The American Party in the Pierce Administration
The American Party was only nominally affiliated with the earlier Native American Party. The earlier party had an identical policy focus, but the American Party was based upon a secret society formed in 1849 by Charles B. Allen of New York State. This secret society, named the Order of the Star-Spangled Banner, was the first to require its members not to answer questions regarding the organization (hence the label "Know Nothings").
The OSSB became the dominant secret society in the years 1852-1854. During this time, Catholic bishops asked states for money to operate their schools and directed Catholic children in public schools not to use the King James Version of the Bible. OSSB leaders reached out to all levels of society, claiming that the Catholics were part of a grand conspiracy to overturn Protestantism in the USA. Since the organization survived on voluntary dues, its membership was open to anyone. A second contributing factor was the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which was supported by many Northern politicians and gave the impression that members of Congress of both parties were entirely out of touch with their constituents.
The first political test of the OSSB and its political organization, named the American Party, came in the 1854 elections. It scored many remarkable and unexpected victories throughout the North. At least 75 of its members were elected to the U.S. House in the 1854-55 elections as part of the grand anti-administration landslide. The party swept several states, including Massachusetts, whose legislature was overwhelmingly American. It played a major role in turning the tide in Pennsylvania, where the moribund Whig Party won the governorship with American support. The party also succeeded in electing Nathaniel P. Banks as the new Speaker of the U.S. House.
The American Party's success was quite short-lived, as the first indication of collapse came in 1855. At the national council meeting in 6/1855, Southern delegates exercised their control even though the organization was far weaker in the South than in the North. A new "Twelfth Article" of the party platform was passed, forbidding Congress from interfering with slavery. Several Northern members left, including Henry Wilson MA.
The national committee called the national convention to meet in Philadelphia on George Washington's birthday. As northern states began to nominate their delegates, however, several southern states requested that the convention be postponed until later in the summer so the party could respond to the nominations by other parties [NYT 1/9/1856]. State meetings throughout the nation were heavily attended; for example, 500 delegates attended the New Hampshire American convention on 2/5/1856 [NYT 2/6/1856].
The American Party National Convention
The convention was held in National Hall, Philadelphia. It was advertised as two separate but related events: the organizing convention (which would approve the party platform) on 2/18 to 21 and the nominating convention on 2/22/1856. Delegates were slow to arrive in time for the opening of the earlier portion because train service was slow to Philadelphia just before the convention [NYT 2/18/1856]. The NYT reported that just before the earlier portion assembled, the delegates were already strategizing. Northern and Western delegates were trying to form a coalition to drop the Twelfth Section of the 1855 platform and nominate George Law for president. The Law partisans were ardently opposed to postponing a nomination until later in the year. At the time, he was the clear front runner, though several large states (particularly Massachusetts) were firmly opposed to him. NYT 2/18/1856.
The earlier portion of the convention was held in Sansom Hall, Philadelphia. A quorum did not appear until 2/21. Immediately following the initial prayer, a New York delegate called for disciplinary action against the Ohio delegation, which had assisted an anti-slavery minor party in the 1855 state election in New York State rather than the American ticket. The convention quickly became out of order. The old platform was stricken by a vote of 138-51 on a mostly sectional roll call. NYT 2/22/1856.
The second portion of the convention, called at the time the nominating convention, assembled on 2/22/1856. Some states sent separate delegates to this gathering. The NYT reported on 2/23/1856 that the two most active candidates were Law and Fillmore. Northern delegations were still interested in postponing a decision.
The convention assembled in National Hall, on Market Street near 13th Street, Philadelphia, at 11:00 a.m. on 2/22/1856. The temporary chairman was Isaac Hazlehurst of Philadelphia. Committees on credentials and organization were appointed in the morning session.
When the convention re-assembled at 3:00 p.m., the credentials committee was not ready to report. The committee on organization recommended Ephraim Marsh NJ for permanent chairman and a series of men for vice-presidents of the convention. The credentials committee voted to seat the Catholic delegation from Louisiana. It was unable to decide how to proceed with two competing Pennsylvania delegations (one anti-slavery). After hours of fruitless debate, the convention had to leave the hall, which had been previously rented for a dance.
The convention re-assembled in Sansom Hall at 7:45 p.m. The credentials committee recommending seating the Free Soil delegation from Pennsylvania. This caused a general uproar. A minority report was proposed, in addition to a call for seating contested delegates who were chosen in open meetings rather than closed meetings. [NYT 2/23/1856].
The convention met all day on 2/23 but accomplished nothing. Various delegates gave speeches regarding altering the platform, working for a compromise plank on slavery. Former U.S. Rep. Call of Florida left the convention in disgust; he had intended to work for compromise but saw no way forward. On 2/24, most Southern delegates held a conference. They agreed to bolt the convention if the 12th Section of the 1855 platform could not be sustained. [NYT 2/25/1856]
The session of 2/25 was as contentious as earlier sessions. The Pennsylvania delegation opened the session calling for restoring the Missouri Compromise. During the roll call on the resolution, each delegate was allowed three minutes to explain his vote. This was an interesting but very time-consuming decision. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 141-60.
The delegates remained uncontrollable. A series of speeches on how to nominate a presidential candidate ensued. It was decided to call the roll of states. Fillmore, Law, Johnston, and McLean were placed in nomination. The convention agreed to hold an informal ballot first. The Connecticut delegation bolted when it was called. The result of the ballot: Fillmore 71 to 70 for 11 others (Law 27, Davis 13, Stockton 8, and McLean 7). Altogether, only 141 of the 277 delegates voted.
Following a one-hour recess, the formal ballot was taken. Once it was clear the Fillmore had a majority, several states shifted votes to him.
| ANC Presidential balloting, 1856 |
| Candidate: ballot | Informal | Formal before shifts | Formal after shifts |
| Millard Fillmore | 71 | 126 | 179 |
| George Law | 27 | 34 | 24 |
| Garrett Davis | 13 | 25 | 10 |
| John McLean | 7 | 19 | 13 |
| Kenneth Rayner | 2 | 8 | 15 |
| Scattering | 28 | 13 | 3 |
The convention then nominated Andrew J. Donelson for Vice President with 181 votes to 12 for Henry J. Gardiner and 18 scattering. Donelson, who was a Tennessee delegate, accepted the nomination on the floor.
Seceding Anti-Slavery Delegates
Fifty-four bolting delegates assembled on 2/24 the Merchant's Hotel. They signed a protest against the larger convention and decided to meet later as the North American Party. [NYT 2/26/1856].
Fillmore accepted the nomination in a long letter; excerpts of the letter were printed the next day in the New York Times (6/13/1856).
Popular Vote of 1856
Electoral Vote of 1856
Other key sources:
Ira B. Leonard and Robert D. Parmet, American Nativism, 1830-1860 (NYC: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1971)
Tyler Anbinder, Nativism and Slavery (NYC: Oxford Univ. Press, 1992).
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