OCTOBER 11, 1864:
U.S. Federal elections are traditionally
held on Tuesdays due to the fact that holding elections on Mondays might force voters
to travel on the Sabbath. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays were excluded due to
a Constitutional requirement making the first Wednesday in December the
deadline day for choosing Presidential Electors. Wednesdays, however, were usually
market days in early agrarian America, and hence already very busy. The first
federal Election Day law was passed in 1845, and most States followed suit out
of convenience. However, to this day, local elections, primaries, and other
public votes can be held any time.
Today
is Election Day in one-third of the
Union States. Ballots are cast today, not for President, but for Governors and
members of the House of Representatives (Senators are still elected by State
legislatures). A carefully watching Confederacy prays for the northern
Democrats to sweep; but in fact, today ends in a Republican landslide. While
they don’t guarantee Lincoln’s re-election, the across-the-board victories of
the Republican Party indicate that Lincoln will be swept into office come
November. In any event, Republican control of Congress means that even if a
Peace Administration wins the Presidency, it will probably be incapable of
mustering support for a quick end to the war.
Maryland
formally abolishes slavery.
Confederate
morale continues to plummet. Desertions increase again.
