Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/97

 ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 71 embarrassing. He was compelled to execute the laws of congress at the risk of appearing insubordi nate to his official chief, but his course was com mended by the people, his popularity increased, and when the Republican convention met in Chicago, May 20, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the presidency on the first ballot. In his letter of acceptance, dated nine days after, he made use of the famous phrase, &quot;Let us have peace.&quot; The Democratic party nominated Horatio Seymour, of New York. When the election occurred, Grant carried twenty-six states with a popular vote of 3,015,071, while Seymour carried eight states with a popular vote of 2,709,613. It was claimed that the state of New York was really carried by Grant, but fraudulently counted for Seymour. Out of the 294 electoral votes cast for president, Grant re ceived 214 and Seymour 80, three States Missis sippi, Texas, and Virginia not voting. Grant possessed in a striking degree the essential characteristics of a successful soldier. His self- reliance was one of his most pronounced traits, and enabled him at critical moments to decide promptly the most important questions without useless delay in seeking advice from others, and to assume the gravest responsibilities without asking any one to share them. He had a fertility of resource and a faculty of adapting the means at hand to the ac complishment of his purposes, which contributed