From the 1860 election - of course, Lincoln is on the other side.
As the Civil War Daily Gazette has reported Vice President Elect Hannibal Hamlin and his wife finally made it to New York City where Hamlin pinch-hit for Lincoln by giving a quick speech from a window at the Astor House (New York Times Archive).
Apparently Mr. Hamlin is still kind of hard to keep track of (The New-York Times February 22, 1861):
MOVEMENTS OF THE VICE PRESIDENT ELECT.
The Vice-President-elect remained at the Astor House yesterday, and was visited by a number of personal friends. It was erroneously supposed that Mr. HAMLIN would accompany the Presidential party, and repeated calls were made for him at the Jersey City Depot. He remained, however, in the City, and will leave for Washington to day — probably overtaking Mr. LINCOLN en route. Immediately after the departure of Mr. LINCOLN, Mr. HAMLIN was ensconced in parlors Nos. 39 and 41. Among others who called were Col. FREMONT and THURLOW WEED.
Thurlow Weed
John C. Fremont (painting by Charles Loring Elliott)
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I’m glad the Hamlins made it to Manhattan; I can’t blame them for wanting to stay at the Astor House for another night after whatever happened up in Connecticut.
Thurlow Weed was a New York political boss who supported William Seward for the 1860 Republican presidential nomination.
In 1856 John C. Frémont defeated Seward to become the first Republican presidential candidate. He lost to James Buchanan by 60 electoral votes.
Fremont meets his supporters - 1856 political cartoon
The above political cartoon from the 1856 shows Fremont meeting a group of unsavory supporters representing groups that many Americans would have feared. You can read what each character is saying at Wikipedia. The woman with the long and pointed nose and chin says:
“Col., I wish to invite you to the next meeting of our Free Love association, where the shackles of marriage are not tolerated, & perfect Freedom exists in love matters, and you will be sure to enjoy yourself, for we are all Freemounters.”
I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised that Lincoln alluded to free love during his Indianapolis speech.
Naturally, there is a caricature of a black man. Four years later Lincoln was labeled a “Black Republican” but managed to win because the Democrat party split and the Republicans won practically all the North. Lincoln was able to pick up Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and all the new northern states.
Here’s a positive take on Fremont, presumably from the Republican propaganda machine:
The heroic Pathfinder - 1856 election poster
After missing the train at Windsor Locks Mr. Hamlin probably is glad to talk with “The Pathfinder”
OK. Enough about the Mystery of Windsor Locks. I know I’m beating a dead horse, or as Robert Ward Johnson would say, singing psalms to a dead horse (New York Times Archive)
Senator Johnson from Arkansas: Stop singing psalms to dead horses
