bill, shorn of some of its more destructive features, was passed over his head. At the opening of his administration the country was somewhat burdened with a financial depression, but that speedily passed away before the advance of specie resumption, and the years 1879 and 1880 brought general stability and prosperity in all branches of business. Politically, the rule of Mr. Hayes was not brilliant; but it was peaceable and respectable and the country prospered under him. CHAPTER XXVII. CONVENTION OF 1880-THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION. Delegates Meet in Chicago on June 2-Large Gathering-Temporary Organization-Speech of George F. Hoar-Lists of CommitteesPermanent Organization-Conkling's Resolutions of Impressment -Determined Contest over the Unit-Rule"-Designed to Help Grant-Its Defeat-Boutwell's Resolution-Webster Flanagan's Sentiments-Gavel of Historic Timber-Presentation of Candidates-Garfield's Speech-The First Ballot-Thirty-five Additional Ballots-36th Ballot in Detail-Scene After its AnnouncementCandidates for the Vice-Presidency-Chester A. Arthur ChosenCommittee of Notification-The Canvass-Disgraceful Assaults on Garfield-The Criminal Morey-Chinese Letter-Its EffectGarfield Elected-He Carried Nineteen States and 216 Electora Votes-Auspicious Opening of Garfield's Reign-Shot by a Disappointed Office-seeker-A Long Period of Suffering-Death-The Whole World in Mourning-Arthur Takes the Oath of Office-He Enters Upon a Difficult Task-A Dignified and Successful Administration-Good-will and Confidence Take the Place of Coldness and Distrust. On Wednesday, June 2, 1880, J. Donald Cameron, of Pennsylvania, chairman of the national committee, called to order the seventh national convention of the Republican party, in the exposition building at Chicago. A great crowd was present, for giants were in the field as candidates and as generals of the contending forces. After the usual preliminaries George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, was unanimously chosen temporary chairman. He was conducted to the chair by E. J. Davis, of Texas, Green B. Raum, of Illinois and William P. Frye, of Maine, which he accepted in an able and scholarly speech, reciting the wretched history of the Democracy in contrast with the resplendent triumphs of Republicanism. The roll of States was then called and the various committees were announced as follows: G.D. Perkins Lewis Barker O.P.Snyder J.Mansfield M.C.Hutchins L.G. Downes C.T Westcott J.A.Thomasson J.H.Johnson M.N.Magone W.G.Hunter L.Powers J.J.Weaver, Jr W.B.S.Hopkins R. M. Morse, Jr E.C. Watkins J.H.Chandler O.H.Blocker J.A.Garfield G.L.Shoup Presley Denny Some eloquent remarks followed a resolution by John A. Logan to give 500 tickets of admission to the Veteran Soldiers' Association, which resolution was adopted. The committees, owing to contests of an aggravated form among the delegations from several States, were unable to report, therefore adjournment for that day took place at 3 o'clock P. M. Soon after re-assembling on Thursday at 11 o'clock, the committee on permanent organization reported as follows, which report was adopted: President-Geo. F. Hoar, of Massachusetts. Secretaries-John H. Roberts, of Illinois; C. L. Magee, of Pennsylvania; and Geo. M. Buchanan, of Mississippi. Reading Clerks-Charles W. Clisbee, of Michigan; and James C. Brodwell, of Missouri. Stenographer-Eugene Davis, of New York. STATES. VICE-PRESIDENTS. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. George W. Washington. J. R. Puryear. Frank Veits. J. W. Brown. Without accomplishing anything in the way of appropriate business, the convention adjourned for the day at 7:30 P. M. On re-assembling on Friday, Roscoe Conkling offered a resolution: Resolved, As the sense of this convention that every member of it is bound in honor to support its nominee, no matter who that nominee may be; and that no man should hold a seat here who is not ready to so agree. The roll of States was called and the resolution was adopted, 716 to 3. Mr. Conkling then sent up another resolution: Resolved, That the delegates who have voted that they will not abide the action of this convention do not deserve and have forfeited their votes in this convention. This precipitated a spirited debate, in which, however, Mr. Conkling took no part. Finally, after the three delegates from West Virginia who voted against the first resolution had said they did not intend by their votes to declare they would not support the nominees of the convention, but merely to express their disapproval of the expediency of the resolution, James A. Garfield, of Ohio, expressed the hope that the second resolution would be withdrawn, and Mr. Conkling thereupon withdrew it. James A. Garfield, from the committee on rules, reported practically the rules recorded in the proceedings of 1872, which, after considerable debate, a minority report having been made by Geo. H. Sharpe, of New York, on behalf of nine States, was adopted. An additional rule, number 11, was adopted, referring all resolutions to the committee on platform without debate. The principal contest of the convention arose over the report of the committee on credentials. A powerful attempt had been made by the friends of certain candidates to control the entire delegations of given States by the operation of the "unit-rule." That is to say, if forty of the fifty-eight delegates from Pennsylvania favored the nomination of 1 |