Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-02

democratic conventions of that year were
held at Charleston and Baltimore. The
Charleston convention was held three
weeks before the convention that nomi-
mated Lincoln. 1t was held in a hall not
bigger than the average theater. 1t
did not seat more than 800 people. Stephen
A Douglas was the candidate of the north
ern democrats and ex-senator Henry B.
Payne was the leader of this faction in the
convention. Judah z. Benjamin, after
ward secretary of war of the confederacy,
led the southern democratic delega tes He
was against Douglas and wanted a man
who would i'll every way favor pro-slavery
legislation. Ben. Butler got his first ma
tional nOtOriety at this convention. He was
delegate from Massachusetts, and he
voted steadily for jefferson Davis. The
convention lasted over a week, and then
seven of the southern states withdrew,
making the split in the democratic party,
which brought about the election of Abra-
ham Lincoln. The convention finally adj
journed, without nomina ting a candidate,
to meet again in Baltimore, June Is, 1860
1t was held in a theater, and nominated
Douglas. The seeding delegates also held
their convention in Baltimore. They nomi-
mated John &. Breckenridge as the presi-
Dental candidate and Lane of Oregon was
chosen as the candidate for Vice Presi-
dent. The third Baltimore democratic con-
vention of that year nominated Bell of
Tennessee and Everett of Massachusetts.
Exciting Scenes in Conventions.
The Chicago convention of 1860 was one
of the most exciting of our history. Sena-
tor Allison of Iowa, who is now to be voted
for at ST. Louis, attended this his first
national convention. He was a delegate
and was chosen as one of the tally clerks
He was the hrst man to announce to the
president of the convention that Lincoln
vas nominated. I published a chat / had
with him not long ago, in which he de-
scribed the scene which ensued He says
the convention went wild. The men threw
their hats into the air, and for ten min
utes it seemed to rain hats and handker
chiefs.
ment of the nomination of Garfield at Chi
cago. The last ballot took more than an
hour, and at its. close the convention of
about 1900 people shouted steadily for
quarter of an hour. Now and then the ap-
plause would almost die out, but it would
begin again, and be louder and wilder than
ever. Ex-Governor Charley Foster of Ohio
was with Garfield at the time. He told
ME, rot long ago, that Garfield turned as
rale as sheet. He sat still, looking like
death, while the convention cheered and
cheered and cheered again. At last he beg
ged Foster to get him out of the hall in
some way. Foster took him by the arm
and pushed the crowd aside, making the
way toward the door. The vast crowd out
side saw them as they came out
and made a rush to get close to them
There was a cab waiting, and Foster quick
ly got Garfield into it. The crowd, how
ever, in their anxiety to see Garfield, ac-
tually tore the roof OF the cab, and Gov
ernor Foster told me he had q bill Of $65
to pay the driver on account of the dam
ages done to his vehicle. There seems now
to be little doubt that Governor Foster,
Jerry Rusk and others were in cornbina-
ton which, though nomnally for Sherman,
YVES really for Garfield. Whether Garfield
was close in the secrets Of the combination
and aided it along is a question l inter-
viewed him at his hotel the hight before he
was nominated. 1 was then a correspond
ent of the Cleveland Leader which was. to
a large extent, his organ. 1 told him of
the rumors had heard of the combination
working in his favor, and asked If it was
true that he was a candidate He threw
his arm over my shoulders and looked me
straight into the eyes as he replied: You
must say there Is not word of truth in
that story. 1t will not be. / am here for
Senator Sherman. and I would be a VIII
lain II l should prove false to my trust"
The Conventions Of 1854
were both held at Chicago That which
nominated Cleveland was most exciting.
Cleveland was practically unknown to
large number of the delegates, and the
fight for his Nomination was a bitter and
an acrimonious one. An exciting moment
was when Gen. Bragg Of Wisconsin leaped
ike 4 tiger on to the platform and de-
nounSed the opposition, making a speech
Tor Cleveland, and saying: I'VE love him
Tor the enemies he has made" At the
Blame convention of that year Theodore