CHAPTER XXXVI

CLEVELAND'S ENORMOUS MAJORITY

1881-2

While Conkling was being deposed, John Kelly, to whom responsibility

attached for Hancock's defeat, also suffered the penalty of selfish

leadership.[1772] Although his standard of official honesty had always

been as low as his standard of official responsibility, it never

aroused violent party opposition until his personal resentments

brought Democratic defeat. This classified him at once as a common

enemy. In vain did he protest as Tweed had done against being made a

"scape-goat." His sentence was political death, and as a first step

toward its execution, Mayor Cooper refused to reappoint him

comptroller, an office which he had held for four years. Republican

aldermen joined in confirming his successor. Similar treatment,

accorded his office-holding associates, stripped him of patronage

except in the office of register.

[Footnote 1772: "He wantonly sacrificed the Hancock ticket to his

unscrupulous quest of local power. The Democracy here and elsewhere

perfectly understand his perfidy, and they only await an opportunity

for a reckoning. They intend to punish him and make an example of him

as a warning to bolting renegades and traitors."--New York _Herald_,

November 5, 1880.]

Then his Democratic opponents proposed depriving him of control in

conventions, and having failed to reorganise him out of Tammany

(April, 1881), they founded the County Democracy. William C. Whitney,

corporation counsel, Hubert O. Thompson, the young commissioner of

public works, and other leaders of similar character, heading a

Committee of One Hundred, became its inspiration. Under the Tammany

system twenty-four men constituted the Committee on Organisation,

while a few persons at any Assembly primary might represent all the

votes of the district. The new organisation proposed to make its

Committee on Organisation consist of six hundred and seventy-eight

members and to place the control of all nominations in the hands of

the people. It was a catchy scheme and quickly became popular. To

carry it into effect a public enrolment was made of the Democratic

voters in each election district, who had an opportunity, by

registering their names, to join the Election District Committee. When

thus affiliated each one could vote for a member of the Committee on

Organisation and for delegates to nominating conventions. On October 7

(1881) Abram S. Hewitt, chairman of the Committee of One Hundred,

issued an address, declaring that the organisation had 26,500 enrolled

members, and had elected delegates to attend the State convention

which met at Albany on October 11.

Kelly did not attend the convention. On his way from the depot to the

hotel he found the air too chilly and the speech of people far from

complimentary. It was plain, also, that the crushing defeat of Hancock

had obliterated factional division in the up-State counties and that

Daniel E. Manning was in control. Nevertheless, Tammany's delegates,

without the slightest resemblance to penitents, claimed regularity.

The convention answered that the County Democracy appeared upon the

preliminary roll. To make its rebuff more emphatic Rufus W. Peckham,

in presenting the report on contested seats, briefly stated that the

committee, by a unanimous vote, found "the gentlemen now occupying

seats entitled to them by virtue of their regularity."[1773] Kelly's

conceit did not blind his penetration to the fact that for the

present, at least, he had reached his end.

[Footnote 1773: Appleton's _Cyclopædia_, 1881, p. 655.

The State ticket was as follows: Secretary of State, William Purcell,

Monroe; Comptroller, George H. Lapham, Yates; Attorney-General,

Roswell A. Parmenter, Rensselaer; Treasurer, Robert A. Maxwell,

Genesee; Engineer, Thomas Evershed, Orleans; Judge, Court of Appeals,

Augustus Schoonmaker, Ulster.]

The Republican convention (October 5) proved not less harmonious.

Arthur had become President (September 19),[1774] Conkling did not

appear, and Warner Miller's surprising vote for temporary chairman

(298 to 190), sustaining the verdict of the Legislature in the

prolonged senatorial struggle, completely silenced the Stalwarts.

Conkling's name, presented as a contesting delegate from Oneida,

provoked no support, while Depew, whom the Senator a year earlier had

sneeringly referred to as a "creature of no influence," became

permanent chairman without opposition. In the selection of State

candidates few organization men found favour.[1775] Finally, in their

overconfidence the Independents carelessly postponed a resolution

reorganising the party in New York City to an hour when their rural

support had left the convention, and the most important business

before it failed by five majority. "Thus by sheer negligence," said

George William Curtis, "the convention has left a formidable nucleus

for the reconstruction of the machine which had been overthrown."[1776]

The platform deplored the death of Garfield, expressed confidence in

President Arthur, praised Cornell's wisdom, prudence, and economy, and

insisted upon equal taxation of corporations and individuals.

