Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-05-25
CHICAGO, May 18th, 1860.
Nv last letter was written II

Ny last letter was written in
the recess after the nomination Of Mr.. Lincoln and
before the balloting for Vice President, and was
cut short as was about to say something concern
ing the course Of the Vermont delegation in the
convention. I think have mentioned that the
Vermonters had been subjected to unusual press
ure from the friends Of the different candidates for
the nomination. 1t was so, at any rate. 1t was
generally known that the STATE Of Vermont would
like to vote for Mr.. Seward in preference to any
other living man. The delegation came to Chicago
unpledged 10 any man, but understood TO be, with
two, or perhaps three, exceptions, in favor Of Mr.
Seward. They were beset at once by Bates men,
by Lincoln men, by Seward men, by Chase men.
They were waited on in form at their headquarters
in Lind's Block, by committees Of the delegations
from Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Illinois,
New Jersey, who argued the thing at length. They
were button-holed by day and caucused with by
nj ght, by delegates and outsiders. The friends Of
every other candidate, while urging their own men,
united in the assertion that Mr. Seward, whose
pre-ominence and claims upon the party they
freely acknowledged could not Be sle-ie{. This
single point was hammered on with constant and
steady stroke. The Pennsylvania uon said He
cannot carry Pennsylvania We know our own
State better than any one else can, and we know
it is So The Indiana men said " he cannot carry
Indiana; nor can we carry it at our State election
with Mr.. Seward in nomination.) which is i'm
mensely important, for we have then TO elect not
only our State ticket but a Legislature by which
L 5. Senator is to be chosen and the State 70
be re-districted for Congressman under tho next
census, which will add fifteen new members 10
Congress fromtheNorthwest. Tho gain will be made
to enurc to the Democracy if the State is lost The
Illinois delegates said "Our State election is fully
as important that o { l indiana for the same con
siderations, and under Mr. Seward we shall lose II
as we'll as the Presidential election" The New
Jersey men said "Mr. Seward cannot carry our
State Connecticut shook its head at Nj Seward.
These assertions failed indeed to convince those
who perceived that the Pennsylvanians hal not
shown that any distinctive Republican could make
stronger run in their State than Mr.. Seward; |
that Indiana must, Seward CT no Seward, be con-
sidered doubtful against united Democracy; that
outside Of the Illinois delegation two out Of every
three Republicans and Republican journals, were
ready TO own that Seward Lincoln would carry
Illinois as strongly as Lincoln and some other
man; that there was danger Of adding New
York to the doubtful States with any other nomi-
nee than Mr.. Seward; that the decentralization and
coming rupture of the Democracy vas likely TO
allow any Republican nominee to walk over the
course; and consequently it safe to tako the
hor IIolI 81 ! n.
if their word or vote could do it,-Wm. H.Seward;
but the assertions of his opponents reiterated and
unqualified, did convince the Vt. delegation that
Mr.. Seward could not be elected and they reluct-
intly abandoned him. Nor is this surprising,
when it is remembered that the opposition to Mr..
seward was conducted by such men as Thaddeus
stevens and David Wilmot, and Ito be) Gov. Curtin
If Pennsylvania; by Henry s. Lane, Governor in
prospect Of Indiana; by Horace Greeley, David
dudley Field of New York, and many other
hrewd and able talkers; while Mr., Stewards
rends, (and this is most important considera-
ion) were injured by the faint of corruption from
he venality of the last n. Y. State Legislature.
from the remotest completely with that corruption
ir. Seward and most of his friends were entirely
rec; but others not so free from it. and their
omplcity, justly or unjustly, weakened the hands.
nd INSTRUCTED the efforts of the entire New York
halanx.
The balloting commenced. 1t was we'll IN =
erstood that the first ballot would be indecisivo,
nd Vermont cast her ten votes for Mr.. CoITamer.
his surprised many, and one delegate even OBJ |
scted to the reception of the vote on the ground
hat no such candidate had been named 10 tho Con-
ention. The Chair Of course decided that any '
elegate could vote for whom he chose, and the |
aIloting went on. It's result showed that the
hoice lay between Mr. Seward and Mr. Lincoln, ;
nd on the next ballot the ten votes Of Vermont ,
Iere given to the latter. This presaged and
realty influenced the final result. 1t is perhaps I
90 much to assert that the vote Of Vermont de- u
ided the matter but still the fact that Vermont,
nth all her preference for Mr.. Seward, was >
be first State to change her vote entire to Mr. E
lincoln, was a most unfavorabe omen for Mr..
eward's prospects, and the faces of his friends t
ropped visbly the vote Of Vermont was de- S
Jared.
I need not follow the figures of the baIlotugs r
he third ballot was concluded, but not declared, 0
nd there was still no choice, when Mr.. Carter Of Il
hio changed four additional votes to Mr.. Lin Z