Fenton quickly betrayed itself. In obedience to a bargain, Gratz Brown
of Missouri, at the end of the first ballot, withdrew in favour of
Greeley, and although Adams held the lead on the next four ballots,
the strength of Davis and Trumbull shrivelled while Greeley's kept
increasing. Yet the managers did not suspect a stampede. Eighty per
cent. of the New Yorker's votes came from the Middle and Southern
States.[1367] Moreover, the Trumbull men held the balance of power.
After several notable changes Adams still led by half a hundred. On
the sixth ballot, however, to the surprise and chagrin of the Adams
managers, Trumbull's delegates began breaking to Greeley, and in the
confusion which quickly developed into a storm of blended cheers and
hisses, Illinois and the Middle West carried the _Tribune's_ chief
beyond the required number of votes.[1368] Gratz Brown was then
nominated for Vice-President.

[Footnote 1366: New York _Evening Post_, May 4, 1872.]

[Footnote 1367: Southern States, 104; Middle, 96; New England, 15;
Western, 19; Pacific, 24.]

[Footnote 1368:

Whole number of votes 714
Necessary to a choice 358

First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth
Adams 203 243 264 279 309 187
Greeley 147 245 258 251 258 482
Trumbull 110 148 156 141 91 10
Davis 92-1/2 75 44 51 30 6
Brown 95 2 2 2
Curtin 62
Chase 2-1/2 1 2 29]

Greeley's nomination astounded the general public as much as it
disappointed the Liberal leaders. Bowles called the result "a fate
above logic and superior to reason,"[1369] but the _Evening Post_
thought it due to "commonplace chicanery, intrigue, bargaining, and
compromise."[1370] Stanley Matthews, who was temporary chairman of the
convention, declared himself greatly chagrined at the whole matter. "I
have concluded," he said, "that as a politician and a President maker,
I am not a success."[1371] Hoadly published a card calling the result
"the alliance of Tammany and Blair," and William Cullen Bryant, Oswald
Ottendorfer of the _Staats-Zeitung_, and other anti-protectionists of
New York, made a fruitless effort to put another candidate before the
country.[1372] In the end the _Nation_ and the _Evening Post_ supported
President