The 1868 Democratic National Convention was held at the Tammany Hall headquarters building in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

between July 4, and July 9, 1868. The first Democratic convention after the conclusion of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

, the convention was notable for the return of Democratic Party politicians from the

Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, Dixieland, or simply the South) is List of regions of the United States, census regions defined by the United States Cens ...

Venue

Tammany Hall interior for the national convention 1868 crop

The convention was held at the new Tammany Hall building on East 14th Street in

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

, which replaced the organization's earlier headquarters. For the convention, the hall was elaborately decorated.

Convention officers

Horatio Seymour, the former

governor of New York The governor of New York is the head of government of the U.S. state of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor ...

, served as the permanent chairman of the convention. Each state delegation had a vice president and secretary to the convention. Henry L. Palmer of

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

served as the convention's temporary chairman, after the convention voted on the opening day to appoint him after he was nominated by Democratic National Committee Chairman August Belmont.

Events of the convention

On July 4, 1868, coinciding with the first day of the Democratic National Convention, the Soldiers and Sailors National Convention was held at the Cooper Institute, also in New York City. On July 6, a committee from that convention was granted privilege to address the Democratic National Convention. On July 6, an address from the Woman's Suffrage Association was presented and read before the convention. During the convention, many delegates utilized the catch phrase, "this is a

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

man's country, let white men rule".

Presidential nomination

Presidential candidates

Image:Hon. Horatio Seymour, N.Y - NARA - 528568 (cropped).jpg, Former

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Horatio Seymour
of New York Image:GeorgeHPendleton.png, Former Representative George H. Pendleton
of

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

Image:ThomasAHendricks-small.png,

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

Thomas A. Hendricks
of

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

Image:WinfieldSHancock.png, Major General
Winfield Scott Hancock
of

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

Image:Andrew Johnson portrait.jpg, President
Andrew Johnson of

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

Image:SanfordEChurch.png, Former Lt. Governor
Sanford E. Church
of New York Image:AsaPacker_small.png, Former Representative Asa Packer
of

Image:JamesEdwardEnglish.png,

James E. English
of

Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...

Image:JoelParker-small.png, Former

Joel Parker
of

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

Image:JamesRDoolittle.png,

James Rood Doolittle
of

Image:StephenField.png,

Associate Justice An associate justice or associate judge (or simply associate) is a judicial panel member who is not the chief justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the Supreme Court of the United States and some ...

Stephen J. Field
of

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

Image:Francis P. Blair, Jr.png, Former Representative Francis P. Blair
of

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

Image:Samuel Portland Chase.jpg, Chief Justice
Salmon P. Chase
of

(not nominated) Image:John T Hoffman.png, New York City Mayor John T. Hoffman
of New York 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. Three-fourth of the delegates from southern states gave their support to Johnson. The unpopular Johnson, having narrowly survived impeachment, won 65 votes on the first ballot; the second-highest number of votes after Pendleton, but less than one-third of the total necessary for nomination, and he thus lost his bid for election as president in his own right. His vote tally rapidly dropped away thereafter, and from the eighth ballot onwards, he would only receive votes from his home state of Tennessee. 1868-democratic-national-convention-ticket-value

1868-democratic-national-convention-ticket-value

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.They Also Ran, Irving Stone, pg. 280

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. 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 meant 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.

Seymour left the platform to cool off and rest. No sooner had he left the hall than former representative Clement Vallandigham, a member of the Ohio delegation and one-time ally of Seymour, rose and proclaimed that the delegation would not accept Seymour's refusal, and that he was the only man who could break the deadlock at the convention, much less win the presidency. The chairman of New York's delegation then stood and, while bound by the convention rules not to switch its votes (which it had already cast for Hendricks) until the round of balloting had concluded, made a passionate speech in support of Seymour. The roll call continued, with Seymour only picking up one additional vote (from Tennessee), but the final state, Wisconsin, cast a blank ballot which it then immediately switched to Seymour. This started a stampede with all the remaining states quickly throwing their support behind Seymour, eventually leading to his being nominated unanimously. In 1868, the States of

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

, and

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

were readmitted to the Union.

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

had been admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867. Texas, Mississippi and Virginia had not yet been readmitted to the Union.

Balloting

1st day of presidential balloting / 3rd day of convention (Tuesday, July 7, 1868) File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination1stBallot.png, 1st presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination2ndBallot.png, 2nd presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination3rdBallot.png, 3rd presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination4thBallot.png, 4th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination5thBallot.png, 5th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination6thBallot.png, 6th presidential ballot
2nd day of presidential balloting / 4th day of convention (Wednesday, July 8, 1868) File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination7thBallot.png, 7th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination8thBallot.png, 8th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination9thBallot.png, 9th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination10thBallot.png, 10th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination11thBallot.png, 11th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination12thBallot.png, 12th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination13thBallot.png, 13th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination14thBallot.png, 14th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination15thBallot.png, 15th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination16thBallot.png, 16th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination17thBallot.png, 17th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination18thBallot.png, 18th presidential ballot
3rd day of presidential balloting / 5th day of convention (Thursday, July 9, 1868) File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination19thBallot.png, 19th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination20thBallot.png, 20th presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination21stBallot.png, 21st presidential ballot File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination22ndBallotBefore.png, 22nd
Presidential ballot
(before shifts) File:1868DemocraticPresidentialNomination22ndBallotAfter.png, 22nd
Presidential ballot
(after shifts)

Vice-presidential nomination

Vice-presidential candidates

Image:Francis P. Blair, Jr.png, Former Representative Francis P. Blair
of

Image:Augustus Caesar Dodge.jpg, Former

Augustus C. Dodge
of

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

''(withdrawn)'' Image:Gen-TEwingJr.jpg, Major General
Thomas Ewing Jr.
of

Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...

''(withdrawn)'' Image:John A. McClernand(01085v).jpg, Former Representative John A. McClernand
of

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

''(withdrew -
declined consideration)'' Image:William B. Franklin enh.jpg, Major General
William B. Franklin
of

''(not nominated)'' SeymourBlair

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. Blair had worked hard to acquire the Democratic nomination and accepted second place on the ticket, finding himself in controversy. 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."Stewart Mitchell, ''Horatio Seymour of New York,'' Harvard University Press, 1938, p. 448 Vice Presidential balloting / 5th day of convention (Thursday, July 9, 1868) File:1868DemocraticVicePresidentialNomination1stBallot.png, 1st vice-presidential ballot

References

Works cited

Bibliography

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

Primary sources

* Chester, Edward W ''A guide to political platforms'' (1977) pp 86–8
online
*
Official proceedings of the National Democratic convention, held at New York, July 4-9, 1868
'

External links

Democratic Party Platform of 1868
at ''The American Presidency Project'' {{Andrew Johnson 1868 conferences 1868 in New York (state) 1860s in New York City 19th century in Manhattan 19th-century political conferences 1868 United States presidential election July 1868 1868 New York State Democratic Committee Political conventions in New York City Tammany Hall Andrew Johnson Thomas A. Hendricks