as trodden the perilous heights of public duty,
and against all the shafts of malice has borne his breast unharmed.
He has stood in the blaze of 'that fierce light that beats upon a
throne,' but its fiercest ray has found no flaw in his armor, no
stain on his shield."

On the first ballot 9 of the Ohio delegation voted for Mr. Blaine,
34 for me, and 1 for Edmunds. The general result was 304 for Grant,
284 for Blaine, 93 for Sherman, 34 for Edmunds, 30 for Washburne,
10 for Windom. The vote of my friends would have nominated Blaine
at any period of the convention, but under the conditions then
existing it was impossible to secure this vote to either Blaine or
Grant.

The final result was the selection of a new candidate and the
nomination of Garfield.

It is probable that if I had received the united vote of the Ohio
delegation I would have been nominated, as my relations with both
General Grant and Mr. Blaine were of a friendly character, but it
is hardly worth while to comment on what might have been. The
course of the Ohio delegation was the object of severe comment,
and perhaps of unfounded suspicions of perfidy on the part of some
of the delegates.

As soon as I heard of the movement to nominate Garfield I sent the
following telegram to Mr. Dennison:

"Washington, June 8, 1880.
"Hon. William Dennison, Convention, Chicago, Ill.

"Whenever the vote of Ohio will be likely to assure the nomination
of Garfield, I appeal to every delegate to vote for him. Let Ohio
be solid. Make the same appeal in my name to North Carolina and
every delegate who has voted for me.

"John Sherman."

The moment the nomination was made I sent the following dispatch
to Garfield at Chicago:

"Washington, June 8, 1880.
"Hon. James A. Garfield, Chicago, Ill.

"I congratulate you with all my heart upon your nomination as
President of the United States. You have saved the Republican
party and the country from a great peril, and assured the continued
success of Republican principles.

"John Sherman."

I understood that the health of Governor Dennison, who had faithfully
represented me in the national convention, was somewhat impaired
by his confinement there, and invited him to join me in a sail on
the Chesapeake Bay, spending a few days at different points. He
accepted and we had a very enjoyable trip for about ten days.

During this trip I wrote, for the 4th of July issue of the New York
"Independent," an articl