Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-17
situation Was Complicated.

tfonal politics by nominating presidential
ticket
Situation Was Complicated.
The political situation of the country at
that time was extremely complicated. The
shadow OF the coming war was ominous,y
deepening. The Kansas Nebraska contest
had revived the agitation of the slavery
question. which the wings had deceived
themselves into supposIng had been settled
BY the compromise measures Of 1850. Kan
sas was bordering on civil war over the
contention Of the pro-slavery and anti
slavery factions within and without the
territory. The democrats had reunited and
carried the country with Franklin Pierce IN
1852. and the old whig party was expiring.
The American. the "know-nothing" party.
was also approaching q state OF extrems.
In several parts of the north a new poiiti-
cal party, the republican, had come into be-
Ing and was composed largely of wings. but
with liberal contingent from the demo-
cratic party. The new party, having tried
its strength In several states in 1855. when
1t carried Vermont and Ohio, and barely
failed in New York and Wisconsin, now
strove to enter the national arena with
presidential ticket. the time for which
seemed to be propitious.
The American party and the democratic
party had each nominated candidates for
the presidency before the republican ma
tional convention met. The former selected
for standard bearers Willard Fillmore and
Andrew ]. Donelson. and the latter selected
James Buchanan and John c. Breckenridge.
This was the situation of the country and
of politics when the republican convention
convened In Musical Fund Hall in Phiia-
delphia.
Number Of Delegates.
Every free state and Delaware. Ken
lucky and Maryland sent delegates These
numbered 565. and among them were Thur
low Weed Horace Greeley, Lieut. Gov.
Raymond of New York, Gen. Webb.
Speaker Banks and Israel Washburn OF
Maine. The convention has been aptly de-
scrfbed as one of the most spontaneous ever
known In our political history. Those who
are charmed with red tape and imperish-
able rules and regulations would have been
alarmed at the free and easy manner in
which the delegates were chosen.
AS a rule the delegates were representa-
tive class of men. and all were In such
hearty sympathy with the movement that
there was not the slightest sign of friction
during the three days of the convention
except for the contest of seats by two sets
of delegates from the first four districts of
Pennsylvania. Even this was a minor mat
ter. and the convention, upon the recon-
nnendation of the committee ON credentials.
settled 1t very simply be declaring that
the delegates first chosen were entitled to
seats.
Interest in Final Days Session.
Interest In the final days session center
ed In the bringing forward of Abraham
Lincoln's name for Vice President. 1t had
been moved that an informal ballot be
taken for Vice President. delegate from
Illinois arose and nominated Lincoln.
'.Al I will say" he remarked. sis that
he Is good fellow firm friend of free
dom and an old-line whig"
Mr.. Archer of Illinois spoke in favor of
Lincoln. whom he said he had known from
childhood. and who, he said. was q pure
patriot. He thought Lincoln could carry
the state beyond doubt for Fremont Illi-
nois, he added. would be safe without him.
but doubly safe with him.
Can Mr.. Lincoln fght?" inquired Judge
Spaulding.
: -'Yes. SIR responded Archer. The is
son of Kentucky and a tall man whichever
way you can fix him."
When the informal ballot was taken 1t
was found that Lincoln had no votes, but
William l.. Dayton of New Jersey had 259.
Mr.. Dayton. having the apparent strength
of the convention. was, therefore, unani-
mousiy elected.