The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-13
Only Living Lincoln EIector
Tells How Andrew Johnson
Was Nominated for the Vice
Presidency.
How A HOPELESS BOOM
TURNED INTO SUCCESS
Indiana Delegation Nominated
Him for Compliment But the
Action Had a Very Different
Result.

Isaac Jenkinson of Richmond, who
was an Indiana delegate-at-large to
the national republican convention
held at Baltimore in 1864. is the man
who was responsible for the nomin-
alton of Andrew Johnson, Lincoln s
running-mate. With four other dele
gates-at-large from Indiana he had
been instructed to cast a compliment
ary vote for Johnson to please Judge
Gooding of Greenfield. At Baltimore
Mr.. Jenkinson remembered his in
structions and insisted in the face of
much opposition that the will of the
Indiana convention be done. He car
Tied his point and in the convention
the next day had a friend nominate
johnson. The peculiar condition
which instantly developed lifted the
johnson boom out of the control of
the men who started it and nominated
the Tennessee War democrat on the
first ballot. That Is the simple un-
adorned story of how johnson came
to be the successor of Lincoln in the
white house.
OF Historical Interest.
Mr.. Jenkinson told the story, which
will make historians sit up and take
notice, to a gathering of the Grand
Army veterans at the Grand Army
hall last night. His story given to a
Palladium reporter today is as fol-
lows:
IN 1864 was elected a delegate-at-
large from Indiana to the national re-
publican convention. In the Indiana
convention the committee on resolu-
tions had had brought in plank in
structing for Lincoln. Judge Gooding
Of Greenfield asked that a plank be
adopted instructing Indiana to vote
for Andrew Johnson of Tennessee as
the vice-presidential nominee. To
please Gooding, who was war dem
ocrat and warm admirer of johnson,
the resolution was adopted. No one
then foresaw the consequences.
Caucus Was Held.
'On the evening before the national
convention met We held a caucus in
Baltimore to determine who be our
choice for the vice-presidency. There
were twenty-five men in that caucus
who wanted to support Daniel S. Dick
inson of New York. Three of the del
egates-atlarge stuck to our instruc-
tions and one district delegate joined
us. We maintained that we should
cast a complimentary vote at least,
for Johnson. Major Mace of Lafay-
cite, the delegate-at-large who had
disregarded his instructions, and Will
liam Mckee Dunn addressed the eau
Gus in favor OF Dickinson, saying that
johnson had no support. But we stood
firm for the instructions. The result
was compromise by which the dele
cation agreed to cast one solid compli-
mentary vote for Johnson and then
turn to Dickinson.
Allen Made Nomination.
"The next day in the convention,
after Lincoln had been nominated
and the roll-call began for vice-presi-
dental nominations, Cyrus NJ. Allen of
Vincennes, at my request, arose in his
place and said, Indiana nominates
Andrew johnson Of Tennessee That
attracted the Iowa delegation just be-
hind US. Governor Stone, their chair
man, said that Iowa would join in the
complimentary vote and so sang out
ut the top Of his voice. Iowa seconds
the nomination of Indiana The Ohio
AAlnOa fiAv1 {s,ct {v~a 4e
mined to follow our lead Their chair
man. Mr.. Delanco. arose and said
Ohio also seconds the nomination of
Indiana
INSTANTLY the convention was on
fire with enthusiasm for johnson.
All the delegations tried to get on the
johnson wagon at once. The result
was that long before the roll-can of
states was completed Andrew johnson
was the nominee for vice-president.
Il believed then and still believe
that the action of the Indiana delega-
tion brought about the nomination"
Settles Controversy. !.
Some years ago Mr.. Jenkinson was
brought into a controversy between
Colonel Mcclure. publisher of the
Philadelphia Times and Nicholay and
Hay, the authors OF Life OF Lin
coin" Mcclure wanted to say that
Lincoln urged the nomination OF John
con. to win over the War Democrats.
Mr.. Jenkinson showed that this could
not have bean true by telling how the
nomination came about
Mr.. Jenkanson. who was q pail bear
er appointed to escort the body OF
Lincoln In its progress through Indi-
ana. tells an interesting story Of the
progress Of the cortege through the
1ooatlnno& o. 1A0e nisAn 1