"Springfield, Ill., June 21, 1876.
"To Gov. Sam. J. Tilden,
"15 Gramercy.
"The Chicago Times to-day says that you were chairman of platform committee in eighteen hundred and sixty-four which put forth the famous peace resolution pronouncing the war as a failure. Please telegraph the fact. Large majority of this convention for you.
"P. H. Smith."
MANTON MARBLE TO PERRY H. SMITH (TELEGRAM)
"June 21, 1876.
"To Perry H. Smith,
"Springfield.
"Your telegram shown me. Governor Tilden was not chairman of platform committee of Chicago convention. James Guthrie was. Tilden opposed resolution containing phrase speaking of war as having thus far failed to restore the Union in committee; got it stricken out; refused to agree to resolution with it in. It was then irregularly restored. Tilden refused to agree to resolutions at all stages, and sent messages by me to McClellan advising him to discard it in letter of acceptance. Tilden made speech in New York delegation against resolution, which was briefly reported by me in World, and is copied in Courier-Journal telegraphs. I was present in New York delegation and at meetings of committee or in adjoining room."
At the Democratic convention of the State of New York, held at Utica, May, 1876, Governor Tilden was recommended as a candidate for President to the National Democratic Convention, to be held at St. Louis on the 26th of June following. At the meeting of that convention an informal ballot disclosed such a decided partiality for Mr. Tilden over either of the other candidates that he was nominated on the next ballot.