Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 1.

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Chapter 1: the political Conventions in 1860.

• Preliminary observations, page 17.
-- Democratic Convention at Charleston, 18. -- the “Cincinnati platform,” 21. -- conflicting reports on a platform of principles -- Secession of delegates, 22. -- balloting for a candidate, 28. -- seceders' Convention, 24. -- adjourned Democratic Convention in Baltimore, 25. -- another Secession, 26. -- nomination of Stephen A. Douglas for the Presidency, 27. -- nomination of John C. Breckinridge for the Presidency, 28. -- National constitutional Union Convention, 29. -- nomination of John Bell for the Presidency, 30. -- Republican Convention, 31. -- nomination of Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency, 32. -- the four parties, 33. -- the contest, and election of Lincoln, 34.

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In the spring of the year 1861, a civil war was kindled in the United States of America, which has neither a pattern in character nor a precedent in causes recorded in the history of mankind. It appears in the annals of the race as a mighty phenomenon, but not an inexplicable one. Gazers upon it at this moment,

1882.

when its awfully grand and mysterious proportions rather fill the mind with wonder than excite the reason, look for the half-hidden springs of its existence in different directions among the obscurities of theory. There is a general agreement, however, that the terrible war was clearly the fruit of a conspiracy against the nationality of the Republic, and an attempt, in defiance of the laws of Divine Equity, to establish an Empire upon a basis of injustice and a denial of the dearest rights of man. That conspiracy budded when the Constitution of the Republic became the supreme law of the land,¹ and, under the culture of disloyal and ambitious men, after gradual development and long ripening, assumed the form and substance of a rebellion of a few arrogant land and