Team of Rivals

by Doris Kearns Goodwin

  “five thousand…the scene unnoticed”: Swett to Drummond, May 27, 1860, quoted in Oldroyd, Lincoln’s Campaign, p. 72.

  “Abe Lincoln…let us ballot!”: NYH, May 19, 1860; Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, May 19, 1860, Davis Papers, ICHi.

  “This was not…it had its weight”: Swett to Drummond, May 27, 1860, quoted in Oldroyd, Lincoln’s Campaign, pp. 72–73.

  results of the first ballot: Halstead, Three Against Lincoln, p. 167.

  “This solid vote…it was given”: Ibid., p. 166.

  “no pivotal state…been delivered”: Cain, Lincoln’s Attorney General, p. 112.

  results of the second ballot: Halstead, Three Against Lincoln, p. 169.

  “startling…of thunder”: Barnes, Memoir of Thurlow Weed, p. 264.

  results of the third ballot: Halstead, Three Against Lincoln, p. 170.

  “There was a pause…ticks of a watch”: Ibid., p. 171.

  “A profound stillness fell upon the Wigwam”: Unidentified spectator, quoted in Allan Nevins, Ordeal of the Union. Vol. II: The Emergence of Lincoln, part II, Prologue to Civil War, 1857–1861, new introduction by JamesM. McPherson (New York: Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992), p. 260.

  “rose to their feet…and again”: Press and Tribune, Chicago, May 19, 1860.

  “Great men…night of struggle”: Clark, “Lincoln’s Nomination As Seen By a Young Girl,” Putnam’s, p. 538.

  he, too, could not restrain his tears: Taylor, William Henry Seward, p. 9.

  “the great disappointment of his life”: Chicago Tribune, July 14, 1878.

  “her first…are themselves forgotten”: Austin Blair, quoted in Albany Evening Journal, May 23, 1860, in Halstead, Three Against Lincoln, p. 173; Baringer, Lincoln’s Rise to Power, p. 292; Carl Schurz “Speeches at the Chicago Convention,” quoted in Works of William H. Seward, Vol. IV, p. 682.

  “with the success…highest honor”: Carl Schurz, “Speeches at the Chicago Convention,” quoted in Works of William H. Seward, Vol. IV, p. 682.

  “Mounting a table…clenched nervously”: NYT, May 21, 1860.

  “Gentlemen…Republican party: Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, May 19, 1860, Davis Papers, ICHi.

  “the spectator…noble man indeed”: NYT, May 21, 1860.

  A man stationed on the roof…Cannons were fired: Halstead, Three Against Lincoln, pp. 171–72.

  “between 20,000…shouting at once”: Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, May 19, 1860, Davis Papers, ICHi.

  “The Press and Tribune…windows and doors”: Press and Tribune, Chicago, May 19, 1860.

  Seward received the news…“on the next ballot”: Stanton, Random Recollections, pp. 215–16 (quote p. 216).

  “rightly [judged] that…to bring”: Seward, Seward at Washington…1846–1861, p. 452.

  turned “as pale as ashes”: Stanton, Random Recollections, p. 216.

  “that it was no ordinary…and irrevocable”: Seward, Seward at Washington…1846–1861, p. 452.

  “The sad tidings…clouded brow”: Stanton, Random Recollections, p. 216.

  “of his sanguine…Few men can”: Entry for May 19, 1860, Charles Francis Adams diary, reel 75.

  “he took the blow…family and the world”: Van Deusen, William Henry Seward, pp. 228, 229.

  “Father told Mother…unselfish coolness”: Entry for May 18, 1860, Fanny Seward diary, Seward Papers.

  “No truer…nomination have fallen”: WHS for the Auburn Daily Advertiser, in “Biographical Memoir of William H. Seward,” Works of William H. Seward, Vol. IV, p. 79.

