The President was renominated to-day at Baltimore. A contest
took place in regard to Missouri, and the wrong delegates were admitted by an
almost unanimous vote. A strange perversion. There was neither sense nor reason
nor justice in the decision. Rogues, fanatics, hypocrites, and untruthful men
secured and triumphed over good and true men. Prejudice overcame truth and
reason. The Convention exhibited great stupidity and actually stultified itself
in this matter.
When the vote of the Convention was taken on the nomination
for President, it was found the Missouri delegation who had been admitted were
not in harmony with the Convention. They would not vote for Mr. Lincoln. He had
all the rest of the votes. There was much intrigue and much misconception in
this thing.
On the question of Vice-President there was greater diversity
of opinion at the beginning, but ultimately and soon all united on Andrew
Johnson. Personally I did not regret this result, although I took no part in
its accomplishment. The delegates and papers of my State generally have
disapproved of Hamlin’s course towards me, and I have no doubt it contributed
to their casting a united vote at the start for Johnson. Hamlin and his friends
will give me credit for influence which I do not possess, and ascribe to me
revenge for malevolence I have never felt. Without cause and because I would
not extend undue favor to one of his friends by official abuse, he has treated
me coldly, discourteously, and with bad temper, —so much so as to attract
attention and inquiry, and lead to opposition to his renomination.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 —
December 31, 1866, p. 46-7
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