A large, rough building was erected in Chicago, called the Wigwam, in which the Republican convention was held. Large delegations with bands of music came on special trains from all over the country. The excitement was great. Illinois sent thousands to shout for Mr. Lincoln. The hotels were packed with noisy people. Banners and mottes in profusion floated from the business houses and public buildings. But a small part of the crowd could get into the Wigwam, although it held several thousand. Mr. Seward, of New York, the author of "the irrepressible conflict" was the most popular and most noted of the candidates and it was thought he would receive the nomination. The Illinois men and Mr. Lincoln's friends started to work for Mr. Lincoln's nomination. They worked day and night, scarcely eating or sleeping. The first ballot showed Mr. Seward to be considerably ahead but not enough to win. Then breaking began on the following ballots from the smaller candidates to Mr. Lincoln, and he received a majority of the votes and was nominated as the Republican candidate for president May 16, 1860. A man was on top of the Wigwam; as soon as the result of the last ballot was announced he shouted to a man on the edge of the building, "Fire the salute, Lincoln is nominated." He passed it on to others. Soon the bells began to ring, cannon were fired and the people on the streets were wild with enthusiasm. Mr. Douglas received the Democratic nomination, but that party split and Mr. Breckenridge was nominated by a few. There was now the direct conflict between the extension and non-extension of slavery. Mr. Lincoln became very much worked up on the slavery question, and talking to Dr. Bateman, whose room, as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was next his in the capital at Springfield, he said: "I know there is a God, and he hates injustice and slavery. I see the storm coming. I know that His hand is in it. If He has a place for me and work for me and I think He has--I believe I am ready. I am nothing, but truth is everything. I know I am right because I know that liberty is right, for Christ teaches it and Christ is God. I have told them that a house divided against itself cannot stand, and Christ and reason say the same and they will find it so. Douglas don't care whether slavery is voted up or down, but God cares and humanity cares and I care; and with God's help I shall not fail. I may not see the end, but it will come and I shall be vindicated and these men will find that they have not read their Bible right." The election came off in November, and Mr. Lincoln found the people had read their Bibles' right on slavery and elected him by a tremendous majority. March 4, 1861, Mr. Lincoln stood at the Capitol building to deliver his inaugural address as president of the United States. He did not see a place to put his hat and Mr. Douglas reached forward, took it and held it while Mr. Lincoln spoke.