  “You have my…light as my own”: WHS to TW, May 18, 1860, quoted in Barnes, Memoir of Thurlow Weed, p. 270; WHS to TW, May 18, 1860, quoted in Seward, Seward at Washington…1846–1861, p. 453.

  in a public letter…“progress of that cause”: WHS to the New York Republican Central Committee, quoted in Seward, Seward at Washington…1846–1861, p. 454.

  “It was only some months…cursing and swearing”: Van Deusen, William Henry Seward, p. 229.

  “When I remember…competition with his”: SPC to Robert Hosea, June 5, 1860, reel 13, Chase Papers.

  For years, Chase was racked: Blue, Salmon P. Chase, p. 126.

  “adhesion of the…own State Convention”: SPC to AL, misdated as May 17, 1860, Lincoln Papers.

  Lincoln responded graciously: AL to SPC, May 26, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 53.

  “While the victory…most profoundly”: Schurz, Reminiscences, Vol. II, pp. 186–87.

  “melancholy ceremony”: Daily Ohio Statesman, Columbus, Ohio, May 19, 1860.

  “As for me…I have ever known”: EB to Horace Greeley, quoted in Hollister, Life of Schuyler Colfax, p. 148.

  “Some of my friends…border slave states”: Entry of May 19, 1860, in The Diary of Edward Bates, 1859–1866, pp. 129, 130–31.

  Some claim…Others maintain: See Conkling, “How Mr. Lincoln Received the News,” Transactions (1909), p. 65; Tarbell, The Life of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. I, p. 358; Illinois State Register, February 13, 1903.

  “Mr. Lincoln…you are nominated”: quoted in Tarbell, The Life of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. I, p. 358

  office of the Illinois State Journal: Charles S. Zane interview, 1865–1866, in HI, p. 492; Press and Tribune, Chicago, May 22, 1860.

  he “looked at it…all around”: Chicago Journal correspondent, quoted in Cincinnati Daily Commercial, May 25, 1860.

  “I knew…second ballot”: AL, quoted in Donald, Lincoln, p. 250.

  “My friends…at last had come”: quoted in Tarbell, The Life of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. I, p. 358.

  “the hearty western”…rotunda of the Capitol: “Ecarte” [John Hay], Providence [R.I.] Journal, May 26, 1860, reprinted in Lincoln’s Journalist: John Hay’s Anonymous Writings for the Press, 1860–1864, ed. Michael Burlingame (Carbondale and Edwardsville: Southern Illinois University Press, 1998), p. 1.

  “the signal for immense…a great party”: Missouri Republican, May 20, 1860.

  “the fact of…of Lincoln”: Halstead, Three Against Lincoln, p. 176.

  “The leader of…against a leader”: T. S. Verdi, “The Assassination of the Sewards,” The Republic 1 (July 1873), pp. 289–90.

  Some have pointed to luck…held in Chicago: See Fehrenbacher, Prelude to Greatness, p. 5; Alexander McClure, quoted in Taylor, William Henry Seward, p. 10.

  “Had the Convention…nominated”: Koerner, Memoirs of Gustave Koerner, Vol. II, p. 80.

  Lincoln’s team in Chicago played the game: Potter, The Impending Crisis, 1848–1861, pp. 427–28; Stampp, “The Republican National Convention of 1860,” in Stampp, The Imperiled Union, pp. 155, 157–58.

  Lincoln was the best prepared: Fehrenbacher, Prelude to Greatness, p. 2.

  speeches possessed unmatched…moral strength: Miller, Lincoln’s Virtues, pp. 397–401.

  “his avoidance of extremes…off its balance”: Press and Tribune, Chicago, May 16, 1860.

  “comparatively unknown”: Verdi, “The Assassination of the Sewards,” The Republic (1873), p. 290.

  “give no offence…their first love”: AL to Samuel Galloway, March 24, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 34.

  he had not made enemies: Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Ill., March 23, 1860.

  “an ambition…overindulgence”: Fehrenbacher, Prelude to Greatness, p. 161.

