n was lifted over the heads of the crowd to the platform. At that
moment John Hanks theatrically entered bearing a couple of old fence
rails and a flag and a placard on the rails, "Made in Sangamon bottom in
1830 by Abraham Lincoln and John Hanks." Again there was a sympathetic
uproar and Lincoln made a speech appropriate for the occasion. When the
tumult subsided the convention resolved that "Abraham Lincoln is the
first choice of the Republicans of Illinois for the Presidency and their
delegates are instructed to use every honorable means to secure his
nomination, and to cast the vote of the state as a unit for him."

One week later, May 16, the national Republican convention met at
Chicago in the "Wigwam," which had been built to hold ten thousand
persons. Lincoln's friends, Davis, Judd, Palmer, Swett, Oglesby, were
there working "like nailers," night and day without sleep. The
candidates were Seward of New York, Lincoln of Illinois, Cameron of
Pennsylvania, Chase of Ohio, Bates of Missouri; and others of less note.
Seward's friends hoped, as Lincoln's friends dreaded, that Seward might
be nominated by a rush on the first ballot. Lincoln's followers,
contrary to his wishes, made a "necessary arrangement" with Cameron of
Pennsylvania by which he was to have a cabinet place in return for
giving his support to Lincoln, who was nominated on the third ballot.
William M. Evarts, who had led for Seward, made the usual motion to make
the choice unanimous, which was done with tremendous tumult of applause.
Hannibal Hamlin of Maine was nominated for Vice-president. Blaine says
of Hamlin, "In strong common sense, in sagacity and sound judgment, in
rugged integrity of character, Mr. Hamlin has had no superior among
public men."

Down in Springfield, Lincoln was waiting, and when he got the news, he
said, "There is a little woman down on Eighth Street who will be glad to
hear this news," and he strode away to tell her.

Douglas was in Washington when he heard the news, and remarked, "There
will not be a tar barrel left in Illinois tonight."

At once a committee of the convention were deputed to go to Springfield
and give Lincoln formal notice. This ceremony, so elaborate in later
days, was then very simple and immediate. They called upon Lincoln at
his own home, where he was already feeling gloomy with the
responsibility. The committee felt much misgiving as they noted his
appearance and got their first impressions; but later,