Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-05-17
RECALLS c. O.P.
meet IN 1860
Second National Republican
Convention Held in Chi
cag0 Sixty Years
Ago.
LINCOLN NOMINATED
Seward at First Favorite
but Lincoln Won in
End.
(By The Associated Press

(By IN Associated IrcSS.)
Chicago, ILL.,, May 1.-THE conven
ing of the Republicans in Chicago
June 8 to nominate a candidate fol
president recalls afresh at this time
the Republican convention opening
here 60 years ago which nominated
Abraham Lincoln. This was the sec
Ond national Republican convention
and the first of the many which have
since been held in Chicago.
The convention assembled on May
IL, 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 Oil painting of the rail
splitter" are preserved by the Chicago
Historical society. +. f.. Wood, field
secretary Of the society, has just pre-
pared what he regards as the most
complete account OF the events OF the
convention of GO years ago. In this
he calls attention to Addison G. Proc
tor, of Ann Arbor, Mich, who, Mr..
Wood believes, is the only surviving
delegate of the convention.
"Wigwanl" Built.
Chicago in 1850 was a promising city
Of 11O ,OOO not quite % years old. 1t
had won the convention by the offer to
build the largest assembly hall in the
country and fill it at every session.
Accordingly the "Wigwam' arose at
the southwest corner of Lake and Mar
ket. streets, occupying a space 100 by
$50 feet. 1t was a temporary wooden
structure costing a little owe the eStl-
mated 5000. The balance was made
up by charging % cents admission on
its formal opening the Saturday before
the convention. z
Few Republican conventions, ii any,
have been so charged with excitement
or had so spectacular an ending. Lin
coins prospects appeared small enough
before the convention opened. The
~favOrite was William H.. Seward, scna-
tor from New York. He had Il great
asset in the ability of ThurlOw Weed
who prosecuted his campaign among
the delegates. He suffered a handicap
in the determined opposition OF Horace
Greeley, the famous New York editor,
who had no candidate of his Own but
refused to have Seward. Both Greeley
and Weed were cafly on the ground
and according to Mr.. Woods review,
the centers of interest. He notes, how
v that other, and ~nOn-pOlitical at
fractions, were numerous, among them
being ZOuavcs, circus band, ministries,
and such weil-knOwn theatrical pieces
of the day as 'Lucrctia BOrgia" ana
.'The Hidden Hand"
Slavery Question.
The slavery issue came up quickly
on the first day of the convention,
when David Wilmot of Pennsylvania
on taking the chair as temporary chair
man made a ten-minute a~nti-slayery
spccch. NO extension of slavery" be
came an essential part of the platform
next day.
In view of the many days now spent
in hearing delegate contests, this con
yentiOn of 60 years & offered some.
thing novel. There Were no contested
delegates. There were, however, some
..contesting' states. Whether to admit
Maryland. Virginia, Kentucky n
Texas was Il question that occupied
most of the first day and was still un-
decided when adjournment came for
the day.
The next day the convention decided
10 admit the border states The plat
form committee then brought In its
report. 1t was amended to include a
reossertion of the self evident truths"
Of the constitution. At Adjournment
little remained beyond choosing the
candidate, and Mr.. Wood ~characterlzes
that night as Il tumultuOus one filled
with band music and professions until
almost day. Enthusiasm for Seward,
well worked UP in his behalf, was ut
high tide. Greeley telcgraphed his
paper that Stewards nomination ap-
reared certain. Incidentally, remarks
Mr.. Wood, this convention was the frst
Mt which the telegraph was employed.
Lincoln Named.
How Lincoln came into the nOmina-
ton is now for many n familiar story.
Seward led on the first ballot 1879
with Lincoln next hest at 1O2, and 233
NECESSARY for choice. A few more
votes came to Seward OF the second
ballot, bringing his total to ~
while Lincoln jumped to close quarters
with 1S1. The taking of the third pat
lot showing Lincoln going strongly to
the front.
AS the figures were being compiled,
ID. X. Cartier OF Cleveland. ONO,
counting them up for himself, found
that Lincoln needed only a Few votes
to win. The tahulatiOn in fact at that
moment was o31Ia for Lincoln aud $50
for Seward, with .%3 necessary Tor
tlle nomination. Instantly Cartier was
on his feet to announce the transfer
of four Ohio votes from Chase to Lin
coin.
The convention quickly broke into a
scene of enthusiasm with few parallels
in the long list Of American political
conventions. Further votes were
changed to bring Lincoln's total to o'4.
nomination vas then maze I'M
animOus.