CHAPTER X.

A CABINET CRISIS.--RESIGNATION OF WILLIAM DENNISON, POSTMASTER-GENERAL, JAMES SPEED, ATTORNEY-GENERAL, AND JAMES HARLAN, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.--SUCCEEDED RESPECTIVELY BY ALEXANDER W. RANDALL, HENRY STANBURY, AND ORVILLE H. BROWNING.--POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF 1866.--FOUR NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.--TWO FAVORING THE PRESIDENT; TWO ADVERSE.-- PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION, AUGUST 14, FAVORING THE PRESIDENT.--IMPRESSIVE IN NUMBERS, DISTINGUISHED IN DELEGATES.--PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION OF SEPTEMBER 13.--SOUTHERN LOYALISTS AND NORTHERN SYMPATHIZERS.--LIST OF PROMINENT MEN IN ATTENDANCE.--MARKED EFFECT OF ITS PROCEEDINGS.-- SPEECH OF HONORABLE JAMES SPEED.--ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE.--WRITTEN BY THE HONORABLE J. A. J. CRESWELL.--SOLDIERS' CONVENTION AT CLEVELAND.-- FAVORABLE TO THE PRESIDENT.--SPEECH OF GENERAL EWING.--CONVENTION PRINCIPALLY DEMOCRATIC IN MEMBERSHIP.--ITS PROCEEDINGS INEFFECTIVE.-- SOLDIERS' CONVENTION AT PITTSBURG.--HOSTILE TO PRESIDENT.--GENERAL COX PRESIDES.--DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS PRESENT.--TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND SOLDIERS PRESENT.--GREAT EFFECT FOLLOWED IT IN THE COUNTRY.--FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT THE RALLYING-POINT.--POLITICAL EVENTS OF THE SUMMER.--HOSTILE TO PRESIDENT.--NEW-ORLEANS RIOT OF JULY 30.--GREAT SLAUGHTER.--REBEL OFFICERS IN LOUISIANA RESPONSIBLE.--INVESTIGATED BY CONGRESS.--ALSO BY MILITARY AUTHORITIES.--REPORTS SUBSTANTIALLY AGREE.--CENSURE OF THE PRESIDENT.--RESULT HURTFUL TO HIS ADMINISTRATION.--HIS FAMOUS TOUR.-- INJURIOUS TO HIS ADMINISTRATION.--REPUBLICANS VICTORIOUS IN ELECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE NORTH.--DEMOCRATS VICTORIOUS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH.-- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPUBLICAN BY THREE TO ONE.--PRESIDENT DEPRESSED.--IMPORTANCE OF THE ELECTIONS OF 1866.--NEGRO SUFFRAGE.--THE DIFFICULTY OF IMPOSING IT ON THE SOUTH.--FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT THE TEST FOR RECONSTRUCTION.