"My name is new in the field; and I suppose I am not the first choice of a very great many." --Abraham Lincoln to Samuel Galloway
Abraham Lincoln began a speaking tour in the Northeast (February 23-March 12, 1860)
Lincoln had accepted an invitation from Henry Ward Beecher to speak in his church in Brooklyn, NY. As the date for the speech drew nearer, Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, and other local Republican party leaders saw an opportunity to promote Lincoln in order to combat William H. Seward’s influence in New England. The committee changed the New York venue to Cooper Union and organized a series of speaking engagements in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
Click on the links below to read more about his speeches.
Linked excerpts of Lincoln's correspondence prior to the Republican National Convention
In a letter to Jesse W. Fell, Republican newspaper editor, Lincoln produced an autobiographical sketch that would first be printed in the Chester County (PA) Times as part of a series of profiles of the leading nominees.
"Herewith is a little sketch, as you requested-- There is not much of it, for the reason, I suppose, that there is not much of me-- If anything is made out of it, I wish it to be modest, and not to go beyond the materials-" (December 20, 1859)
House Divided: The Civil War Search Engine at Dickinson College
Click here to watch a more detailed look at Lincoln's autobiographical sketch by Matthew Pinsker, Dickinson College.
"Herewith is a little sketch, as you requested-- There is not much of it, for the reason, I suppose, that there is not much of me-- If anything is made out of it, I wish it to be modest, and not to go beyond the materials-" (December 20, 1859)
House Divided: The Civil War Search Engine at Dickinson College
Click here to watch a more detailed look at Lincoln's autobiographical sketch by Matthew Pinsker, Dickinson College.
In a letter to Samuel Galloway, Ohio Republican and Lincoln supporter, Lincoln shares his thoughts on his chances of becoming the Republican presidential nominee:
"My name is new in the field; and I suppose I am not the first choice of a very great many. Our policy, then, is to give no offence to others---leave them in a mood to come to us, if they shall be compelled to give up their first love. This, too, is dealing justly with all, and leaving us in a mood to support heartily whoever shall be nominated. I believe I have once before told you that I especially wish to do no ungenerous thing towards Governor Chase, because he gave us his sympathy in 1858, when scarcely any other distinguished man did." (March 24, 1860)
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. 4
"My name is new in the field; and I suppose I am not the first choice of a very great many. Our policy, then, is to give no offence to others---leave them in a mood to come to us, if they shall be compelled to give up their first love. This, too, is dealing justly with all, and leaving us in a mood to support heartily whoever shall be nominated. I believe I have once before told you that I especially wish to do no ungenerous thing towards Governor Chase, because he gave us his sympathy in 1858, when scarcely any other distinguished man did." (March 24, 1860)
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. 4
In a letter to Illinois Senator Lyman Trumbull, Lincoln replies to Trumbull's inquiry for his opinion about the Republicans' chances of carrying Illinois:
"Now, as to my opinions about the chances of others in Illinois. I think neither Seward nor Bates can carry Illinois if Douglas shall be on the track; and that either of them can, if he shall not be. I rather think McLean could carry it with D. on or off---in other words, I think McLean is stronger in Illinois, taking all sections of it, than either S. or B; and I think S. the weakest of the three." (April 29, 1860)
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. 4.
"Now, as to my opinions about the chances of others in Illinois. I think neither Seward nor Bates can carry Illinois if Douglas shall be on the track; and that either of them can, if he shall not be. I rather think McLean could carry it with D. on or off---in other words, I think McLean is stronger in Illinois, taking all sections of it, than either S. or B; and I think S. the weakest of the three." (April 29, 1860)
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. 4.
In a letter to Richard M. Corwine, Republican lawyer from Ohio, Lincoln replies to Corwine's letter of support:
"First then, I think the Illinois delegation will be unanamous for me at the start; and no other delegation will." (May 2, 1860)
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. 4.
"First then, I think the Illinois delegation will be unanamous for me at the start; and no other delegation will." (May 2, 1860)
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. 4.
1860 Republican Nominating Convention
Source: University of Chicago
May 16, 1860 in Chicago, IL at the "Wigwam" (corner of Lake Street and Market)
The Republican Platform:
The Republican Platform:
- Acknowledged that John Brown's actions had been a crime
- Supported a Homestead Act
- Supported internal improvements
- Supported the building of a transcontinental railroad.
The leading nominees and ballot results
Click on the pictures of each men to link to their biographies.
 By Mathew Brady [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
William H. Seward
New York Backed by Thurlow Weed of the Albany Evening Journal  By Matthew Brady [public domain], Library of Congress
Simon Cameron Pennsylvania Backed by Gov. Reeder  Proceedings of the Republican National Convention, held at Chicago, May 16, 17, 18, 1860. [electronic resource] [Albany] : [Weed, Parsons and Co., printers], [1860]
First Ballot Results:
Seward 173.5 Lincoln 102 Cameron 50.5 Chase 49 Bates 48 |
 Mathew Brady [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Edward Bates Missouri Backed by Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune  By Mathew Brady [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Salmon P. Chase Ohio Backed by Ohio delegates  Proceedings of the Republican National Convention, held at Chicago, May 16, 17, 18, 1860. [electronic resource] [Albany] : [Weed, Parsons and Co., printers], [1860]
Second Ballot Results:
Seward 184.5 Lincoln 181 Chase 42.5 Bates 35 Cameron 2 |
 By Mathew Brady [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Abraham Lincoln Illinois Backed by Judge David Davis and Joseph Medill of the Chicago Tribune  By Matthew Brady, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscripts Library, Yale Un
John McLean Ohio Backed by Thomas Corwin  Proceedings of the Republican National Convention, held at Chicago, May 16, 17, 18, 1860. [electronic resource] [Albany] : [Weed, Parsons and Co., printers], [1860]
Third Ballot Results:
Delegates changed their votes before the roll call was over to give Lincoln 364 votes. |
Created by Brenda Klawonn October 9, 2013
