Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-07-04
ILLINOIS VICTORY. ''
How Lincoln's Nomination Was So
cured in 1860.
The Work Which David Davis Did
for the Railsplitter-ThurIO
Weeds Dcfcat-The
Total Cost.
IRen. Perlev Poore.


Tie second National Republican conven
ton was called to meet at Chicago Oh
W ednesday, May l6, 1860, and Mr. Seward
friends regarded his nomination for presi
| dent as certain. The Illinois state Repub
lican convention met at Decatur foItnigh
previous. 1t was attended by the politica
friends Of Abraham Lincoln, who had writ
ten urging them to come, as he thought tina
if supported by the Illinois delegation HI
might secure the nomination. Few Of then
agreed with him, but they worked zealously
for him, and elected three Lincoln delegates
at-large-David Davis, Norman b. Judd anc
Stephen I. Logan The other delegate, Or
vile II. Browning, was Bates man, bu
Lincoln approved Of his election, saying thai
Bates would have no show, and that wher
Browning saw this, he would not only e
| over to him, but would take some of hi.
friends with him.
Judge Davis had never attended primary
meeting or a caucus, much less convention
but Lincoln prevailed upon him TO 20 tc
Chicago and conduct his campaign. The
judge arrived on the scene OF action the
Saturday night previous to the meeting Of
the convention. He found that the parlori
at the hotels had all been engaged, and ht
had to establish his headquarters in two small
connecting rooms in the third story of, the
fremont house. The outlook was not en-
couraging, as the only Lincoln men on the
ground were a few a the delegates from
Illinois and Indiana. Thurlow Weed had
thoroughly organized the Seward cohorts,
and the streets were filed with thousands
who were shouting the New York war cry.
Lincon's raw levies were scattered far and
wide, and left at the mercy Of disciplined
politicians. They had no organization.
They were even without a headquarters.
The hotels were packed with the noisy
friends Of Bates and Seward.
David Davis proved himself political
Carnot, and threw the Railsplitter's flag to
the breeze The raw levies were gathered
and disciplined. Night and day was be busy,
forming combinations and visiting deiega,
tons Horace Greeley, under the guise of {,
delegate from Oregon, appeared as the leader
of the Bates men, and Thurlow Weel footed
defiance from his Seward bhgle Davis Wis
tied both leaders, and was showered with
chaiI. But his raw levies were not without
backing. On Saturday night he tc'egraphed
TO the lawyers of the eighth cilcai' assuring
them that Old Abe's stock was risil. and that
its value would be greatly ENHANCED by the
presence Of his friends in force. It was an
electric shock. The state was aroused. On
Monday and Tuesday trains poured into tho
city overlooking with Lincoln shouters.
They We're enthusiastic friends, who gladly
paid their own way out of love for Lincoln
They massed themselves in the streets, and
raised din that astonished the noisy re-
tainers Of Seward. They thronged the cor
ridors of the hotels, and awoke the echoes of
the night with their cheers. Hourly their
number increased They poured into the
wigwam as soon az the doors were opened,
and the very atmosphere Of the convention
seemed surcharged with their enthusiasm.
The two small rooms on the third floor Of
the fremont house were the scene Of UNI
wontei activity. Every order was promptly
executed. Lawyers acted as messengers and
ju iges watched the cars for belated dele
gates. Under Dayis's guidance the Wort,
was thoroughly done. When he entered the
city on Saturday night barely fifty weak
kneed delegates stood under the Lincoln aag
On the first ballot the Railsplittcr poilcl l03
votes TO 1881 for Seward and is for Bates.
The lanky cohorts in the gallery nearly lifted
the roof with their cheers. The second ballot
gave Lincoln Isl, Seward 1851 and Bates -.
Again the brawny Ofriends of Old Abe roared
with delight The Seward men turned pale,
AMI Thurlow's knees snote together as he
saw the writing on the wall. Lincoln was
nominated ON the next ballot by a vote Of
:jj5i to ll0j5 for Seward, and the whole state
OF Illinois was thrown into ocstacy That
night Judge Davis went to bed for the first
time in six days having conquered ut a total
cost, ali told, of 500.
Judge Davis went 10 Springfield on the
next day, and had long interview with Mr..
The candidate offered to refund
the 500, but the judge said that his friends
would not hear of it. Nr. Lincoln's friends
urged Judge Davis to take the stump in his
behalf. He did SO, and made most effective
speeches. Nor did he relax his exertions
until the closing of the polls. Lincoln car
ried the state by a plurality Of II $40 over
Douglas, and "A majority of only 4,G29 over
all the candidates, in a popular vote OF $780,,
FOR