In 1855 , Dawson was a Democratic candidate for the Alabama legislature , but lost his race by a few votes . In April 1860 , he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Charleston , which adjourned in deadlock without choosing candidates for president and vice president , leading the Alabama delegation to withdraw from the convention . He was among the Alabama delegates who reconvened at the Maryland Institute in Baltimore in June 1860 and selected then vice president John C. Breckinridge ( for president ) and U.S. Senator Joseph Lane ( for vice president ) in what was referred to as the “ Breckinridge Democrats ” convention
Democratic National Convention
1860 Democratic National Conventions
Nathaniel H. R. Dawson