Overview
Southern Democrats held three separate conventions in 1860. The first convention was comprised of seceders from the Democratic National Convention in Charleston. The second convention was called after the DNC had adjourned to meet in Baltimore; this second convention met to determine a course of action in Baltimore. The third convention was held in Baltimore after the end of the DNC. At the third session, the delegates nominated the national ticket of Breckinridge and Lane.
Southern Democratic National Convention, 1860 |
 |  |
| Presidential Nominee | Vice Presidential Nominee |
U.S. Vice President
John C. Breckinridge KY | U.S. Sen.
Joseph Lane OR |
First Session, Charleston SC, 5/1-4/1860
The Alabama delegation bolted from the Democratic National Convention on 5/1/1860 when the national platform was heading for approval without a suitable plank on the slavery question. The national party supported a popular sovereignty plank, which was unacceptable to the South. Several other Southern delegations bolted with Alabama.
The Southern delegates assembled for the first session of a three-day Southern Democratic convention on 5/1/1860 in Andrews' Hall in Charleston SC. When they first gathered, an Alabama delegate recommended that the convention meet outside so that everyone would know what they were doing. In addition, the space they had rented was too small for those who had gathered. William L. Yancey addressed the delegates and said that the delegates should move forwards "with calmness and deliberation" while considering "the momentous questions at issue."
John C. Preston of South Carolina was chosen as the chairman. He gave a long speech defending the actions taken by the seceding delegates.
Yancey took the floor again. He recommended that the Southern delegates not take action until the Democratic National Convention had made a nomination. After some other speeches, the Chair called the roll to see which states were represented. The roll began in New England and proceeded down the Atlantic coast. The first state to be recognized was a Soft Shell delegate from New York. Other states represented were Delaware, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. After recognizing the delegations, the convention met in front of Charleston City Hall, where Yancey gave a speech to the delegates and spectators. [New York Times, 5/2/1860].
The second day of the convention was busy and very well-attended (in contrast to the minimal attendance at the national convention). It was held in the South Carolina Hall. Most of the day was taken up with a discussion of the platform that was rejected by the national convention. Yancey, who was one of the most loquacious of the seceders, asked that the words "United States" be replaced with the "Southern States." The convention rejected the change and approved the platform. A motion to rename the group the Constitutional Democracy was defeated.
Fernando Wood of New York City addressed the seceders but did not take a seat as a delegate. [New York Times, 5/3/1860].
On the final day of the convention, the number of seceding delegates had risen to 71. Delegates discussed producing an address to the voters and making nominations, but leaders of the various states appeared more interested in appearing to lead the secession than working together. Once the national convention had voted to adjourn to Baltimore, the Seceding delegates decided not to take further action and also adjourned [NYT 5/4/1860].
Second Session, Richmond VA, 6/11-12/1860
The second session of the Southern Democratic National Convention met in Metropolitan Hall, Richmond VA. Some states had held new conventions and sent different delegates than those who had attended at Charleston. Seven states were represented in full, with partial delegations from TN, NY, and VA.
Before the second session began, the delegates discussed among themselves how to proceed. Some wanted to take their seats in the Baltimore convention if offered them, but others refused to sit in a convention given the platform that had been approved [NYT 6/11/1860].
John Erwin of Alabama was chosen to preside over the convention. He gave a speech in which he said that the duty of the South was to "protect its own rights" against the "serpent Squatter Sovereignty."
The Credentials Committee reported and recommended that the New York delegation be seated as observers and not as delegates. This was the preference of the New Yorkers and was acceptable to the convention. A motion was made to not take additional action but to re-assemble after the national convention in Baltimore. Each state except South Carolina voted in favor; SC's delegates stated that they "were ready to proceed at once to the business for which they were delegated." [NYT 6/13/1860].
Third Session, Baltimore MD, 6/23/1860
The third session of the Southern Democratic National Convention was held in the Maryland Institute, Baltimore. This third session was made necessary once the national convention had taken steps to ensure the nomination of Stephen Douglas for president. [New York Times, 6/23/1860].
The convention assembled at noon and appointed Russell of Virginia as temporary chairman. The following states were represented: VA, NC, SC, MO, CA, OR, FL, LA, MS, TX, TN, KY, and AR. In addition, the Soft Shell delegation from NY was partially represented.
When the convention assembled at 6:00 p.m. for its evening session, delegates had appeared from VT, MA, PA, DE, MD, GA, AL, IA, and MN, but the NC delegation was no longer present. Altogether, there were 119 delegates present, each casting one vote. Caleb Cushing, who had presided at Charleston, was chosen as the permanent chairman. The convention then re-affirmed the platform approved earlier. [NYT 6/25/1860].
Nominations
The convention proceeded to the presidential nomination. VP Breckinridge was placed in nomination by Massachusetts, followed by R.M.T. Hunter, Daniel S. Dickinson, Joseph Lane, and Jefferson Davis. The names of Hunter, Lane, and Davis were removed from contention, leaving only Breckinridge and Dickinson. The roll was called, and Breckinridge was nominated by a vote of 81-24. The nomination was then made unanimous.
Joseph Lane was nominated for Vice President unanimously, with all 105 votes.
After some minor business matters, the convention adjourned sine die. [NYT 6/25/1860].
The Campaign
A committee travelled to Washington DC and met with VP Breckinridge and Sen. Lane on 6/25/1860, the day that the first session of Congress closed. Both candidates accepted the nomination. [NYT 6/26/1860]. Breckinridge sent a letter officially accepting the nomination on 7/6/1860 [printed in the New York Times 7/10/1860].
On 6/28/1860, members of the Southern Democratic national committee visited President Buchanan, which was interpreted an endorsement of the Breckinridge-Lane ticket. [NYT 6/30/1860]. The President gave a speech in DC on 7/9/60 in which he made his support of the Southern Democratic ticket clear [NYT 7/11/1860], but on 7/11 the President stated that Breckinridge was not the "regular" Democratic nominee. This latter statement confused Democratic appointees [NYT 7/13/1860].
Breckinridge made a short campaign travel on his way home from Washington DC. He stopped in Baltimore on 7/14/60 and gave a short address in which he pledged to defend the Constitution [NYT 7/17/1860].
The latter weeks of summer were spent by the Breckinridge campaign organizing state conventions to offer slates of Presidential Electors. In Ohio, a former Republican attended the convention [NYT 8/11/1860].
The first indication that the Breckinridge ticket was in trouble came in the state elections in Kentucky. There, the Constitutional Union Party easily won the state election, which suggested that Breckinridge was in serious trouble in his home state. Breckinridge considered withdrawing from the race and endorsing Bell, but eventually decided to stay in [NYT 8/24/1860].
A major problem facing the Breckinridge campaign was the electoral map. In the North, it appeared clear that running separate Douglas and Breckinridge slates of Electors would undoubtedly result in the election of the Republican ticket. The two Democratic organizations began working on a series of fusion tickets in the various states. One of the earliest meetings for a fusion electoral slate was held in New York City on 8/31/1860 [NYT 9/1/1860]. The fusion movement was completed in New York on 9/24 when a slate of 18 Douglas Electors, 10 Bell Electors, and seven Breckinridge Electors was chosen [NYT 9/25/1860].
Breckinridge's cause in the North was put forth ably by Daniel S. Dickinson, who had been a contender for the nomination against him. Dickinson gave a series of speeches urging the voters to support a state's rights Democrat, including the Breckinridge-Lane ticket [NYT 10/22/1860].
8th Democratic National Convention [1860]
Popular Vote of 1860
Electoral Vote of 1860
[Less...]
81 (77.14%)