John Tyler to his son, Robert, discussing the Presidential Election - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC07112
From Archive Folder	Documents Relating to the 1860s
Title	John Tyler to his son, Robert, discussing the Presidential Election
Date	27 August 1860
Author	Tyler, John (1790-1862)
Recipient	Tyler, Robert
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Tyler, former President of the United States, elaborates on the 1860 Presidential election to his son Robert. States that he discussed the election with Colonel William T. Withers of Mississippi. Expresses approval at the fusion of Stephen Douglas' and John Bells' supporters in New York, and declares "that in my view the defeat of Lincoln was the great matter at issue, and that all others were subordinate." Encloses a letter (not included) from General Foote, a Douglas supporter. Expresses his support of Presidential candidate John Cabell Breckinridge and Breckinridge's running mate Joseph Lane. Compares William Seward, who was defeated for Republican nomination by Abraham Lincoln, to the Late Roman Republican figure Cataline, one of Cicero's nemeses. Referring to the Republicans, states "I have in me hope that a defeat of the negro-men now will dissolve this party." Discusses his wheat crop and inquires as to Robert's well-being. Written from Sherwood Forest, Tyler's plantation in Virginia. Robert Tyler (1816-77) was the son of former president John Tyler. During his father's presidency, Tyler and his wife lived in the White House. He served as the president's private secretary; his wife as White House hostess. Tyler subsequently settled in Philadelphia and became the leader of Pennsylvania's Democratic party. At the outset of the Civil War, a mob attacked Tyler's home, forcing him to flee to Virginia. Tyler sided with the South, and served as registrar of the Confederate treasury. After the war, he moved to Alabama, where he edited the influential Montgomery Advisor and became active in Democratic party politics.
Subjects	President Election Government and Civics Politics Republican Party Classical World and Ancient Civilization Democratic Party African American History Slavery Abolition Wheat Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
People	Tyler, John (1790-1862) Tyler, Robert (1816-1877) Bell, John (1796-1869) Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell) (1821-1875) Douglas, Stephen Arnold (1813-1861) Lane, Joseph (1801-1881) Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Seward, William Henry (1801-1872) Withers, William Temple (1825-1889)
Place written	Virginia
Theme	The Presidency; Government & Politics
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1860-1945
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945
Transcript	Show/hide Sherwood Forest Aug. 27. 1860 Dear Robert: I think it best to enclose you these letters. There are parts of which you may not be able to decypher accurately - It is the first draft. The gentleman alluded to, Col Withers of Mississippi, called on me at the Villa Margaret and as the condition of the times is the fruitful subject of conversation it came soon to be introduced I expressed to him the gratification I had felt at the fusion between the Douglass and Bell men in New York and expressed the hope that all conservatives would unite on the same ticket - That in my view the defeat of Lincoln was the great matter at issue, and that all others were subordinate - and probably said that if I lived in New York, altho' I was decidedly a Breckenridge - man, I would advocate the fusion ticket - This it reasons, he reported to Genl - Foote and hence the correspondence There can be no possible doubt of Lincoln's [2] election unless some of the so called Free States is snatched from him - I presented also another idea to Col. Withers and that was that to defeat Lincoln was to elect Breckenridge or Lane I cared not which, by throwing the first before the House - the last before the Senate - This has called forth the letters of my old friend Genl. Foote who is a Douglass man - I enclose it to you, so that if you should see any reference made to my opinions by Genl. Foote, [strikeout] [inserted: or] any others which may call for explanation, you may be in proper position to make it by the publication, if necessary, of my letter - I said to Col. Withers (and hence the reference to Cataline) that I regarded Seward as the Cataline of our day - and that to reach the Presidency he would quaff the blood with his fellows as did Cataline of old, and expressed the hope that there would still arise a Cicero to denounce him in the Senate chambers - I am here to superintend the delivery of my crop of wheat, which altho full of promise on the 1. June. turns out a miserable failure - [3] I shall remain during the week and then back to Hampton - Do give me some acct - of Pennsylvania. How goes the [night]? I think, after all that every thing depends on her - If I deceive not myself Breckenridge will carry pluralities in a large majority of the Southern States so as to present Lane to the Senate, should Lincoln not be elected by popular vote - I live in the hope that a defeat of the negro-men now will dissolve this party - Write me soon - Love to all Yr Father John Tyler P.S. The article in the Tribune was admirable - [docket] Aug 27th - 1860 - On the Fusion of the Bell & Brechenridge [struck: ridge] Ticket

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