Thus of those volunteer generals who never became good soldiers he is said to have been the only one that escaped the constant process of weeding out.  To the end he kept confidently claiming higher rank in the Army, and when he had signally failed under Grant at Petersburg he succeeded somehow in imposing himself upon that, at first indignant, general.  Nothing actually came of the danger that the public might find a hero in this man, who was neither scrupulous nor able, but he had so captivated experienced politicians that some continued even after Lincoln’s re-election to think Butler the man whom the people would have preferred.  Last but not least many were anxious to nominate Grant.  It was an innocent thought, but Grant’s merits were themselves the conclusive reason why he should not be taken from the work he had already in hand.

Through the early months of the year the active politicians earnestly collogued among themselves about possible candidates, and it seems there was little sign among them of that general confidence in Lincoln which a little while before had been recognised as prevailing in the country.  In May the small and light-headed section of the so-called Radicals who favoured Fremont organised for themselves a “national meeting” of some few people at which they nominated him for the Presidency.  They had no chance of success, but they might have helped the Democrats by carrying off some Republican votes.  Besides, there are of course men who, having started as extremists in one direction and failed, will go over to the opposite extreme rather than moderate their aims.  Months later, when a Republican victory of some sort became certain, unanimity among Republicans was secured; for some passions were appeased by the resignation of Blair, and Fremont was prevailed upon to withdraw.  But in the meantime the Republican party had sent its delegates to a Convention at Baltimore early in June.  This Convention met in a comparatively fortunate hour.  In spite of the open disaffection of small sections, the Northern people had been in good spirits about the war when Grant set out to overcome Lee.  At first he was felt to be progressing pretty well, and, though the reverse at Cold Harbour had happened a few days before, the size of that mishap was not yet appreciated.  Ordinary citizens, called upon now and then to decide a broad and grave issue, often judge with greater calm than is possible to any but the best of the politicians and the journalists.  Indeed, some serious politicians had been anxious to postpone the Convention, justly fearing that these ignorant delegates were not yet imbued with that contempt for Lincoln which they had worked up among themselves.  At the Baltimore Convention the delegates of one State wanted Grant, but the nomination of Lincoln was immediate and almost unanimous.  This same Convention declared for a Constitutional Amendment to abolish slavery.  Lincoln would say nothing as to the