Lincoln's loss in 1864

[Rob Wick]

Steve,

I'm not sure I can agree with you on emancipation. The Democratic platform of 1864 is completely silent on that. In fact, one could interpret it as being anti-emancipation. Read this:

Resolved, That the aim and object of the Democratic party is to preserve the Federal Union and the rights of the States unimpaired, and they hereby declare that they consider that the administrative usurpation of extraordinary and dangerous powers not granted by the Constitution; the subversion of the civil by military law in States not in insurrection; the arbitrary military arrest, imprisonment, trial, and sentence of American citizens in States where civil law exists in full force; the suppression of freedom of speech and of the press; the denial of the right of asylum; the open and avowed disregard of State rights; the employment of unusual test-oaths; and the interference with and denial of the right of the people to bear arms in their defense is calculated to prevent a restoration of the Union and the perpetuation of a Government deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed.

Now admittedly, McClellan wouldn't have been the first president to bypass his party's platform, but from my reading I don't think he was any friend of African-Americans. Also, it took a year for the 13th amendment to be ratified. Much of it was through the force of Lincoln and then the appeal to his martyrdom. At any point during a McClellan administration, the process could have been stopped. Look at the Equal Rights Amendment. It was on its way to passage in 1972 and 40 years later it still hasn't done so.

He of course would oppose civil rights measures or voting for former slaves, though.

Absolutely agreed on that point.

Best
Rob