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"Mr. Lincoln...is rising in prominence" says it all...
"Mr. Lincoln...is rising in prominence" says it all...
Item # 713891
May 15, 1860
NEW YORK SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, May 15, 1860 This issue is one of those so desired by collectors, when innocent reports--often inconspicuous amongst the jumble of lengthier articles--wold only find relevance in the passing of years.
Keep in mind that at this point, the Republican National Convention in Chicago had yet to formally begin (May 16-18) and Abraham Lincoln was pretty much an unknown in the world of national politics. Yes, he did capture some attention with his famous "...house divided..." speech two years earlier, and more contemporarily with his Cooper Union address of 3 months prior, but he was--at best--an outsider for the Presidency.
Page 5 has a column headed: "The Chicago Convention" "The People Gathering" "Prospects of Various Candidates" "Seward Leads Them All" and more. However, the report suggests Seward's work will be difficult, noting in part: "The crowd gather thick & fast...The Seward leaders are also very confident and profess the utmost faith, but it is impossible to see how his nomination can be carried...". As for the candidates, it notes: "...Mr. Seward will lead, Mr. Bates will come next, and Mr. Chase will be third...Mr. Cameron will come next, and then Mr. Lincoln...". By the reporter's reckoning, Lincoln was a distant 5th.
Ultimately, as the following days would give evidence, Seward led on the first ballot but fell short of a majority, while Lincoln would finish in a strong second place. Cameron's delegates shifted to Lincoln on the second ballot, leaving Lincoln essentially tied with Seward. Lincoln clinched the nomination on the third ballot after consolidating support from more delegates who had backed candidates other than Seward.
All of this is intriguing and noteworthy, but of special collector interest is a comment in the page 4 editorial. It is a simple, yet extraordinarily prophetic statement: "...Mr. Lincoln of Illinois, however, is rising in prominence."
And so he did, becoming one of the most well-known names in all of American history.
Although other reports within pale in comparison, they include: "Capture of a Slaver with 500 Negroes on Board" "Capture of a Supposed Slaver", a report from the "California Pony Express", and a report on the beginning of the trial of the infamous "pirate Hicks" who would soon become the last person in America to be executed for piracy.
Eight pages, nice condition.
Category: Pre-Civil War
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