The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-09-02
A PRESIDENT-MAKER.
Justice Carriers Part i'm Nominating Lincoln
and Grant.


lumbia, has been largely instrumental in
the making OF two presidents, writes a Wash
ington correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press. He was the man who, in connection
with John w. FOrney, persuaded Gen. Grant
to become presidential candidate in 1865,
and il was his action in the convention OF
1860 as chairman of the Ohio delegation,
that more than anything else accomplished
the nomination Of Abraham Lincoln over
William III. Seward. ] asked him the other
night for the story of Grants nomination.
He replied: The Republican party was in
a critical condition during the closing days
of the term of Andrew Johnson, and the
question as to who should lead the party
during the coming campaign was agitating
the minds of all the leaders. Among the
candidates thought of was Gen. Grant, but
his name had not gotten into the newspa-
pers and it was only whispered here and
in private conversation. One great objection
to him was his unknown political standing
He had been a Democrat before the war
The Democrats were talking of him as a can
ditate, and there was serious danger that
they would nominate him.
Il thought the matter over and decided
that the Republican party ought TO bring
him out as a candidate. If he accepted, well
and good. We cOuld make the race with
him and win. If not, the Democrats could
not take him up as their candidate after we
had claimed him as ours, and we would thus
keep him out of the campaign, Gen. Grant
was at this time very strong man before
the people. He was fresh from his great
career as a general, full of patriotism, and
possessed of a great love for the union. ! felt
sure that if elected a Republican president
he would be true to his party and TO the
country
Thinking thus l met Mr. Forney on the
corner of Twelfth street and Pennsylvania
avenue, just where the pension office now is,
and asked:
- 'Forney, who is your candidate for the
Presidency"
81 have no candidate, was the reply.
"'What do you think of Grant?n said l.
Upon his demurring l explained my rea-
sons for thinking Grant a good candidate,
and the danger which threatened Us provided
the Democrats should nominate him. spoke
of his patriotism, and the fact that he wanted
to see the Union preserved. He has q good
record, said /, and editorially you can turn
it into a better one i closed by telling him
that he must 90 to The Chronicle office and
write a leader nominating Grant as the can
didate of tine Republican party. After you
have written it, said /, wait few days and
then take occasion to meet Grant, and you
will find how he takes it.
81 don't know whether / will or not said
FOrney. L don't know whether we dare
trust Grant. He finally consented, however,
and went off and wrote the editorial. com
ated great sensation. 1t was widely noticed,
and brought Grant out prominently before
the country.
"Mr Forney, as suggested, met General
Grant a few days later, and Grant, in speak
ing of it, appeared very Indifferent and said
he did not want TO be a candidate. He was
perfectly satisfied with his position as Gen
eral of the army, and he did not want to go
into the white house. Mr.. Forney remon-
strated with him on the ground of patriot
ism, and on the ground of the necessity of
his election to the preservation of the Union.
He spoke of Mcclellan, and made a strong
plea without getting any satisfaction.
Il met General Grant few days after this.
He was still indifferent, and asserted his I'M
willingness to become a candidate. But |
could see that he was somewhat interested,
and left him satisfied that it was all right,
and that he would accept. i told FOrney
this, and before the convention met there
was no doubt but that Grant would accept.
President Lincoln's first nomination"
said Judge Carter, in reply to question as
TO the convention of 1860, twas very doubt
full up to the hour at which it was accom-
plished. When the convention met Seward
was by all odds the strongest of the several
candidates, and had ballot been held the
day the convention first came to order he
might have been nominated. The Ohio del
egation was elected at Columbus and IN
gates-at-large and the chairman of the dele
CATION. The Ohio delegation of 1860 was
made up of mature politicians. Among the
delegates were such men as Tom Corwin and
Columbus Delano. The majority of the del
egatiOn were unfriendly to Chase. knew
Chase could not be nominated, but / thought
Ohio ought TO give him a complimentary
vote and tried TO accomplish this. Delano
and Corwin were very much opposed TO
Chase, but a majority of the delegates finally
decided to vote for him in the convention.
The remainder scattered their votes among
the other candidates. When we met in con-
vention / had a secretary, who kept a close
tally of the votes rs they were given, and
who told me how each candidate stood at
the close of the announcement of the vote
of each State. In the course Of the second
ballot of the second day, from his state
ment | saw that three votes would nominate
Lincoln.
Il then asked the delegation if four or five
of them would not Join me in leaving Chase
and going TO Lincoln, telling them how the
count stood and that we could thus elect
Lincoln and beat Seward. ! did not know
Lincoln but / had no faith in Seward and |
wanted him beaten. The Ohio delegation
was not backward in coming to my support
The chairman of the convention, Mr.. Ash
nun, was one of my old congressional
friends. j caught his eve. He recognized
me and gave me floor. | changed the vote
of Ohio and Lincoln was nominated. 1t was
a full minute before the convention apDre
ciated the fact. In the meantime ten thou
sand pencils were busy at as many tally
sheets Then there burst forth one of those
storms of cheers and wild applause which
are only known to National conventions
and Lincoln was given the enthusiastic sup
port which followed him till he was elected
in November"
James Pearce, one of the pioneers OF Cali
fornia. having been a resident of that State
since 1915, is now eighty-seven.