Leading up to the convention in Cincinnati , Tilden remained ambiguous about his intentions . George Gray , Delaware 's attorney general , placed Bayard 's name in nomination , calling the senator " a veteran , covered in scars of many a hard-fought battle , where the principles of constitutional liberty have been at stake ... Bayard is a statesman who will need no introduction to the American people . " When the convention took its first ballot on June 23 , Bayard placed second with 153 ½ votes , trailing only Hancock , who had 171 . On the second ballot , the delegates broke for Hancock , and he was nominated . The Southern delegates , whom Bayard thought would be most loyal to him , were among the first to desert him . The convention nominated William Hayden English of Indiana , a Bayard supporter and hard-money man , for vice president , and then closed . Bayard 's supporters were disappointed , but he supported the ticket as usual , in the interest of party unity . Hancock and English fought to a near-draw in the popular vote , but lost the electoral vote to James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur by 214 to 155
the convention
1880 Democratic National Convention
Thomas F. Bayard