First.  The Republican party, which at the Chicago Convention had nominated as its candidate for President, Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, and for Vice-President, Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine.  Its animating spirit was a belief and declaration that the institution of slavery was wrong in morals and detrimental to society; its avowed policy was to restrict slavery to its present limits in the States where it existed by virtue of local constitutions and laws.

Second.  The Douglas wing of the Democratic party, which at Baltimore nominated Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, for President, and whose candidate for Vice-President was Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia.[1] It declared indifference as to the moral right or wrong of slavery, and indifference to its restriction or extension.  Its avowed policy was to permit the people of a Territory to decide whether they would prevent or establish slavery, and it further proposed to abide by the decisions of the Supreme Court on all questions of constitutional law growing out of it.

Third.  The Buchanan wing of the Democratic party, which at Baltimore nominated John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, for President, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for Vice-President.  Its animating spirit was a belief and declaration that slavery was morally right and politically beneficial; its avowed policy was the extension of slavery into the Territories, and the creation of new slave States, whereby it might protect and perpetuate itself by a preponderance, or at least a constant equality, of political power, especially in the Senate of the United States.  As one means to this end, it proposed the immediate acquisition of the island of Cuba.

Fourth.  The Constitutional Union party, which in its convention at Baltimore nominated John Bell, of Tennessee, for President, and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, for Vice-President.  It professed to ignore the question of slavery, and declared that it would recognize no political principle other than “the Constitution of the Country, the Union of the States, and the enforcement of the Laws.”

  [Sidenote] Curtis, “Life of Buchanan,” Vol.  II., p. 294.

The first, most striking feature of the four-sided Presidential canvass which now began, was the personal pledge by every one of the candidates of devotion to the Union.  Each of the factions was in some form charging disunion motives or tendencies upon part or all of the others; but each indignantly denied the allegation as to itself.  To leave no possible doubt, the written letters of acceptance of each of the candidates emphasized the point.  Lincoln invoked “the inviolability of the Constitution, and the perpetual union, harmony, and prosperity of all.”  Douglas made his pledge broad and full.  “The Federal Union,” wrote he, “must be preserved.  The Constitution must be maintained inviolate in all its parts.  Every right guaranteed by the Constitution must be protected by law in all cases where legislation