Millard Fillmore Presidential Election Letter

Autograph Letter Signed D.D.T. Cowen, 1pp oblong octavo, St. Clairsville, Ohio, October 31, 1856, addressed to John B. Ward, Hendrysburg, Ohio, and reads "We send you by today's omnibus the Republican tickets for your township. The Fillmore Tickets are all printed on red paper…" Fine condition. In the 1856 presidential election, former President Millard Fillmore ran as the candidate of the American (Know Nothing) Party, presenting himself as a moderate alternative to Republican John C. Frémont and Democrat James Buchanan. Fillmore emphasized preserving the Union, enforcing the Compromise of 1850 (including the Fugitive Slave Act), and reducing sectional conflict over slavery, while also supporting the nativist platform of restricting immigration and limiting the political influence of Catholics. He argued that both the Republicans and Democrats were driving the nation toward disunion. Although he won only Maryland's eight electoral votes and about 21.5% of the popular vote, his candidacy demonstrated the brief national appeal of the American Party before it rapidly declined as the slavery issue overshadowed other political concerns.