The 1885 Confederate States Presidential Election is here. Vote in the comments.
The Confederate States Presidential Election of November 4th, 1885 was the 5th presidential election held under the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America and the first held on November 4th.
President. James Longstreet and Former Presidents Jefferson Davis and William Loring quickly settled on Simon Bolivar Buckner, a hero of the Mexican-Confederate War and War of Secession to succeed them. He graciously accepted the endorsement.
Edward Porter Alexander, Longstreet's War Secretary and Former Georgia Governor, would be chosen as Simon Buckner's running mate.
The Confederate Liberty National Convention was held from June 13th-14th, 1885 in Birmingham, Alabama. The party decided to have Stephens run. Senator Stephens was quickly becoming sickly, but accepted it anyways.
The party wanted to have a military man as Stephens' running mate to counteract Buckner's war popularity. Alot of the military establishment was unwilling to oppose Buckner, Longstreet, Loring, and Davis. The Confederate Liberty Party eventually got Wade Hampton III, who was currently serving as the Senator of South Carolina and formerly served as Governor of South Carolina. Unlike most of the other officers, Hampton had often been at odds with his military colleagues and had a particular dislike of the Nonpartisan policies that he felt plagued the Confederacy- he was all too willing to oppose him. Hampton felt continually spurned by these men who had passed over him for public glory and office. Thus, his agreement to run with Stephens was born out of a firm commitment to party values, a personal vendetta, and a wish to finally receive his deserved time on top. He hoped to serve as vice president and then run for president in 1891 on the Confederate Liberty Party ticket.
The Confederate Liberty Party leaders considered his personal political views to be of little consequence. The name of a famous general on the ballot was all they were after.
Stephens continued to serve in the Senate and conduct a limited front porch campaign. Hampton campaigned vigorously across the country, most frequently and most effectively in his home state of South Carolina. Wade Hampton III, despite serving in the Senate, conducted a much more active presence on the Campaign Trail.
Simon Bolivar Buckner campaigned extensively. He went on a speaking tour of battleground states like Texas, Missouri, Tennessee. With only 12 states in the C.S.A., winning or losing a single one could easily mean victory or defeat. The main battleground was Texas, which was growing rapidly and now had the most electoral votes in the country. Whoever won Texas was likely to win the whole election.
Overall, Stephens promised to create a decentralized, agrarian republic rooted in slavery. Buckner promised a more nationalist vision rooted in military strength and a strong overall economy.
The Confederate States Presidential Election of November 4th, 1885 was the 5th presidential election held under the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America and the first held on November 4th.
President. James Longstreet and Former Presidents Jefferson Davis and William Loring quickly settled on Simon Bolivar Buckner, a hero of the Mexican-Confederate War and War of Secession to succeed them. He graciously accepted the endorsement.
Edward Porter Alexander, Longstreet's War Secretary and Former Georgia Governor, would be chosen as Simon Buckner's running mate.
The Confederate Liberty National Convention was held from June 13th-14th, 1885 in Birmingham, Alabama. The party decided to have Stephens run. Senator Stephens was quickly becoming sickly, but accepted it anyways.
The party wanted to have a military man as Stephens' running mate to counteract Buckner's war popularity. Alot of the military establishment was unwilling to oppose Buckner, Longstreet, Loring, and Davis. The Confederate Liberty Party eventually got Wade Hampton III, who was currently serving as the Senator of South Carolina and formerly served as Governor of South Carolina. Unlike most of the other officers, Hampton had often been at odds with his military colleagues and had a particular dislike of the Nonpartisan policies that he felt plagued the Confederacy- he was all too willing to oppose him. Hampton felt continually spurned by these men who had passed over him for public glory and office. Thus, his agreement to run with Stephens was born out of a firm commitment to party values, a personal vendetta, and a wish to finally receive his deserved time on top. He hoped to serve as vice president and then run for president in 1891 on the Confederate Liberty Party ticket.
The Confederate Liberty Party leaders considered his personal political views to be of little consequence. The name of a famous general on the ballot was all they were after.
Stephens continued to serve in the Senate and conduct a limited front porch campaign. Hampton campaigned vigorously across the country, most frequently and most effectively in his home state of South Carolina. Wade Hampton III, despite serving in the Senate, conducted a much more active presence on the Campaign Trail.
Simon Bolivar Buckner campaigned extensively. He went on a speaking tour of battleground states like Texas, Missouri, Tennessee. With only 12 states in the C.S.A., winning or losing a single one could easily mean victory or defeat. The main battleground was Texas, which was growing rapidly and now had the most electoral votes in the country. Whoever won Texas was likely to win the whole election.
Overall, Stephens promised to create a decentralized, agrarian republic rooted in slavery. Buckner promised a more nationalist vision rooted in military strength and a strong overall economy.