Evening journal., 1912-03-25
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Tbs Long Memory That De-
featsd a Presidential
Ambition
By Holland.

Il have sometimes thought that but
for a possible secret resentment
which Samuel j. Tilden nourished af-
ter the Free Soil party national con-
vention Of 1S4s, Salmon p Chase,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
the United States, by appointment of
Lincoln, would have been nominated
for President by the Democrats in
1868 instead Of Horatio Seymour" So
said the late Abram S. Hewitt of New
York while chatting reminiscently of
Governor Tilden. Mr.. Hewitt, who was
elected mayor of New York in 1886,
defeating Henry George and Theodore
Roosevelt, was chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee in 1876
when Governor Tilden was the Dem
ocratic candidate for President He
probably was as we'll acquainted with
Tilden's political career as was any
man who survived Tilden, excepting,
possibly the late John Bigelow.
In 1S4S," continued Mr.. Hewitt,
that part OF the Democratic party
which was opposed to the extension Of
slavery III the territories decided TO
place in nomination for President
some one who would make the cam
paign as a Democrat and yet as a
Democrat who was opposed to extern
sion Of slavery
"A convention was called to meet at
| Utica, New York. The most active
member of that convention was
! Samuel j. Tilden, then looked upon
as the most able and brilliant young
Democrat in New York state. He was
at that time aboue 35 years of age. |
remember that it was due to Mr. Til
den's efforts that a distinguished DEM
ocrat OF Missouri, Frank Blair, who
afterward was Democratic candidate
| for Vice President in 1868, came from
Missouri to attend the convention of
the Free Soil Democracy. And he
made a speech which, as I recall it,
was about the most fiery and impas-
stoned political utterance by any DEM
ocrat in opposition to the extension OF
slavery. IL was a speech which made
Blair very prominent in the East
1T was also due chiefly to Tilden's S
influence that Martin Van Buren was
den had obtained from Van Buren,
who was Tilden's political sponsor, a
promise that he would accept the
nomination Tilden, furthermore
brought about the nomination, for
Vice-President, of Henry Dodge Of
Wisconsin, a United States Senator
who was opposed to the extension Of
slavery in the territories From first
TO last. indeed Samuel J. Tilden was
the real power IN that first conven-
tion Of Free Soil Democrats
Later, an element in the Wing par
I ty, which was also opposed to the eX-
! tension of slavery in the territories,
and which was led by Salmon p.
Chase, OF Ohio, who was afterward
Governor United States Senator and
Lincolns first Secretary of the Treas
ury, desired TO form a coalition with
the Free Soil Democrats. For that rea-
son call wasiissued for a great mass
meeting at Buffalo. Then it was an
nounced that Henry Dodge of Wis
consin would not accept the Free Sol
nomination for Vice President Tilden
always felt that Salmon p. Chase had
a hand in inducing Dodge to decline
AT any rate at the Buffalo mass meet
ing Chase's influence was greater than
Tildens, and it was always presumed
that it was chiefly due to Chase that
Charles Francis Adams was nominat-
ed for Vice President in place OF
Henry Dodge.
I'm 1868 there was a very strong ell
ement among the war Democrats, and
also among the old-time anti-slavery
Democrats and Wings. in favor of tho
nomination of Chief Justice Chase fol
President by the Democratic party
Chase himself was aware of that sen
timent mad fostered It, Samuel j. Til
den was the master of the Democratic
national convention of 1868. which
met in New York city. Had he said the
word, Chase would have been nomi
mated for President by the convention
But Tilden picked out Horatio Sey
mour as the candidate. because h,
felt that with Seymour he could bea
Chase, which proved to be the case
Tilden had not forgotten the Buffalo
convention of 1S4S when Chase be
came the real leader, supplanting Til
den. who was one of the originator
of the Free Soil movement
"Sameul J. Tilden was a man o
long memory
Copyright. 1912 by Z. J Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tel
"Thc Story That Turned Anparon