A group of two (2) George McClellan presidential ticket-related documents. Items include: 

1. Democratic Republican printed ticket. [New Hampshire], 1864. 1 page, 3 x 3 ½ in., matted and framed to 7 x 7 ½ in. Features illustration of bald eagle holding an American flag with a banner reading “Constitution & Union” underneath. 

2. Anti-McClellan political cartoon. N.p., 1864. 1 page, 4 ½ x 3 ¼ in., matted and framed to 8 ¾ x 7 ½ in. Inscription to verso reads: “1864 Election, Anti McClellan / printed on thick stock.” Framer’s imprint to mount verso. 

George McClellan ran with Ohio U.S. Representative George Pendleton for the presidency, securing the Democratic nomination despite at first advocating for the Civil War to continue. He argued for completely restoring the Union no matter the cost, which is alluded to by the quotes on the Democratic Republican Ticket. But this became irrelevant — the Union began to edge ahead of the Confederates with General Sherman’s capture of Atlanta, increasing Lincoln’s chances of winning the presidency. By November’s election, Lincoln won 55% of the popular vote. 

The cartoon featured in this grouping shows what McClellan dissenters thought of his platform. McClellan is seen floating on a raft called the “Chicago Platform” through the Salt River with Pendleton holding onto a rope to stay on board. In the corner, “Little Mac” is saying: “If OLD PENDLETON hadn’t been aboard, I’d have got along better. And if I’d known what a poor craft this is, I’d never have got aboard.” 

This cartoon is lampooning the fact that McClellan was a War Democrat and Pendleton was a Peace Democrat. The 1864 convention delegates hoped that putting these two together would balance the ballot and give Democrats a better chance at securing the presidency. However, this was a poorly planned idea, as can be seen by the shoddy raft going up the Salt River, a metaphor signifying political defeat. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Broadsides, Ephemera, Printing, Posters, Handbills, Documents, Newspapers] [Abraham Lincoln, Politics, Mary Todd Lincoln, 1860 Election, Election of 1860, 1864 Election, Election of 1864, Lincoln Assassination, John Wilkes Booth]