Category Archives: Reconstruction

September surprise?

Democratic politician John Dix was a Union general during the Civil War and in 1868 was serving as American Minister to France. In early September he sent a letter to friend in New York City. Mr. Dix wanted to deny … Continue reading

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rigging vigorously

150 years ago this month three New York City newspapers published reports of alleged voter fraud. It seems that the October 10, 1868 issue of Harper’s Weekly is saying that the legal process of naturalization was being corrupted by men … Continue reading

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tsunami?

On October 13, 1868 voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana elected Republicans in state races by substantial margins. The Democrats were reportedly in such deep distress that they considered replacing Horatio Seymour as their nominee for the U.S. Presidency, possibly … Continue reading

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not in their backyard

In its September 22, 1868 issue the The New-York Times published a report of political violence in southeastern Georgia that occurred on September 19th. A couple of Republican politicians traveled to Camilla for a rally. As they neared the town … Continue reading

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late summer of ’68

Some headlines from early September 1868. Statewide elections in Vermont resulted in large Republican majorities. The Georgia legislature expelled twenty-five black representatives (New York Times September 4, 1868). After a conference at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Union General William … Continue reading

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R.I.I.P.

I wished that I were the owner of every southern slave, that I might cast off the shackles from their limbs, and witness the rapture which would excite them in the first dance of their freedom. – Thaddeus Stevens, 1837 … Continue reading

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Dem Dems

How do you get to Tammany Hall? Um, that’s a great question. … Well, actually 150 years ago you could have gotten there by attending the Democratic National Convention, which kicked off in Tammany’s brand new headquarters in New York … Continue reading

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Lost in Lexington

According to documentation at the Library of Congress, Washington College in Lexington, Virginia held commencement exercises on June 18, 1868. A northern newspaper was disgruntled by a report from an unnamed source about some activities (toasts) during an alumni supper … Continue reading

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death down south

In early June 1868 two black men fought a duel in South Carolina; one of the men was mortally wounded. A northern editorial thought that duels in general were absurd, tragic, and barbaric, but saw this particular duel as a … Continue reading

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decorating the mounds

Civil War general John A. Logan has been in the news a lot lately. As a Representative from Illinois he was one of seven House managers during the Impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson. The U.S. Senate eventually acquitted the … Continue reading

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