Democrats' gift to Republicans
"I think the chances were more than equal that we could have beaten the Democracy [the Democratic Party] united. Divided, as it is, its chances appear very slim." The Democratic ticket. For President, Stephen Douglas of Illinois; for Vice President, Herschel V. Johnson of Georgia.
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Both abolitionists and Southerners were not happy with Lincoln.
Ken Burns: The Civil War, "The Cause" "I hesitate to say it, but it really appears now, as if the success of the Republican ticket is inevitable. We have no reason to doubt any states which voted for Frémont. Add to these, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and New-Jersey, and the thing is done." "The action of the Democracy at Baltimore seems, with reasonable diligence on the part of Republicans to have insured the success of the Republican ticket." |
Lincoln the political managerLincoln managed his campaign behind the scenes.
"Write me often. I look with great interest for your letters now." "Let me hear from Indiana occasionally." Douglas and Lincoln |
The Republican ticket. For President, Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois; for Vice President, Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine.
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Douglas decided to break the mold and publicly campaign, unlike other candidates of the day. Douglas showed Lincoln respect.
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"He is a very clever fellow--a kindhearted, good natured, amiable man. I have not the heart to say anything against Abe Lincoln; I have fought him so long that I have respect for him."
-Douglas said to a crowd while campaigning in 1860
For Lincoln, this respect was not mutual.
Douglas did not "tell as many lies as some men I have known. But I think he cares as little for the truth for the truth's sake as any man I ever saw." Douglas was above cheap attacks, but his supporters weren't.
"if Lincoln is elected you will have to compete with the labor of four million emancipated Negroes." |
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Fusion
Thinking - correctly - that they could not defeat Lincoln divided, the Northern and Southern Democrats and Constitutional Unionists attempted to merge together into one ticket. Douglas blocked this, though, as he was still angry at Breckinridge and the Southern Democrats for breaking off.
Southern Democrats "to my surprise manifested a much more conciliatory spirit than the Douglass [sic] men." "The best feeling exists among the two sections of the two sections of the Dem. party and the Bell men, but the democracy are exceedingly bitter toward each other and I do not think can be combined in any circumstances." |
The Union electoral ticket. For President, John Bell, of Tennessee; for Vice President, Edward Everett, of Massachusetts.
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Another option was keeping any candidate from winning the majority of the Electoral College votes, leaving the House of Representatives to pick a president. Douglas was against this idea, too.
The Southern Democratic ticket. For President, John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky; for Vice President, Joseph Lane, of Oregon
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"By God, sir, the election shall never go into the House; before it shall go into the House, I will throw it to Lincoln." "It is the game of the Southern wing to defeat an election by the people and carry it into Congress, where they think they are reasonably certain of electing Breckinridge. The Douglas men here speak openly of preferring Lincoln's election to such a result." |