The Liberty Party was moribund throughout the Buchanan administration. Gerrit Smith spent heavily to influence the 1858 midterm election in New York State and was greatly displeased with the lack of public support for the party.

The 1860 Convention

A convention of 100 delegates was held in Convention Hall, Syracuse NY, on 8/29/1860. Delegates were in attendance from NY, PA, NJ, MI, IL, OH, KY, and MA. Several of the delegates were women.

Chairman: T.E. McCormick OH

Gerrit Smith had sent a letter in which he stated that his health had been so poor that he had not been able to be away from home since 1858, but he remained popular in the party because he was named as an abolitionist who helped inspire some of John Brown's supporters at Harper's Ferry. In the letter, Smith donated $50 to pay for the printing of ballots in the various states.

The New York Times reported "there was quite a spirited contest between the friends of [Gerrit] Smith and William Goodell in regard to the nomination for the presidency." Gerrit Smith was nominated for President and Samuel McFarland PA for Vice President.

The New York delegation nominated Goodell for Governor at the convention; Frederick Douglass and Charles A. Hammond were nominated for Elector at Large.

In Ohio, a slate of Presidential Electors pledged to Smith ran with the name of the Union Party.

Liberty Party National Convention of 1852

Popular vote of 1860

Electoral Vote of 1860