The two story Wigwam was a temporary wooden structure built by Chicago business leaders to host the 1860 Republican National Convention
CHAPTER 1 DUELING REPUBLICS On May 16 1860 delegates poured into Chicago Illinois for the Republican National Convention This gathering to nominate a candidate for president met in the Wigwam a barnlike building that held 12 000 people State delegates sat on the stage supporters crammed the floor below and spectators crowded into the aisles and gallery The Republican Party was only six years old Abolitionists had founded this political organization to halt the spread of slavery into the western territories Tensions over slavery had already divided Northerners and Southerners in the Democratic Party That split meant a Republican had a chance to win the US presidency in the November election
THE NEW REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT Supporters of William H Seward the radical abolitionist from New York thought they had the nomination locked up However backers of Abraham Lincoln the moderate former congressman from Illinois packed the hall and were making deals By custom candidates did not appear in person at the convention Supporters of both Lincoln and Seward worked feverishly to convince delegates from key states to commit votes to their candidate Lincoln backers whispered Southerners would never vote for Seward in the general election His views on slavery were too extreme Lincoln opposed slavery but he had promised not to uproot it in states where it already existed Lincoln supporters promised was the man who could deliver the presidency to the Republican Party The crowd in the Wigwam was fired up When Michigan delegates seconded the nomination of Seward the New Yorkers jumped to their feet and cheered so loudly the rafters trembled When Ohio delegates seconded Lincoln's nomination one spectator said the noise was louder than a thousand steam whistles and ten acres of hotel gongs After the first round of voting Seward was ahead But on the second ballot Lincoln closed to within four votes The Ohio delegation had its own candidate in the running Salmon Chase Chase Ohio's former US senator and governor
did not stand a chance of winning the nomination but the Ohio delegates would not relinquish their block of votes without getting something in return Just before the third ballot was cast a Lincoln supporter whispered to an Ohio delegate if Ohio threw its votes to Lincoln and Lincoln won the presidency Salmon Chase could have anything he wants Four Ohio delegates switched their votes to Lincoln The ballots were counted and the Wigwam exploded Lincoln was the Republican nominee for president of the United States In the campaign that followed Lincoln repeated his pledge not to interfere with slavery in states where it already existed Abraham Lincoln's rugged facial features and exceptionally long limbs caused many to make fun of his ungainly appearance
