Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-28
TwENTY-FoUR YEARS AGO.
How Senator David Davis Led the Lin
coin Forces to Victory at Chicago.

Zen PerleV Poore in Boston BUDGET
The Second National Republican Con-
ventiOn was called to meet at Chicago on
Wednesday, the 10Th of May, 1860, and
Mr.. Stewards friends regarded his nomi-
nation for President as certain. The Illi-
nois State Republican Convention met at
Decatur fortnight previous. 1t was at
tended by the political friends of Abra-
ham Lincoln, who had written urging
them to come, as he thought that if sup
ported by the Illinois delegation he might
secure the nomination. Few of them
agreed with him, but they worked zeal
ously for him. and elected three Lincoln
delegates at-large-Davld Davis, Norman
B. Judd, and Stephen 7. Logan. The
other delegate, Orville H. Browning, was
a Bates man, but Lincoln approved OF his
election, saying that Bates would have
no show, and thai when Browning saw
this, he would not only 90 over to him,
but would take some of his friends with
him.
Judge Davis had never attended a
primary meeting or n caucus, much less
a convention, but Lincoln prevailed upon
him to 60 to Chicago and conduct his
campaign. The Judge arrived on the
scene of action the Saturday night previ-
Gus to the meeting of the convention. He
found that the parlOrs at the hotels had
all been engaged, and he had to establish
his headquarters in two small connecting
rooms in the third story of the fremont
House. The outlook was not encourage
ing, as the only Lincoln men on the ground
were few of the delegates from Illinois
and Indiana. ThurlOw Weed had thor
oughly organized the Seward cohorts, and
the streets were filled with thousands who
were shouting the New York war cry.
LincOln's raw leyies were scattered far
and wide and lett at the mercy of disci-
phned politicians. They had no Organi-
cation. They were even without head
quarters. The hotels were packed with
the noisy friends of Bates and Seward
David Davis proved himself a political
CarnOt, and threw the railsplitter's flag
to the breeze. The raw levies were gath
cred and disciplined. Night and day was
he busy, forming combinations and visit
ing delegations. Horace Greeley, under
the guise of delegate from Oregon, APP
peared as the leader of the Bates men. and
ThurlOw Weed footed defiance from his
Seward bugle. Davis visited both lead
ers, and was showered with chat. But
his raw levies were not without backing.
On Saturday night he telegraphed to the
lawyers of the Eighth circuit, assuring
them that Old Abe's stock was rising, and
that its value would be greatly enhanced
by the presence of his friends in force. 1t
was an electric shock. The State was
aroused. On Monday and Tuesday trains
poured into the city overlooking with Lin
coin shouters. They were 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 retainers of
Seward They thrOnged the corridors of
the hotels and awoke the echoes of the
night with their cheers. Hourly their
number increased. They poured into the
Wlgwam as soon as the doors were OPEN
ed, and the very atmosphere of til con
Yention seemed surcharged with their en-
thusiasm.
The two small rooms on the third floor
of the fremont House were the scene OF
promptly executed. Lawyers acted as
messenger; Judges watched the cars for
belated delegates. Under Davis guidance
the work was thoroughly done. When he
entered the city on Saturday night barely
fifty weakened delegates stood under the
Lincoln flag. On the first ballot the rail
splitter pOlled 102 votes, to 1877 for
Seward and As for Bates. The lanky
cohorts in the galleries nearly lifted. the
roof with their cheers. The second bal
lot gave Lincoln ISL, Seward 1S41%, and
Bates So. Again the brawny friends of
Old Abe roared with delight. The
Seward men turned pale, and ThurlOw's
knees smOte together as he saw the writ
ing on the wall. Lincoln was nominated
on the next ballot by vote of 354 to 110H
for Seward, and the whole State of Illinois
was thrown into ecstacy. That night
Judge Davis went to bed for the first time
in six days, having conquered at a total
cost, all told, Of 500.
Judge Davis went to Springfield on the
next day and had a long interview with
Mr.. Lincoln. The candidate offered to re
fund the 500, but the Judge said that his
friends would not hear of it. Mr.. Lin
coins 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 carried the State by a
plurality of II ,946 over Douglas, and
majority of only 1929 over all the candi-
dates, in popular vote of 339, 693.