United States of America; in the name of loyalty, of liberty, of humanity, of justice; in the name of the National Union Republican party, I nominate, as candidate for the Chief Magistracy of this Nation, Ulysses S. Grant." If he had talked half an hour he could not have aroused more enthusiasm than he did by this single sentence. At the mention of Grant's name, there was prolonged applause, and a great waving of handkerchiefs, and then the mass of people, delegates and spectators, rose and gave three rousing cheers for the nominee, while the band struck up "Hail to the Chief."

The roll of states and

called and the Chairman announced: "Gentlemen of the Convention, you have six hundred and fifty votes; you have given six hundred and fifty votes for Ulys ses S. Grant. Nine rousing cheers followed the announcement, the band played

The Battle Cry of Freedom," and the who'e Convention joined in the chorus. Enthusiasm was still further aroused by a the song written for

occasion by George F.

BENJAMIN F. WADE.

Root, entitled "We'll Fight it Out Here on the Old Union Line," and sung by Chaplain Lozier, Chaplain McCabe and Major H. G. Lombard.

The contest for the nomination for Vice-President was very spirited. The nominating speeches were numerous, most of them brief, and generally of a very high order. Virginia nominated Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, and his home State and South Carolina seconded the nomination. Indiana nominated Schuyler Colfax, and New Jersey and Michigan seconded the nomination.

The Michigan delegation had been instructed for Colfax. Ohio nominated Benjamin F. Wade and was supported by Missouri and North Carolina. New York nominated Ex-Governor Reuben E. Fenton, and Louisiana supported the nomination. Kentucky named James Speed; Maryland nominated John A. J. Creswell, but Mr. Creswell, who was a delegate, immediately withdrew his name in a stirring speech favoring "glorious old Ben Wade, of Ohio." Pennsylvania nominated Ex-Governor A. G. Curtin, Iowa named James Harlan, Maine presented Hannibal Hamlin, and Kansas submitted S. C. Pomeroy. The following table shows the course of the bal

loting:

Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio.

Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana..

1st. 2d. 3d. 4th. 5th. 6th. 149 170 178 204 196 42 118 149 164 186 224 522 139

Reuben E. Fenton, of New York..... 132 140

144 137 75

Governor Curtin had furnished the Pennsylvania delegation with a patriotic letter, authorizing them to withdraw his name, whenever, in their judgment, such action would "promote unity and harmony in the Republican party, and its ultimate triumph, which is so essential to the perpetuity of the Government, and the prosperity and happiness of the American people." It will be noticed that Wade started in the lead, and maintained that position through four ballots. His nomination was expected and probably would have been brought about, had it not been for the chronic habit of Ohio delegates to break away from their own candidates at a critical time, a habit of which Senator Sherman, and half a dozen others, have had reason to complain. Four of the Ohio delegation broke from Wade to Colfax on the second ballot, and the number increased to six on the fourth ballot. Colfax's nomination, however, was entirely satis factory to the country. He was one of the most popular Republicans and one of the best parliamentarians of the time.

There was an incident connected with the Michigan delegation at this Convention which has never before been in print. The Sen

atorial influence from Washington was very strongly in favor of Benjamin F. Wade for Vice-President. Senator Chandler, of Michigan, was especially attached to Mr. Wade. They had been comrades in the Senate when the Republicans were in a hopeless minority there. In view of the assault made upon Sumner and of the threats and bluster of Southern Senators after that time, they had been parties, with Senator Cameron, to a written compact, to resist force with force, in case of any assault upon themselves, or upon any of their fellow senators in their presence, and had practiced with the revolver until they were accounted among the best shots in Washington. They had stood together in favor of Lincoln and Grant, and of all efficient war measures, and after that against the aggressions of President Johnson. In his earnest desire for Mr. Wade's nomination, Mr. Chandler wrote to the manager of the Detroit Post, of which he was much the largest stockholder, and which was devoted to his interests, asking that it come out in support of Mr. Wade. The manager replied that Michigan had already instructed its delegation to support Colfax, and it would not be well for the paper, nor well for Mr. Chandler, to go counter to the expressed wish of the Republicans of the State. Mr. Chandler, who often led, but never attempted to drive, the Republicans of Michigan, saw the force of this, and made no further efforts in that direction.

It cou

General Grant's letter of acceptance was characteristic. tained only 211 words, and, omitting the introductory acknowledg ments, was as follows:

"I endorse the resolutions.

If elected to the office of President

of the United States it will be my endeavor to administer all the laws in good faith, with economy and with the view of giving peace, quiet and protection everywhere.

"In times like the present it is impossible, or at least eminently improper, to lay down a policy to be adhered to, right or wrong, through an Administration of four years. New political issues, not foreseen, are constantly arising; the views of the public on old ones are constantly changing, and a purely Administrative officer should always be left free to execute the will of the people. I always have respected that will and always shall.

"Peace and universal prosperity, its sequence, with economy of Administration, will lighten the burden of taxation, while it con stantly reduces the National debt. Let us have peace.”

The deference here shown to the will of the people, and the dis claimer of any inflexible plan of meeting the exigencies of the time, were in striking and pleasing contrast to the self-assertion and obstinacy which had characterized the occupant of the White House for the previous three years.

Mr. Colfax's letter of acceptance, addressed to General Hawley, opened with this graceful expression of thanks: "The platform adopted by the patriotic Convention over which you presided, and the resolutions which so happily supplement it, so entirely agree with my views as to a just National policy, that my thanks are due to the delegates, as much for this clear and auspicious declaration of principles, as for the nomination with which I have been honored, and which I gratefully accept." Mr. Colfax followed with a brief reference to the issues of the day, and to what the Republican party had already accomplished.

The harmonious character of the Convention, the hearty acceptance of the platform by the candidates, and the popularity of the candidates themselves, most favorably affected the party, and it entered upon the campaign with confidence and zeal.

XVIII.

THE GRANT AND COLFAX CAMPAIGN.

The Democratic Tammany Hall Convention-“Your Candidate I Cannot Be"-The Nomination of Seymour and Blair-A Very Critical and Fault-Finding Platform--Blair's Previous RecordA Weak Point in the Ticket-The Southern Fire-Eaters Too Outspoken-An Active and Bitter Contest-A Flood of Campaign Poetry-Grant's Speeches-Seymour's Electioneering Tour-A Great Triumph for the Republicans-A Large Majority of the Popular Vote, the Vote in the Electoral College and in Congress.

The Democrats, in 1868, were more at sea and at sea much longer, than the Republicans. Their course as a party, during the war had thoroughly discredited them. Their war-is-a-failure campaign in 1864 had ended in complete discomfiture, and their investment in Andrew Johnson had not netted any dividends. They were out of principles, and their stock of available candidates had run low. They were in as great need of rehabilitation as the South

was.

The National Convention met in Tammany Hall, New York, July 4, and remained in session eleven days. The framing of a platform was no easy matter. All the material in the old platform was rotten or worm-eaten, and it was necessary to cut fresh material and build anew. The declarations of the Convention, as finally adopted, contained an enumeration of wrongs, and of outrages upon Liberty, and of violations of the Constitution, and of abuses in taxation, and of usurpations of power, that might fairly have made Vallandigham and men of his class weep. They did not know before that they had been so cruelly abused. As the first pronouncement of the modern Democracy, the declaration is worth giving in full. Here it is:

The Democratic party, in National Convention assembled, reposing its trust in the intelligence, patriotism, and discriminating justice of the people, standing upon the Constitution as the foundation and