The Indianapolis journal., 1884-05-24
SENATOR DAVID DAVIS.
How He Led The Lincoln Forces to Victory.
Twenty-Four Years Ago.

Twenty -Four Years Ago.
Ben Perley Popre ) Recollections.
The second national Republican convention
was called To meet at Chicago on Wednesday,
the 10th of May, 1850, and Mr.. Stewards friends
regarded his nomination for President as
tain. The Illinois State Republican convention
met at Decatur fortnight previous. 1t was at
tended by the political friends Of Abraham
Lincoln. who had written urging them to come,
as he thought that if supported by the Illinois
delegation he might secure the nomination.
Few of them agreed with him, but they worked
zealousy for him, and elected three Lincoln
delegates sat large-David Davis. Norman b.
Judd, and Stephen II. Logan. The other dele
gate Orville II. Browning. a Bates man,
but Lincoln approved of his election, saying that
Bates would have no show, and that when
Browning saw this he would not only 60 over
to him. but would take some OF his friends with
him.
Judge Davis had never attended, primary meet
ing or a caucus. much less a convention but
Lincoln prevailed upon him to 90 to Chicago and
conduct his campaign The Judge arrived on
the scence of action the Saturday night previous
to the meeting of the convention. He found
that the parlors of the hotels had all been en-
gagged and he had to establish his headquarters
in two small connecting rooms in the third story
of the fremont House The outlook was not
encouraging as the only Lincoln men the
ground were a few of the delegates from Illinois
aud Indiana. ThuIlow Weed had thoroughly
organized the Seward cohorts. and the streets
We're filled with thousands who were shouting
the New Y Ork war cry l4lncOlnS raw leNlcS
were scattered far and wide and left at the
mercy of disciplined politicians. They had no
organization. They were even without head
quarters. The hotels were packed VIII the
noisy friends of Bates and Seward.
David Davis proved himself a political Carnot,
and threw the railsplittcr'S flag to the breeze.
The raw levies were gathered and disciplined.
Night and day was he busy. forming COM
binatiOns and visiting delegations Horace
Greely, under the suise of delegate from
Oregon. appeared as the leader of the Bates
men, and Thurlow Weed footed defiance from
his Seward buge. Davis visited both leaders,
and was showered with chaf But his
leves were not without backing On Saturday
night he telegraphed to the lawyers of the Eighth
circuit, assuring them that old Abes stock was
rising, and that its value would be greatly en-
hanced by the presence of his frleneS in force.
1t was an electric shock The State aroused.
On Monday and Tuesday trains poured into the
city Overlooking with Lincoln 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 Hour
ly their number increased They poured into
the wigwam as soon as 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 unwonted ac-
tivity Every order was promptly executed.
Lawyers acted as messengers and judges watch
ed the cars for belated delegates. nder Davis
guidance the work was thoroughly DONE When
he entered the city on Saturday night barely
fifty weak kneed delegates stood under the Lin
coin flag On the first ballot the rail splitter
polled l02 votes, to l73 12 for Seward and as for
Bates. The lanky corhorts in the galleries
nearly lifted the roof with their cheers The
second ballot gave Lincoln 18l, Seward 164 II,
and Bates So Again the brawny friends Of Old
Abe roared with delight The Seward men
turned pale, and Thurlows knees smote
together as he saw the writing the wall,
Lincoln was nominated on the next ballot by a
vote of 354 to ll0 IL for Seward, and the whole
State of Illinois was thrown into ecstasy. That
night Judge Davis went 10 bed for the first time
in six days having conquered at a total cost, all
told, of 800.
Judge Davis went to Springfield the next day
and had long interview with Mr. Lincoln. Tho
candidate offered to refund the 800, but the
Judge said that his friends would not hear of it.
Mr. 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 ex-
ertons until the closing of the polls. Lincoln
carried the State by plurality of 1l,946 over
Douglas and majority of only 4,629 over all
the candidates, in a popular vote of 339, 693.