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taught by the Democratic success with General Jackson, 
which all parties had accepted and treasured up for future 
guidance. This was, that a general who had won victories 
for his country, and, by his calling, had been held aloof from 
its political controversies, was more likely to arouse popular 
enthusiasm as a candidate than a statesman of far greater ca- 
pacity and fitness for the office. There were two generals be- 
tween whom the Whigs might choose — each of high military 
fame, and both understood to hold Whig principles — General 
Harrison and General Scott. Daniel Webster, tho reasonably 
assured of the support of nearly all the New England delegates, 
had little strength in the South and West, and had written 
from London, while making a summer tour in Europe, that 
he would not be a candidate. His name, therefore, did not 
go before the convention. 
The feeling of all the delegates to the convention seemed 
to be voiced in the instructions with which the New York 
delegation had departed for Harrisburg. It was understood 
that part of them would adhere to Clay thruout, and that 
the other part would go either for Harrison, Scott, or who- 
ever should prove, on comparing views, to be the most avail- 
able candidate to defeat Van Buren's re-election. The one 
great object of the Whigs in this convention seemed to be 
to nominate candidates who could defeat Van Buren at the 
coming election, and therefore the most important single re- 
quisite of the Whig candidates was availability.^^ 
When the New York newspapers were received in Albany, 
containing accounts of the assembling of the convention and 
its preliminary proceedings, it appeared as if Mr. Clay had 
almost all the southern delegates, and a decided and outspoken 
party among the northern ones. He had nearly, if not quite, 
a majority of the convention. The other delegates were 
divided. It was later made public that the friends of Scott 
had finally agreed to support Harrison. This made it im- 
possible or improbable that Clay should be nominated. After 
Harrison had been nominated, it was decided to appease 
Clay’s friends by the nomination of a Clay man for the vice- 
presidency. This man was to be a Virginian, in order to as- 
sure southern support for the Whig ticket. The man selected 
Seward, Autohiography, 447. 
^^lhid„ 448. 
