Letter

The collection contains a letter from J. M. Burke to his uncle discussing the chances of various political candidates in the 1860 election. After some discourse about how Douglas is "on the rise" and "a great man" and that he would "vote for him if I thought he wanted my vote to carry Ala. against Bell of Ga, but I am in principle a Whig", Burke tallies the electoral college like this: Bell with 73 votes (although Burke's estimations actually come to 81: New York - 10; Delaware - 3; New Jersey - 3; Virginia - 15; Maryland - 8; North Carolina - 11; Florida - 3; Louisiana - 7; Tennessee - 11; and Kentucky - 10-) and Douglas with 115 (New York - 25; Pennsylvania - 25; Illinois - 11; Indiana - 11; Maine - 8: Iowa - 4; Rhode Island - 3; Connecticut - 6; Ohio - 15; Missouri - 7). In fact, he was completely wrong as Bell won only 39, Douglas only 12, Breckinridge took 69, and Lincoln carried the election with 180 votes.