[Footnote 1774: "It was a common saying of that time among those who

knew him best, '"Chet" Arthur, President of the United States! Good

God!'"--White, _Autobiography_, Vol. 1, p. 193.]

[Footnote 1775: The ticket was as follows: Secretary of State, Joseph

B. Carr, Rensselaer; Comptroller, Ira Davenport, Steuben;

Attorney-General, Leslie W. Russell, St. Lawrence; Treasurer, James W.

Husted, Westchester; Engineer and Surveyor, Silas Seymour, Saratoga;

Judge of the Court of Appeals, Francis M. Finch, Tompkins.]

[Footnote 1776: _Harper's Weekly_, October 15.]

Although the deep silence that characterised the October contest in

Ohio pervaded the campaign in New York, Republicans believed that

President Arthur, by the moderation and dignity of his course, had

favourably impressed the public.[1777] His nomination of Postmaster

General James and the tender of the Treasury to Edwin D. Morgan

commanded universal approval. When Morgan declined, the nomination of

Charles J. Folger, suggested by Morgan, added to his prestige. In

fact, the most ardent champions of Garfield had taken little exception

to the acts of the new Administration, and although Arthur's

supporters had suffered defeat in convention, it was inferred that the

President and his friends sincerely desired the triumph of their

party. Moreover, the action of Tammany and the County Democracy in

nominating separate local tickets had stimulated Republican

confidence. It meant that Kelly, in his inevitable desire to defeat

his enemy, would trade, combine, and descend to other underhand

jobbery, which usually benefited the opposite party.

[Footnote 1777: "I dined at the President's on Wednesday. The dinner

was extremely elegant, hardly a trace of the old White House taint

being perceptible anywhere, the flowers, the silver, the attendants,

all showing the latest style and an abandon in expense and

taste."--Mrs. James G. Blaine, _Letters_ (March 13, 1882), Vol. 2, pp.

4, 5.]

However, the harmony blandly predicted did not appear. James W. Husted

was overwhelmingly defeated, while his party, for the first time in

twelve years, lost both branches of the Legislature.[1778] This

amazing disclosure exhibited the bitter animosity of faction. In

Albany, Erie, Oneida, and Oswego counties, Stalwart and Independent

resolutely opposed each other, even to the point in some instances of

supporting the Democratic ticket.

[Footnote 1778: Plurality of Carr, secretary of state, 13,022. Other

Republicans had about the same, except Husted, whom Maxwell,

treasurer, defeated by 20,943. The Legislature stood: Senate,

Democrats, 17; Republicans, 15. Assembly, Democrats, 67; Republicans,

61.]

On the other hand, the County Democracy was exultant. In spite of the

combined opposition of Tammany and Irving Hall, the Whitney

organisation carried the county by several thousand majority, securing

four of the seven senators, twelve of the twenty-four assemblymen, and

twelve of the twenty-two aldermen. This left Tammany absolutely

without patronage. It was not unnatural that many of Kelly's

co-workers should doubt the possibility of longer working harmoniously

under his leadership, and the great secession of prominent men from

Tammany after the formation of the County Democracy created little

surprise. But that the movement should include the rank and file was

an astonishing revelation.

Nevertheless, Kelly, gathering up his three senators and eight

assemblymen, carried the war to Albany. Strangely enough Republican

discord had given him the balance of power in each legislative body,

and until the Democrats acceded to his terms (February 2) the Assembly

remained without a speaker.[1779] Two weeks later, upon the

announcement of the Assembly committees, Tammany, declaring its

agreement violated, joined the Republicans in modifying the rules of

the Senate so as to permit the Lieutenant-Governor to appoint its

committees and complete its organisation.

