war policy, voicing the party's sentiment for peace,
publicly proclaimed him their favourite.

Before Seymour left Albany the _Argus_ announced that he would not be
a candidate;[985] but now, flattered by attention, and encouraged by
the peace-faction's strategic movement, he declined to indicate his
position. Political conditions had made a profound impression upon
him. Moreover, deep in his heart Seymour did not fancy McClellan. His
public life had been brief, and his accomplishment little either as a
soldier or civilian. Besides, his arrest of the Maryland Legislature,
and his indifference to the sacredness of the writ of _habeas corpus_,
classing him among those whom the Governor had bitterly denounced,
tended to destroy the latter's strongest argument against the Lincoln
administration.

[Footnote 985: "The announcement in the Albany _Argus_ that Governor
Seymour was not a candidate was written by Seymour himself, and taken
to the _Argus_ by his private secretary. It is now announced that it
was intended as a feeler. The whole force of the opposition to
McClellan is centred in this move for Seymour."--New York _Herald_
(Chicago despatch), August 28, 1864.]

Dean Richmond, now a vigorous supporter of McClellan, could not be
confused as to the General's strength or the Governor's weakness, and
he attempted at an early hour to silence the appeal for Seymour by
solidifying the New York delegation for McClellan; but in these
efforts he found it difficult to subdue the personal independence and
outspoken ways of the Governor, whose opposition to McClellan was more
than a passing cloud-shadow.[986] This delayed matters. So long as a
ray of hope existed for the favourite son, the New York delegation
declined to be forced into an attitude of opposition. Indeed, the day
before the convention opened, it refused, by a vote of 38 to 23, to
ascertain its choice for President. When, at last, it became
definitely known that McClellan had a majority of each State
delegation, practically assuring his nomination under the two-thirds
rule on the first ballot, Seymour put an end to the talk of his
candidacy. Nevertheless, his vote, dividing the New York delegation,
was cast for Samuel Nelson, the distinguished jurist who had succeeded
Smith Thompson as an associate justice of the United States Supreme
Court. Other anti-McClellan New York delegates preferred Charles
O'Conor and James Guthrie of Kentucky. Subsequently, in explaining h