Published March 15, 2024
By Rudy Ray Seward
Does Seward Visit Quincy? Or Not?
Seward traveled via rail, stage, and steamboat through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois on way to Wisconsin and Minnesota. The group then boarded a steamboat for Dubuque, Iowa. Next, they ferried across the Mississippi River, catching a train to Freeport, which started the trip to Kansas Territory via Illinois, and Missouri. At Quincy, they ferried across Mississippi to catch trains in Missouri, travelling all day to reached St. Joseph.
The September 22, 1860, Quincy Whig and Republican printed a letter sent to James J. Langdon, a Chicago lawyer who had recently purchased the Whig. The letter from Charles L. Wilson, editor of the Chicago Journal said Seward intends to make only one speech in the states visited and has received many “pressing invitations.” He affirmed that “Gov. S. will give your citizens an impromptu talk, upon his return from St Joseph – but I do not believe he would desire to have a mass meeting” because nearby communities asked for the same. The assurance printed below the letter was that “Gov. S. will be here upon his return from St. Joseph on Friday Evening, Sept. 28.”
In Lawrence, Kansas, Seward praised the settlers. Their example of voting to be a free state would mean that other western territories would come into the Union as free states.
The next day, while the group was in Atchison and Leavenworth, Kansas, a Quincy Daily Herald editorial accused the rival Quincy Whig of lying and dismissed the announced speech as a ‘bad joke’ played on Whig readers. Included was a report from Virgil Ralston, editor of The Macomb Journal stating no letter was received by a Quincy resident from Gov. Seward saying he would be in city on 21st and address those assembled as reported in Quincy Whig and Republican. Ralston referred to the letter above from C. Wilson but uses the erroneous date of the 21st and not the evening of the 28th as the Whig stated. Ralston contends the Whig report was magnified and deceived his journal. Ralston concluded; the Whig should be “a little more cautious” about “giving publicity to street rumor” plus he requested a retraction. Coincidently, on same day, Seward acknowledged the invitation, and the initial plan, but penned an ‘impossible to visit city’ letter in Leavenworth and forwarded it to Whig.
The September 28, Whig published Gov. Seward’s letter under the headline: GOV. SEWARD NOT COMING. The campaigning party had decided not to pass through Quincy as originally thought on the way to Chicago. Previous delays in Milwaukee, Dubuque, and other stops contributed to plans changing. On same page the Whig published a note from the Marcelline Wide Awakes requesting that all W. A.’s go to Ursa the next day and thence to Marcelline, Mendon, Lima, and Big Neck to demonstrate for Lincoln as the Seward reception had been cancelled.
On the day Seward expected to return to Quincy, his group took a route through St Louis where Seward spoke to the people assembled.
The first report of a scheduled visit was in a letter published on page 3 from James Woodruff “per order of [Republican] Executive Committee,” stating Seward would arrive in Quincy that evening at 5 o’clock. He writes “Let every Republican be on hand to welcome them.” Speeches will be made during their reception followed by “a grand Mass Meeting at 7 o’clock, upon the public square.” Woodruff’s letter contradicted the accurate published cancellation reports the previous day but is another indication of the amount of planning made for a visit.
The second report of a visit appeared in the October 1 Quincy Herald, under the headline: Seward in Quincy. “The great apostle of negro equality . . . arrived on the morning train from Chicago, remained in town for about fifteen minutes, and left for St. Joseph, Mo.” The small group “who took him cordially by the hand, each of them turning to look at his hand to see if he had rubbed any of the black from Seward’s.” Other references and innuendos were included about the ‘black Republican’s’ strong anti-slavery view. The group changing trains on their way to St. Joseph may have inspired this account, but wrong travel direction and days indicate a bitter satire.
Changing the route enabled a meeting with Lincoln. The group left St Louis via a ferry to catch trains in Illinois and prepared for a stop in Springfield. Lincoln was among the crowd waiting at the train station. Both men went out to the platform and Seward gave a short speech promising Lincoln would get a majority of votes in New York.
Seward reached Chicago where an enormous crowd was waiting. Police assistance was needed to escort them along with a large company of the Wide Awakes to Tremont House. Seward addressed the crowd from a balcony. The next day, thousands gathered to hear Seward argue that only the Republican Party offered a solution to the conflict between freedom and slavery. The crowd size was aided by long running advertising in Chicago Tribune and other Republican newspapers, special discounted train fares, and the Wide Awakes Clubs competing to bring the largest contingents.
Seward made speeches to crowds in Cleveland and Buffalo on his way home to Auburn, New York. Lincoln won every state that Seward campaigned in, except Missouri. This was the only state Stephen A. Douglas won despite strong support in his adopted state of Illinois. Seward efforts kept Douglas from winning. After helping Lincoln win the presidency, Seward became his Secretary of State. Seward is remembered for single-handedly arranging the purchase of Alaska from the Russians.
Quincy and Adams County’s role in the 1860 presidential campaign was less than anticipated. The promised mass meeting with speeches plus marching Wide Awakes did not take place, despite many efforts. The twist and turns in the stories did provide material for the local competing party papers but had to be confusing to readers. Newspaper reports suggested preparation was going on by groups in the city and county for a big Seward event. Quincy being a transportation centre plus Seward’s connections with John Wood and Quincy highlighted its role in Lincoln’s campaign.
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