The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-26
A POLITICAL "REMINISCENCES.
Horatio Seymour and His Connection with the
National Democratic Convention of 1868.
Mack. in st. Louis elobe-Democrat.

49, ~~~A&sA0
George d. Pendleton." The man who said this
was the late Horatio Seymour. The time was
the day before the meeting of the national DEM
ocratic convention of 1868 in the city of New
York. The person addressed was leading del
egate to the convention, with whom the writer
had started for a stroll MP Broadway. The
speech referred to was one delivered by Mr.. Sey-
mour short time before in opposition to the
Pendieton policy of redeeming the government
bonds in greenbacks as fast as they fell due.
Mr.. Seymour had taken the ground that the
greenoack theory was reputation, pure and
SIMPLE. and that it's enforcement would ruin the
countrys business and destroy the country's
credit 1t was the first outspoken argument
against the greenback heresy that had come
from prominent Democrat. There was gen.
uine Pendleton craze throughout the entire
West, and 1t took a brave Democrat to face it
even in the East Young Greenbacks." as Mr..
Pendleton was then called, had had nothing to
do with originating the idea of which he had
been made the exponent Its paternity was vari-
ously attributed to an Illinois Methodist preacher
to General Singleton, of Illinois, and to half
dozen Others but the friends of Mr. Pendleton
had seized it and were very confident of electing
a President on it.
Mr. Seymour meant what he said when he de-
clared that he ''had killed off two candidates
with that speech" and that he himself was one
of the slain. He also meant what he said when
he uttered those since famous words from the
chair of the Tammany Hall convention, in
Spouse to his forma | presentation as candidate:
Gentlemen, thank You, but your candidate
cannot be-" That he afterwards accepted the
nomination and became the candidate was due
to pressure from outside which he could not re-
sist. There is secret history to this whole
campaign, on behalf OF the Democrats, which
would be highly interesting if written by any of
the many who are fully informed on the sub
ject An appropriate title for this history would
be 1.-THE Chase Movement of 1861" which began
early in that year, and which, though defeated
in the New York convention in July, was
family resuscitated after the October elections
had demonstrated the utter hopelessness of
the election of Seymour and Blair It was then
proposed to withdraw Seymour and Blair and
substitute Mr.. Chase and some other person;
the new candidate for Vice-presdent was never
named, SO far as / can remember. General
Blair went so far as to declare his Willingness to
retire from the ticket, although he doubted
whether change at that late date would do any
good. kilograms were sent to and from leading
Democrats all over the country inquiring what
was 20 be done, and whether it was wise TO put
Chase on the ticket instead of Seymour The
editor of the Missouri Republican telegraphed
to Cincinnati for advices, and was evidently
ready to swing that time-honored organ of De-
mocracy over to the support of Chase. All this,
it should be remembered, occurred after the
October elections which we're then held In Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Indiana. and only three weeks
before the Presidential election of that year
1t is hard to say with whom the Chase move
ment originated. One of its strongest support
ers, however, was Clement l.. Vallandigham, of
Ohio, VINO after having been defeated by his own
party as candidate for United States Senator,
proclaimed himself in favor of "a new depart
ure,n as he termed it. In the Ohio election of
1867 Allen G. Thurman had been defeated as the
Democratic candidate for Governor by r. B.
Hayes, but the Democrats had carried the Legis-
lature. Vallandigham claimed a positive
agreement that he should be chosen to the Sen
ate if the Democrats carried the Legislature
The friends of Pendleton wanted a unanimous
Endorsement of their presidential candidate by
the Democrats of his own State; but this they
were informed they could not get unless they
used their influence for Thurman against
Vallandigham in the senatorial contest. To
secure peace and good will between Pendleton
and Thurman, the sacrifice of Vallandigham
was agreed upon and carried. The night before
The HSsyvCratic caucus at Columbus / saw Mr.
Vallandigham-with whom. as the reporter of
his speeches IN Ohio campaigns. / was quite init
mate-and asked him what his chances were II
feel quite certain they can't beat me- said he
II am firm in the old Calvanistic faith and be-
lieve in the doctrine of REORGANIZATION and cleo
ton" This was half in jest and half in earnest
He had often said that his highest ambition was
to be Senator, and that he thought he would live
to see it gratified The caucus decreed the choice
of Allen 1t. Thurman, and compelled MIR. Val
landigham to abandon the doctrine of election
and try the doctrine of the perseverance of the
saints; and thereafter there was war in the
bosom of tho Democratic party of Ohio.
The senatorial election occurred in January.
The Democratic national convention met in July.
Valandigham was not originally delegate, but
q vacancy was created and he was appointed to
fill it at the last moment. This was in the ma
nf off fha 1afa
who controlled the delegation, and who were
willing to do almost anything to appease the
wrath of their enemy Vallandigham went into
the convention unpledged. but secretly ready to
help the Chase boom should it show any reason
able degree of strength. Il have seen Horatio
Seymour, and he says if his name is presented
by the New York delegation, as it probably will
be, he will decline, and will put Chase in nom
nation" said Mr. Vallandigham to me as he
entered Tammany Hail. half an hour before the
convention opened He added that Chase would
..go through with whirl" if once properly before
the convention. Seymour did decline at first,
but he failed to put Chase in nomination, and
he afterwards accepted the honor for himself.
Why he did this is the principal mystery of the
Chase movement, and one which must be ex-
planned, ii at ALL by some person with fuller in
formation than l possess. There is however.
an explanation which, while only conjectural, is
at the same time very reasonable, and which
was accepted at the time as the correct one. 1t
is that Mr.. Seymour, after having privately and
fully committed himself to the Chase movement,
found that Tammany Hall, which was then the
al-powerful dictator in New York politics, was
opposed to it. Tweed was in the zenith of his
power in those days. Samuel j. Tilden was a
member of the convention and, as may well be
imagined, very prominent one. He was very
urgent in pressing Seymours acceptance, after
the latter had said: Gentlemen, thank You,
but your candidate cannot be-" I can well re-
member the clear, shrill, penetrating voice that
was suddenly heard from the center of the great
hail. and that attracted all eyes to the
figure of clean-shaved and we'll
dressed little man who, with the seat
of his chair for platform, had begun to address
the convention. Mr.. Tilden was opposed to the
Chase movement because Tammany Hall was
opposed to it. Tammany Hall was opposed to
the Chase movement because it threatened to
disturb internal Democratic arrangements in the
State of New York. Tammany wanted then
what it has always wanted-the New York Leg
islature and the city of New York, the former
only as q safeguard to the latter. AS between
Democratic and Republican President Mr.
Tweed didn't care the toss of a conner To him