The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-05-17
LINCOLN CONVENTION
At CHICAGO RECALLED
The Famous Republican Gathering 90
Years Ago Which Nominated Abra-
ham Lincoln for President Was
Second in Party's History.

! |
Chicago. May 1.-THE converting OF
| the Republicans in Chicago, June 6, Il
, nominate candidate for president re.
calls afresh at this time the Republican
convention opening here 60 years ago
; which nominated Abraham Lincoln,
This was the second national Repubi-
can convention and the first of the
many which have since been held in
Chicago.
The convention assembled on May
10, 1860, and Lincoln was nominated on
May 10, the third and last day After
his election feeling aroused by the
slavery issue ran quickly into civil
war.
Relics of the campaign of 1860, in.
Guiding the painting of the rail split
ter are preserved by the Chicago His.
torical society. F. Z. Wood, field sec.
rotary of the society. has Just prepared
what he regards as the most complete
account of the events of the conyen.
ton of go years ago. In this he calls
attention to Addison g. Proctor, of
Ann Arbor, Mich, who. Mr.. Wood be-
lieves, is the only surviving delegate of
the convention.
! Chicago in 1860 was promising city
| OF 10000 not quite p years old II
, had won the convention bv the offer
to build the largest assembly hall in
| the country and fill ii at every ses-
sion. Accordingly the "Wigwam" arose
at the southwest corner Of Lake and
lat
! by $50 feet. Ii was a temporary wood
en- structure costing a little over the
estimated $4,000 The balance was
made up by charging % cents admis.
sion on its formal opening the Satur-
day before the convention.
Few Republican conventions. if any.
have been so charged with Excitement
or had so spectacular an ending Lin
coins prospects appeared small enough
before the convention opened The fav
orite was William H. Seward, senator
from New York tie had a great asset
in the ability of Thurlow Weed, who
prosecuted hsN campaign among sle
delegates. He suffered a handicap 10
the determined opposition Of Horace
Greeley. the famous New York editor. |
who had no candidate Of his own but |
refused 10 have Seward Both Greeley |
and Weed were early on the ground |
and according TO Mr. Woods review, |
the centers Of interest He notes. how
ever, that other, and non political at
fractions were numerous. among them |
being Zouaves, circus band. mnstrelS.
and such well-known theatrical pieces /
OF the day as "Lucretia Borgia' and |
The Hidden Hand.
The slavery issue came up quickly on !
he first dsy Of the convention. when /
David Wilmut OF Pennsylvania on tax. /
ing the chair A. temporary chairman
made a ten minute anti-slavery speech.
NO extension Of slavery" became an
essential part OF the platform next DAY
IN view Of the many days now spent
in hearing delegate contests, this con
vention OF go years ago offered some
thing novel There were no contested
delegates. There were. however. some
"contesting" states. Whether 10 admit
Maryland Virginia kentucky and Tex
a was a question that occupied most
Of the irst dav and was still undecided
when adjournment came for the day.
The next day the convention decided
- admit the border states" The plat
form committee then brought in IL. re-
port u was amended TO include = re-
= ssert ION ~ the self evident truths"
81 the constitution At adjournment
little remain beyond choosing the
and Mr. Wood eharscterizes
hat night "a a tumultuous one filled
with hand music aud professions until
almost dav. Enthusiasm for Seward.
III T. ~ Q
high tide Greeley tclegraphed hi "a
per thta; Seward's nomination ap
peared certain Incidentally. remarks
Mr. Wood this convention was the tirst
} which the telegraph was employed.
How Lincoln came into the nomina
on = now Tor many 4 familiar story
>cvard led on the first ballot 49, ,
With Lincoln next hest ~ lO2. and 233
-eessarr for choirr. 4 few more ,otrs
sme 70 Seward On the second ballot,
" inuinu his total 10 lsatg. While lin
lin jumped - close quarters with ~.
Tie taking ~ tho third bslioi showing
lincoln going strongly 90 the front.
A. the fr1ires were beng compiled
b h. carter 81 Cleveland. o.. rountinc
hem ~ for himself. found that Lin
aIn needed only p Tea votes 90 wln.
- tsbuiatinu boz fact 81 that moment
- Z3lt for Lincoln ard |. 80 for -
rard. 18th IA necessary for the nomi
.af50n Instantly Garter wa@ ~ hls
- e. auurmurr thr Transfer - four
sfia Vfss. frarl haze 20 iEneciu-
TIE renrruttrn aurklV broke into
ere 81 rnthusia-ul uith few parallels
3 fhe Iaur fsF 81 Aurrifan poifieal
ar=f5frf .r~a Frrsk fr voice Wrre
hauzcd a. hTfna Iznoain's total to-.
s. Thr urmination was thcu made
n4n5meus