Talk:United States presidential election, 1856
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Please see Wikipedia:Style for U.S. presidential election, yyyy for standards for all "U.S. presidential election, yyyy" pages.
Contents |
[edit] Material from "Origins of the Civil War"
The material that has been pasted is not really a propos - it doesn't seem like an article about the election, but like excerpts from a longer article about, I don't know, the origins of the Civil War. Some major rewriting really ought to be done. john 08:18, 21 Dec 2003 (UTC)
- I agree it could be better. However, it seems like very good starting material, and certainly better than what was there before (nothing). Do you want to take a stab at a rewrite? -- RobLa 08:33, 21 Dec 2003 (UTC)
Hmm...not tonight...I'll try in a few days, maybe. john 08:49, 21 Dec 2003 (UTC)
[edit] Electoral picture peculiarity
Why is the graphic depiction of electoral votes skewed? Rarely nowadays does one see democratic votes colored red and and republican votes blue. --maru (talk) Contribs 20:53, 15 January 2006 (UTC)
- This post has been copied to Wikipedia talk:Style for U.S. presidential election, yyyy#Electoral picture peculiarity. Please direct your responses there.
[edit] Republican Nomination
I am not sure why Seward is mentioned as a contender for the Republican nomination. Fremont won the first ballot (called the informal ballot) with 359 votes to 190 for John McLean, not voting 14, Seward 1, and others 3. On the second ballot (called the formal ballot), Fremont won 520 votes to 37 for McLean, one for Seward, and 9 for everyone else. This information comes from Richard C. Bain and Judith H. Parris, Convention Decisions and Voting Records, the standard reference on presidential nominating conventions of the 1832-1972 era. Chronicler3 00:13, 28 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] In regards to the revision of the text within this article
I by no means wish to challenge the established model for Presidential Election Pages but instead would like to offer some suggestions for possible modifications to the current format up for debate amongst the contributors to Wikipedia. The easiest and hopefully the least obtrusive of these would be to include the platforms of the parties who nominated canidates in the campaign as I have tried to do in this article. I believe there inclusion within the general election section of the page, due to the platforms inclusion of major sources of debate between parties within them, is a proper location but would be willing to listen to any other suggestions for their possible location. Many of these platforms can be found posted online and can be easily linked to these articles because they were creation was for dissemination into the public domain and therefore have no copyrights to be infringed. Including the platforms written by the party at the time of the campaign will not only offer a chance to verify the information on the article but will also increase the validity ofthe article through the inclusion of a primary source. The decision is up to a vote of course but I am going to stand up and complain about the deletion of the Know-Nothing Campaign info. If a party wins a state in the electoral college or at least a significant portion of the popular vote I believe we should include the party platform to explain what these people were voting for the sake of better understanding history and the people who lived during this time period.