  CHAPTER 9: “A MAN KNOWS HIS OWN NAME”

  “was received…so we adjourned”: Entry for May 18, 1860, Charles Francis Adams diary, reel 75.

  journals…“Abraham”: NYT, May 21, 1860.

  “it is but fair…his own name”: NYH, June 5, 1860.

  “It seems as if…‘Abraham’”: AL to George Ashmun, June 4, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 68.

  “a third rate Western…clumsy jokes”: NYH, May 19, 1860.

  “Lincoln is the leanest…being ugly”: Houston Telegraph, quoted in NYTrib, June 12, 1860.

  “After him…be President?”: Charleston [S.C.] Mercury, June 9, 1860, quoted in Emerson David Fite, The First Presidential C
ampaign, (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1911), p. 210.

  “thrust aside…freesoil border-ruffian”: Charleston Mercury, October 15, 1860.

  “an illiterate partizan…negro equality”: Richmond Enquirer, May 22, 1860.

  Democratic National Convention in Charleston: See “The Charleston Convention,” chapter 1 in Halstead, Three Against Lincoln, pp. 3–10.

  “in less than sixty…of the seceders”: Ibid., pp. 84, 87.

  Baltimore convention: For a full discussion of the Democratic Convention that nominated Douglas, see “The National Democratic Convention at Baltimore,” chapter 6 in ibid., pp. 185–264.

  Breckinridge/Lane; Bell/Everett: For a discussion of the conventions that nominated Breckinridge and Bell, see “Institute Hall (‘Seceders’) Convention” and “The Constitutional Democratic Convention,” respectively, chapters 7 and 2, in ibid., pp. 265–77, 111–17.

  “The great democratic…of their own”: Entry for June 23, 1860, Charles Francis Adams diary, reel 75.

  “the chances were…fortunes a turn”: AL to Anson G. Henry, July 4, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 82.

  “Mr. Lincoln received…the great world”: Schurz, Reminiscences, Vol. II, pp. 187–88.

  “the prospects of…work with a will”: Autobiography of Thurlow Weed, ed. Weed, p. 603.

  apparent to both…Lincoln against Douglas: In Pennsylvania, the sole exception, Douglas would finish third to Lincoln and Breckinridge.

  “Now what difference…between them”: Montgomery [Ala.] Daily Mail, July 6, 1860, quoted in Craven, The Growth of Southern Nationalism, p. 342.

  A Lincoln victory…such diverse constituencies: For an analysis of the multifaceted campaign in the North, see Luthin, The First Lincoln Campaign, passim; Miller, Lincoln’s Virtues, pp. 465–67.

  “a mere printed circular…not to reply at all”: SPC to Lyman Trumbull, November 12, 1860, reel 14, Chase Papers.

  “much chagrined…Mr. Abe Lincoln”: Journal of Commerce, reprinted in NYTrib, June 27, 1860.

  “Holding myself…stand ready”: AL to SPC, May 26, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 53.

  “first, that…of the people”: NYTrib, October 25, 1860.

  Browning called on Bates: Entry for May 31, 1860, in The Diary of Edward Bates, 1859–1866, p. 132; Cain, Lincoln’s Attorney General, p. 115.

  “declined to take the stump”: Entry for May 31, 1860, in The Diary of Edward Bates, 1859–1866, p. 132.

  “probably give offense…Union party”: Entry for September 20, 1860, in ibid., p. 145.

  “I give my opinion…in early life”: EB, Letter of Hon. Edward Bates, of Missouri, Indorsing Mr. Lincoln, and Giving His Reasons for Supporting the Chicago Nominees (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Globe Office, 1860); EB to O. H. Browning, June 11, 1860, reprinted in “Political: Letter of Judge Bates, pledging his support to the Republican ticket,” NYT, supplement, June 23, 1860.

