morning, as
for some days past," he wrote, "it seems exceedingly probable that
this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to
so cooeperate with the President-elect as to save the Union between the
election and the inauguration, as he will have secured his election on
such ground that he cannot possibly save it afterwards."[984]

[Footnote 983: _Lincoln's Complete Works_, Vol. 2, p. 563.]

[Footnote 984: Nicolay-Hay, _Abraham Lincoln_, Vol. 9, p. 251.]

The influence of this popular discouragement exhibited itself in a
mass peace convention, called by Fernando Wood and held at Syracuse on
August 18. Its great attraction was Clement L. Vallandigham of Ohio,
its platform favoured an armistice and a convention of States, and its
purpose was the selection of a delegation to Chicago, which should
adequately represent the peace faction of the State. The absence of
military achievement and the loud cries for peace, it was claimed, had
changed the conditions since the adjournment of the Democratic State
convention in February, and the necessity for a third party was
conceded should the existing peace sentiment be ignored in the
formulation of a platform and the selection of candidates at Chicago.
Although the assembly indicated no preference for President, its known
partiality for Seymour added to its strength. Through the manipulation
of Richmond and the Regency, Wood failed to secure the appointment of
delegates, but he claimed, with much show of truth, that the meeting
represented the sentiment of a great majority of the party. Wood had
become intolerable to Dean Richmond and the conservative Democracy,
whose withering opposition to his candidacy for the United States
Senate in the preceding February had made him ridiculous; but he could
not be muzzled, and although his influence rarely disturbed the party
in the up-State counties, he was destined to continue in Congress the
rest of his life, which ended in 1881.

The Democratic national convention had been called for July 4, but the
popular depression, promising greater advantage later in the summer,
led to its postponement until August 29. Thus it convened when gloom
and despondency filled the land, making Horatio Seymour's journey to
Chicago an ovation. At every stop, especially at Detroit, crowds,
cheers, speeches, and salvos of firearms greeted him. The convention
city recognised him as its most distinguished visitor, and the
opponents of a