Potts.] lit) [April 19, 



dropped — that is, how they would break. The committee from Indiana 

 and Pennsylvania also reported how the votes of their States would be 

 cast if Lincoln and Cameron were both dropped. The New Jersey 

 committee made a similar statement as to the strength of .Judge Dayton. 

 It was understood that a portion of the New Jersey delegates would drop 

 Mr. Dayton, after giving him a complimentary vote, and go for Mr. 

 Seward. 



"This examination revealed the fact that of the three candidates Mr. 

 Lincoln was the strongest. Mr. Dudley then proposed to the Pennsyl- 

 vania committee that for tlie general good and success of the party they 

 should give up their candidates and unite upon Lincoln. After some 

 discussion, Mr. Dudley's proposition was agreed to, and a programme 

 arranged to carry it into execution. A meeting of the Dayton delegates 

 from New Jersey was immediately called at James T. Sherman's room, at 

 one o'clock that night ; Judge Marsh and Mr. Frelinghuysen, evidently 

 not believing it possible to carry out the plan, did not attend the meeting ; 

 thus Mr. Dudley was the only one from the committee present. He ex- 

 plained what had been accomplished, and, after talking the matter over, 

 they approved his action. It was understood that Judge Dayton was to 

 receive one or more complimentary votes, and then the strength of the 

 delegation to be thrown for Mr. Lincoln. It was also arranged that Mr. 

 Dudley was to lead off in voting for Mr. Lincoln, and then they were to 

 follow. The Pennsylvania delegation likewise adopted the plan, first 

 giving Mr. Cameron a complimentary vote. The agreement of the com- 

 mittee was not generally known when the convention assembled. On 

 the first ballot the entire New Jersey delegation voted for Mr. Dayton ; 

 tile next, that portion who favored Mr. Seward, voted for him, while the 

 majority voted for Mr. Dayton. "When New Jersey was called on the 

 third ballot;, Mr. Dudley stated that he should vote for Mr. Lincoln and 

 was immediately followed by all the New Jersey delegates save one. The 

 result is known. New England did what she promised, and Mr. Lincoln 

 was nominated. It was the action of the committee from the four doubt- 

 ful States which undoubtedly secured Mr. Lincoln's nomination ; but for 

 this Mr. Seward would have been nominated, and there is little doubt, 

 just as surely defeated. This is a plain narrative of the manner in which 

 the nomination of Abraham Lincoln was brought about. It cannot be 

 disguised that, had it not been for Mr. Dudley's energy and tact in the 

 committee of the doubtful States, the nation in the emergency which so 

 soon followed would not have had the service of that great and good man 

 at the helm. 



"Mr. Lincoln recognized his obligations to Mr. Ddyton's friends by 

 nominating that honored citizen to the important position of Minister to 

 France. I wrote to Mr. Lincoln after his inauguration ; stating fully Mr. 

 Dudley's action in the convention, and asking his appointment as Consul 

 to Liverpool. Others likewise urged his claims, and he was appointed to 

 the position, where his eminent services during the Rebellion were 



