Description:

Abraham Lincoln
Ohio, ca. November 1864
Lincoln and Johnson Ohio Ballot—Super Clean and Fresh
Printed document
[ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ANDREW JOHNSON.] Printed Document, Ballot for presidential election in Ohio, 1864. 2 pp., 3" x 8.125". Light crease; minor toning; the nicest example we have seen.

In the nineteenth century, political parties printed election ballots. Local Republican and Democratic leaders printed ballots, or tickets, which typically listed each party's candidates for local, state, and federal offices. At the polling place, each voter dropped their vote into a ballot box, often a glass bowl, so all present could see how he voted.

This outstanding ballot from Ohio, printed in red and blue ink, features a detailed image of an eagle with flags, rifles, a cannon, a drum, and other weaponry with the slogan, "A Vigorous Prosecution of the War, and No Compromise under the Guns of Rebels." Below the graphic are the names of Republican candidates Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, followed by the names of two at-large electors and those of each Republican elector from the state's nineteen Congressional districts. On the verso, an eagle holds olive branches and arrows over a shield with American flags in the background and "E Pluribus Unum" above. The whole is enclosed in a circle with lyrics from the popular song Battle Cry of Freedom: "Rally 'round the Flag, Boys! Rally once again!"

Historical Background
During the midst of the Civil War, with nine states in open rebellion and two former Confederate states at least partially under military rule, the United States held its twentieth quadrennial presidential election. Although there was initially some opposition from more radical Republicans, incumbent Republican President Abraham Lincoln became the nominee of the new National Union Party, a coalition of Republicans and War Democrats, at its convention in Baltimore. The party refused to re-nominate Vice President Hannibal Hamlin and instead nominated War Democrat Andrew Johnson of Tennessee for the vice presidency.

The Democratic National Convention in Chicago nominated General George B. McClellan of New Jersey and George H. Pendleton of Ohio as its candidates. Both in their 30s, McClellan and Pendleton remain the youngest presidential ticket ever nominated. Peace Democrats, who considered the war a failure, pushed a peace platform through the Convention, though McClellan was opposed to it, and the contradictions harmed the Democratic campaign.

The Lincoln administration's conduct of the war, including emancipation, was the central issue in the election, and Democrats criticized the war as a failure and Lincoln as a tyrant who had violated the Constitution. Republicans emphasized the need for victory over the Confederacy and urged voters not to "change horses in the middle of a stream." For much of the campaign, Lincoln was convinced he would not be reelected because the war was going badly. However, General William T. Sherman's capture of Atlanta in September and General Philip Sheridan's successes in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia gave hope that the war would soon end in victory.

On November 8, 1864, Lincoln won re-election with 55 percent of the popular vote to McClellan's 45 percent. Lincoln carried all but three states and received 212 electoral votes. McClellan carried only Delaware, Kentucky, and his home state of New Jersey, for a total of 21 electoral votes. Congress rejected votes from Tennessee and Louisiana, where Lincoln also won and would have gained another 17 electoral votes. Lincoln thus became the first president since Andrew Jackson to win re-election.

In Ohio, Lincoln won 56.4 percent of the popular vote to McClellan's 43.6 percent and won all 21 of the state's electoral votes. Prominent among the electors is John McCook (1806-1865), one of the patriarchs of the "Fighting McCooks," a group of fifteen men from two generations that fought for the Union in the Civil War. Fourteen became officers, and five died in the service.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 3" x 8.125"
  • Medium: Printed document

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