If Ames should be elected to the Governorship his successor in that office would be elected in November, 1877.

In the event of his election to the Senate to succeed Senator Alcorn, his term as Senator would commence March 4, 1877, yet he could remain in the office of Governor until the meeting of Congress the following December, thus practically serving out the full term as Governor.
With that plan mapped out and agreed upon, and the party leaders committed to its support, Davis was allowed to be nominated for the office of Lieutenant-Governor.

Two other colored men were also placed upon the State ticket,--James Hill, for Secretary of State, and T.W.
Cardozo, for State Superintendent of Education.

While Davis had made quite a creditable record as a member of the Legislature, it could not be said that his name added strength to the ticket.

Hill, on the other hand, was young, active, and aggressive, and considerably above the average colored man in point of intelligence at that time.