Chapter 53: The Democratic Party Breaks Apart Over Slavery

1860

Despite his split with Buchanan, Stephen Douglas comes to the Democrat’s Charleston convention in April 1860 expecting to win the nomination for President. Little does he know that before the event delegates from seven Southern states have already agreed to walk out should he win.

They are led by the fire-eater Senator William Yancey of Alabama who addresses the crowd in the opening three days. Along with Jefferson Davis he demands that Congress passes, and the states ratify, a formal Amendment to the 1787 Constitution protecting the rights of slave owners and their “property” in the new Territories. Interestingly Douglas counters not with his “popsov” option but rather by placing the burden back on the Supreme Court to decide.

When the body votes 168-135 for the Douglas plan, a total of 50 of the 303 delegates across nine states leave the hall. This means that to carry the necessary 2/3rds majority to win the nomination, the victor must reach a 202 total.

On the first ballot, Douglas gets 146 votes and after 57 more ballots he remains stuck at 157. He finally gives up while calling for the convention to reconvene in Baltimore after a seven week hiatus.

Before this opens in June, Douglas hands his floor manager, William Richardson, a note volunteering to withdraw his name if that will keep the party from fracturing. Richardson pockets it hoping for a last second compromise.

But this never comes. When the convention reconvenes, a credentials fight eliminates several of the original Southern delegates and the schism is completed. Douglas is elected to represent the Northern Democrats, while later that same day, sitting Vice-President John Breckinridge is chosen by the break-away Southern Democrats.

Douglas realizes the meaning of the move telling his supporters that “secession from the Democratic Party means secession from the federal Union.”