United
States--could compensate me for such a desertion of my trust."--Daniel
S. Dickinson, _Letters and Speeches_, Vol. 1, p. 370.]

[Footnote 412: H.B. Stanton, _Random Recollections_, p. 181.]

In the meantime Marcy moved up to 44. It had been evident for two days
that the favourite candidates could not win, and for the next thirteen
ballots, amidst the greatest noise and confusion, the convention
sought to discover the wisest course to pursue. Seymour endeavoured to
side-track the "dark horse" movement by turning the tide to Marcy,
whose vote kept steadily rising. When, on the forty-fifth ballot, he
reached 97, the New York delegation retired for consultation. Seymour
at once moved that the State vote solidly for Marcy; but protests fell
so thick, exploding like bombshells, that he soon withdrew the motion.
This ended Marcy's chances.[413] On the forty-ninth ballot, North
Carolina started the stampede to Pierce, who received 282 votes to 6
for all others. Later in the day, the convention nominated William R.
King of Alabama for Vice President, and adopted a platform, declaring
that "the Democratic party of the Union will abide by, and adhere to,
a faithful execution of the acts known as the compromise measures
settled by the last Congress--the act for reclaiming fugitive slaves
from service of labour included; which act, being designed to carry
out an express provision of the Constitution, cannot with fidelity
thereto be repealed, nor so changed as to destroy or impair its
efficiency."

[Footnote 413: "Marcy held the war portfolio under Polk, but his
conduct of the office had not added to his reputation, for it had
galled the Administration to have the signal victories of the Mexican
War won by Whig generals, and it was currently believed that the War
Minister had shared in the endeavour to thwart some of the plans of
Scott and Taylor."--James F. Rhodes, _History of the United States_,
Vol. 1, pp. 246-7.

"The conflict became terrific, until, when the ballots had run up to
within one of fifty, the Virginia nominee was announced as the choice
of the convention."--Morgan Dix, _Memoirs of John A. Dix_, Vol. 1, p.
268.]

Some time before the convention it was suggested, with Marcy's
approval, that the New York delegation should vote as a unit for
Dickinson if he proved the stronger candidate outside the State, and,
upon the same condition, a solid delegation should vote for Marcy.
This proposition did not reach