The Life and Public Services of James A. Garfield: Twentieth President of the United States, Including Full and Accurate Details of His Eventful Administration, Assassination, Last Hours, Death, Etc., Together with Notable Extracts from His Speeches and LettersBrown, E. E. (Emma Elizabeth)
History
The Life and Public Services of James A. Garfield: Twentieth President of the United States, Including Full and Accurate Details of His Eventful Administration, Assassination, Last Hours, Death, Etc., Together with Notable Extracts from His Speeches and Letters
Brown, E. E. (Emma Elizabeth)
Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881; Presidents -- United States -- Biography
J. A. GARFIELD."
By the time the thirty-fourth ballot was cast, however, it began to be
very evident that a "break" was imminent. Wisconsin gave thirty-six
votes for Garfield, Connecticut followed with eleven more, Illinois gave
seven, and Indiana twenty-nine.
Garfield immediately rose to his feet and said he had refused to have
his name announced and voted for in the convention.
"I have not given my consent"--he began; but amidst much laughter the
chairman interrupted, and said the gentleman was not stating a question
of order.
The enthusiasm for the new candidate now rose to its highest pitch. When
the thirty-sixth ballot was called, Sherman and the Ohio delegation,
with the New York anti-Grant men, led off in a grand burst of applause
for Garfield. One after another the States transferred their votes to
him, till at last Wisconsin completed the majority.
Before the roll was called a salute of guns was fired in the park
outside, the galleries sprang to their feet, and the wildest scene of
excitement followed.
Each delegation had its State banner, and, with Massachusetts at the
head, an impromptu procession was formed that marched over to the Ohio
delegation and placed all the standards by the side of Garfield. The
military band in the hall then struck up, "Rally round the Flag," and
the whole immense audience enthusiastically joined in the stirring song.
"I shall never forget," writes an eye-witness, "the expression of
Garfield's face at the time that delegation after delegation was
breaking from its moorings and going over to him. I scanned him with
intense curiosity as he listened to the call of States, and the certain
coming of his nomination. His cheeks had a flush upon them, and there
was a far-away expression in his eyes as he listened to the responses of
the chairman, as if he was communing with the future. I can see his face
at this moment as plainly as I saw it then, and I ask myself now whether
as he swept the horizon of the future with his mind's eye, could he
possibly have had a glimpse of the dark apparition that was even then
being invoked into life. He looked anxious, almost troubled."
When the President of the convention announced that James A. Garfield of
Ohio had received three hundred and ninety-nine ballots, the majority of
the whole votes cast, Senator Conkling arose and said,--
"I move that he be unanimously presented as the nominee of the
convention. The Chair, under the rules, anticipated me, but being on my
feet, I avail myself of the opportunity to congratulate the Republican
party of the nation on the good-natured and well-tempered disposition
that has distinguished this animated convention.
"I trust that the fervor and unanimity of the scenes of the convention
will be transplanted to the field of the country, and all of us who have
borne a part against each other here will be found with equal zeal,
bearing the banners and carrying the lances of the Republican party into
the ranks of the enemy."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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