Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-31


the nominee OF the convention. In fact there
was no other candidate named In the conyen-
ton, though ex-Gov. Powell. OF Kentucky,
sought to name one, but withdrew. Mr.. Pen
dieton, OF Ohio, the present Senator. was nomt-
mated for Vice President on the first ballot
"hen Mcclellan had been put in nomination the
more extreme, or peace men, denounced him
very bitterly. Mr. B. G. Harris, of Maryland
(then member of Congress), took the floor and
assailed him as a tyrant and despot and
charged him with being no better than the
republican candidate, from his standpoint.
His grievance was the conduct of Mcclellan
early in the war in arresting the members of the
Maryland legislature who had assembled at
frederick to pass an ordinance of secession.
during the excitement Harris was knocked
down by editor Storey, of the Chicago Times
and for time it looked as if the convention
would break up In row. Mr.. Harris and his
supporters soon became reconciled to the ticket
as the platform on which it was placed declared
the war failure and pronounced for national
convention to take steps to bring it to an end
Mr. Valiandigham, who had just returned from
running the blockade from the southern lines
whittier he had been sent by General Burnside's
orders, was one of the heroes OF the hour and
the peace platform was largely due to his infiu-
ence The inconsistency shown in placing a sol
dief candidate on peace platform in about the
darkest days OF the war proved to be blunder
when drove thousands of democrats into the re-
publican party, and swelled the flood tide of it's
victories from that day onward. The day the
convention met the gold premium touched the
highest point, and the fact was placarded along
the piihcipal streets. This convention was also
held In ''wgwam" on Michigan avenue.
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION OF 1865
The second national republican convention
met in Chicago on May 20, 1865 1t was not one
of very great interest so far as candidates were
concerned, for the nomination Of Gen. Grant
was foregone conclusion. All who were pre-
Wi .yaH l.
'ripus delegates TO secure the honor of the first
nomination hoping to profit doubtless. as Mr.
Judd did from first naming Mr.. Lincoln in 1850
Gen. Logan, however, was recognized, and on
the official record appears to have the credit of
nominating Grant though half hundred dele
gates bawled themselves hoarse in the attempt
MT Carl SchurZ-hOw strange it sounds sixteen
years after-was the temporary chairman of the
convention and was as Jealous for the nominal
ton OF Gen. Grant then as he was earnest
against it four years later, and as he would have
been earnest against it if Grant had been nomi-
mated in 1880. Gen. Hawley, of Connecticut,
was the president Of the convention, and. al
though an excellent presiding officer, it was all
he could do to preserve order.
Inc real contest OF this convention. however
was over the vice presidency. The New York
delegation came here determined to secure the
nomination of Gov. Fenton and more spirited
canvass has never been made. There were
probably five hundred of the most active rspub-
means from New York on the ground working
hfght and day, but the friends of Schuyler Col
lax, under the fnarshalship of the late Mr.. De-
frees, supported by nearly the entire republican
press and powerful church influence secured
the nominations: hut he failed to hold it for the
second term OF Grant. four years later, when
nearly all the same influences opposed him.
When the republicans began to gather here
on that occasion they were very much excited
by the failure to convict President Johnson on
the impeachment trial, and this excitement made
up fully tor the want Of it over the candidates
johnson was acquitted but day or two before
the convention met by the votes of republican
Senators Fessenden. Trumbull and Ross These
men were thoroughly eXecrated and the thirty
five who voted Guilty" were as loudly com
mended by resolution OF the convention. The
entire convention rose to its feet and cheered
as the resolution was put upon its passage. So
great was the crisis believed to be that the con-
VentIon also passed a resolution to remain vr-
tuay in perpetual session by adjournng subject
to the call OF its president. OF course there
was no such call, as Grant was elected in No
Vember and inaugurated March 4th, 80.
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION OF 1880.
The bitter contest over the candidates. the
introduction Of the third term issue, the new
scheme of the unit rule (by which an entire
state delegation would be required to vote as a
unit for a candidate) and the probable closeness
of the vote at the election in November of that
convention of 1880 most memorable in the
political history of the country The details of
this famous contest are yet freshly remembered
1t is doubtful if shall ever look upon its like
again. For six days the contest between Grant
and Blaine waged with an unceasing warfare
backed by thousands of their supporters &C
lively On the ground. At one stage OF the pro-
ceedlngs the vast audience, estimated at nearly
10000 persons, took complete possession of the
convention and for nearly an hour 1t was wild
scene OF demonstration by the respective friends
OF these two candidates The dispatches of that
day fifty characterized 1t as "a brief reign of
pandemOnium." But after it came the calm
that follows exhaustion. The convention went
steadily to work. and up to the thirty third
ballot stood solidly by the leading candidates.
Grant lead for six ballots, with 3O5 votes, fol-
lowed by Blaine, with 284. On the 9th and 7th
ballots Grant rose one vote on each and kept
about even till the 18th, when he rose to 300.
amid the prolonged cheers of the delegates
who voted for him and the large crowd of his
friends in the galleries 1t was not until the 34th
ballot began that the indications of break
in the Blaine column were apparent. Gen.
Garfeld's name had received one vote as early as
the second ballot. with considerable applause
which was repeated on the third but on the
thirty-fourth, when Grant began to creep up,
the Wisconsin delegation led off with transfer
of Is votes to Garfield. Indiana changed it's
vote Of27tO Garfield but Grant stood at his highest
point OF 3l2. Before the result was announced
Garfield rose to say that he was not a candidate
and to withdraw his name but he was ruled out
Of order. The thirty-fifth ballot followed at
once aud Indicated but little change. but pre-
sented the adherents of Grant still in a solid
column. There were fears by the Blaine leaders
that there would be change in Grants favor,
and 80 the thirty-siXth ballot opened with
feeling of intense excitement, which indicated
the coming OF the storm, when the third state on
the rOlI-call, Connecticut, changed IL votes to
Garfield, and Illinois soon followed with Z.
From this mOpent the changes were so rapid
from the Blaine column and Shermans vote, the
excitement and confusion so great, that it was
almost impossible to keep the tally to the end Of
the roll-call. State tumbied over state in its
haste to win in the race; but finally the actual
result footed up: Garfield, 800; Grant. 800.
CThe ''old guard dies, but never surrenders,"
was the last rallying cry Of the Grant men, 1t
being evident that Garfield had received more
than majority of the votes cast, Senator Hoar,
the chairman, asked the convention IF the
result should be made unanimous ?"-where-
upon Mr.. COnkling arose and said the chair had
merely anticipated him, as he now would make
the motion to make the nomination of Gen.
Garfield unanimous, and to appeal for the same
unanlmity in the campaign that had at last been
manifested in the convention. At the evening
session OF the same day Gen. Arthur was nomi-
mated, after one rOll-call, by reclamation for
Vice President, and this closed on the sixth day
the work OF the greatest Of all Of the Chicago
conventions.
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION OF 1854.
The telegraph anticipates very fully anything
that can be said at the present writing of the