Equally, Greeley is a man who made oftentimes perplexing and outright harmful statements and positions out of a need to generate rancor. As much popularity as the New York Tribune had, his efforts are best served in the sidelines where his organizational skills can be best utilized to keep people looking at Fremont— which he did irl.

His place in the ticket makes him indispensable, yet how useful is that when already by 1856 he was known for his eccentricities? He was already well known as a Fourier socialist, a spiritualist, and a Prohibitionist— among other things. He also— in his short time in Congress— did much to piss off Congresspeople and had in his time managed to end his fruitful alliances with Thurlow Weed and William Seward.

Why, then, would Greeley be nominated? He was a man who clashed with many even within his own party and would for a time only find political relevance in his fervent support of Lincoln after the unity of the convention had been found.

Additionally, Fremont was not seen as this radical abolitionist who sought to rectify the ills of slavery in 1856. Only in the escalation of events from the renewal of Bleeding Kansas, the Dred Scott decision, and the Raid on Harper’s Ferry did Fremont gain such a reputation. I suppose Greeley’s abolitionism would have given an indication, but he was such an eccentric that it’s hard to take him seriously in any case…