Respectfully Epignosis
[edit] K-N platform
6367. Porter, Kirk H., and Donald Bruce Johnson, comps. National party platforms, 1840-1956. Urbana, University of Illinois Press, 1956. 573 p. 56-10916 JK2255.P6 1956 American (Know Nothing) Platform of 1856, p.22
I. An humble acknowledgment to the Supreme Being who rules one universe, for His protecting care vouchsafed to our fathers in their revolutionary struggle, and hitherto manifested to us, their descendants, in the preservation of the liberties, the independence and the union of these states. II. The perpetuation of the Federal Union, as the palladium of our civil and religious liberties, and the only sure bulwark of American independence. III. Americans must rule America; and to this end, native-born citizens should be selected for all state, federal, or municipal offices of government employment, in preference to naturalized citizens—nevertheless, IV. Persons born of American parents residing temporarily abroad, shall be entitled to all the rights of native-born citizens; but V. No person should be selected for political station (whether of native or foreign birth), who recognizes any alliance or obligation of any description to any foreign prince, potentate or power, who refuses to recognize the federal and state constitutions (each within its own sphere), as paramount to all other laws, as rules of particular political action. VI. The unequalled recognition and maintenance of the reserved rights of the several states, and the cultivation of harmony and fraternal goodwill between the citizens of the several states, and to this end, non-interference by Congress with questions appertaining solely to the individual states, and non-intervention by each state with the affairs of any other state. VII. The recognition of the right of the native-born and naturalized citizens of the United States, permanently residing in any territory thereof, to frame their constitutions and laws, and to regulate their domestic and social affairs in their own mode, subject only to the provisions of the federal Constitution, with the right of admission into the Union whenever they have the requisite population for one representative in Congress. Provided, always, That none but those who are citizens of the United States, under the Constitution and laws thereof, and who have a fixed residence in any such territory, are to participate in the formation of the constitution, or in the enactment of laws for said territory or state. VIII. An enforcement of the principles that no state or territory can admit other than native-born citizens to the right of suffrage, or of holding political office unless such persons shall have been naturalized according to the laws of the United States. IX. A change in the laws of naturalization, making a continued residence of twenty-one years, of all not heretofore provided for, an indispensable requisite for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paupers or persons convicted of crime from landing upon our shores; but no interference with the vested rights of foreigners. X. Opposition to any union between Church and State; no interference with religious faith or worship, and no test oaths for office, except those indicated in the 5th section of this platform. XI. Free and thorough investigation into any and all alleged abuses of public functionaries, and a strict economy in public expenditures. XII. The maintenance and enforcement of all laws until said laws shall be repealed, or shall be declared null and void by competent judicial authority. XIII. Opposition to the reckless and unwise policy of the present administration in the general management of our national affairs, and more especially as shown in removing "Americans" (by designation) and conservatives in principle, from office, and placing foreigners and ultraists in their places, as shown in a truckling subserviency to the stronger, and an insolent and cowardly bravado toward the weaker powers; as shown in reopening sectional agitation, by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; as shown in granting to unnaturalized foreigners the right of suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska, as shown in its vacillating course on the Kansas and Nebraska question; as shown in the removal of Judge Bronson from the collectorship of New York upon false and untenable grounds; as shown in the corruptions which pervade some of the departments of the government; as shown in disgracing meritorious naval officers through prejudice or caprice; as shown in the blundering mismanagement of our foreign relations. XIV. Therefore, to remedy existing evils, and prevent the disastrous consequences otherwise resulting therefrom, we would build up the "American Party" upon the principles herein-before stated eschewing all sectional questions, and uniting upon those purely national, and admitting into said party all American citizens (referred to in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th sections) who openly avow the principles and opinions heretofore expressed, and who will subscribe their names to this platform.—Provided nevertheless, that a majority of those members present at any meeting of a local council where an applicant applies for membership in the American party, may, for any reason by them deemed sufficient, deny admission to such applicant. XV. A free and open discussion of all political principles embraced in our platform. Is it useful to summarize all this? Rjensen 03:20, 25 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] In regards to linking party platforms and page format
Yes your completely right they are far to extensive and wordy to be included within the article and a summary with a link would be the best way to include these platforms. My next question for you is what is the best way to present that link I was thinking of a format like this with the title for each platform summary acting as a link in itself but am open to any suggestions.
[edit] General Election
Republican Platform - This would be hyperlinked
The Republican platform opposed the repeal of the Missouri Compromise through the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the policy of popular sovereignty in deciding whether a state would enter the Union as a free or slave state. The Republicans also accused the Pierce administration of allowing a fraudulent territorial goverment to be imposed upon the citizens of the Kansas Territory, allowing the violence that had raged in Bleeding Kansas, and advocated the immediate admittance of Kansas as a free state. Along with opposing the spread of slavery into the continental territories of the United States the party also opposed the Ostend Manifesto which advocated the annexation of Cuba from Spain. In summation the campaign true focus was against the system of slavery, which they felt was destroying the Republican values that the Union had been founded upon.
Respectfully Epignosis
