Rallying under the Banner of Lincoln and Hamlin: A Buckeye Witnesses the 1860 Chicago Convention

In May 1860, William Tecumseh Wilson, editor of the Wyandot Pioneer of Upper Sandusky, traveled to Chicago to take part in the Republican Party’s national convention in which Abraham Lincoln gained the nomination which resulted in his election as 16th President of the United States.

    "We had the good fortune to be present at the national convention held at Chicago last week, and we think we are safe in averring that no national convention ever assembled in this country where such a complete state of harmony, unanimity, and good feeling generally, was manifested," Wilson reported through the pages of his newspaper. "Delegates as well as the thousands of outsiders, upon consultation, all expressed a willingness to lay aside personal prejudice and unite upon whoever was thought to be the winning man and it was soon discovered that that man was honest old Abe Lincoln of Illinois, the man who, but his own unaided industry, has fought his way up from the position of a humble flat boatman to the ranks of America’s greatest statesmen."

          Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania who learned the newspaper trade from the venerable hands of Judge John Penn Jones, the famous longtime editor of the Hollidaysburg Register. Wilson moved to Ohio in 1854 and launched the Pioneer which became the county organ for the newly formed Republican Party. Originally a supporter of fellow Pennsylvanian Simon Cameron, Wilson switched his support to Lincoln and lobbied hard for Lincoln’s election in the predominantly Democratic-leaning Wyandot County. He was elected President of the Wyandot Wide-Awake Club.

          Wilson’s account of the Chicago convention in 1860, published in the May 18, 1860 edition of the Wyandot Pioneer, provides some insights how parties selected their presidential nominees in the mid-19th century.  

         

William T. Wilson was among the crowds present at the Wigwam in Chicago during the Republican Party convention that nominated Lincoln. "It was evident from the enthusiastic demonstrations on the occasion that there is no man living who has such a hold on the affections of the people of the old Northwest as old Abe Lincoln," he reported. 

 We had the good fortune to be present at the national convention held at Chicago last week, and we think we are safe in averring that no national convention ever assembled in this country where such a complete state of harmony, unanimity, and good feeling generally, was manifested. Delegates as well as the thousands of outsiders, upon consultation, all expressed a willingness to lay aside personal prejudice and unite upon whoever was thought to be the winning man and it was soon discovered that that man was honest old Abe Lincoln of Illinois, the man who, but his own unaided industry, has fought his way up from the position of a humble flat boatman to the ranks of America’s greatest statesmen. A similar state of feeling existed in regard to the nomination of a candidate for vice president, and soon it was discovered that Hannibal Hamlin of Maine was received with the most favor by those present- which fact was ascertained by the first ballot- he was at once placed in nomination in the midst of the most enthusiastic and deafening applause.”

“And so it was just so with everything that was done in convention. When the platform was reported by the committee, we thought the shouts of the cast crowd would have lifted the roof off of the Wigwam in which they were assembled. The gallant Pennsylvanians, and there were hosts of them there, made the very earth tremble when the tariff resolution was unanimously adopted by the convention. The crowd of outsiders, or those who were delegates, was variously estimated at from 40-50,000, and although the Wigwam in which the convention was held is capable of holding at least 12,000 persons, the one-third of those desirous of witnessing the proceedings could not be accommodated. Indiana and Illinois were boisterously in favor of the “old rail mauler” and pledged their states for him by large majorities. In fact, it was evident from the enthusiastic demonstrations on the occasion that there is no man living who has such a hold on the affections of the people of the old Northwest as old Abe Lincoln. At the mere mention of his name, the crowd would run wild with enthusiasm, and when the nomination was announced the sons of the old Keystone joined in an impromptu procession with old rails, sticks of cord wood, brooms, etc. on their shoulders and bearing a banner with “Pennsylvania good for 20,000 for old Abe” inscribed upon it.”

“Seward was represented by thousands of warm and ardent friends who urged his nomination with commendable zeal, but when it was determined that he was not the winning man for the occasion, they threw up their hats for old Abe and pledged their state as being good for any majority that may be required at their hands. But we have no room to enlarge on this subject; suffice it to say that the convention was a decided success, and that everything was done was accomplished with that wild enthusiasm and entire unanimity of feelings which is always looked upon in the political world as a harbinger of success. The ticket is all right, the platform is all right, the feelings and desires of the people are right, and we predict that the ides of November will bring to us the cheering intelligence that old Abe is our president and that for four years from the 4th day of March 1861, the country will be all right.”

