Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1919-02-11
SOME LINCOLN HISTORY OF 1860
(By Bert R. Greer)

and deeds of the ustrious Lincoln it may prove interesting
and instructive briefly consider the part played by the
republican party of Oregon in his elevation to the highest
place in the gift of the American people.
History records it no small part.
The republican party of Oregon wwittngy directly
responsible for the nomination of Lincoln by the national
republican convention of 1860 and welded powerful nfu
in drafting the platform upon which he made his cam
pagn.
Unntentiona surely for the Oregon delegates to rat
national convention instructed for Edward Bates OF
Missouri but thru that ndefnabe spirit that exercises dom
nant force in the destiny of nations in spite of the machena
tons Of politics. she became the determining factor in
of the greatest campaigns the annals of political actions has
chronced in the history of the world
Lincoln had been little talked of in Oregon as presiden
al candidate The first mention he had the coast
in contributed article to the 0regonan giving sketch of
his public life and by Simeon Frances who later fol
lowed Dryer and preceded Harvey Scott editor of that
paper After recitng his abilities and principles Frances
finished his article with this tribute: Al of these circum
stances have placed Mr. Lincoln before the country and will
place him before the convention, worthy of their
highest behest the candidate for the highest position the
world. He may attain that position He may not. In
either Abraham Lincoln will remain of Gods noble
men-noble in his nature noble in his aims-a pure and
great man."
The Oregon state democratic convention met at Eugene
lon April H. 1860 Every movement of that body was die
taed by Joseph Lane, secession democrat member of
solution of the Union and establishing southern confederac
of which the Pacific states divided into three separate EN-
pres to become part and parcel This element the
convention rough shod the BushDougas wing of the
state democracy and stood solid for Breckenridge and Lane
las national standard bearers.
The republicans met in state convention April 19 and
named three delegates to the national convention called at
Chicago for June 16 Among these was Leander Holmes
For not made clear in the chronicle the time for
the republican convention changed to May 16
The latter days of 1859 and the early part of 1860 had
developed bitter schism in national democratic ranks The
gulf between Douglas and secession democracy wdened
beyond the point of negotiation and that the outstanding
feature to be rckoned in the coming democratic conven
ton 1t augured an ireparabe split between the northern
and southern wings of the democratic party Control by
the secession wing would leave Douglas democrats without
the fold and fair game play for the political chess board
The records silent this topic but that may have come
into consideration in changing the time of the republican con
venton to follow the expected democratic embodiment
Whether directed by wise political counsel the silent spirit
of destiny the republican convention date moved back to
May 16 thus bringing it to render physically i'm
practical attendance in person by the Oregon delegates Le
ander Holmes designated Horace Greeley his proxy In
structng him to support Edward Bates.
Whether Mr. Greeley solicited the Oregon proxy is not
known In 1854 he had angriy withdrawn from what he
termed the political firm of Seward Weed Greeley and as
Mr. Seward New Yorks candidate for the presidency
Mr. Greeley not of his states accredited delegates IN
the convention This gives color to the possible inference
that he actuated from the first to- at least accept Oregon
proxy in the hope of using against Mr. Seward should oc
casion arise.
However, his representation met with general approval
the convention and tremendous burst of enthusiasm
CURED when Horace Greeley delegate from Oregon was
named as member of the committee platform and resou
ton 1t brought forth deafenng applause and was met with
the cries. When did you novel; 1t felt the greatest
difficulty of the convention would be to construct platform
acceptable to all shades of opinion to be considered especially
the democratic split that had occurred few days before at
Charleston and the resultant doubebarreed ticket at Ba
Frank Johnson of Oregon City, then in the east tax
ing theological and sitting in the convention as an
Oregon proxy, pronounced the platform "the best m-
equvoca statements of republican faith written, the
wisest and most diplomatic points Of which Oregon had the
honor to contribute thru its delegate, Horace Greeley
On the first and second ballots Oregon cast her votes
for Bates as instructed but on the third Mr. Geeeys oppo
tuny came to settle the old and he cast Oregons solid
vote for Lincoln giving him 2311s votes That stampeded
the convention another state quickly hnngs its four votes
to Lincoln eectng his nomination with two and onehalf
votes to spare The convention went wild with enthusiasm
As each state declared its unanimous vote for the man who