Grant.

[Footnote 1369: Merriam, _Life of Bowles_, Vol. 2, p. 210.]

[Footnote 1370: New York _Evening Post_, May 4, 1872.]

[Footnote 1371: Warden, _Life of Chase_, p. 732.]

[Footnote 1372: Appleton's _Cyclopaedia_, 1872, p. 779.]

The nomination deeply mortified the Democrats. They had encouraged the
revolt, expecting the selection of Adams, or Trumbull, or David Davis,
whom they could readily adopt, but Greeley, a lifelong antagonist,
plunged them into trouble. No other Republican had so continuously
vilified them. From his introduction to political life in 1840 he had
waged a constant and personal warfare, often using his strong,
idiomatic English with the ferocity of a Wilkes. A caricature by
Greeley was as much feared as a cartoon by Nast. He spared no one. He
had assailed Seymour with a violence that might well seem to have made
any form of political reconciliation impossible. With equal skill he
had aimed his epithets at every Democratic statesman and politician
from Van Buren to Fernando Wood, the sting of his relentless and
merciless criticism goading each one into frenzy. For them now to
assume to overlook such treatment and accept its author as a political
associate and exemplar seemed a mockery. Several Democratic journals,
following the lead of the _World_, refused to do so, while others,
shrouding their disinclination in a non-committal tone, awaited the
assembling of the State convention which met at Rochester on May 15.
Seymour did not attend this meeting, and although Tilden carefully
avoided an expression of opinion, the delegates, after approving the
Cincinnati platform, insisted upon referring the choice of candidates
to the national convention, sending John T. Hoffman as a
delegate-at-large to represent them.

One month later the Democratic national convention met at
Baltimore.[1373] Although the delegates, especially those from the
South, indicated a growing sentiment in favour of Greeley, the absence
of veteran leaders from the North created much comment. Hendricks of
Indiana sent his regrets; Seymour also remained at home; and Tilden,
Kernan, and Sanford E. Church found it convenient to be otherwise
engaged. But August Belmont appeared, and for the last time, after
twelve years of service and defeat as chairman of the national
committee, called the convention to order. John T. Hoffman also
appeared. He was the best known if not the wisest delegate in the
convention, and as he actively jo