Background 1880 Republican National Convention

1 background

1.1 ulysses s. grant
1.2 james g. blaine
1.3 john sherman
1.4 james garfield

background

as president of united states, rutherford b. hayes had caused heated tensions within republican party. hayes had moved away party patronage offering government jobs southern democrats instead of northern republicans. actions drew heavy criticism inside party, such roscoe conkling of new york , james g. blaine of maine. hayes had known since dispute on 1876 election unlikely win in 1880, , had announced @ 1877 inauguration not run second term. without incumbent president in race, rival factions within republican party, stalwarts , half-breeds, eagerly anticipated 1880 presidential election.

ulysses s. grant

a photograph of president grant during 1870s

at close of grant s 2 terms president in 1877, republican-controlled congress suggested grant not return white house third term. grant did not seem mind , told wife julia, not want here [in white house] 4 years. not think stand it. after grant left white house, , wife decided use us$85,000 of savings travel around world. biographer new york herald, john russell young, traveled grants , documented journey exotic places around world in book later published called around world general grant. young saw grant s popularity soaring, treated splendid receptions @ arrival in tokyo , peking, china.

after hayes falling-out republican party , perceived desire on part of united states electorate strong man in white house, grant returned united states ahead of schedule, in hopes of seeking third term in office. backing of stalwarts , calls man of iron replace man of straw in white house, grant confident receive republican nomination presidency. roscoe conkling, leader of stalwart faction, formed triumvirate j. donald cameron of pennsylvania , john a. logan of illinois lead campaign grant s return white house. grant victory, conkling , other stalwarts have great influence in white house. grant knew count on stalwart leaders solidify respective states in order guarantee grant victory. conkling confident in grant s nomination said, nothing act of god prevent grant s nomination. aide ex-president, adam badeau, commented grant had become extremely anxious receive nomination , did not think there chance of failure.

however, close friends of grant saw public support slipping. john russell young took grant aside , told him lose election, , should withdraw avoid embarrassment. young argued grant being heavily attacked opponents, against concept of presidential third term. young criticized handling of campaign , told grant if won election, indebted triumvirate . grant felt stalwart friends had been of great assistance in election bid, , deserved political patronage in administration. grant, nonetheless, listened young s advice , wrote letter j. donald cameron, authorizing name withdrawn nomination contest after consultation other stalwart backers. upon hearing of letter, julia grant insistent husband should not withdraw name contest. said, if general grant not nominated, let so, must not withdraw name – no, never. young delivered letter triumvirate in chicago on may 31, no action taken remove grant s name.

james g. blaine

blaine during 1870s

the other main contender republican nomination james g. blaine. blaine, senator maine had served in united states house of representatives, including holding speaker of house position 1869 1875, in competition prevent grant s nomination. 4 years earlier blaine had campaigned party s nomination; in weeks prior 1876 convention, accused of committing fraudulent activities involving railroad stocks. specifics of blaine s involvement detailed in mulligan letters. blaine pleaded own defense on floor of house of representatives, , read aloud selected, edited portions of letter not incriminating. despite attempt clear name, blaine tarnished scandal throughout rest of political career. on sunday before balloting begin in cincinnati, ohio, blaine collapsed @ steps of washington congregational church. unconscious 2 days, , result, lost supporters doubtful on health , whether capable of handling presidency. blaine ridiculed opponents, accused him of faking illness gain sympathy; new york sun headlined blaine feigns faint . on first ballot of 1876 convention, blaine received 285 votes, while political enemy, roscoe conkling, in second place 99 votes. blaine , conkling had long-standing political feud started @ debate on floor of house of representatives in 1866. after 6 more ballots resulted in no consensus, conkling switched support rutherford b. hayes, beat blaine nomination.

after blaine s failure in 1876, supporters believed needed nominated @ 1880 convention in chicago if ever going president, reasoning if tried nomination twice , failed, not count on opportunity. campaign manager, william e. chandler, put it:

despite mulligan letters scandal, blaine had succeeded remarkably in 1880 campaign, attracting nationwide support candidacy. argued gold standard, support big business, tariff protect american jobholders, civil rights freed blacks , irish independence.

john sherman

a photograph of john sherman taken while united states secretary of treasury

john sherman longtime senator ohio served state in house of representatives in late 1850s , 1860s. senator, sherman led planning of national banking system. oversaw national policy post-civil war banking system, , helped restore nation s finances after panic of 1873. under president hayes, sherman served secretary of treasury, advocating gold standard , building country s gold reserves. sherman s colleagues did not have confidence in presidential bid. sherman known ohio icicle uncharismatic personality, made him unappealing voters. colleagues commented in public, sherman not eloquent, though graceful speaker, confining himself entirely statements of fact. in private, reserved, self-contained, personality many americans not comfortable with. president, sherman intended continue support gold standard. prior start of convention, papers had predicted sherman receive 110 votes in balloting. sherman felt still had chance @ nomination once grant vote broke apart after 5 or 6 ballots.

james garfield

garfield brigadier general during civil war

james garfield came chicago senator-elect ohio, had represented state in united states house since 1863. in 1859, republican, garfield elected ohio senate. following year, admitted ohio bar. served state senator until 1861, when enlisted in union army @ start of civil war. garfield assigned command 42nd ohio volunteer infantry, , had task of driving confederate forces out of eastern kentucky. garfield later led attack number of infantry regiments against confederate cavalry @ jenny s creek on january 6, 1862. confederates retreated, , leading men victory, garfield promoted rank of brigadier general in march 1862.

garfield later served under major general don carlos buell @ battle of shiloh , under thomas j. wood @ siege of corinth. garfield s health deteriorated , sent serve on commission investigate conduct of union general fitz john porter. in spring of 1863, garfield returned field chief of staff william s. rosecrans, commander of army of cumberland. after disastrous chickamauga campaign in september 1863, rosecrans relieved of command. garfield saved own reputation fighting bravely during battles, , subsequently promoted rank of major general. garfield s fame spread, , william dennison engineered garfield s 1863 election congress. whitelaw reid commented, garfield able , prominent of young politicians entered army @ outbreak of war. garfield did not want leave army, visited president abraham lincoln advice on matter. lincoln told garfield had more generals handle, , needed political support.

garfield succeeded in gaining re-election house seat every 2 years. in 1872, garfield faced charges receiving $329 in tainted money crédit mobilier of america corruption scandal. garfield repeatedly denied charges , hired william e. chandler defend him in front of congressional investigators. there not evidence against garfield, political career not affected. 4 years later, when james g. blaine moved house united states senate, garfield became republican floor leader of house. year, garfield served member of electoral commission awarded 20 hotly contested electoral votes rutherford b. hayes in contest presidency against samuel j. tilden. prior 1880 republican national convention, garfield had expressed blaine supporter. not until john sherman entered race garfield switched sides, , offered support ohio icicle .