| 1860 presidential election | |
  Nominees Bell and Everett | |
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | May 9–10, 1860 |
| City | Baltimore,Maryland |
| Venue | Old First Presbyterian Church |
| Candidates | |
| Presidential nominee | John Bell ofTennessee |
| Vice-presidential nominee | Edward Everett of Massachusetts |
The1860 Constitutional Union National Convention met on May 9, 1860, inBaltimore,Maryland. It was the only national convention ever held by theConstitutional Union Party, which was organized largely by formerWhig Party members from theSouthern United States who opposedsecession. The convention nominated former SenatorJohn Bell of Tennessee forpresident and former Secretary of StateEdward Everett of Massachusetts forvice president.
Bell won the presidential nomination on the second ballot of the convention, defeating Everett, GovernorSam Houston of Texas, SenatorJohn J. Crittenden of Kentucky, former GovernorWilliam Alexander Graham of North Carolina, Associate JusticeJohn McLean of Ohio, and several other candidates. In the1860 presidential election, Bell and Everett finished third in theelectoral vote and fourth in the popular vote.
After the passage of theKansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, theWhigs collapsed due to divisions overslavery. Many Northern Whigs shifted to the newRepublican Party, while many Southern Whigs joined the American Party, or "Know Nothings."[1]: 304 By 1859, the Know Nothing movement had collapsed, but some former Southern Whigs who refused to join their long-time rivals in theDemocratic Party had organized themselves into the "Opposition Party." Several of this party's supporters, among themKnoxville Whig editor William Brownlow, former vice presidential candidateAndrew Jackson Donelson, and California attorneyBalie Peyton sought to launch a third-party presidential ticket.[1]: 346
In May 1860, disgruntled ex-Whigs and disenchanted moderates from across the country convened in Baltimore, where they formed theConstitutional Union Party. The party's platform was very broad and made no mention of slavery. While there were several candidates for the party's presidential nomination, the two frontrunners were Bell and Sam Houston.[1]: 354
![John Bell, Tennessee former U.S. Senator[2]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.m.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aJohn-bell-brady-handy-cropped_restored.jpg)
![Sam Houston, Texas Governor[3]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.m.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSHouston_2.jpg)
![John J. Crittenden, Kentucky U.S. Senator[4]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.m.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aJohn_Jordan_Crittenden_-_Brady_1855.jpg)
![William A. Graham, North Carolina former U.S. Senator[6]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.m.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWilliam_Alexander_Graham_-_Brady-Handy.jpg)
![William C. Rives, Virginia former U.S. Senator[7]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.m.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWilliamCRives.png)
Bell led the initial round of balloting with 68.5 votes to Houston's 59. The remainder of the votes were split among eight other candidates. Houston's military endeavors had brought him national renown, but he reminded the convention's Clay Whigs of their old foe Andrew Jackson. On May 10, Bell received 139 votes to Houston's 69, and was declared the candidate.[1]: 354
| Presidential Ballot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ballot | 1st | 2nd (Before Shifts) |
| Bell | 68.5 | 139 |
| Houston | 57 | 69 |
| Crittenden | 28 | 1 |
| Everett | 25 | 9.5 |
| Graham | 22 | 18.5 |
| McLean | 21 | 1 |
| Rives | 13 | 0 |
| Botts | 9.5 | 7.5 |
| Sharkey | 7 | 8.5 |
| Goggin | 3 | 0 |
| Not Represented | 49 | 49 |
Presidential Balloting / 2nd Day of Convention (May 10, 1860)
The vice presidential nomination went toEdward Everett of Massachusetts, who had served as president ofHarvard University and asSecretary of State in the Fillmore administration. Everett was nominated by acclaimation.