In 1864 a decision had to be made. It was an election year, but there was a civil war raging, and it was not going well for the Union. The heavy casualties that the Union armies were suffering shocked the people back home. There was a suggestion that the election should be postponed or suspended.
Abraham Lincoln pointed out, “We cannot have free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us to forgo, or postpone a national election, it might fairly claim to have already conquered and ruined us.”
So the United States went ahead with its presidential election.
But with the war going so badly for the Union, it looked as if Lincoln was headed for certain defeat.
What to do?
Lincoln was not about to drop out, even though many were urging him to do so, but he could swap out his Vice-President Hannibal Hamlin, who brought nothing to the ticket, for someone who did.
At least in theory.
Andrew Johnson, a War Democrat from a southern state, got the nomination on the first ballot. It seems little or no thought was given to what kind of president a southern man from the other party might be if circumstances contrived to put him in the executive office.
Of course, circumstances did so contrive, and he ended up being totally unprepared for the job.
Oh, by the time the election rolled around the war had taken a decisive turn in the Union’s favor.
Just about the time Lincoln had reconciled himself to defeat, the military picture began to change. Admiral David G.Farragut captured Mobile Bay, General William T. Sherman took Atlanta and commenced marching through Georgia, Ulysses S. Grant began making progress at Petersburg, and General Philip Sheridan routed Jubal Early’s troops from the valleys of Virginia and began his devastation there. “If you want to know who is going to vote for McClellan, mention Atlanta to them,” crowed the Albany Journal. “The long face and the low muttered growl is sufficient. On the other hand, every Lincoln man bears a face every lineament of which is radiant with joy.”
The political scene was quickly transformed. Fremont withdrew from the race, Greeley announced he would henceforth “fly the banner” of Lincoln, Chase took to the stump for Lincoln, and Radical Republican leaders who had been chastising Lincoln for his moderate reconstruction plans, began giving him their support. “There is not now, the slightest uncertainty about the re-election of Mr. Lincoln,” exclaimed Chase. “The only question is by what popular and electoral majority. God grant that both may be so decisive as to turn every hope of rebellion to despair!”
Lincoln’s victory was decisive. On November 8, he won 212 electoral votes (to McClellan’s 21) and carried every state but Kentucky, Delaware, and New Jersey. His popular majority was not as sweeping—2,213,665 votes (55 percent) to 1,802,237 (45 percent)—but it was substantial. Lincoln regarded the outcome of the election as an endorsement of his administration’s policies: restoration of the Union with slavery gone forever. McClellan accepted the people’s choice with equanimity. “For my country’s sake, I deplore the result,” he told his brother, “but the people have decided with their eyes wide open.” From Grant came a congratulatory telegram: “The election having passed off quickly, no bloodshed or riot throughout the land, is a victory worth more to the country than a battle won.” Lincoln himself marveled at “the extraordinary calmness and good order with which the millions of voters met and mingled at the polls” and praised the American people for demonstrating that “a people’s government can sustain a national election in the midst of a great civil war.”
— Presidential Campaigns by Paul F. Boller Jr.
There probably was no need to change Veeps. Would Hannibal Hamlin have been any better? I don’t know. He couldn’t have been any worse.
Johnson became the first president to be impeached and only missed being removed from office by one vote. Sigh.
The problem was he probably really wasn’t guilty of any high crimes and misdemeanors. He was just totally incompetent. And he refused to take counsel from anyone who was competent.
Would Reconstruction have gone any better had Lincoln not been assassinated?
We can only speculate.