Sectional Party of 1860

Joshism

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Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Location
Jupiter, FL
A common criticism of Southerners against Lincoln and the Republicans were that they represented a "sectional party."

Given that the Constitution makes not mention of political parties a sectional party candidate being elected might seem wrong to some but it's not unconstitutional.

But more importantly in 1860 Southerners bolted the Democratic party because they refused to accept Stephan Douglas as a presidential candidate. Thus even if Breckinridge had been elected his victory would have also represented the election of a sectional party. Arguably there were only sectional parties in 1860: 2 Northern, 1 Southern, 1 border states & upper South.
 
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