August 15, 1856-Dated, Important Political Content Manuscript Letter Signed, “Cornelius L. Gordon,” regarding the 1856 Presidential Election Electoral Votes with FREMONT, FILLMORE and BUCHANNAN, the expansion of Slavery, with Integral Transmittal Cover, Fine.
Cornelius L. Gordon at Lehmann Centre (PA.), addressed to C.D. Linskill, being a highly charged Political Election Letter, measures about 7.75” x 10”, 2 pages, writing about the Candidates in the upcoming 1856 Presidential Election. C. D. Linskill is very likely Charles D. Linskill of Wilkes-Barre, later a well-known Luzerne County newspaperman and author (Travels in Lands Beyond the Sea). The 1856 Presidential Election Campaign was a three-way contest in which Democrat James Buchanan proved victorious against Republican John Fremont, and “Know Nothing” nominee Millard Fillmore. The primary issue for most voters was the expansion of Slavery. Gordon appraises all three presidential candidates in turn Fremont, "cunning like any other dishonest man," Buchanan, "well read... a little deceitful," and Fillmore, "a frank open spoken man" all in a neat one-paragraph portrait of the entire 1856 field, presented from an ordinary Pennsylvania farmer. Second, and most important, is the prophecy: his warning that a sectional president elected by one section to "overrule" the other, "would create a war between North and South which would end in the dissolution of this glorious Union." Written four years before the election of 1860 which produced exactly that outcome! Here, Gordon writes, in part:

"I think I can write something as much as to say that Fremont as near as I can tell is a man of good wit and cunning like any other dishonest man. Buchannan (sic) is a well read man and appears to be very still, we hear more of his speeches. I believe him to be a little deceitful. Fillmore is a frank open spoken man does not fear to let the people know his mind. A man full of enthusiasm and freedom is for keeping the south on an equal footing with ourselves and giving them the same chance they form part of this great republic which should all be treated alike the south should have either the president or vice president from their parts because if the north possess the greatest number of electoral votes and elect a president to over rule the south the south will not Stand that neither would the north should the south possess the most electoral votes and should.

Elect a president to overrule the north this would create a war between North and South which would end in the dissolution (sic) of this glorious Union... that is enough on politics for me today. (Gordon continues on for another paragraph, ending with:) ... I notice the prejudices of men the deceitfulness of women. I see the consequences of exciting politics, it ends in mobs and Buckshot fights.” - Signed, "Cornelius L Gordon."

With Integral Address Panel made out to “C. D. Linskill” in the bottom portion of the second page. Transmittal folds and light creasing, with scattered foxing, corner tips have been slightly rounded, minor pinholes at fold intersections, and a small paper loss repair at the far outer left margin edge. This historic political letter which concludes with a small hand-drawn patriotic “American Eagle” in flight, located near the writer’s signature.
1856 was one of the most electric political years of the century: the first Republican presidential campaign (Fremont) against Democrat James Buchanan, Pennsylvania's own favorite son, with Know-Nothing Millard Fillmore running third. Gordon’s pro-Fillmore, sectional-balance reasoning is also historically illustrative of the American (Know-Nothing) Party's Unionist appeal in Pennsylvania. Third, the closing flourish "it ends in mobs and Buckshot fights" (possibly echoing memory of Pennsylvania's 1838 "Buckshot War"), and the small Hand-drawn American Eagle by the signature add color and nice folk-art charm.

The year was inflamed by "Bleeding Kansas," the caning of Senator Sumner, and the collapse of the Whigs. Pennsylvania was the pivotal battleground state; "As Pennsylvania goes, so goes the Union" was the cry, and Buchanan's narrow win there in October's state elections and November effectively decided the presidency. Luzerne County was contested ground, a Democratic-leaning county with growing anti-Nebraska sentiment in its rural Yankee-settled townships like Lehman.


[Antebellum Period, Election of 1856, Sectional Crisis] [James Buchanan, John C. Fremont, Millard Fillmore] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Political Ephemera]