ade no effort to direct or guide it; they simply
exerted themselves to keep in the van and not be overwhelmed. The
convention met on June 7, but irregular nominations of Mr. Lincoln for
President had begun as early as January 6, when the first State
convention of the year was held in New Hampshire.

From one end of the country to the other such spontaneous nominations
had joyously echoed his name. Only in Missouri did it fail of
overwhelming adhesion, and even in the Missouri Assembly the resolution
in favor of his renomination was laid upon the table by a majority of
only eight. The current swept on irresistibly throughout the spring. A
few opponents of Mr. Lincoln endeavored to postpone the meeting of the
national convention until September, knowing that their only hope lay in
some possible accident of the summer. But though supported by so
powerful an influence as the New York "Tribune," the National Committee
paid no attention to this appeal. Indeed, they might as well have
considered the request of a committee of prominent citizens to check an
impending thunderstorm.

Mr. Lincoln took no measures whatever to promote his own candidacy.
While not assuming airs of reluctance or bashfulness, he discouraged on
the part of strangers any suggestion as to his reelection. Among his
friends he made no secret of his readiness to continue the work he was
engaged in, if such should be the general wish. "A second term would be
a great honor and a great labor, which together, perhaps, I would not
decline if tendered," he wrote Elihu B. Washburne. He not only opposed
no obstacle to the ambitions of Chase, but received warnings to beware
of Grant in the same serene manner, answering tranquilly, "If he takes
Richmond, let him have it." And he discouraged office-holders, civil or
military, who showed any special zeal in his behalf. To General Schurz,
who wrote asking permission to take an active part in the presidential
campaign, he replied:

"Allow me to suggest that if you wish to remain in the military service,
it is very dangerous for you to get temporarily out of it; because,
with a major-general once out, it is next to impossible for even the
President to get him in again.... Of course I would be very glad to have
your service for the country in the approaching political canvass; but I
fear we cannot properly have it without separating you from the
military." And in a later letter he added: "I perceive no objection to
your m