Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-17
NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.
x1v-N RECONSTRUCTION TIMES.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Using patronage for the few months he
was to be President The Wade boom
fell through when Johnson was acquitted
and Schuyler Colfax of Indiana got sec
ond place on the ticket
One of the most remarkable features of
the Chicago convention of 1868, in view
of later events, was the presence of Gov.
Joseph E. Brown of Georgia. Brown had
been. as he described himself, 'secesh of
the secesh." He was Governor of Geor-
ga under the Confederate government,
but came near to seeding from the Con-
federacy on account of a quarrel with
President Jefferson Davis over the con-
scription regulations. He presented him
self at Chicago. pledged himself to the
republicans and told them that If they
would let reconstruction stay at its pres
ent status the south would become repub-
lican. Perhaps 1t would have done so. but
there was more reconstruction to come
Gov. Brown afterward came to the United
States Senate as democrat. and his son
Little joe" is now Governor of Georgia
The democratic convention that year
met in Tammany Hall. on 18th street.
New York. July 4. 1t was a great loyal
istic and patriotic gathering and not even
the republicans could do more yelling for
the flag. Quite by accident. a most pecul-
lad coincidence a national soldiers and
sailors convention met in New York the
same day That convention. entirely dis
tinct from the one that had met In Chi
cago in May. recommended to the demo-
cratic convention the nomination of Cen
Winfield Scott Hancock But the demo-
Gratis didn't approve the recommendation.
Despite the fact. not then SO apparent,
that the democrats did not have a ghost
of a show to de-
Had Little Chance feat Grant with
to Defeat Grant. any, n : D n o the. they
was a great contest over the nomination
In the first place. Andrew Johnson, Pres
ident of the United States, wanted to run
on the democratic ticket He wrote a let
ter saying he would accept the nomina-
ton. Then George H. Pendleton of Ohio
was there as the embodiment of the
'greenback" sentiment, which was gain
ing ground all over the country. On the
first ballot Pendleton led. Johnson was
second AND Hancock. the democratic SOL
diers' candidate. third. with a dozen other
candidates in the field
In that convention were the two
shrewdest politicians who ever entered
the national arena under the democratic
banner-Horatio Seymour and Samuel j.
Tilden. Seymour was president of the
convention, Tilden was leading the New
York delegation. Seymour was the chief
conspirator in a scheme to stampede the
convention to Salmon P. Chase. If there
was ever a man who wanted to be Presi-
dent 1t was Salmon P. Chase. And If ever
an aspirant had a supporter who was al
ways faithful and always enthusiastic 1t
was Chase's daughter. Kate Chase
Sprague. Chase had been candidate in
various parties before the war. he had
opposed Lincoln for the nomination in
1864 and Lincoln had returned good for
evil by making him Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court. despite the memory of
his quarrel with Chase, as Secretary of
the Treasury early in his administration.
1t was now 1865 and Chase was again
a candidate. this time for the demo-
cratic leadership. He had presided over
the trial of Andrew Johnson as Chief
Justice, and the fairness and impair
TALLY Of his rulings were specifically
commended in the democratic platform.
Seymour had fixed it up to give Chase
the nomination. After the twentyfirst
ballot was taken. on the fifth day of the
convention, Seymour left the chair to &c
out in the hall and organize the Chase
stampede, which was to come off on the
twenty-third ballot.
But Samuel ]. Tilden was also there,