The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-22
PAST pREsIDEn1IAL NOMINATIONS.
PART r1v.-coNoLuDED.

eapO in May, lcuOj w uOAniAoA'o '"0iA N''Ai'A
dates. No Fremont was wanted ON this oo-
oasion. for it was felt that the candidates
nominated here would assuredly be sworn into
office on the 4th of March, 1851 1t was only
the old heads of the party that were taken into
consideration. such as William II. Seward,
Abraham Lincoln, Simon Cameron, Salmon T.
Chase. Edward Bates, William L. Dayton,
John Mclean. Jacob Collamer, and one or two
otbars all of whom had strength enough to
make their nomination possible, and to give
them claims upon the party in case of victory.
Ofall these candidates, Mr.. Seward was inreality
the strongest and the general expectation
was that he would be the candidate chosen.
Having assisted at the birth Of the Republican
party, he had done more than any other
public man to give its principles. s.dignity, cur
renoy, and popularity, and his claims were
seconded by some of the most expert political
managers we have ever had. Indeed, we may
say that he was expected to walk over the
course and win the cup without an effort
Several causes conspired to disappoint the
hopes of his friends and give the nomination
TO Mr.. Lincoln. One Of these was the natural
inclination of all political parties to select as
their standard-bearer a man who represents
its principles, without having incurred the
Odium of originating them. Another was Mr..
Lincoln's merits as a man, and as Repub
lcan, which had been cOnspicuously dis
played in the recent and vividly remembered
contest with Mr.. Douglas Next to this in
importance, the convention met at Chicago in
Illinois, where the preference for Abraham
Lincoln was wild and passionate desire.
Chicago swarmed with the devoted adherents
of the Springfield lawyer, and deafened the
delegates with cheers for their favorite when
ever his name was mentioned There was
'something in the air." as we say, which
seemed to impel the wavering irresistibly to
crafty wish which beamed in every counte-
nance and was thundered from ten thousand
tongues.
But, perhaps, neither the merits of Abra-
ham Lincoln, great as they were, nor the en-
thusiasm of his friends, would have suficed,
If there had not been on the spot a man of un-
equalled influence over the minds of Western
Republicans, who had come all the way from
New York to Chicago for the purpose of advis-
ing Republicans not to nominate Mr.. Seward.
This was Horace Greeley, the man who had
done more than any other to commend and
sustain the person to whose selection he was
now opposed. Some years before, there had
been a movement in New York to nominate
Mr.. Greeley to the Governorship of the State
and surely, if ever services to party can give
claim to the honors of party, he was entitled
to any office in the power of his party to be-
stow. We might go further, and say that,
If substantial and long continued services to
the country, if giving to its civilization an
impulse, and to its industry development
and information, can ever constitute claim
(Which, however, we deny) to the sutfrages
of the people for high Office, then
Horace Greeley is entitled to any which the
people have to give. The occasional errors of
the editor of the Tribune, chief among which
we regard his devotion to the protective sys-
faTn IN
merits as a public teacher. There has never
been in the United States writer more influ-
ential to change votes than he, and his SER
vices to his party have never been confined to
the labors of his pen. During every imp ort-
ant political campaign, he has been accus-
toned, besides doing two mems work upon
his paper, to address four or five audiences
week There are more eloquent speakers
than he but there is, perhaps, no man
whose public addresses, moderate, digni-
fed, and skilful, decide more votes than his.
Such had been some of this able mans SER
vices to his party for twenty years. But
when, at length, some of his friends proposed
to recognize these services by placing him in
nomination for the Governorship of his State,
the project was opposed by the more imme-
diate and intimate adherents of Mr.. Seward,
and it was certainly not favored by Mr.. Sew
ard himself. Then it was that the editor of
the Tribune, in celebrated letter, gave notice
long existed between " Seward, Weed &
Greeley was dissolved by the Withdrawal of
the junior partner" and that thenceforth he
should consider himself at liberty either to
oppose or support the head of that firm, on
public grounds alone. Since Horace Greeley
is human being, it is reasonable to suppose
that his course at Chicago, in opposing Mr..
Seward, was in some degree influenced by the
events just related. He may not have been
conscious of the fact; but men are often un-
conscious of the motives which really control
their conduct. He had, moreover, fully per
suaded himself that Mr.. Seward was not the
strongest candidate of the Republican party in
some OF the States necessary to be carried,
and he was also of opinion that it was desira-
bic to introduce into the city of Washington
the tactics which had long prevailed at
Albany. He was aware, too, that the election
OF Mr.. Seward to the Presidency would place
Mr. !hurloW Weed in position of command
ing influence, and give rival newspaper
advantages OF inestimable value.
In the Tribune, for months before the con-
Venton met, and at Chicago during its session,
ne threw the whole weight of his influence and
nus talents against Mr.. Seward, and his opposi-
lion was decisive. Upon the first ballot,
seward received one hundred and seventy
three votes; Lincoln, one hundred and two;
cameron, nifty; Chase, forty-nine: Bates
ioIty-elght; Dayton, fourteen; Mclean. twelve.
Collamer, ten; scattering, six. Neither
candidate, therefore, came near baviDo a
majority OF the whole number: but everv tiroa
the vote was taken, Mr.. Lincoln goiUad 80
Mr.. Seward lost Cameron and CoIIannar