threats at home and from abroad
some Dems for Massachusetts
Richmond editors shared some information they said they found in Northern papers about the upcoming Yankee presidential election: the United States government warned about a conspiracy to set fire to Northern cities on November 8th to disrupt the vote (you can read about Chicago’s response to the alleged threat at Civil War Daily Gazette), there was a small attack in Maine, and New York Governor Horatio Seymour took steps to ensure a peaceful election without interference from Union troops.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch November 7, 1864:
Latest from the North.
We have received New York and Baltimore papers of Wednesday, the 3d [2nd?] instant, and the evening of that day.
More Alarms for the Yankees–a plan to burn the Yankee Towns.
We have some very strong election cards in the Yankee papers. The first is gotten up by Seward, and is contained in the following official dispatch:
Washington, November 2, 1864.
To the Mayor of Buffalo:
target on Lake Erie? (1854 map)
This department has received information from the British Provinces to the effect that there is a conspiracy on foot to set fire to the principal cities in the Northern States on the day of the Presidential election. It is my duty to communicate this information to you.
W. H. Seward.
The next is a grand description of a land battle, in which the sentinel was “shot at” and the ball lodged in “two feet” of him. The point attacked was a town called Castine, in Maine, on the Canada line [actually about half-way down the Maine coast from Canada]. A flaming telegram says:
A small party of men approached from the rear, and when challenged immediately fired upon the sentinel, who returned the fire. Sergeant Ramsdell was fired upon as he came out of his quarters. Four balls lodged within two feet of him.
The garrison mustered promptly and pursued the raiders for about half a mile, firing upon them and they replying, when they took to a boat and escaped. The object, it is supposed, was to capture the United States cutter lying in the harbor. This city has been put into a state of defence.
By orders from Governor Cony, the Home Guard are in readiness for duty, and the city government has increased and armed the police.
[No Democrats are likely to vote in Castine tomorrow, and the “Home Guard” will see that they don’t.]
left coast Republicans
Governor Seymour out in another Proclamation — the military not to interfere with the polls.
Governor Seymour, of New York, issued a proclamation on Wednesday with reference to the coming election and military interference therewith. The abolition papers say it is gotten up with a single eye to a free fight at the polls. He appeals to men of all parties to unite with those holding official positions in their efforts to allay undue excitement, soften the harshness of party prejudices and passions, and to avoid all measures and language which tend to strife or disorder; but closes with the following significant directions:
Sheriffs of counties and all other officers whose duty it is to keep the peace and protect our citizens will take care that every voter shall have a free ballot, in the manner secured to him by the constitution and laws.
It will be their duty to see that no military or other organized forces shall be allowed to show themselves in the vicinity of the places where elections are held, with any view of menacing or intimidating citizens in attendance thereon.
Against any such interference they must exercise the full force of law, and call forth, if need be, the power of their districts.
A New York letter in the Philadelphia Inquirer gives the “Administration” view of what Seymour means:
Under cover of a desire to calm the public mind, it is not difficult to see that there is mischief in the proclamation, below the surface, and as such you will not be surprised to hear that the Governor’s friends, the Maskerelville boys and the “dangerous classes” generally, are in over it. The “military interference” paragraphs in the proclamation, it is well understood, are aimed at General Dix, who is now come about as great an eyesore to the disloyalists General Butler was once to the New Orleans Norfolk Secesh.
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I would say this political cartoon is a effort to sell General McClellan as the only hope to return to anything like the status quo ante.
break it up
You can read the details of the political cartoon showing General McClellan as mediator at the Library of Congress
