General
Harrison, in 1840, was nominated instead of Webster or Clay,
who were the leaders of the Whig Party, and doubtless the
favorites at Washington. In 1844, when Mr. Clay received
the Whig nomination, he was defeated by Mr. Polk, who had,
I suppose, hardly been heard of as a candidate in political
circles at the Capital. In 1848 the popular feeling again
compelled the nomination of a candidate, General Taylor, over
the favorite leaders at the Capital. In 1852 Fillmore and
Webster were both rejected by the Whigs for General Scott,
and General Pierce was summoned from private life for the
Democratic nomination. In 1860 Seward was rejected for Lincoln.
And in 1876 Hayes, whose National service had consisted of
but one term in the House of Representatives, was chosen as
the result of a contest in which Blaine, Conkling, Morton
and Bristow, distinguished National statesmen, were the defeated
competitors. So, in 1880, Garfield, who had not been much
thought of in official circles, was selected as the result of a
mighty struggle in which Grant and Blaine were the principal
champions, and in which Edmunds and Sherman, who had long
been prominent in the Senate, were also candidates.
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