At last,
on the thirty-sixth ballot, and the sixth day of the convention,
the delegates who had previously voted for other candidates
than Grant, began to wheel into line for Garfield. Garfield
had one vote from the State of Pennsylvania in previous ballots.
But on the thirty-fourth ballot Wisconsin, the last State
to vote in alphabetical order, had given him her sixteen votes,
and on the thirty-sixth ballot she was joined by the delegates
who had voted for other candidates than Grant. Grant held
together his forces till the last, receiving three hundred
and thirteen votes on the thirty-fifth ballot, and three hundred
and six on the thirty-sixth. It was a sublime moment, which
it was hoped would determine the destiny of the Republic for
many years, a hope which was cruelly disappointed by Garfield's
untimely death. It was, as might be well believed, a moment
of sublime satisfaction to me. Garfield had been my friend
for many years. I had sat close to him in the House of Representatives
for three terms of Congressional service. He had been my
guest at my house in Worcester; and I had been his colleague
on the Electoral Commission in 1876.
Pages:
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703