  “His character is…firm as Jackson”: EB to Wyndham Robertson, November 3, 1860, quoted in Cain, Lincoln’s Attorney General, p. 120.

  “The campaign started…preside or attend”: Procter, Lincoln and the Convention of 1860, p. 16.

  “My personal feelings…a public act”: CS to WHS, May 20, 1860, reel 59, Seward Papers.

  “one & only one…nomination in ’64”: George Pomeroy to WHS, May 21, 1860, reel 59, Seward Papers.

  “the suitable man…for mere expediency”: William Mellen to FAS, May 21, 1860, reel 59, Seward Papers.

  considered resigning immediately from the Senate: Van Deusen, William Henry Seward, p. 229.

  “When I went out…at every corner”: Seward, Seward at Washington…1846–1861, pp. 453–54.

  “give the malignants”: Israel Washburn to WHS, May 19, 1860, reel 59, Seward Papers.

  “in the character…response in my heart”: WHS to FAS, May 30, 1860, quoted in Seward, Seward at Washington…1846–1861, pp. 454–56.

  “responsibility…shorter every day”: WHS to home, June 13, 1860, quoted in ibid., p. 458.

  “You have earned…reasonably claim”: FAS to WHS, May 30, 1860, reel 114, Seward Papers.

  “Your services…highest success”: Charles Francis Adams to WHS, May 22, 1860, reel 59, Seward Papers.

  “I am content…the public interest”: WHS to TW, June 26, 1860, quoted in Seward, Seward at Washington…1846–1861, p. 459.

  “was about to take…depths of discouragement”: Procter, Lincoln and the Convention of 1860, p. 16.

  John Nicolay…“life ran down”: Helen Nicolay, Lincoln’s Secretary: A Biography of John G. Nicolay (New York: Longmans, Green & Co., 1949; Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1971), pp. vii (quote), 27, 34, 36.

  “He sat down…could have desired”: Utica Morning Herald, reprinted in NYTrib, July 9, 1860.

  “can not only discuss…dress a deer-skin”: Missouri Democrat, reprinted in NYTrib, September 29, 1860.

  “an air of quiet…unflinchingly”: Utica Morning Herald, reprinted in NYTrib, July 9, 1860.

  “Ten thousand inquiries…create the necessity”: Press and Tribune, Chicago, May 23, 1860.

  “Whatever of awkwardness…of society”: New York Evening Post, reprinted in Albany Evening Journal, May 24, 1860.

  “a very handsome…sparkling talker”: Ohio State Journal, Columbus, Ohio, May 29, 1860.

  “a Man of the People”: NYTrib, May 26, 1860, quoted in Nevins, Ordeal of the Union. Vol. II: The Emergence of Lincoln, part II, Prologue to Civil War, 1857–1861, p. 274.

  “log-cabin, hard-cider”: Samuel Eliot Morison and Henry Steele Commager, The Growth of the American Republic, 4th edn. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1930; 1950), p. 556.

  “It has also afforded…be inspired”: Ryland Fletcher, quoted in Luthin, The First Lincoln Campaign, p. 169.

  a “nullity…a nullity anywhere”: Quoted in Tarbell, The Life of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. I, p. 365.

  “here is a stick…in 1825”: NYH, October 20, 1860.

  “it would be both…willingly say”: AL to T. Apolion Cheney, August 14, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 93.

  “Your letter…I write at all”: AL to Leonard Swett, May 30, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 57.

  “he would like…of being lynched”: Luthin, The First Lincoln Campaign, p. 170.

  the cohesion of the new Republican Party: Ibid., pp. 21–22.

  “our adversaries…to the charge”: AL to Abraham Jonas, July 21, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 86.

  this election would not be determined…carefully addressed in the Republican Party platform: Luthin, The First Lincoln Campaign, pp. 13 (quote), 148–53.

  an entourage: Seward, Seward at Washington…1846–1861, p. 461; Van Deusen, William Henry Seward, pp. 232–33.

