NEWLY DISCOVERED FIRST PRINTING OF "WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE... " FROM THE ONLY NEWSPAPER ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN LINCOLN’S SECOND INAUGURAL PROCESSION

[LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865)]. Sunday Morning Chronicle. Reinauguration of President Lincoln. Washington, D.C.: The Sunday Chronicle, 5 March 1865. Vol. IV, No. 48. 4pp., large folio (737 x 521 mm), old folds, some splits and small losses at folds. VERY RARE EARLY ISSUE OF A WASHINGTON, D.C. ACCOUNT OF LINCOLN’S SECOND TERM PROCESSION. The presidential election of 1864 took place during the American Civil War, with Lincoln running as the incumbent against the Democratic opponent, George B. McClellan. The Republicans ran on the platform of preserving the Union and ending slavery, while the Democrats, particularly the faction known as Peace Democrats or Copperheads, sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict, appealing to those tired of the war. Despite the challenging circumstances, the election resulted in a decisive victory for Lincoln, which was seen as an endorsement of his leadership during the Civil War. Lincoln became the first Northern president ever to win re-election and the first president to win re-election since Andrew Jackson in 1832. Lincoln’s successful re-election ensured that he would preside over the conclusion of the Civil War, bringing an end to the conflict and addressing the post-war challenges, including the Reconstruction of the Southern states. He was just 42 days into his second term when he was assassinated on 15 April 1865. An exceedingly rare issue, with no copies listed at auction or institutionally.