The Stalwarts were mostly identifiable through their support of the presidency and re-election of Ulysses S. Grant . The 1880 Republican National Convention was the event in which the group participated most prominently . Of the Stalwarts present , most were from former Confederate states , with others being from New York , Illinois , and Pennsylvania , home to some prominent Republican leaders . Along with being mostly Southerners , the Stalwarts have been profiled as more urban and less educated than non-Stalwart Republicans , placing them demographically closer to Democrats . Thus they competed with the Democrats for the same voters . They were therefore more cautious in policy than non-Stalwarts , preferring to avoid controversial policies popular with other Republicans , such as a higher tariff . This caution led the Stalwarts to support the nomination of Grant , a popular former President , at the 1880 Republican National Convention
1880 Republican National Convention
1880 Republican National Convention
Stalwarts (politics)