GDG- By invitation of the fusionists

[Smith David]

Bob:

Jim's message is exactly right.  This is all borne out of the tangled
politics of the mid-1850s.  By 1855, the Whig Party had almost
completely tanked after the defeat of Winfield Scott for President in
1852, and becasue of the slavery issue splitting the party North and
South, etc.

If you wanted to defeat the surviving major party, the Democrats, in
most places you had to cobble together a coalition of people who were
opposed to them.  The Republican Party had just formed in 1854 and so
was still new.  The leading party in the North was the bigoted American
(Know-Nothing) party, but it was beginning to implode on its own about
this time, due to the slavery issue and the fact that its nativist
stands drove away a lot of people.

"Fusionist" in this context probably refers to an attempt by Illinois
Republicans and Know Nothings to agree on and support common candidates
- otherwise the opposition would be divided and Democrats would win.
They would also try to draw in support from Free Soilers, old Liberty
Party men, etc.  Eventually the Republican Party would get strong enough
that they didn't need to do this (essentially they absorbed most of the
other groups).  But for much of 1850s, Republicans were often run as
"fusion" candidates of their party and the diminishing Know Nothings.

David

Message: 9

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:06:34 EST

From: Jfepperson at aol.com

Subject: Re: GDG- by invitation of the fusionists

To: gettysburg at arthes.com

Message-ID: <bbd.79c5877.3278ce8a at aol.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 10/31/2006 9:34:41 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, 

lawrence at rwlcpa.com writes:

What is a "fusionist" 

From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com

<<[mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com
<mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com> ] On Behalf Of Dennis Lawrence

<<Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 7:16 AM

<<To: gettysburg at gdg.org

<<Subject: GDG- by invitation of the fusionists << <<Esteemed GDG Member
Contributes:

<<Wednesday, October 31, 1855.

<<Danville, IL.

<<Lincoln speaks on political situation. "While I am writing <<this,"
says Democratic correspondent of Register, <<"ex-congressman Lincoln is
speaking in the court house by <<invitation of the fusionists here, who
are, that is a few of <<them, as bitter and unreasonable against Judge
Douglas as any <<can be found in the state. Mr. Lincoln just suits
them." 

<<Register, 6 November 1855.

<<Take Care

<<Dennis

=====

Someone who supports a political movement formed by the fusion of two

others. Fusionist tickets were tried in 1860 to defeat Lincoln.

JFE