Chapter 19: Lincoln Wins the Republican Party Nomination

After winning over the eastern wing of the party in his triumphant speech at the Cooper Union, the Republicans meet on May 16 to choose their ticket in the 1860 race. The majority of the 466 delegates trace to Salmon Chase’s 1848 Free Soil Party, intent on keeping the western lands for “free soil, free men and free labor.” The rest are abolitionists. The two groups are “fused” together around opposition to the spread of slavery.

When the convention opens, Senator William Seward is the initial front-runner. But Lincoln’s floor managers have skillfully stacked the deck in his favor. They fill the Chicago Wigwam with 10,000 with his vocal supporters, while the halls display posters touting “Honest Abe” the railsplitter sharpening his ax for the White House. Seward is cast as too radical and several real or “iffy” promises of future Cabinet jobs swing some votes.

On the third ballot, Lincoln wins by acclimation.