Lincoln and Liberty

LINCOLN AND LIBERTY 1860

In 1860, Jessie Hutchinson of New Hampshire’s Hutchinson Family Singers wrote a song that would help Lincoln win the presidency. The Hutchinsons were outspoken abolitionists and social activists who took their message in concert throughout the country and around the world. They had performed at many of Lincoln’s campaign appearances, and their book, The Hutchinson’s Republican Songster, was used at rallies everywhere. The melody they used came from the old song Rosin the Bow, which ironically was also used some years before as a campaign song for southern politician Henry Clay.