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.