the platform as a spectator,
came forward instantly, and said: "I am very much obliged
to the delegate from Wyoming for mentioning my name in this
convention, but there is no way in which I could accept a
nomination from this convention, if it were possible, unless
I should be permitted to turn it over to my best friend."
The President said: "The Chair presumed the unanimous consent
of the convention to permit the illustrious soldier who has
spoken to interrupt its order for its purpose. But it will
be a privilege accorded to no other person whatever." The
General's prompt suppression of this attempt to make him a
candidate was done in a direct and blunt soldierly fashion.
I did not think it best to apply to him the strictness of
parliamentary law; and in that I was sure of the approval
of the convention. But the precedent of permitting such a
body to be addressed under any circumstances by a person not
a member would be a dangerous one, if repeated. Perhaps I
may with propriety add one thing of a personal nature. It
has been sometimes charged that the delegates from Massachusetts
were without great influence in shaping the result of this
convention. They moved, and carried, against a formidable
opposition, the civil service plank, which embodied the doctrine
of civil service reform as among the doctrines of the Republican
Party. Of whatever value may be attributed to the humble
services of the President of the Convention, they are entitled
to the credit. They had, I think, more to do than any other
delegation with effecting the union upon Garfield. Of course
the wishes of Mr. Blaine had very great influence indeed.
I think he preferred Garfield to any other person except Robert
Lincoln, of Illinois, of whom he spoke to me as a person from
whom it would be impossible to keep the votes of the colored
delegates from the South, and who would be, by reason of the
respect felt for his father's memory, highly acceptable through
the country. But Mr. Lincoln, under the circumstances, could
not have got the support of his own State, and without it
it seemed unwise to attempt a union upon him.

But to continue with what is personal to myself and the delegation
from Massachusetts. When I got back to the Capitol, as I
went into the cloak-room of the Senate to leave my hat, Don
Cameron sat there surrounded by a group of interested listeners.
He was relating to them the story of the great contest. As
I approached t