e National Republican Convention, which assembled at Chicago, in June,
1880, was an exemplification of the popular will. The respective friends
of General Grant and of Mr. Blaine, equally confident of success,
indulged during a night's session in prolonged demonstrations of
applause when the candidates were presented that were unprecedented and
that will not probably ever be repeated. Neither side was successful
until the thirty-sixth ballot, when the nomination of President was
finally bestowed on General Garfield, who had, as a delegate from Ohio,
eloquently presented the name of John Sherman as a candidate.

The convention then adjourned for dinner and for consultation. When it
reassembled in the evening, the roll of States was called for the
nomination for Vice-President. California presented E.B. Washburne;
Connecticut, ex-Governor Jewell; Florida, Judge Settle; Tennessee,
Horace Maynard. These successive names attracted little attention, but
when ex-Lieutenant-Governor Woodford, of New York, rose, and, after a
brief reference to the loyal support which New York had given to General
Grant, presented the name of General Chester A. Arthur for the second
place on the ticket, it was received with applause and enthusiasm. The
nomination was seconded by ex-Governor Denison, of Ohio, Emory A.
Storrs, of Illinois, and John Cessna, of Pennsylvania. A vote was then
taken with the following result: Arthur, 468; Washburne, 19; Maynard,
30; Jewell, 44; Bruce, 8; Davis, 2; and Woodford, 1. The nomination of
General Arthur was then made unanimous, and a committee of one from each
State, with the presiding officer of the convention, Senator Hoar, as
chairman, was appointed to notify General Garfield and General Arthur of
their nomination. The convention then adjourned _sine die_.

Returning to New York, General Arthur was welcomed by a large and
influential gathering of Republicans, who greeted him with hearty
cheers. That night he was serenaded by a large procession of
Republicans, which assembled in Union Square and marched past his
residence in Lexington Avenue, with music and fireworks. A few weeks
later, a letter was addressed to him, signed by Hamilton Fish, Noah
Davis, and upwards of a hundred other prominent Republicans, inviting
him to dine with them at the Union League Club, and stating that, in
common with all true Republicans, they rejoiced at the happy issue of
the earnest struggle in the Chicago convention. They hail