The New York Times, June 12, 1860
Lincoln and Hamlin Enthusiasm
St. Louis, Wednesday, June 6, 1860.
Republicanism is no sham in Missouri. Whatever may be its guise in other Slave States, here it stands out boldly and defiantly, in its true colors. The party which dominates our city, and which in the last four years has passed under the various names of the Benton Democracy, the Free Democracy, and the Emancipationists, sent its delegate to Chicago, and now unfurls the standard of LINCOLN and HAMLIN. The canvass has commenced with considerable energy, despite the disadvantage of there being no Democratic candidate in the field. Like good soldiers and true sons of the venerated sires of Bunker Hill, the Republicans like to see the faces of their enemies before they commence firing. A Lincoln and Hamlin Club has been formed by the young men of the party, and will do efficient service in the campaign. EDWARD BATES would have so concentrated the Opposition vote in this State, if he had been the chosen candidate at Chicago, that Missouri’s electoral vote would have been cast for a Republican President. LINCOLN will not be able to obtain any larger vote here than Mr. SEWARD would have received; he will get probably this city and a few hundred votes from Saint Joseph and the German settlements in the interior, but not enough perceptibly to affect the Democratic majority.
It will require great energy and both tact and talent in FRANK BLAIR to carry his district in August, and should an American ticket play the same part in 1860 as in 1858, the result will be either a democratic Representative from St. Louis, or another contested election case. If BLAIR could command the same vote as the present Mayor did in 1859, he would have a clean majority of over two thousand votes; but if that vote is resolved back into into its components by a BELL and EVERETT candidate complicating the canvass, Mr. BLAIR will have, if successful, but a bare majority. What part the Bell and Everett ticket will have in Missouri as yet remains dubious. The old Whig and American element is potential in the State if properly managed, and the Baltimore nominations command a very hearty support. There is some talk of an agreement with the Americans to secure the election of BLAIR and the Republican county nominees, provided the Republicans will vote for the Bell and Everett Presidential electors. In 1856 the Germans and friends of FREMONT voted the FILLMORE ticket under protest in preference to BUCHANAN; and should the BELL and EVERETT ticket continue in the field they may pursue the same policy this Fall. The nomination at Baltimore of a Democratic candidate will be of so great influence upon all political movements that no calculations can be safely made while that essential element is so varying and uncertain.