  “cannons…‘Wide Awakes’”: Seward, Seward at Washington…1846–1861, p. 461; Oldroyd, Lincoln’s Campaign, pp. 104–07.

  “Viewed from…in wild cheerings”: “Springfield Correspondence, 9 August 1860,” in Hay, Lincoln’s Journalist, p. 6.

  the “Chloroformers”: Luthin, The First Lincoln Campaign, p. 174.

  “procession of young men…carts and wagons”: Entry for September 8, 1860, Charles Francis Adams diary, reel 75.

  “All of this reminded…a gaping crowd”: Ibid.

  In St. Paul, Minnesota…steps of the Capitol: Press and Tribune, Chicago, September 24, 1860.

  “without repetition…of the auditors”: Fite, The First Presidential Campaign, p. 213.

  “the whole population…Well, I ought to”: Supplement to NYT, September 29, 1860.

  “where, when…‘this tobacco question’”: Charles Francis Adams, Jr., Charles Francis Adams, 1835–1915: An Autobiography, with a Memorial Address Delivered November 17, 1915, by Henry Cabot Lodge (Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1916), pp. 61–62.

  “integrity…grandest & highest”: Israel Washburn, Jr., to WHS, November 14, 1860, reel 60, Seward Papers.

  “I am sure…taken a-back by”: Richard Blatchford to FAS, October 3, 1860, reel 60, Seward Papers.

  “m
arveled more & more…by any American”: CS to FAS, October 10, 1860, reel 60, Seward Papers.

  “Yes Henry is…Is that the word”: FAS to CS, September 5, 1860, reel 20, Sumner Papers.

  “There was a rush…Seward was seated”: NYH, October 2, 1860.

  “was a revelation…out of place”: Adams, Jr., Charles Francis Adams, 1835–1915, pp. 61, 64 (quote).

  “Twelve years ago…believed that it would be”: NYH, October 2, 1860.

  Lincoln asked…“it already existed”: King, Lincoln’s Manager, p. 157.

  Seward readily agreed…intercourse with the South: NYT, September 27, 1860; Van Deusen, William Henry Seward, p. 233.

  “noisy throng…approaching greatness”: Adams, Jr., Charles Francis Adams, 1835–1915, pp. 67–68.

  “Remembering that Peter…I will not”: AL to Lyman Trumbull, June 5, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 71.

  a humorous fictional dialogue: AL, “Dialogue between Stephen A. Douglas and John C. Breckinridge,” September 29, 1860, in ibid., pp. 123–24.

  “I give the leave…in any respect”: AL to William D. Kelley, October 13, 1860, in ibid., p. 127.

  “for your face…like whiskers”: Grace Bedell to AL, October 15, 1860, in ibid., p. 130.

  “As to the whiskers…begin it now?”: AL to Grace Bedell, October 19, 1860, in ibid., p. 129.

  “Election news…heir apparent”: “Springfield Correspondence, 7 January 1861,” in Hay, Lincoln’s Journalist, p. 17.

  biased…prospects in each state: AL to John Pettit, September 14, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 115.

  “the dry, and irksome…monster meetings”: AL to Henry Wilson, September 1, 1860, in ibid., p. 109.

  Schurz’s “excellent plan…than yourself”: AL to Carl Schurz, June 18, 1860, in ibid., p. 78.

  He urged Caleb Smith…an Indiana victory: AL to Caleb Smith, [July 23], 1860, in ibid., pp. 87–88.

  “Ascertain…commit me to nothing”: AL, “Instructions for John G. Nicolay,” [c. July 16, 1860], in ibid., p. 83.

  “Before this reaches…into the news-papers”: AL to Simon Cameron, August 6, 1860, in ibid., p. 91.

  Cameron replied…writings: Simon Cameron to AL, August 1, 1860, Lincoln Papers.

  “I am slow…present & future only”: AL to John M. Pomeroy, August 31, 1860, in CW, IV, p. 103.