1895.] 109 [Potts. 



"It was conceded early in the session of the convention that there were 

 four doubtful States — New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania — 

 and it was necessary to carry at least two of these States in order to nom- 

 inate a candidate other than Mr. Seward. New Jersey presented Mr. 

 Dayton ; Pennsylvania, Mr. Cameron ; and Indiana and Illinois, Mr. 

 Lincoln. Mr. Seward was the first choice of a majority of the New Eng- 

 land States, but the event disclosed that they preferred the triumph of 

 principle to the success of their favorite. A committee of these States, 

 headed by Ex-Governor Andrew, waited upon the New Jersey delegation 

 at their rooms, and declared that Mr. Seward was their choice, but if he 

 could not carry the doubtful States they were willing to go for any one 

 else who could, but added, 'Gentlemen, you see our difficulty; you are 

 not agreed among yourselves, but present three different candidates. 

 Now, if you will unite upon some one man who can carry them, then we 

 wdl give him enough votes in the convention to nominate him. If you 

 continue divided we shall go into the convention and vote for Mr. Sew- 

 ard, our first choice.' It was narrowed down to this ; the four doubtful 

 States must unite upon a candidate or Mr. Seward would be nominated. 

 The convention assembled Wednesday morning, without change in this 

 state of affairs. ?.[r. Dudley was assigned a place on the committee to 

 frame a platform, and kept busy until Thursday noon. At that time the 

 four doubtful States assembled at Cameron Hall to endeavor to unite upon 

 some person. Ex-Governor Reeder presided. It was a noisy assem- 

 blage, and it very soon became evident that nothing could be accom- 

 plished as affairs then stood. Mr. Dudley then proposed to Mr. Judd, of 

 Illinois, that the matter should be referred to a committee of three from 

 each of the four States. He made a motion to this effect which was car- 

 ried. Among those appointed were Judge David Davis, Caleb B. Smith, 

 David Wilmot and William B. Mann, of Pennsylvania. On the part of 

 New Jersey, Judge Ephraim Marsh, Hon. F. T. Frelinghuysen and Mr. 

 Dudley. The committee met at six p.m. in Mr. Wilmot's room and were in 

 session until nearly ten p.m. before anything was accomplished. At that 

 time it seemed that an adjournment would be carried without arriving at an 

 understanding. The time had been consumed in talking and trying to 

 persuade each other that their favorite candidates were the most available 

 and best qualified. It was then that Mr. Greeley went to the door, and 

 finding no agreement had been reached, telegraphed to the Tribune that 

 Mr. Seward would certainly be nominated the next morning as the Re- 

 publican candidate. 



" Finding that the committee was about to separate without achieving 

 any result, Mr. Dudley took the floor, and proposed that it should be 

 ascertained which one of the three candidates had the greatest actual 

 strength before the convention, and could carry the greatest number of 

 delegates from the four Slates in the event of dropping the other two. 

 Judge Davis stated as to Mr. Lincoln's vote on the first ballot, and the 

 probable vote of the Illinois delegates, in the event of Mr. Lincoln being 



