GDG- a grave question to be considered

[Robert Lawrence]

IMO Buchanan was the worst President in the History of the United
States. 

<<-----Original Message-----
<<From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com 
<<[mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com] On Behalf Of Dennis Lawrence
<<Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 8:47 AM
<<To: gettysburg at gdg.org
<<Subject: GDG- a grave question to be considered
<<
<<Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
<<
<<
<<Friday, June 6, 1856.
<<Decatur, IL.
<<
<<
<<Lincoln learns of Buchanan's nomination. First reaction is 
<<not favorable to Anti-Nebraska prospects, since "a good many 
<<whigs, of conservative feelings, and slight pro-slavery 
<<proclivities, withal, are inclining to go for him, and will 
<<do it, unless the Anti-Nebraska nomination shall be such as 
<<to divert them."
<<
<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<To Lyman Trumbull [1]
<<Hon: Lyman Trumbull Springfield, June 7, 1856
<<
<<My dear Sir: The news of Buchanan's [2] nomination came 
<<yesterday; and a good many whigs, of conservative feelings, 
<<and slight pro-slavery proclivities, withal, are inclining to 
<<go for him, and will do it, unless the Anti-Nebraska 
<<nomination shall be such as to divert them. The man to effect 
<<that object is Judge McLean; [3] and his nomination would 
<<save every whig, except such as have already gone over hook 
<<and line, as Singleton, [4] Morrison, [5] Constable, [6] & 
<<others. J. T. Stuart, Anthony Thornton, James M. Davis (the 
<<old settler) and others like them, will heartily go for 
<<McLean, but will every one go for Buchanan, as against Chase, 
<<Banks, Seward, Blair or Fremont. [7] I think they would stand 
<<Blair or Fremont for Vice-President---but not more.
<<
<<     Now there is a grave question to be considered. Nine 
<<tenths of the Anti-Nebraska votes have to come from old 
<<whigs. In setting stakes, is it safe to totally disregard 
<<them? Can we possibly win, if we do so? So far they have been 
<<disregarded. I need not point out the instances.
<<
<<I think I may trust you to believe I do not say this on my 
<<own personal account. I am in, and shall go for any one 
<<nominated unless he be ``platformed'' expressly, or 
<<impliedly, on some ground which I may think wrong.
<<
<<Since the nomination of Bissell we are in good trim in 
<<Illinois, save at the point I have indicated. If we can save 
<<pretty nearly all the whigs, we shall elect him, I think, by 
<<a very large majority.
<<
<<I address this to you, because your influence in the 
<<Anti-Nebraska nomination will be greater than that of any 
<<other Illinoi[s]an.
<<
<<Let this be confidential. Yours very truly A. LINCOLN
<<
<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<Annotation
<<
<<[1]   ALS, CSmH.
<<
<<[2]   James Buchanan had been nominated at Cincinnati 
<<following Douglas' 
<<withdrawal on the night of June 5.
<<
<<[3]   Justice John McLean had come recently into sharp 
<<political focus with 
<<the unauthorized announcement in the press of his avowed 
<<intention to dissent in the event the Supreme Court decided 
<<against Dred Scott, and with publication of his letter of May 
<<13 to Lewis Cass, in which he stated ``I never doubted that 
<<Congress had this power [to prohibit slavery in a territory], 
<<and I could never have expressed doubt on the subject.''
<<
<<[4]   James W. Singleton.
<<
<<[5]   James L. D. Morrison.
<<
<<[6]   Charles H. Constable.
<<
<<[7]   Salmon P. Chase, Nathaniel P. Banks, William H. Seward, 
<<and Francis 
<<P. Blair were not really available. Both Blair and Banks were 
<<promoting John C. Fremont, Seward was not interested, and 
<<Chase was too radical.  
<<
<<
<<                   
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