He was in correspondence with influential Democrats before the Convention, and in a still more intimate degree after the Convention was in session.

On the 4th of July he wrote a significant letter to a friend who was in close communication with the leading delegates in New York.

His object was to soften the hostility of the partisan Democrats, especially of the Southern school.

Referring to the policy of Reconstruction, he said, "I have always favored the submission of the questions of re-organization after disorganization by war to the entire people of the whole State." This was intended to assure Southern men that if he believed in the justice of giving suffrage to the negro, he did not believe in the justice of denying it to the white man.
The strangest feature in Judge Chase's strange canvass was the apparent friendship of Vallandingham, and the apparent reliance of the distinguished candidate upon the strength which the notorious anti-war Democrat could bring to him.

Vallandingham had evidently been sending some kind messages to the Chief Justice, who responded while the Democratic Convention was in session, in these warm words: "The assurance you give me of the friendship of Mr.V., affords me real satisfaction.