The Whig Party continued to evaporate during the Buchanan administration. In the 1856 congressional elections, the Whig Party generally worked with other parties - the American Party in the South, the Union Party in Pennsylvania, and the Republican Party elsewhere. The Whigs did not sponsor its own candidates in the mid-term elections, either. In many states holding congressional elections in 1859, the non-Democratic party was officially the Opposition Party: AL, GA, KY, MS, NC, TN, and VA. Two Whigs running in North Carolina were the first official Whig candidates for the US House since 1855.

The Constitutional Union Party was launched on 2/5/1860. Former Pennsylvania Whigs, disappointed with the Democratic vs. Republican deadlock in the U.S. House, produced a circular calling a meeting in Philadelphia on that date. The circular, issued on 1/31/1860, stated that Millard Fillmore, John J. Crittenden, and Edward Everett would address the meeting. (New York Times, 2/1/1860). When the gathering finally met in National Hall, Philadelphia, on 2/5/1860, the promised leaders did not appear. Each sent a letter to the meeting, which were read. (New York Times, 2/6/1860)

On 2/22/1860, former leaders of the Whig Party and the American Party met in Washington DC. Crittenden was appointed chairman; among those gathered were the national chairmen of the two parties: Francis Granger (Whig) and Jacob Broom (American). The gathering adopted an address, calling for a national convention of a new party to be named the Constitutional Union Party. Each state was directed to hold state conventions immediately, name delegates to a national convention, and name two appropriate men to be considered for the presidency. All delegates were to be unpledged. (Virginia Free Press, 3/1/1860).

Constitutional Union National Convention, 1860
Chairman	Presidential Nominee	Vice Presidential Nominee
Former Gov. Washington Hunt NY	Former U.S. Sen. John Bell TN	Former U.S. Secy of State Edward Everett MA

Constitutional Union Party's National Convention

The only CUP National Convention was held in the Presbyterian Church house in Baltimore MD on 5/9-10/1860. The convention opened at noon with delegates from all states except OR and SC. There were 251 delegates present, representing 22 states.

Chairman: Washington Hunt NY

Committees were appointed; after a fruitless discussion of how to proceed with the nominations, a committee of one from each state was appointed to propose an agenda for the remainder of the convention. (New York Times, 5/10/1860).

When the convention assembled on the second day, the agenda committee reported. Its report was not fully received, and William L. Goggin proposed a change in wording that suited the delegates. Each state was allowed to cast as many votes as it had Presidential Electors.

When the first ballot for President was taken, the vote was generally scattered. Each large state supported a different candidate. John Bell placed first; his vote mostly came from a semi-circular cluster of states reaching from Delaware through PA and OH to TN. In these states, Bell won 51 votes to 34 for all others. Samuel Houston placed second; he was supported by the NY delegation and by IL, AR, and TX. Crittenden carried KY, MO, and VT. Edward Everett won MA and AL.

On the second ballot, Bell won the nomination. Bell gained 70 votes, while Houston gained only 12. Crittenden dropped out, and his delegates voted Bell-9, Houston-7, and others-12. Everett's first ballot delegates voted Bell-22, Houston-1, Everett-2. McLean's delegates voted Bell-16, others-3. Virginia put Bell over the top, after which some states shifted additional votes to him.

Presidential Balloting, CUP 1860
Contender: Ballot	1st	2d
John Bell TN	68.5	138
Samuel Houston TX	57	69
John J. Crittenden KY	28	1
Edward Everett MA	25	9.5
William A. Graham NC	24	18.5
John McLean OH	19	1
William C. Rives VA	13	0
Others	19.5	16

Bell's nomination was made unanimous. After a speech by a grandson of Patrick Henry, the convention adjourned until the afternoon.

In the final session of the convention, Edward Everett was unanimously nominated for Vice President. A national committee was appointed, after which the convention adjourned sine die. Daily National Intelligencer, 5/12/1860.

Popular Vote of 1860

Electoral Vote of 1860