Chapter 12: Election of 1856
With the utter destruction of the Whig party two new political parties moved to try and fill the void. The American Nativist Party or Know-Nothings was a party based solely one one major issue: immigration. With the south seeing an influx of immigration that would eventually help their cause of settling more land as slave owners. The nativist party elders decided to ignore the issue of slavery all together.The forty-eighters were in no way a threat for low paying jobs, but instead investors, landowners, and businessmen pushing the southern economy forward.
The Know-Nothings saw their largest support in New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions of the US. By the time of their first convention there were a few Congressmen and even elected a governor in Massachusetts, Henry Gardiner.
When the Know-Nothing Party convened on February 22, 1856 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania they hoped to build off their stunning 1854 midterm elections. Going into the convention three men were seen as front runners: Massachusetts Governor Henry Gardiner, former Commodore and Mexican-American War hero Robert Stockton, and former Senator John M. Clayton of Delaware. After three days of tumultuous bartering, haggling, and arguing the Party settled upon Commodore Robert Stockton as their candidate with Steamboat entrepreneur from New York George Law.
Robert Stockton & George Law
The Republican Party met on June 17th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Republican Party was bringing together elements of The Free-Soil Party members, former Whigs, Abolitionist, & Anti-Slavery Know-Knothings. The main contenders for the nomination were Senator from North California John C. Frémont, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court John McLean of Ohio, Senator from New York William H. Steward, & former Congressman from Pennsylvania David Wilmot. The Republican platform called for admission of free states immediately (not waiting for slave state admissions) in contradiction of the Taylor Doctrine, stopping the spread of slavery, defeating Nicaraguan annexation, and end of polygamy in Mormon settlements in Utah Territory.
John C. Frémont, John McLean, William Steward, David Wilmot.
Seward was the first to concede even before the nomination took place throwing his support behind Frémont, McLean’s own campaign manager tried to concede his support for his candidate but Congressman Thaddeus Stevens forced it back into contention losing more support with the fiasco. By the fourth ballot Frémont was nominated with David Wilmot as his running mate.
The Democratic Party still stunned by its drubbing in the 1854 midterms went into the nominations determined to jettison Atchison from the top spot on the ticket. Three main candidates emerged: Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois had the support of the powerful railroads and many northern democrats that wanted to check the power of the southern expansionists. Former Secretary of State and recently elected Senator from Pennsylvania James Buchanan had a solid backing from his home state and southern members of the party. President David R. Atchison desired his own term, and worked with anyone who could get him the nomination.
The balloting began with Buchanan holding a solid lead, but not the two-thirds needed to secure the nomination. Atchison gained momentum as favorite son candidates soon dropped out, but it was Stephen Douglas who at 43yrs old decided 1856 was not his year, and with assurances from Buchanan’s managers of support in 1860 Douglas dropped out and supported Buchanan. Thus Buchanan became the nominee. To bring balance to the ticket Kentucky Congressman John C. Breckinridge was nominated for Vice-President.
The Democratic platform called for the continuation of the Taylor Doctrine, Nicaraguan Annexation, and the building of a Nicaragua Canal to help spur westward expansion.
Campaign poster of Buchanan and Breckinridge
The Republicans campaigned on the slogan “Free Soil, Free Men, Free Press, Free Speech, and Frémont”. The Know-Nothings ranted about immigration, and a secret papal canal to overtake the United States. The Democrats campaigned on a solid Union, peace, and expansion.
The results told a fantastic story the Know-Nothing party captured the state of Massachusetts and Delaware. The republican party took the rest of New England plus New York, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The Democrats took the solid south, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, both of the California’s, and the battle ground states of Indiana & Illinois. With the popular vote and the elector college secured James Buchanan became the 16th President of the United States.