The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-05-28
MAcNss sToRY.
How Schuyler Coifax Lost Ills Renomina-
ton In 1879.

ton In 1872.
Chicago News.l
MI. J. B. McCullagh tells story touch
ing the defeat Of Schuyler Colfax for re-
nomination in 1872, which is of especial In
terest, now that the acknowledgements
seas ON Is at hand. It seems that Colfax,
for numerous reasons, had not endeared
himself to the newspaper profession DUR
ing his term Of office as Vice. President,
and consequently the Correspondents were
ready to tomahawk him, provided they
could only find some means of doing so
successfully. Mr. McCnIlagh was one Of
those who went to Philadelphia with do
ter mination to slaughter Colfax, and he at
once set about organizing the Colfax oppo-
sirion. A general plan Of campaign was
agreed upon, and the little band of CON
spirators decided to boom Henry Wilson
for second place on the ticket. Then Nc
Cullagh went to the editor of the Philadel-
phia Press and said: "We want you to
help us beat Colfax." ssBut bless you,
young man." protested Mr.. Forney, II
have promised Mr.. Colfax would bring
the Press out in his favor. ! am not
particularly Colfax man, but must
keep my word" McCullagh thought
moment or two, and then said:
swell, will you let me run the
political news in your local columns? ?
You boom Colfax editorially, and / will
quietly attend to our man through
the news columns" Mr.. Forney consented
to this, and McCullagh heartily applied
himself to work on the local and telegraph
pages Of the Press. Every morning the
paper appeared with an editorial indors-
ing Colfax, while elsewhere were pub
lished special kilograms from all over the
country announcing an enthusiastic feel
ing in favor of Henry Wilson for the Vice.
Presidency. The local columns told Of the
strong Wilson preference expressed by ar
irving delegates at the hotels and else
where, and there were reports OF railway
trains having been polled and indicating
an overwhelming desire for Wilson's NOM
ination. It is not hard to surmise that this
alleged news had vastly greater infiu-
ence upon the public mind than Mr.. For
ney's editorials had. Just at tis time Mr..
McCullagh raked up an old letter Mr.. Col.
fax had written to the New York Tribune
in 1860, announcing that, at the completion
of his present official term, he would not
be candidate for denomination; that It
was his determination to retire permanent
ly from political life. This letter was
written at the time when the prosecution
Of General Grant was at its height, and
when the elimination Of calumny and
abuse seemed to have been reached. Mr..
McCullagh shrewdly recognized this letter,
written at such time, as Colfax's public
repudlation OF Grant and his Administra-
tion. In less than two hours the letter was
in type, and was circulated by means
of handbills all over Philadelphia. In
this way the impression was created that
In the very midst of General Grants sorest
troubles his Lieutenant had voluntarily
assisted in the conspiracy to stone his
Captain to death. This had Its effect, too.
And SO, when the convention met, Colfax's
doom was virtually sealed. Grant was re-
nominated by acclamation. The first bal
lot for Vice-President resulted In stand
off between Colfax and Wilson, many
Southern States having thrown idle com.
plimentary votes. McCullagh stood on
the platform near the presiding officers
desk. He knew there was going to be a
stampede and he knew that, IL the States
were recognized in alphabetical order,
Wilson might yet be slaughtered, as stani-
pedes invariably go as they are led. Ala
bama would change TO Colfax-that was
certain, and Alabama was already on her
feet clamoring for recognition. "Rscog-
nize Virginia." said McCullagh to Judge
Settle, President Of tho Convention, and
Judge Settle did so. Virginia changed
her vote to Henry Wilson. That started
tho hurrah, and tho stampede was turned
the right way. Schuyler Colfax's private
Secretary stood just behind McCullagh at
that moment. When Virginia announced
her change McCullagh turned and said:
"You may go and tell Colfax he is hsaten,
and that we newspaper men did it."