friends, maddened and disheartened over what they called "New
York's dishonest and cowardly procrastination," would gladly have
prevented an adjournment. But the Empire State held the key to the
situation. Without it Douglas could get nothing and in a hopeless sort
of way his backers granted Ludlow's request.[562]

[Footnote 561: M. Halstead, _National Political Conventions of 1860_,
p. 185.]

[Footnote 562: "The _real_ business transacting behind the scenes has
been the squelching of Douglas, which is understood to be as good as
bargained for. The South is in due time to concentrate on a
candidate--probably Horatio Seymour of our own State--and then New
York is to desert Douglas for her own favourite son. Such is the
programme as it stood up to last evening."--New York _Tribune_
(editorial), June 20, 1860. "There are plenty of rumours, but nothing
has really form and body unless it be a plan to have Virginia bring
forward Horatio Seymour, whom New York will then diffidently accept in
place of Douglas."--_Ibid._ (telegraphic report).]

The situation of the New York delegation was undoubtedly most
embarrassing. Their admission to the Charleston convention had
depended upon the Douglas vote, but their hope of success hinged upon
harmony with the cotton States. A formidable minority favoured the
readmission of the seceders and the abandonment of Douglas regardless
of their obligation. This was not the policy of Dean Richmond, who
was the pivotal personage. His plan included the union of the party
by admitting the seceders, and the nomination of Horatio Seymour with
the consent of the Northwest, after rendering the selection of Douglas
impossible. It was a brilliant programme, but the inexorable demand of
the Douglas men presented a fatal drawback. Richmond implored and
pleaded. He knew the hostility of the Douglasites could make Seymour's
nomination impossible, and he knew, also, that a refusal to admit the
seceders would lead to a second secession, a second ticket, and a
hopelessly divided party. Nevertheless, the Douglas men were
remorseless.[563] Even Douglas' letter, sent Richardson on the third
day, and his dispatch to Dean Richmond,[564] received on the fifth
day, authorising the withdrawal of his name if it could be done
without sacrificing the principle of non-intervention, did not relieve
the situation. Rule or ruin was now their motto, as much as it was the
South's, and between them Richmond's diplomatic resis