Gilmer House, Baltimore [Md.],
June 20th, 1860.
Dear Uncle, I would have written to you before, but I could have given you no more information than what was contained in the Sun which I have been sending.
The convention met at 5 o’clock this afternoon but as the committee on credentials were not ready to report it adjourned to 10 o’clock tomorrow morning.
I have heard this evening what the committee will report. There will be a minority and majority report. I have not heard what the minority report is, but it amounts to nothing as it will not be adopted. The majority report is to admit Texas, Miss, and Delaware, reject Louisiana, admit half of our delegation and half of the bogus from Georgia, and admit the bogus or anti-Yancey delegates from Alabama. If that report is adopted and the Douglas men feel confident that they can do it, the delegates from the South will never take their seats.
If the majority report is adopted, whoever goes into the convention goes in with the distinct understanding that they will support the nominee, no matter who he is and what is the platform.
Our delegates are united in their opinion upon that subject, and I don’t think there is a man among us who will go into the convention if that report is adopted.
I think that we will be in Richmond before three days pass. Mr. Cushing sent tickets to our delegates to-day to admit them to the dress circle in the theatre where the convention meets. I have not been in yet, I expect to go in the morning. The Southern delegates here are perfectly indifferent in regard to the action of the convention in regard to their seats—most of them are anxious to return to Richmond.
We have speaking here every night. Our speakers speak from the balcony of the Gilmer House, the Douglasites from Reverdy Johnson’s house which is just above, where George Saunders is keeping open house and Douglas men can stay gratis; the stands are not more than forty (40) ft. apart and speakers are going it from both stands from 8 o’clock at night until 1 and 2 in the morning. . . .
I will write to you in the morning and let you know what action is taken and will send you the papers every day—will enclose the last Sun in this letter. I hope that we will be able to leave here tomorrow for Richmond. You must excuse the writing, as I have a bad pen and mean light and am writing on the top of the bureau as a substitute for a table.
Every place here is crowded. I was lucky and have a room to myself.
From Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911.
John Addison Cobb was the son of Howell Cobb, Secretary of the Treasury under James Buchanan, resigning December 8, 1860.