In a major credentials battle, some of the Southern delegates were readmitted to the convention floor while others were not. The rancor of this debate led to yet another walkout -- this time by 110 delegates.
This time, the walkouts decided to hold their own "Southern Rights Convention," at which they nominated Kentuckian John C. Breckinridge and adopted a platform supporting passage of federal slave codes.
Meanwhile, back at their "real" convention, "loyal" Democrats nominated Stephen A. Douglas and adopted a platform in support of the Constitution and the Supreme Court, and opposed to slavery. So much for the "united we stand."
The 1860 Election - No Contest
Once the conventional smoke cleared, the presidential election of 1860 boiled down to a three-way race of one Republican - Lincoln, against two Democrats - Douglas and Breckinridge.
With their party hopelessly split, the Northern states solidly behind Lincoln and Democratic newspapers pushing ever harder for secession, neither Democrat stood a chance.
Abraham Lincoln was elected 16th President of the Unites States by a wide margin.