[Footnote 1779: Kelly demanded the chairmanship of cities in both

Houses, a satisfactory composition of the committees on railroads and

on commerce and navigation, a share in the subordinate offices, and

the exclusion of John C. Jacobs of Kings from the presidency of the

Senate.]

No one knowing Kelly expected him to act otherwise. Nor can it be

seriously doubted that he fully expected the Democracy, at the very

next opportunity, to make substantial concessions. At all events Kelly

presented with great confidence Tammany's claims to representation in

the State convention which assembled at Syracuse on September 22

(1882).[1780] He knew it was a critical moment for the Democracy. The

poverty of the Republican majority in the preceding election, and the

Administration's highhanded efforts to defeat Cornell for

renomination, seemed to put the State within the grasp of a united

party. Yet the Tilden leaders, although divided among themselves,

shrank from giving him power. This feeling was intensified by the

renewed activity of the old canal ring. The presence, too, of Stephen

T. Arnot of Chemung, who served as a member of the Kelly State

Committee in 1879, added to their hostility. Indeed, so pronounced was

the resentment that on the first day of the convention Tammany was

refused tickets of admission.

[Footnote 1780: The Greenback-Labour party held its convention at

Albany on July 19, nominating Epenetus Howe of Tompkins, for governor.

It reaffirmed the principles of the party.

A labour convention was held at Buffalo on September 12, but no

nominations were made. It favored abolition of the contract-labour

system in prisons; of cigar factories in tenements; of child labour

under fourteen; enforcement of the compulsory education act; reduction

of labour to ten hours a day, etc.

An anti-monopoly convention assembled at Saratoga on September 13. No

nominations were made. It demanded commissioners to supervise and

control corporation charges; advocated free canals; government

ownership of the telegraph; postal savings banks; discontinuance of

railroad grants; prohibition of combinations to control prices, etc.]

But behind Kelly stood the two leading candidates for governor.[1781]

In his canvass of the State Roswell P. Flower, hopeful of Kelly's

support, had created a strong sentiment favourable to Tammany's

admission, while Henry W. Slocum, mindful of Tammany's dislike, had

also done what he could to smooth its way. Under such pressure the

leaders, after recognising the County Democracy as the regular

organisation with thirty-eight votes, gave Tammany twenty-four and

Irving Hall ten.

[Footnote 1781: There were eight candidates for governor: Erastus

Corning of Albany, Homer A. Nelson of Dutchess, Grover Cleveland of

Erie, Roswell P. Flower of Jefferson, Henry W. Slocum of Kings, and

Allan Campbell, Waldo M. Hutchins, and Perry Belmont of New York.]

Although this preliminary struggle did not clarify the gubernatorial

situation, it had the effect of materially weakening Flower. Of his

popularity no doubt existed. As an industrious young man in Watertown

he had been a general favourite, and in New York, whither he went in

early manhood to take charge of his sister's property, left by her

millionaire husband, he became the head of a prosperous banking house

and the friend of all classes. The liberality of his charities

equalled the splendour of his social entertainments, while a few

months in Congress as the successor of Levi P. Morton and the

successful opponent of William W. Astor, had introduced him to the

voters of the metropolis. He was now forty-four years old, with ample

wealth, a wide acquaintance, and surrounded by scores of experienced

political diplomats.

But Manning distrusted Flower. Back of him were Arnot, DeWolf, and

other anti-Tilden leaders. He also deeply resented Flower's support of

Kelly. It gave the Boss a new lease of power and practically paralysed

all efforts to discipline him. Besides, it betrayed an indisposition

to seek advice of the organisation and an indifference to political

methods. He seemed to be the rich man in politics, relying for control

upon money rather than political wisdom. Nor did it improve Flower's

chances among the country delegates that one of the convention

speakers thought him guided by Jay Gould, in whose questionable deals

he had generously participated.

Slocum had likewise sinned. Manning thought well of the distinguished

soldier whom he promised one hundred votes, which he delivered. But

his support of Kelly had been distasteful to the County Democracy.

