Political Life Case B
AC-LR460 – Harrison Log Cabin
LB4080 – Large 1858 Grand Rally of the Lincoln Men broadside
AV-LP591 – Presidential Sweepstakes of 1856 cartoon
19th-Century Electioneering
The mid-19th century laid the foundation for the spectacle of today’s electoral politics. In the preceding decades, political parties considered direct campaigning distasteful. That had begun to change by the time Abraham Lincoln entered politics, with political parties staging massive rallies and using various (sometimes legally dubious) means of getting their people to the polls.
These objects convey that political climate. The log cabin was probably a hand-made prop crafted by a Whig supporter of William Henry Harrison’s 1840 presidential campaign—part of a broader effort to cast him as a frontiersman despite his elite background. The political cartoon takes the temperature of the 1856 presidential election—depicting the new Republican Party’s chances for victory stuck in the “Abolition Cess Pool.” And the large broadside announces a rally in Tazewell County supporting Lincoln’s 1858 senatorial campaign to unseat Stephen A. Douglas.
Cabin gift of Henry Horner, 1940
Label Audio
GRAND RALLY
OF THE LINCOLN MEN
OF
OLD TAZEWELL!
WE HONOR ABRAHAM LINCOLN. THE HONEST!
The opponents of those twin cherries on a split stem, BUCHANAN and DOUGLAS, in TAZEWELL and adjoining counties, are requested to assemble in
GRAND COUNCIL!
AT PEKIN, ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 1858.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN!
Will address the People at 2 o’clock P. M. on the Political Topics of the day. Let good men of every name and tongue who love the patriotic principles of the Fathers of our Country, come together and sustain the man who represents those principles. When Presidents, Senator and Supreme Courts decide to make the constitution carry slavery all over free states and territories, it is time for the people to rise in their might and sustain our Glorious Union upon the cherished Republican Principles of Washington, Jefferson, Clay and Lincoln.
WM. KELLOGG!
candidate for re-election to Congress, will also address the meeting.
HON. LYMAN TRUMBULL
is expected to speak in the evening.
President of the day, DAVID MARK, Esq.
VICE PRESIDENTS.—Washington, JOHN L. MARSH; Groveland, JOHN HANCOCK; Morton, JOEL W. CLARK; Deer Creek, JOSEPH HIGGINS; Tremont, JOHN A. JONES; Elm Grove, JOHN BUCKLEY; Mackinaw, C. O. NEVILLE; Little Mackinaw, G. W. MINIER; Cincinnati, SAMUEL WOODROW; Springlake, TIMOTHY CLARK; Sand Prairie, W. S. RANKIN; Dillon, NATHAN DILLON; Hopedale, E. HODGESON; Boyington, P. BALDING; Fon du Lac, JACOB WILSON; Delavan, W. W. CROSSMAN; Hittle, DANIEL ALBRIGHT; Malone, C. F. BUCKMAN—Chief Marshall, W. GAITHER.
FARE ON STEAMERS NILE AND DELTA,
HALF PRICE.
T.J. PICKETT, T. KING, Jr., J. WAGENSELLER, D. A. CHEEVER, C. GRONDENBERG, L. A. HAWLEY, TEIS SMITH, Committee of Arrangements.
Printed at Pickett & Dowdell’s Job Office, Flints’ Hall, over Bergstresser’s store, Pekin, Illinois.
Letter Audio
The Great Presidential Sweepstakes of 1856.
Fillmore and Union forever! –
We’ll soon have the “right man in the right place”.–
We’re got a Sure thing on this race
Founded by Washington, the only sure Line to Washington is the American Express.
I don’t see how my party expect me to carry this old platform in, a winner, when they thought I had’nt the legs enough to run for myself.–
Frank, I am afraid we aint got legs enough to beat Fillmore, but its some comfort to see old Greelys team stuck in the mud
I say Pierce aint that old Platform rather heavy? –
Oh that I had kept the road & not tried to wade through this dirty ditch, but these fellows persuaded me, it was a shorter Way—and so I’ve “gone it blind”
Brother Horace jerk his head up once more and Shriek for Kansas, and I’ll give the wheel a pry with my rifle. –
It’s no use crying Kansas any more it don’t Prick his Ears a bit– I guess we’re about used up.–
THE GREAT PRESIDENTIAL SWEEPSTAKES OF 1856.
Free for all ages, “go as they please”
YOUNG AMERICA.– Enters, “Fillmore” by Honesty out of Experience (trained on the Union track)
DEMOCRAT.– Enters, “Old Buck” (alias “Platform”) by “Fillibuster” out of “Federalist” “Exercised on the Ostend Course”.
GREELY, WEED, BEECHER & Co.– Enters, Canuck Pony, “Freemont,” by “Wooly Head” out of “Wooly horse” from the Mariposa stable.)
Cartoon Audio