A. and so little of B. ?" Beside, it is not always possible to remember, or, if remembered, to find, all that would be valued in a work like this. We can only say that we have done our best: let him do better who can.

Inaccuracy of citation is one of the chief vices of our political discussions. You can hardly listen to a set speech, even from a well-informed and truthful canvasser, which is not marred by some misapprehension or unconscious misstatement of the position and views of this or that prominent statesman. Documents, heedlessly read and long since lost or mislaid, are quoted from with fluency and confidence, as though with indubitable accuracy, when the citations so made do gross injustice to their author, and tend to mislead the hearer. We believe the documents collected in this work are so printed that their general accuracy may be safely relied on.

By canvassers of all parties, we trust our Text-Book will be found convenient, not to say indispensable. But those who only listen, and read, and reflect, will also find it a manifest help to a clear understanding of the issues and contentions of the day. They will be interested in comparing the actual positions taken by Mr. Lincoln, or Mr. Douglas, or Gen. Cass, or Mr. Everett, as faithfully set forth in this work, with those confidently attributed to that statesman in the fluent harangue of some political opponent, who is intent on blazoning his inconsistency or proving his insincerity. To verify and correct

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the citations of a frothy declaimer is sometimes the easiest and most convinci. ing refutation of his speech.

If a trace of partisan bias is betrayed in the thread of narrative which partially unites the successive reports, bills, votes, etc., presented in this work, the error is unintentional and regretted. Our purpose was to compile a record acceptable and convenient to men of all parties, and which might be consulted and trusted by all. Whatever is original hercin is regarded as of no use or merit, save as a necessary elucidation of the residue. Without apology, therefore, or further explanation, the Text-Book is commended to the favor of the' American public.

NEW-YORK, August 1st, 1860.

CONTENTS.

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BIRNEY, JAMES G., of Michigan, Abolition

candidate for President in 1840.

Liberty Party candidate for President in 1844..

9 BONHAM, MILLIDGE L., of South Carolina,

for Dissolution..
BOYD, LINN, of Kentucky, defeated for
Vice-President by Democratic Convention, 1856..

BRECKINRIDGE, JOHN C., of Kentucky,

nominated Vice-President by Democratic Con-

vention, 1856..

75

218

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24

His letter in support of Lincoln and Hamlin.. BURR, AARON,

BARBOUR, PHILIP P., of Virginia, beaten
for Vice-President..

BARBOUR, JAMES, of Virginia, President

first National Republican Convention..

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Fourth Democratic National Convention, 1844..

Fifth Democratic National Convention, 1848...

Sixth Democratic National Convention, 1852..

Seventh Democratic National Convention, 1856.

Eighth Democratic National Convention, 1860.

Mr. Avery's (N. C.) Majority Report, from Com-
mittee on Platform; Mr. H. B. Payne's Mi-
nority Report from Committee on Platform;
Senator Wm. Bigler's Compromise proposition
Mr. Avery's amended Majority Report; Mr.
Avery's remarks in favor of same; Mr. H. B.
Payne of Ohio in reply

His extracts from Breckinridge, Orr, and Ste-

phens; Mr. Samuels's (of Iowa) Minority Re-

port.

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Georgia retires..

Louisiana withdraws; Speech of Wm. B. Gaulden
of Georgia in favor of the Slave-Trade
Fruitless ballots (57) for President; Adjournment
to Baltimore; The Seceders at Charleston; Se-
nator Bayard, of Delaware, Chairman; They
adopt the Avery Platform
They adjourn to Richmond; They meet at Rich-
mond June 11; They finally adopt Breckin-
ridge and Lane; The adjourned Convention at
timore; Gen. Cushing's opening Speech

Mr. Howard, of Tennessee, moves admission of

original Delegates; Mr. Kavanagh, of Minne-

sota, moves to lay on table; Previous question

defeated..

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CUSHING, Gen. CALEB, of Massachusetts,

President of Democratic National Convention,

1860.

Retires from the chair at Baltimore..

Presides over the Seceders' Convention at Bal-

timore...

DALLAS, GEORGE M., of Pennsylvania, nomi-
nated for and elected Vice-President, 1844..
DAVIS, GARRETT, of Kentucky, defeated for
President in the American National Convention...

DAVIS JEFFERSON, of Mississippi, supported,

1860, for President in National Democratic Con-

vention

His resolutions as they passed the Senate.

DAVIS, JOHN, of Massachusetts, defeated for
Vice-President in Whig National Convention, 1844.
DAVIS, JOHN W., of Indiana, President De-
mocratic National Convention, 1852......

DAYTON, WILLIAM L., of New-Jersey, Re-

publican nominee for Vice-President, 1856; de-

feated therefor...

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