1868 Democratic National Convention

The 1868 Democratic National Convention was held at Tammany Hall in New York City between July 4, and July 9, 1868. The slogan for the 1868 Democratic National Convention was, "This is a White Man's Country, Let White Men Rule".[1] The convention was notable for the return of Democratic Party politicians from the southern states.

1868 Democratic National Convention
1868 presidential election
Nominees
Seymour and Blair
CityNew York, New York
VenueTammany Hall
Candidates
Presidential nomineeHoratio Seymour of New York
Vice presidential nomineeFrancis P. Blair, Jr. of Missouri
Results (president)Seymour (NY): 317 (100%)
Results (vice president)Blair (MO): 317 (100%)

Presidential nomination

Presidential candidates

The front-runner in the early balloting was George H. Pendleton, who led on the first 15 ballots, followed in varying order by incumbent president Andrew Johnson, Winfield Scott Hancock, Sanford Church, Asa Packer, Joel Parker, James E. English, James Rood Doolittle, and Thomas A. Hendricks. The unpopular Johnson, having narrowly survived impeachment, won 65 votes on the first ballot, less than one-third of the total necessary for nomination, and thus lost his bid for election as president in his own right.

Meanwhile, the convention chairman Horatio Seymour, former governor of New York, received 9 votes on the fourth ballot from the state of North Carolina. This unexpected move caused "loud and enthusiastic cheering," but Seymour refused, saying,

I must not be nominated by this Convention, as I could not accept the nomination if tendered. My own inclination prompted me to decline at the outset; my honor compels me to do so now. It is impossible, consistently with my position, to allow my name to be mentioned in this Convention against my protest. The clerk will proceed with the call.[2]

After numerous indecisive ballots, the names of John T. Hoffman, Francis P. Blair, and Stephen Johnson Field were placed in nomination. This raised the number of names placed into nomination to thirteen. None of these new candidates, however, gained much traction.

Illustration showing Tammany Hall decorated for the convention

For twenty-one ballots, the opposing candidates battled it out: the East battling the West for control, the conservatives battling the radicals. The two leading candidates were determined that the other should not receive the nomination; because of the two-thirds rule of the convention, a compromise candidate was needed. Seymour still hoped it would be Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase, but on the twenty-second ballot, the chairman of the Ohio delegation announced, "at the unanimous request and demand of the delegation I place Horatio Seymour in nomination with twenty-one votes-against his inclination, but no longer against his honor."

Seymour had to wait for the rousing cheers to die down before he could address the delegates and decline.

I have no terms in which to tell of my regret that my name has been brought before this convention. God knows that my life and all that I value most in life I would give for the good of my country, which I believe to be identified with that of the Democratic party...

"Take the nomination, then!" cried someone from the floor.

..but when I said that I could not be a candidate, I mean it! I could not receive the nomination without placing not only myself but the Democratic party in a false position. God bless you for your kindness to me, but your candidate I cannot be.[2][3]

Seymour left the platform to cool off and rest. No sooner had he left the hall than the Ohio chairman cried that his delegation would not accept Seymour's declination; Utah's chairman rose to say that Seymour was the man they had to have. While Seymour was waiting in the vestibule, the convention nominated him unanimously.

In 1868, the States of Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana were readmitted to the Union. Nebraska had been admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867. Texas, Mississippi and Virginia had not yet been readmitted to the Union.

Presidential Ballot
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th
George H. Pendleton105104119.5118.5122122.5137.5156.5144147.5144.5145.5
Thomas A. Hendricks2.529.511.519.53039.57580.582.58889
Winfield Scott Hancock33.540.545.543.5464742.52834.53432.530
Andrew Johnson655234.532242112.565.565.54.5
Sanford E. Church3433333333333300000
Asa Packer262626262727262626.527.52626
James E. English1612.57.57.576666000
Joel Parker1315.513131313777777
James R. Doolittle1312.5121215121212121212.512.5
Horatio Seymour000900000000
Francis Preston Blair0.510.54.529.550.50.50.50.50.50.5
Reverdy Johnson8.5811800000000
Salmon P. Chase000000000000.5
Thomas Ewing00.51100000000
John Q. Adams000010000000
George B. McClellan000000000001
Blank000000.50.500.500.50.5
Presidential Ballot
13th14th15th16th17th18th19th20th21st22nd Before Shifts22nd After Shifts
Horatio Seymour00000000022317
George H. Pendleton134.5130129.5107.570.556.500000
Thomas A. Hendricks8184.582.570.58087107.5121132145.50
Winfield Scott Hancock48.55679.5113.5137.5144.5135.5142.5135.5103.50
Andrew Johnson4.505.55.561000540
Asa Packer26260000220000
James E. English0000006161970
Joel Parker777773.500000
James R. Doolittle13131212121212121240
Stephen J. Field000000159800
Francis Preston Blair0.50000013.513000
Salmon P. Chase0.50000.50.50.50400
Thomas H. Seymour00000042000
John T. Hoffman000033000.500
Thomas Ewing00000000000
George B. McClellan000000000.500
Franklin Pierce10000000000
Blank0.50.5110.5011.50.5310


Vice Presidential nomination

Vice Presidential candidate

Withdrawn candidates

Declined

Seymour/Blair campaign poster

Exhausted, the delegates unanimously nominated General Francis Preston Blair, Jr. for vice-president on the first ballot after the names of Augustus C. Dodge and Thomas Ewing, Jr. were withdrawn from consideration. Blair's nomination reflected a desire to balance the ticket east and west as well as north and south.[4]

Blair had worked hard to acquire the Democratic nomination and accepted second place on the ticket, finding himself in controversy.[5] Blair had gained attention by an inflammatory letter addressed to Colonel James O. Broadhead, dated a few days before the convention met. In his letter, Blair wrote that the "real and only issue in this contest was the overthrow of Reconstruction, as the radical Republicans had forced it in the South."[6]

Vice Presidential Ballot1st
Francis Preston Blair317


See also

References

  1. "The Worst Convention in U.S. History?". Politico Magazine. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  2. They Also Ran, Irving Stone, pg. 280
  3. Official proceedings of the National Democratic convention, held at New York, July 4-9, 1868 (Pg. 153)
  4. Frank Blair: Lincoln's Conservative, William E. Parrish, pg. 254
  5. Frank Blair: Lincoln's Conservative, William E. Parrish, pg. 260
  6. Stewart Mitchell, Horatio Seymour of New York, Harvard University Press, 1938, p. 448

Bibliography

  • Coleman, Charles Hubert. The election of 1868 : the Democratic effort to regain control (1933) online

Primary sources

Preceded by
1864
Chicago, Illinois
Democratic National Conventions Succeeded by
1872
Baltimore, Maryland
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.