The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-22
NOMINATION OF LINCOLN
PART TAKEN BY INDIANA IN THE
FAMOUS CONVENTION OF 1SGO.
According to the Late General Veatch
This State Was Hardly Less
Loyal Than Illinois.

Republican national convention of 1S60-a
Fart which, timed as it was when Illinois
needed the active help of a powerful ally.
gave Abraham Lincoln the presidential
nomination. The November number of Nc
Clure's Magazine contains an interesting
article on the famous convention which
met in the Wigwam, on the shores of Lake
Michigan, over thirty-six years ago, giving
a peep into the inside workings of that re-
markable gathering of Republicans. IL de-
votes most of it's space to the work of the
Illinois delegation, but credits Indiana with
having been the first to join her sister
State in the fight for the ''rail-splitting''
candidate. The inestimable services of Indi-
ana in helping nominate Lincoln, whom
she claimed as her own, are not generally
known, and 1 give the following account
of her efforts. related to me by the late
Gen. James c. Veatch, a few weeks before
his death:
"A gentleman named Allen, of Vincennes,
and myself were chosen as delegates from
the First district to the national conven-
ton, which was to meet in Chicago in
May. We went under instructions to vote
for Bates, of Missouri, in he stood
any chance of receiving the nomination.
Our people were conservative on the ques-
ton of savery-true Republicans but not
radical, and they feared the advanced ideas
of Seward. Allen and / left on a steamboat
for ST. Louis, where we were to join the
Bates men. Our trip was slow and leisure
ly, and we canvassed the situation pretty
thoroughly. 1t soon developed that neither
of us had any idea that Bates would be
successful, and / told Allen that my choice
was fixed, and that Abraham Lincoln of
Illinois, would receive my vote He had
won my admiration by his remarkable
speeches in the Douglas Debates but my
acquaintance extended further back than
that. 1t had been almost twenty years since
/ had first seen him. in the campaign of
1884, when, as an awkward, unknown law
yer, he returned from Illinois to his old
home in Spencer country to make few
speeches for his favorite, Henry Clay. At
that time 1 was editing the county paper
and one morning / heard it spoken
of among the older men that
Abe Lincoln was to speak at Rockport
that night. The name was slightly familiar
and associated it with country wag that
had lived in the county a number of years
before That evening crowd assembled at
the courthouse and gathered around the
large fireplace in each end of the room. In
short time the speaker entered, was in
troduced to a few and assembled the stand
was disappointed in him. His appearance
was awkward, his voice high and squeaky,
and he had none of that extreme dignity
which clothed the State orators 1 had
heard. In vain / listened for a joke or a
story. But soon 1 was struck by his man
ner of statement. The principal issue was
the tariff, even then beaten thin as gold
leaf He placed things in new light; dry
facts became interesting. For over an hour
/ listened breathlessy and at its close
! thought it the most remarkable speech
| that had ever heard. and think so to-day.
EFFECT OF THE SPEECH.
II mentioned this speech to Allen and
required TO the fact that Lincoln's boy
hood was spent in southern Indiana. Allen
was favorably disposed toward Lincoln and
we agreed to use our influence to bring the
| Indiana delegation into line for him.
I'VE reached St. Louis and mingled with
the supporters of Bates, without revealing
| our identity, and soon learned that they
had no hopes of nominating Bates, merely
wishing to place him prominently before
| the convention, and thus secure a Cabinet
! position. Upon our arrival in Chicago we
! Immediately sought the Indiana headquar-
| tiers and began our efforts in behalf of Lin
! coin. Most of the district delegates were
undetermined and soon expressed a willing
ness to support the Illinois man. However,
| there were two delegates from Indianapo-
ls-one a relative and supporter of Cam
eron, of Pennsylvania, and another who
! supported Chase McLean-who held out
for their men. Finally we prevailed upon
| the Cameron man to refrain from voting,
| and the other delegate came over to us.
In company with Illinois delegates we
separated into groups and began the cru
SADIE for Lincoln. We sought the headquar-
ters of Eastern States and asked them:
| How many votes will you give Lincoln p
| They were willing to vote for an available
candidate and anxiously inquired of Lin
coins strength. Illinois and Indiana solid
on the first vote, was our assurance and
they replied that any one could carry the
East. and that if Lincoln was the man To
carry the West. they were for him. Day
and night Indiana and Illinois worked side
by side without resting. and we secured
a promise here and assurance there that
told us our cause was gaining, and that
the Big Giant was the coming man.
Affairs were in this condition when the
delegates and the immense crowd gathered
in the Wigwam on the opening day of the
convention. on May 16 On Wednesday and
Thursday the usual routine of convention
Of rest. We had gained some votes in New
England. but Virginia and Pennsylvania
were uncertain. There was talk of Nc
Lean. of the latter State, but Tom Corwir
disposed of that with the observation tina
we might as we'll nominate Moses Nc
Lean was over seventy years of age
Thursday afternoon came and we secure,
an adjournment without vote until Fri
day.
THE MEMORABLE FRIDAY.
THAT night came the final. almost super
human effort TO center the opposition o.
Lincoln, and the morning dawned with
hopeful, almost sanguine feeling among tn
supporters of Lincoln. At 10 o'clock on Fri
day morning the convention reassembled
and the scene presented was inspiring Tn
immense hall was densely packed, anticipa
ton and suppressed excitement bein
shown in every face. Above the speaker
stand an opening had been cut in the roc
! and a Waterman was stationed there
herald the news OF the nomination to tn
vast multitude outside. A battery of arti
lery had been stationed there to boom tt
| 80 he