The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-06-17

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and necessarily could have no standing
in the courts OF the land
The Lecompton bill was proposed
act of congress recognizing the slave
government of Kansas, which had its
seat at Lecompton. 1t passed the SEN
ate, but was beaten in the house.
The slavery question. shelved for a
time through the Missouri compro-
mise, was thus again brought to a
head, forcing the foes of serfdom to
get together for the impending battle.
When the congress of 1S59-61 met, the
Republicans had twenty-five senators,
the Democrats thirty-five. In the house
the membership stood: Republicans,
113; Democrats, 90; anti-Lecompton
Democrats. S; Know Nothings, %.
Nomination Of Lincoln.
When the national convention of 1860
met in Chicago on the 10th of May,
the hopes of the party were high. Its
organization had been perfected and
it's policy for the future determined.
Its several elements had been so weld
ed together that factional lines had
practically disappeared, but it was de-
cided that so far as these lines remain
ed the former Wings should have the
presidential nomination and write the
platform, while the vice presidency
should go TO the former Democrats.
The delegates were all from free states
wit hn nf fhnSn
land, Delaware, Virginia and Ken
lucky The platform adopted did not
differ greatly from that Of 1856, except
that the conjunction of slavery and po-
lygamy, particularly offensive to the
south, was dropped, a homestead law
and a protective tariff were demanded,
and southern threats of secession and
disunion were denounced.
Seward, the leading candidate for the
presidential nomina ton, was strongly
opposed because of his extreme anti
slavery position. fractional fights In
his home state New York; also mill
tated against his success. On the first
ballot he had 1872 votes. Abraham
Lincoln had large proportion of the
western delegates behind him, and was
given 102 votes on the first ballot. ST.
mon Cameron had 50la votes, Chase 40
and Bates 4S. Forty-two were scatter
ing On the second ballot Seward had
1S41a votes TO Lincoln's 1S1. On the
third ballot Lincoln's vote rose TO 2311a
and Stewards fell to $50. Before an
other ballot could be taken enough
votes were changed to Lincoln to give
him 354 votes and the nomination.
Hannibal Hamlin was named for vice
president on the second ballot.
The Civil War.
At this juncture the party received a
new accession of forces. the SO called
war Democrats, among whom were
Benjamin Butler, l.. ii. stanton. John
A. Logan, John A. Dix. Lyman Ire
maine and Andrew Johnson. The cam
paign OF 1860 was of the whirlwind
order The Democrats had split, and
two Democratic tickets, one headed by
Stephen A. Douglas, the other by John
G. Breckenridge. were in the field Lin
coin and Hamlin received all the cleo
toral votes OF the free states. except
three from New Jersey, and were elect
ed. For the next four years the history
OF the Republican party Is the history
OF the civil war. No political organi-
cation ever endured such a trying ex-
perience as the Republican party un-
derwent during this period. Its ma
jority in congress was due solely to the
absence of representatives from the
southern states. and even with this aid
1t was near being turned into a mi
nority In the congress Of 1S63-65.
The leaders OF the party proved
themselves equal to every emergency
Lincoln was obnoxious both to the ex
treme radicals and TO the ultra con-
servatives, who feared the effect of his
emancipation proclamation. Strenuous
efforts were made to prevent his re-
nomination The conservatives at
tempted TO bring about the nomination
of Salmon Il. Chase, but the indorse-
ment of Lincolns administration by
the Ohio legislature speedily put an
end to the Chase boom. The radicals
DItl III dN NitNtidlif may
Is, 1864, and nominated Fremont and
John Cochrane of New York, demand
ing more vigorous prosecution Of the
war, the contscation OF the estates of
rebels and their division among Union
soldiers and actual settlers. Their can
didates accepted the nominations, but
withdrew before the election.
Lincoln Again Elected.
In the mass of the party there was
no hesitation. When the national con
vention met in Baltimore. June Z, 1864
Lincoln was renominated by acclama-
ton. The vice presidency was to be
given TO the war Democrats, and the
choice lay between Daniel $. Dickinson
Of New York and Andrew Johnson Of
Tennessee. Johnson was nominated on
the second ballot. The platform APP
proved the unconditional prosecution
OF the war, the emancipation of the
slaves, the proposed thirteenth amend
ment TO the constitution, the policy Of
President Lincoln, the redemption of
the public debt and the enforcement of
the Monroe doctrine I'm Mexico. The
Democrats nominated General George
81.