Lincoln Nominated and Elected President

Rival Candidates—Great Enthusiasm—Lincoln's Temperance Principles Exemplified—Other Nominations—A Great Campaign—Lincoln's Letter to David Turnham—Lincoln's Election—Secession—Lincoln Inaugurated—Douglas.

Abraham Lincoln was nominated as the Republican candidate for President of the United States, at Chicago, Illinois, May 18, 1860. Salmon P. Chase, William H. Seward, Simon Cameron, William L. Dayton, and Edward Bates were the opposing candidates for the nomination. Mr. Lincoln was nominated on the third ballot. The nomination was afterward made unanimous. The nomination was made amid great applause. It has been said that the scene baffled all human description. Mr. Lincoln was the second Republican candidate for the Presidency, General John C. Fremont being the first, who was nominated in 1856.

Mr. Lincoln was at his home in Springfield, Illinois, when he was nominated. His strong temperance principles were again exemplified when the committee formally notified him of his nomination. Some of his Springfield friends, knowing that he did not keep or use liquors, thought he would have nothing of the kind on hands to refresh the committee, and offered to furnish what was needed. Mr. Lincoln thanked them for their offer, and said, "Gentlemen, I cannot allow you to do what I will not do myself."

After the committee had notified him of his nomination, and he had responded, accepting the nomination, he said that, as an appropriate conclusion to an interview so important and interesting as that which had transpired, he supposed good manners would require that he should treat the committee with something to drink. Soon a servant entered bearing a large waiter containing several glasses, and a large pitcher in the midst, and placed it on the center-table. Mr. Lincoln arose and, gravely addressing the company, said: "Gentlemen, we must pledge our mutual healths in the most healthy beverage which God has given to man. It is the only beverage I have ever used or allowed in my family, and I cannot conscientiously depart from it on the present occasion—it is pure Adam's ale from the spring." And, taking a glass, he touched it to his lips, and pledged them his highest respects in a cup of cold water.

The Democratic party was divided. The Northern Democrats nominated Stephen A. Douglas, Lincoln's old political rival. The Southern Democrats nominated John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. A third party, called the "Union party," nominated John Bell, of Tennessee. The campaign that followed was a remarkable one. "The magic words, 'Old Abe' and 'Honest Old Abe,' were on thousands of banners."

During the campaign, Mr. Lincoln wrote a letter to his old friend, David Turnham, the constable of Spencer County, Indiana, from whom he borrowed the "Revised Statutes of Indiana," mentioned in Chapter III. This letter is now given to the general public for the first time:

The election was held on the sixth of November, 1860, and the result showed a popular vote for Lincoln of 1,857,600; for Douglas, 1,365,976; for Breckenridge, 847,953, and for Bell, 590,631. In the electoral college, Lincoln received 180 votes, Breckenridge, 72, Bell 39, and Douglas 12.

Because of an election of a Northern man for President, and fearing their "peculiar institution" was in danger, the Southern States began the organization of the Southern Confederacy, and when Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated, March 4, 1861, seven Southern States had passed ordinances of secession, followed later by four other States. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, was chosen President of the Southern Confederacy.

Mr. Lincoln's inaugural address was noted for its sentiments of good will and forbearance, yet he strongly indicated his purpose to maintain the Union. He stated that he had no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with slavery where it then existed, and that the people of the South could have no war unless they became the aggressors.

Stephen A. Douglas, Mr. Lincoln's old political rival, and who was also a presidential candidate at the time of Mr. Lincoln's election, held Mr. Lincoln's hat while he read his inaugural address, and stated to those near him, "If I can't be President, I can hold his hat." James Parton, the historian, said of Mr. Douglas: "On the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1861, Stephen A. Douglas gave his hand to President Lincoln and engaged to stand by him in his efforts to save the country. But his days were numbered. During his herculean labors of the previous year he had sustained himself by deep draughts of whisky; and his constitution gave way at the very time when a new and nobler career opened up before him." He died in Chicago, June 3, 1861, at the age of forty-eight years, and only three months after Mr. Lincoln's inauguration.