Collection: J. M. Burke Letter | Special Collections & Archives

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

1860 September 17

Creator

Burke, J. M. (Person)

Biographical / Historical

J. M. Burke lived in Camden, Alabama, in 1860.

Extent

0.01 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

Letter from nephew to uncle discussing the chances of various political candidates in the 1860 election

Provenance

purchased from Ben Katz, 2015

General

To provide faster access to our materials, this finding aid was published without formal and final review. Email us at archives@ua.edu if you find mistakes or have suggestions to make this finding aid more useful for your research.