There was opposition, but it was not coherent, organized or well led.

In fact the platform was expressly framed to fit Mr.Pendleton; and if, as often happens, the champion and the cause did not triumph together, he compelled his party to commit itself fully and unreservedly to his doctrine.
The second vital proposition related to the policy and Acts of Reconstruction.

If Chief Justice Chase was to be nominated, the party must accept the broad principle of universal suffrage or it must abandon his lifelong professions.

But universal suffrage, especially if ordained by National authority, was irreconcilable with Democratic traditions and Democratic prejudices.

The Democrats had uniformly maintained that the right of suffrage was a question which came within the political power of the States and did not belong to National jurisdiction.