Besides, he was charged with voting, when in Congress, for the "salary

grab," and one delegate, speaking on the floor of the convention,

declared that as a trustee of the Brooklyn Bridge, "Slocum would be

held responsible for the colossal frauds connected with its

erection."[1782] It added to the chaos of the situation that Flower's

supporters resented Slocum's activity, while Slocum's friends excepted

to the County Democracy's use of Allan Campbell as a stalking horse.

[Footnote 1782: New York _Tribune_, September 23.]

Grover Cleveland's candidacy seemed not very important. He was not

wholly unknown throughout the State. Lawyers recognised him as a

prominent member of the profession, and politicians knew him as

sheriff of Erie County in the early seventies and as the recently

elected mayor of Buffalo. But people outside the Lake city knew

nothing of his character for stubborn independence, uncompromising

honesty, and fearless devotion to duty. His friends tried to tell the

delegates that he insisted upon public officials treating the people's

money as its trustees, and that he had promptly vetoed every departure

from this rule. They claimed also that he could neither be coaxed nor

constrained into the approval of men or measures that were not honest

and proper, citing several illustrations that had greatly gratified

and aroused his home people. This was the gist of Daniel N. Lockwood's

short, happy, and forceful speech in presenting his name to the

convention.

But such recommendations of candidates were not unusual, and although

Erie and the surrounding counties mustered fifty or sixty votes, no

movement toward Cleveland existed other than that growing out of the

peculiar political situation. If Slocum and Flower failed, Nelson or

Corning might benefit. Edward Murphy of Rensselaer, then mayor of Troy

for the fourth term and closely associated with Manning in leadership,

represented Corning with spirit, while the Dutchess friends of Homer

A. Nelson exhibited their devotion by an energetic canvass. Yet

Cleveland possessed one strategic point stronger than either of them.

His absolute freedom from the political antagonisms of New York and

King counties commended him to the County Democracy. This organisation

of extraordinary leadership had tired of deals and quarrels. The

hammering of Tilden, the sacrifice of Robinson, the defeat of Hancock,

and the hold-up in the last Legislature made a new departure

necessary, and it may be said with truth and without injustice that

the night before the convention opened the nomination of Cleveland, if

it could be accomplished, seemed to the County Democracy the wisest

and safest result.

When the roll-call began Kelly, playing for position, divided

Tammany's vote among the possible winners, giving Flower seven, Slocum

six, Cleveland six, and Corning five. The County Democracy voted for

Campbell. Corning's withdrawal and large secessions from Nelson and

Belmont sent Slocum and Flower far in the lead on the second ballot,

while Cleveland moved up five points with the help of Kelly and

others. The County Democracy again voted for Campbell. On the third

ballot a break was inevitable. Hutchins had remained stationary,

Nelson and Belmont were practically out of the race, and Slocum and

Flower stood even. It was now in the power of the County Democracy to

nominate Slocum. Manning approved it and Murphy had already given him

the Corning vote. But the County Democracy, inspired by men of

prescience and of iron nerve, went to Cleveland in a body, making the

hall resound with cheers. Had Tammany, the next delegation called,

followed suit, Kelly might have divided with his opponents the honour

of Cleveland's nomination. Instead, it practically voted as before.

But Albany, Rensselaer, and other counties, catching the tide at its

turn, threw the convention into a bedlam. Finally, when Kelly could

secure recognition, he changed Tammany's vote to Cleveland.

To the tally-clerks Cleveland's nomination by two majority was known

before the completion of the ballot. Yet upon the insistence of the

Slocum men, because of confusion in making changes, the convention

refused to receive the result and ordered another roll-call. This gave

Cleveland eighteen votes to spare.[1783]

[Footnote 1783: Whole number of votes, 385; necessary to a choice,

193. First ballot: Slocum, 98; Flower, 97; Cleveland, 66; Corning, 35;

Campbell, 37; Nelson, 26; Belmont, 12; Hutchins, 13. Second ballot:

Slocum, 123; Flower, 123; Cleveland, 71; Campbell, 33; Nelson, 15;

Belmont, 6; Hutchins, 13. Third ballot: Slocum, 156; Flower, 15;

Cleveland, 211.]

