1866 National Union Convention

Political conventions in Philadelphia
Meeting of the National Union Convention at Philadelphia, August 14, 1866—Sketched by C. H. Wells (Harper's Weekly, September 1, 1866)

The National Union Convention (also known as the Loyalist Convention, the Southern Loyalist Convention, the National Loyalists' Loyal Union Convention, or the Arm-In-Arm Convention) was held on August 14–16, 1866, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]

Convention

The convention was called in Philadelphia before the midterm elections of 1866, in an attempt to encourage political support for US President Andrew Johnson, who was under attack by both moderate and Radical Republicans. Johnson's friends tried to rally support for his lenient pro-South Reconstruction policies. Some hoped to create a new political party, but that goal was not realized.[2] For their part, Republican-aligned newspapers called it the Rebel–Johnson convention, insinuating Johnson's true loyalty was to the Confederacy.[3]

Delegates gathered at a hastily built temporary structure that was designed to accommodate the several thousand people expected to attend. Formally called "the Wigwam," the immense edifice was on Girard Avenue, between 19th and 20th Streets, across from Philadelphia's Girard College.[2]

The convention voted on a resolution supporting black suffrage. Governor Arthur I. Boreman argued against it as "we did not come here to commit suicide" and that passing the resolution would have them "damned to all eternity". Frederick Douglass, attending the convention despite pleas from Oliver P. Morton, was one of two black delegates to the convention and argued for passing the resolution.[4]

About 7000 prominent politicians and activists attended the convention. At its opening, representatives from Massachusetts (General Darius Nash Couch) and South Carolina (Governor James Lawrence Orr) paraded arm-in-arm to symbolize national reconciliation and social equity. The convention was called to order by US Postmaster General Alexander Randall. General (and former New York Governor and Senator) John Adams Dix served as the temporary chairman and Wisconsin Senator James R. Doolittle served as permanent convention president.

In the end, the convention was not successful in unifying the country behind Johnson. He launched a speaking tour (known as the "Swing Around the Circle") hoping to regain public and political support. On the speaking tour, Johnson at times attacked his Republican opponents with crude and abusive language and on several occasions appeared to have had too much to drink. Ultimately, the tour was a disaster for Johnson and emboldened Congress to override him and to impeach him in 1868.[2]

Notable attendees

Notable attendees of the National Union Convention include:

Clement Vallandigham, a copperhead from Ohio, was elected to the convention but withdrew to avoid disturbing the harmony of the convention.

Thomas Nast's rendition of news reports about the convention

See also

References

  1. ^ McKitrick (1960), pp. 394–420.
  2. ^ a b c Wagstaff (1968).
  3. ^ "Johnson argues post-Civil War Congress is unrepresentative". The Franklin Repository. 1866-08-29. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Abbott 1986, p. 68-71.

Works cited

  • Abbott, Richard (1986). The Republican Party and the South, 1855-1877: The First Southern Strategy. University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0807816809.
  • McKitrick, Eric (1960). Andrew Johnson and Reconstruction. University of Chicago Press. pp. 394–420. LCCN 60005467. OCLC 1476846.
  • Wagstaff, Thomas (1968). "The Arm-in-Arm Convention". Civil War History. 14 (2): 101–119. doi:10.1353/cwh.1968.0036. S2CID 144301855.

Further reading

  • The proceedings of the National union convention, held at Philadelphia, August 14, 1866 at Internet Archive. primary sources

External links

  • Address to President, by Hon. Reverdy Johnson, Aug. 18, 1866, communicating proceedings National Union Convention entered into the record of Johnson's impeachment trial.
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