The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-24
now nAmLIN WAS DEFEATED
HIs chief supporter in she 1854 Con-
ventlOn TELLS OfIhe Interesting iP-
nuenee witch secured JohnsOn's
Nomination.

0uence witch secured IohnfOu'e
Nomination.
Hon. Josiah II. Drummond Of Port
land, Me-, who was delegate to the Re
publican National Convention of 1884
writes to the Express Of that city, an In
teresting letter in which the motives and
influences which defeated the nomina-
ton of Hamlin for Vice President are
clearly set forth. Mr., Drummond
says;
ton, some, and l presume all, of the
Maine delegates, received an invitation
from some of the Massachusetts, dele
gates to meet them in consultation ut
Boston. The late Charles j. Talbot and
myself attended from Maine, being the
only Maine men who were present. We
did not know the object of the meeting
until we arrived there.
It was stated that many Of the radical
Republicans of Massachusetts, were dis
satisfied with Linooln's' administration,
and really desired that more radical
Republican should be nominated, but
that it was a foregone conclusion that
Lincoln would be renominated, and 1t
was of not use 10 make an attempt for
any one else. But as he was to be nomi-
mated, measures must be taken to pre-
vent Mr.. Stewards remaining in the
Cabinet. as he was more conservative
even than Mr.. Lincoln, and, it was be-
lieved, had very much to do with shap-
ing Mr.. Lincolns views. Mr.. Talbot
and myself declared ourselves most en-
phatically in favor of the denomination
of Lincoln and Hamlin. Finally, in
order to give formal expression to the
NNf 10
made that we support Mr.. Lincoln for
denomination. Mr.. Talbot at once moved
to add Mr.. Hamlin's name, but the
amendment was voted down by quite a
decisive majority. | should state, how
ever, that pending the discussion and
vote, it was stated that it was not ex-
pected that the minority would be bound
by the action of the majority in that
consultation. but that the action should
be merely an expression of views.
Either during the discussion upon the
amendment or after the vote, it was
stated that the most ready way to keep
Mr. Seward from going back into the
Cabinet was to nominate Vice Presi-
dent from New York, for IL would not
be possible TO have the Vice President
and Secretary of State both from New
York. The name of Mr. Dickinson was
mentioned with favor, but do not
recollect whether any action was taken
in relation to him or not, because after
the amendment of Mr.. Talbot was voted
down, he and / declined to participate
further in the proceedings.
When we arrived at Baltimore found
that members of the Massachusetts, dele
CATION had been busy in attempting TO
carry out the programme above suggest
ed. They had interviewed New York
men and learned that a good many OF
the delegates were favorable to the
nomination of DickensOn. had no ac-
quaintance with single member from
New York, yet | made myself pretty
busy interviewing them in favor of Mr..
Hamlin. / found that there were two
well defined parties in relation to the
question of the Vice Presidency, and
that the friends. of Mr.. Seward were a
good deal excited. They were de-
termined that the Vice President should
not be taken from New York. One of
them said to me plainly: we are for Mr.
Hamlin for Vice President; we are his
friends; but we are more friends Of Sew
ard than we are friends of Hamlin. We
cannot consent to sacrifice Mr. Seward
even to assist Mr.. Hamlin. If we can
give Mr.. Hamlin more votes IN New
York for Vice President than any other
man shall have, we shall adhere to Mr..
Hamlin; but you may take one thing as
certain, that no New York man will GO
into the convention with more votes fol
Vice President from New York than
some other man has. We hope TO give
them to Mr.. Hamlin, but there is one
man of the delegation who has a small
following, that we fear may hold the
balance of power, Of whose views we arc
not certain He said that the delega-
ton were about TO meet to act upon the
question of Vice President, and invited
mo to stand in the open G0ct and wit
ness the proceedings, and didso. lie
declined to give me the name of the mar
to whom he alluded, saying that il the
man voted all right he did not wish tc
prejudice him, but that when the roll
was called, il he did not vote right he
would give me signal which would
understand. The roll was called and the
members of the delegation voted viva
voce. When the name of Henry j. Ray
mond was called he voted for Andrew
johnson, and my friend gave me The
signal agreed upon. The result was tina
Dickinson led Hamlin few votes
while enough followed Raymonds lead
to give johnson sufficient votes SO tina
Dickinson did not have a majority Of
the delegation. At the request of varioui
members the chairman did not declare
the result and Stewards friends were in
terviewing the men who voted for John
son, and most earnest effort was mad
to induce enough of them to change t.
Hamlin to give him plurality owe
Dickinson. The chairman would occa
sionally say, Gentlemen, we must com,
to a result but would be answered will
"A moment more Mr.. Chairman and a
nobody insisted on calling for an an
nouncement of the result, considerabl,
time was spent in this way. Finally, tn,
efforts were apparently found to be use
less, because they came to order and on
delegate after another arose and chang
ed his vote from Hamlin to johnson
until the result was that the votes wer'
finally nearly all divided between John
son and Dickinson. Six adhered t,
Hamlin under the lead of one man witt
refused to change his vote, notwith
standing being very strongly solicited Sc
to do. l then understood that this MAJ
was Preston King, but subsequent de
velopments indicate that this under
standing was an erroneous one. The re
suit was, as the proceedings show, tina
the delegation went into the convention
with plurality for johnson over Dicken
son. Nevertheless, Dickinson was mos
earnestly supported by a part of the dele
cation from New York, and by part o
the delegation from Massachusetts,, an,
other delegates from New Engla
under the lead of Massachusetts,, and tn
matter was one of considerable contro
versy, closely approaching degree o
anger between the delegates # Main
and some of the delegates from Massa
chusetts. The latter were accused o
acting upon the belief that if Hamlin wa
not renominated he would contest til
Senat0rship with Pitt Fessenden. On
Of the Massachusetts delegation went S
far as to say in substance, when accuses
of this, you meaning us in Maine) can
not expect friends of Charles Sumner t
be very anxious TO keep Pitt Fessende
in the Senate We urged that Sumne
and Hamlin were friends and requeste
Sumner be consulted in reference to tn
matter. He was not in Baltimore then
but camo later. Whether the matter wa
mentioned to him OF not, cannot tel
only know that as far as | could ascel
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