Wilson cast the election in almost war-like terms. “We this week nail to our masthead the banner under which we intend to do battle during the coming contest, with the names of old Abe Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin inscribed upon its folds, and we invite every American citizen who is desirous of securing a change in the administration of the affairs of this country to buckle on his armor and take his place in the ranks. Rally then under the banner we have unfurled today, and by the help of God let us make one more effort to wrest this government from the hands of the spoilers. Let us fill the places of James Buchanan and his minions by men, at least, whose hands are not steeped in corruption.”

Wilson later served in the 15th Ohio Infantry and was later promoted to the colonel of the newly-formed 123rd Ohio Infantry in the fall of 1862. Captured during the Second Battle of Winchester in June 1863, Wilson would spend months in Libby Prison in Richmond. 

As the Presidential election dawned, Wilson continued to encourage local Republicans to vote with a bold injunction to “go to the polls early. Vote early. And stay there until every vote in your township is polled. Stand by your arms and keep your powder dry! One more fire and the day will be ours! Give the foe a Buena Vista charge on next Tuesday boys in this county! Pass the word along the line! Let your watchword be Lincoln and Victory! The Sham Democracy are now dispirited and broken, but they will make an effort to rally their shattered forces. Republicans see to it that your sentinels are posted, and that all forces are all in good trim for the final charge which is all that remains to make our victory complete.”

            Wilson was ecstatic at Lincoln’s victory as evidenced by the headlines. “Glorious Triumph! Bring out the pictures, boys! No room for figures! Old Abe Elected. Every free state this side of the Rocky Mountains gone Republican! New York gone Republican by 50,000. Pennsylvania by 80,000. Ohio by 30,000. Illinois 15,000! Indiana 15,000! Massachusetts 60,000! The Little Giant is Played Out! Bell has more electoral votes than Douglas! Oh! Poor Dug!” In the presidential election held November 6, 1860, Stephen A. Douglas amassed 1,617 votes versus 1,531 votes for Lincoln, and 24 for the Bell/Everett ticket; these numbers were typical for Wyandot County as it was nearly equally divided, but the Democrats maintained a slight majority in most local and national elections.

          After unsuccessfully trying to obtain a position in the new administration, Wilson returned to Wyandot County in time for the firing upon Fort Sumter. “War Is Upon Us! Horrible though it may be, it is nevertheless true, that we are now in the midst of a civil war- a war between the loyal and rebellious citizens of this country- a war between the regularly constituted government of the United States and the traitors who are in open rebellion against it,” he opined. “They have not only resisted the execution of the laws of their country, but have made war upon it- that have fired the first shot; upon their head let the responsibility rest and may the God of battles sustain the right. It was hoped that this calamity would have been averted, but the traitors would not have it. The kind forbearance of our government has been such as has never been extended to rebellious citizens by any other country since the world began, but all to no purpose. Their intention seems to have been to destroy this glorious country of ours at all hazards, even though it should be necessary to bathe the temple of liberty in fraternal blood. Men of Wyandot County, you will either have to share the glory or infamy of a contest between the loyalists and the rebels. There is no neutral ground now- you can no longer be idle spectators- you must either be for your country or against it. The time for quibbling has gone by- the glorious old flag of your fathers has been assailed and whether by foes without or foes within, it is the duty of every true-hearted American to rally round and protect it.”

          That same week, Wilson raised a company of volunteers that became Co. A of the 15th Ohio Volunteer Militia for 90-days’ service. Wilson later followed the regiment into the three-year service and in the fall of 1862, was appointed colonel of the 123rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. To read more of his Civil War experiences, click here to read “A Hard Way of Serving the Lord.”

Sources:

Report of William T. Wilson, Wyandot Pioneer, May 24, 1860, pg. 2; editorial November 1, 1860, pg. 2, editorial November 8, 1860, pg. 2, editorial April 18, 1861, pg. 2

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