But they wanted first to make a show of good faith
to Shields by voting for him a few times, and our secret Matteson men
also wanted to make a show of good faith by voting with us a few times.
So we led off. On the seventh ballot, I think, the signal was given to
the Nebraska men to turn to Matteson, which they acted on to a man, with
one exception. . . Next ballot the remaining Nebraska man and one
pretended Anti went over to him, giving him 46. The next still another,
giving him 47, wanting only three of an election. In the meantime our
friends, with a view of detaining our expected bolters, had been turning
from me to Trumbull till he had risen to 35 and I had been reduced to 15.
These would never desert me except by my direction; but I became
satisfied that if we could prevent Matteson's election one or two ballots
more, we could not possibly do so a single ballot after my friends should
begin to return to me from Trumbull. So I determined to strike at once,
and accordingly advised my remaining friends to go for him, which they
did and elected him on the tenth ballot.
Such is the way the thing was done. I think you would have done the same
under the circumstances.
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