The result brought the Democrats into perfect accord for the first

time in many years. It had come without the exercise of illegitimate

influences or the incurrence of personal obligation. To no one in

particular did Cleveland owe his nomination. Besides, his success as a

politician, his character as a public official, and his enthusiastic

devotion to the clients whose causes he championed, challenged the

most careful scrutiny. He was then unmarried, forty-four years old,

tall, stoutly-built, with a large head, dark brown hair, clear keen

eyes, and a generous and kindly nature concealed under a slightly

brusque manner. His sturdy old-fashioned rectitude, and the just

conviction that by taste and adaptability for public life he had

peculiar qualifications for the great office of governor, commended

him to popular confidence. In Buffalo, where he had lived for a

quarter of a century, people knew him as a man without guile.

Two days before Cleveland's nomination (September 20), the Republicans

had selected Charles J. Folger, then secretary of the treasury. In

character for honesty and ability the two men were not dissimilar, but

the manner of their selection was antipodal. Of the five candidates

who appealed to the convention, Cornell was the only real opponent of

the Secretary.[1784] For more than a year, ever since he took office,

in fact, Cornell had counted upon a renomination. He cleverly

strengthened the State machine, surrounded himself with able

lieutenants, and never failed to make appointments promotive of his

ambition. The confirmation of Isaac V. Baker as superintendent of

prisons with the aid of Tammany's three senators, especially

illustrated his skill in reaching men. But he had done more than

organise. His numerous vetoes called attention to his discriminating

work, indicating honesty, efficiency, activity in promoting the

people's interests, and fidelity to Republican principles. An honest

public sentiment recognised these good features of his work. Indeed,

his administration admittedly ranked with the best that had adorned

the State for a century, and his friends, including Independents and

many Stalwarts, rallied with energy to his support. It was known, too,

that the wisdom of Blaine permeated his councils.

[Footnote 1784: The candidates were Charles J. Folger, Alonzo B.

Cornell, James W. Wadsworth of Genesee, John H. Starin of New York,

and John C. Robinson of Broome.]

Nevertheless, Conkling and the President marked him for defeat. It was

notorious that their hostility grew out of the Governor's passivity in

the senatorial election, Arthur feeling the humiliation of that defeat

scarcely less than Conkling, while memories of Crowley's failure and

of the Governor's exultation had not faded. Conkling, not less bitter,

had more recent cause for resentment. As the attorney of Jay Gould he

had indicated a willingness to forgive and forget the past if the

Governor would approve legislation favourable to the Gould properties.

But Cornell, satisfied of its unfairness, courageously refused.[1785]

When he did so he knew and subsequently declared, that if he had

signed the bill, neither Gould nor Conkling would have opposed his

renomination.[1786]

[Footnote 1785: The bill provided that the elevated railroad companies

of New York should, in lieu of other public charges, pay a tax of four

per cent. on their gross receipts. As first submitted the bill had the

approval of the mayor and comptroller of the city, but after its

modification they withdrew their approval and opposed its passage on

the ground that it unjustly discriminated in favour of these

particular corporations and deprived the city of a large amount of

revenue.--Appleton's _Cyclopædia_, 1882, p. 600.]

[Footnote 1786: Albany _Evening Journal_, August 20, 1882.]

For these purely personal reasons an extraordinary situation was

created, revealing the methods of purse and patronage by which the

Gould-Conkling combine and the Administration got revenge. In their

efforts in Folger's behalf delegates were coerced, and efficient

officials at Albany, Brooklyn, Utica, and Ogdensburg, removed in the

middle of their terms, were replaced by partisans of the President.

Even after the patronage packed convention assembled the questionable

methods continued. Gould's agent hovered about Saratoga. To secure the

selection of a temporary chairman by the State committee, Stephen B.

French, an intimate of Arthur, presented a fraudulent proxy to

represent William H. Robertson.[1787] Had the convention known this

at the moment of voting swift defeat must have come to the

Administration, which barely escaped (251 to 243) by getting

postmasters into line.[1788]

[Footnote 1787: French presented a telegram to the secretary of the

State committee purporting to be sent from New York by Robertson. An

investigation made later showed that the message was written in Albany

on a sender's blank and had not been handled by the telegraph company.

