It is now the 1873 Confederate Presidential Election! Please vote in the comments!
The Confederate States Presidential Election of November 5th, 1873 was the 3rd presidential election held under the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America and the 1st presidential election held on a date that wasn't November 6th.
President Braxton Bragg's term in office had been a time of continued success for the young Confederacy. After a request from France, Bragg had intervened in the ongoing Mexican Civil War. This evolved into the Mexican-Confederate War, where Confederate armies fought against both sides in Mexico and ended up taking several northern Mexican states. General William Loring, with a smaller part of Generals James Longstreet, John C. Breckenridge, and Jefferson Davis, had largely led the war effort. Loring was now even more famous than he had been after the Southern War of Independence.
As the nation's most famous figure, Loring, who was a former Floridan State Representative before the War of Secession was constantly asked to run for president despite his wishes to remain out of the limelight. It was the personal urging of Jefferson Davis which changed his mind. Davis and Bragg had hoped to maintain a Confederacy free of political parties and Davis now viewed Loring as the best chance at maintaining that.
Stephens and the like minded politicians that formed the Confederate Liberty Party, along with Confederate citizens in the Deep South, believed that if Loring were to become President, he would be another General President that unnecessarily strengthen the federal government and the military. They believed in their vision of the Confederacy as a decentralized, agrarian, peaceful nation, with deeply entrenched support of slavery.
In the face of criticism, President Bragg still hoped to continue the tradition of electing nonpartisan military men as president. He and former president Davis believed that parties had no place in Southern politics and wanted to end the institution before it began. Loring envisioned a peaceful six year stint as president that would enhance his fame and guarantee comfy living for his family. He did not expect to be part of the most heated and divided campaign in Confederate history up to that point.
Former American Vice President and Former Confederate War Secretary and Virginia Senator. John C. Breckenridge would be chosen for his Military and Political experience and for his Pro-Davis stance.
The Confederate Liberty National Convention was held from July 5-9, 1873 in Birmingham, Alabama. Several party founders, including Robert M.T. Hunter, Albert G. Brown, and now Georgia Senator Stephens, met before the convention to essentially determine the candidate. After a few hours of deliberation, they unanimously decided to have Stephens run. He would quickly accept the nomination. They chose Texas Governor. John H. Reagan as Stephens running mate due to his Western appeal.
The convention, the first of its kind in the Confederacy, was raucous and loud, promoted as an event for the common man. The delegates unanimously nominated the party leaders' picks for president and vice president.
The campaign was civil at first, but quickly devolved into plain nastiness and a snowball fight as the months went on. Pent up anger at the policies of the generals and President Davis years before burst out at full speed. Stephens ran a populist campaign in the Deep South and much of the West, promising that he would return the Confederacy to the people. His campaign was much more direct than how he had run in 1867. He published his views in newspaper articles which were widely published. Beyond that he continued to serve in the Senate and conduct a limited front porch campaign. Reagan campaigned vigorously across the country, most frequently and most effectively in the Western Portion, especially Texas.
William Loring was a unique candidate, to say the least. He was sorta meh on politics, meaning that he did not have much passion for his campaign. He liked learning about politics and wanted to be President due to the fame and pension he would recieve alongside his Military pension, but didn't want to physically do it himself, instead delegating campaigning to his supporters who made up the Davis machine and Breckenridge. On the other hand, Loring was a devoted family man and had a genuine demeanor. Loring occasionally received visitors at his Florida home who often came away with a warm impression, even if they had initially gone as political opponents. Loring was known as a kind man who would go on story upon story about his old war days instead of making any meaningful policy proposals.
Stephens promised to create a decentralized, agrarian republic rooted in slavery. Loring's campaign pushed a more nationalistic vision, rooted in military strength and a strong overall economy and used Loring's warhero status.
The Confederate States Presidential Election of November 5th, 1873 was the 3rd presidential election held under the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America and the 1st presidential election held on a date that wasn't November 6th.
President Braxton Bragg's term in office had been a time of continued success for the young Confederacy. After a request from France, Bragg had intervened in the ongoing Mexican Civil War. This evolved into the Mexican-Confederate War, where Confederate armies fought against both sides in Mexico and ended up taking several northern Mexican states. General William Loring, with a smaller part of Generals James Longstreet, John C. Breckenridge, and Jefferson Davis, had largely led the war effort. Loring was now even more famous than he had been after the Southern War of Independence.
As the nation's most famous figure, Loring, who was a former Floridan State Representative before the War of Secession was constantly asked to run for president despite his wishes to remain out of the limelight. It was the personal urging of Jefferson Davis which changed his mind. Davis and Bragg had hoped to maintain a Confederacy free of political parties and Davis now viewed Loring as the best chance at maintaining that.
Stephens and the like minded politicians that formed the Confederate Liberty Party, along with Confederate citizens in the Deep South, believed that if Loring were to become President, he would be another General President that unnecessarily strengthen the federal government and the military. They believed in their vision of the Confederacy as a decentralized, agrarian, peaceful nation, with deeply entrenched support of slavery.
In the face of criticism, President Bragg still hoped to continue the tradition of electing nonpartisan military men as president. He and former president Davis believed that parties had no place in Southern politics and wanted to end the institution before it began. Loring envisioned a peaceful six year stint as president that would enhance his fame and guarantee comfy living for his family. He did not expect to be part of the most heated and divided campaign in Confederate history up to that point.
Former American Vice President and Former Confederate War Secretary and Virginia Senator. John C. Breckenridge would be chosen for his Military and Political experience and for his Pro-Davis stance.
The Confederate Liberty National Convention was held from July 5-9, 1873 in Birmingham, Alabama. Several party founders, including Robert M.T. Hunter, Albert G. Brown, and now Georgia Senator Stephens, met before the convention to essentially determine the candidate. After a few hours of deliberation, they unanimously decided to have Stephens run. He would quickly accept the nomination. They chose Texas Governor. John H. Reagan as Stephens running mate due to his Western appeal.
The convention, the first of its kind in the Confederacy, was raucous and loud, promoted as an event for the common man. The delegates unanimously nominated the party leaders' picks for president and vice president.
The campaign was civil at first, but quickly devolved into plain nastiness and a snowball fight as the months went on. Pent up anger at the policies of the generals and President Davis years before burst out at full speed. Stephens ran a populist campaign in the Deep South and much of the West, promising that he would return the Confederacy to the people. His campaign was much more direct than how he had run in 1867. He published his views in newspaper articles which were widely published. Beyond that he continued to serve in the Senate and conduct a limited front porch campaign. Reagan campaigned vigorously across the country, most frequently and most effectively in the Western Portion, especially Texas.
William Loring was a unique candidate, to say the least. He was sorta meh on politics, meaning that he did not have much passion for his campaign. He liked learning about politics and wanted to be President due to the fame and pension he would recieve alongside his Military pension, but didn't want to physically do it himself, instead delegating campaigning to his supporters who made up the Davis machine and Breckenridge. On the other hand, Loring was a devoted family man and had a genuine demeanor. Loring occasionally received visitors at his Florida home who often came away with a warm impression, even if they had initially gone as political opponents. Loring was known as a kind man who would go on story upon story about his old war days instead of making any meaningful policy proposals.
Stephens promised to create a decentralized, agrarian republic rooted in slavery. Loring's campaign pushed a more nationalistic vision, rooted in military strength and a strong overall economy and used Loring's warhero status.