The First Term of Schuyler Colfax Part 3
Finally in the bitter cold of January the protests ended. Although they went home the demonstrators never forgot. Some blamed Congress, some Colfax, and some ultimately Richardson. Regardless they pledged they would return come Spring. A promise Colfax could only pray wouldn't come true.
Colfax announcing intention to seek a second term
Colfax felt as though he had sealed the last nail of his coffin of any chances for reelection but he still announced at an almost unusually early time that he would indeed run for his own full term. His remarks, although short, affected many of his allies and enemies alike. The Lincolnians began working on potential candidates. Senators, Representatives, and Governors alike were all given equal scrutiny. However the preferred region was to be the Midwest as it contained the "swing states". Richard Yates, a Senator/Governor from Illinois decided against running as many viewed him as too moderate. 2 candidates however eventually announced: Illinois Senator Lyman Trumbull and Mexican War veteran/ Former Minnesota Senator James Shields. The campaign had officially began.
The last months of the First term of Colfax were fraught with uncertainty. Although the Panic of 1867 was over economic concerns remained and the President privately revealed that he believed either he or Congress would take the blame and gain the majority of all three major areas of government. One party, he stated, would control Washington.
The most controversial piece of Legislation passed was done so in at one of the most controversial times as well. The Aid of the Districts Act gave quite a bit of Union Government money to help rebuild Southern cities. Lincolnians supported the Act while Radicals were appalled. Eventually however they became helpless as their President realizing the popularity of the bill signed it into law in order to gain support. This political move wouldn't be forgotten.
As the Lincolnians held their convention first there was much less tension than the previous attempt. There was no feeling of desperation now that the war was long over, instead it was replaced with one of rebuilding united as a nation. In the early days of the convention Trumbull dropped his campaign on the first day as he had been the one the Radicals were heaping attacks on. Therefore James Shields had high popularity and name recognition as the decoy candidacy ended and the true Lincolnian one began. For his Vice President Shields named in fact the "moderate Lyman Trumbull" in an effort to attract further members into the party. As the Convention closed the Lincolnians appeared much better organized than they had in the previous election.
The surprise candidate: James Shields
The Radicals nominated Colfax almost universally except for 40 or so delegates abstaining. This was just a week or so following the Aid of the Districts Act which the party still hated. Colfax heard news on this and reportedly told an advisor that he did partially regret signing the bill but it was too late now "so they should stop their moaning and start their campaigning".
The election was near and the nation acted as it was so.....