I thank you, in common with all others, who have thought fit, by their votes, to indorse the Republican cause. I rejoice with you in the success which has, so far, attended that cause. Yet in all our rejoicing let us neither express, nor cherish, any harsh feeling towards any citizen who, by his vote, has differed with us. Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling. — 1860

My Take – We are all Americans, no matter our political feelings.  The spite that keeps going on after the elections is nothing but that, spite.  When we dehumanize our opponents too long, we run the risk of forgetting that they are indeed human, which is a dangerous place to be.  In short, once the election is over, the election should be over and we should get on with running the country together.