President.[959]

[Footnote 958: Edward McPherson, _History of the Rebellion_, pp.
406-407.]

[Footnote 959: _Ibid._, p. 407.]

The contest for Vice-President renewed the fight of the New York
factions. An impression had early taken root in the country that a War
Democrat should be selected, and the Radicals of New York, under the
leadership of Lyman Tremaine, quickly designated Daniel S. Dickinson
as the man. Dickinson's acceptability in New England and New Jersey
strengthened his candidacy, while its approval by three or four border
and western States seriously weakened Hamlin. Nevertheless, the New
York Conservatives vigorously opposed him. Their antagonism did not at
first concentrate upon any one candidate. Weed talked of Hamlin and
later of Joseph Holt of Kentucky; Raymond thought Andrew Johnson of
Tennessee the stronger; and Preston King, to the great surprise of the
Radicals, agreed with him. This brought from George William Curtis the
sarcastic remark that a Vice-President from the Empire State would
prevent its having a Cabinet officer. Tremaine declared that a change
in the Cabinet would not be a serious calamity to the country, and
Preston King, who attributed his displacement from the United States
Senate to the Seward influence, did not object to the Secretary's
removal. Thus Raymond's influence gave the doughty War Governor 32 of
New York's 66 votes to 28 for Dickinson and 6 for Hamlin. This
materially aided Johnson's nomination on the first ballot.[960]

[Footnote 960: Johnson received 200 votes to 108 for Dickinson. After
recording all changes, the ballot stood: Johnson, 494; Dickinson, 17;
Hamlin, 9. McPherson, _Hist. of the Rebellion_, p. 407.]

Raymond's power and influence may be said to have climaxed in 1864 at
the Baltimore convention. He became chairman of the New York
delegation, chairman of the committee on resolutions, chairman of the
National Executive Committee, and the principal debater upon the
floor, manifesting a tact in the performance of his manifold duties
that surprised as much as it charmed. But the reason for his ardent
support of Johnson will probably never be certainly known. McClure
declared that he acted in accord with the wishes of Lincoln, who
discreetly favoured and earnestly desired Johnson's nomination. This
view was approved by George Jones, the proprietor of the _Times_ and
Raymond's most intimate friend.[961] On the other hand, Nicolay
declared that "it was with mi