The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-05-21
CONVENTION SIXTY YEARS
AGO WAS BIG E
LINCOLN WAS CHOSEN
Other Meetings Since Have
Marked Framing of Nations
Course.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Associated Press Dispatch.I

Chicago, May 18.-[By The Associ-
ated ss.]-The converting of the
republicans in Chicago, June 6 to
nominate a candidate for president
recalls afresh at this time the repub-
lican convention opening here sixty
years ago which nominated Abraham
Lincoln. This was the second nation
al republican convention and the first
of the many which have since been
held in Chicago. The convention as
sembled on May 16, 1860. and Lincoln
was nominated on May 10. the third
and last day. After his election feel
ing aroused by the slavery issue ran
quickly into the civil war.
Relics of the campaign of 1850,
including the oil painting Of the rail
splitter. are preserved by the Chi
cago Historical Society. E. E. Wood,
field secretary Of the society, has just
prepared what he regards as the most
complete account of the events of the
convention of sixty years ago. In this
he calls attention to Addison G. Proc
tor, of Ann Harbor. Mich, who, MI.
Wood believes, is the only surviving
delegate of the convention.
Chicago in 1860 was a promising
city Of 10000 not quite twenty five
years old. 1t had Won the convention
sembly hall in the country and fill it
at every session. Accordingly the
"Wigwam" arose at the southwest
corner of Lake and Market streets,
occupying a space 100 and $50 feet.
II was a temporary wooden structure
costing a little over the estimated
5000. The balance was made up by
charging twenty five cents admission
on its formal opening the Saturday
before TIE convention.
Spirit of Past.
Few republican conventions, IL any,
have been so carged with excitement
or had SO p e%:tacular an ending. Lin
coins prospects appeared small
enough before the convention opened.
The favorite was William H. Seward,
Senator from New York. He had a
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 early OF
the ground and according to Mr.
Woods review, the centerS of inter-
est. He notes, however, that other,
and nonpolitical attractions, were
numerous. among them being Ziuaves,
circus band, minstrels, and such we'll
known Theatrical pieces of the day
as "Lucretia Borgia' and 'The Hidden
Hand"
The slavery issue came up quickly
on the first day of the convention,
when David Wilmot of Pennsylvania
on taking the chair as temporary
chairman made a ten minute anti
slavery speech. mo extension of sla-
very" became an essential part of the
platform next day.
Novel In Record.
In view of the many days now spent
in hearing delegate contests, this con-
vention of sixty years ago offered
something novel. There were 40 con
tested delegates. There were, how
ever, some "contesting' states.
Whether to admit Maryland, Virgin
la. Kentucky and Texas was a question
that occupied most of the first day
and was still undecided when ad-
journment came for the day.
The next day the convention de-
cided to admit the border states.
The platform committee then brought
in its report. 1t was amended to in
clude a reassertion of the "self evil
dent truths" of the Constitution. At
adjournment little remained beyond
choosing the candidate. and Mr.. Wood
characteriZes that night as a tumul-
tuous one filled with band music and
professions until almost day. Enthus-
iasm for Seward, we'll worked up in
his behalf, was at high tide. Greeley
telegraphed his paper that Stewards
nomination appeared certain. Inciden-
tally, remarks Mr.. Wood, this on
vention was the first at which the
telegraphed was employed.
How Lincoln came into the nomi-
nation is nov for many a familiar
story. Seward led on the first ballot
173k with Lincoln next best at 102,
and 233 necessary for choice. A few
more votes came to Seward on the
second ballot, bringing his total to
1S4k, while Lincoln jumped to close
quarters with 1S1. The taking of the
third ballot showing Lincoln going
strongly to the front.
AS the figure were being compiled,
D. X. Cartier of Cleveland, O., count
ing them up for himself, found that
Lincoln needed only a few votes to
win. The tabulation in fact at that
moment was 231k for Lincoln and
$50 for Seward, with 233 necessary
for denomination. Instantly Cartier
was on his feet to announce the trans
fer of four Ohio votes from Chase to
I Lincoln.
The convention quickly broke into
a cen of enthusiasm with few par
allels in the long list Of American
political convention. Further votes
al to 354. The nomination was then