French explained that he had wired Robertson for a proxy, and when

handed the message supposed it to be an answer. It was plain, however,

that the telegram to Robertson and his alleged answer were parts of

the same scheme.]

[Footnote 1788: New York _Times_, September 22; see also the _Nation_,

October 5; _Harper's Weekly_, October 14 and 21; New York _Sun_,

September 22; Albany _Evening Journal_, September 22.]

The candidacy of James W. Wadsworth, son of the famous general, and

recently state-comptroller, likewise became a decoy for Folger.

Wadsworth himself had no understanding with that wing. He was

absolutely independent and unpledged. But the Stalwarts, in districts

opposed to them, promoted the choice of such so-called Wadsworth

delegates as could be captured by the persuasive plea for harmony, and

under the stress of the second ballot, when Starin's and Robinson's

support broke to Cornell, some of them voted for Folger. This gave the

Administration's candidate eight more than the required number.[1789]

[Footnote 1789: Whole number of votes, 447. Necessary to a choice,

249. First ballot: Folger, 223; Cornell, 180; Wadsworth, 69; Starin,

19; Robinson, 6. Second ballot: Folger, 257; Cornell, 222; Wadsworth,

18.

The ticket was as follows: Governor, Charles J. Folger, Ontario;

Lieutenant-Governor, B. Platt Carpenter, Dutchess; Chief Judge of

Appeals, Charles Andrews, Onondaga; Congressman-at-large, A. Barton

Hepburn, St. Lawrence. Subsequently, Howard Carroll of New York, was

substituted for Hepburn.]

The belated platform, fulsomely eulogistic of Cornell, added to the

indignation of the Independents, since it seemed a mockery to present

what the Stalwarts did not offer until after a nomination. It gave

still greater offence when the State Committee selected John F. Smyth

as its chairman to conduct the campaign.[1790]

[Footnote 1790: "Look at John F. Smyth and B. Platt Carpenter. Instead

of being at the head of the whole business, they should be at the tail

or out of sight."--From speech of Theodore F. Pomeroy, the _Nation_,

October 5.]

"It is hardly worth while analysing the influences which have

contributed to this result," said the New York _Times_. "The fact is

plain that the Gould-Conkling combination, backed by the power of the

Federal Administration, has accomplished what it set out to do."[1791]

Henry Ward Beecher in a Sunday evening sermon, said that "When Cornell

went out, Avarice and Revenge kissed each other." Theodore L. Cuyler,

then pastor of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn,

declared that he "stood by the cradle of the Republican party, but

when it shunted off on the wrong track I will not go over the

precipice with it."[1792] In hastening to deny that _Harper's Weekly_

would support Folger, George William Curtis wrote: "Judge Folger's

ability and character are not in question, but his nomination is. That

nomination was procured by the combined power of fraud and patronage,

and to support it would be to acquiesce in them as legitimate forces

in a convention."[1793] The Buffalo _Express_, a vigorous and

independent Republican journal, also bolted the ticket,[1794] an

example followed by several other papers of similar character

throughout the State. After the lapse of a fortnight, Hepburn,

candidate for congressman-at-large, declined to accept because "it is

quite apparent that a very large portion of the Republicans, owing to

the unfortunate circumstances which have come to light since the

adjournment of the convention, are not disposed to accept its

conclusion as an authoritative utterance of the party."[1795]

[Footnote 1791: September 23.]

[Footnote 1792: The _Nation_, October 5.]

[Footnote 1793: New York _Tribune_, October 4.

"By one of those curious blunders to which editorial offices are

liable in the absence of the responsible head, an article by Mr.

Curtis was modified to commit the paper to the support of the

candidate. Curtis resigned the editorship. It was promptly and in the

most manly manner disavowed by the house of Harper & Bros."--Edward

Cary, _Life of Curtis_, p. 275.]

[Footnote 1794: September 22.]

[Footnote 1795: New York daily papers, October 4.]

Folger was not suspected of any personal complicity with unfair

dealing, but the deep and general Republican dissatisfaction greatly

disturbed him. His friends urged him to withdraw. Stewart L. Woodford,

then United States attorney, insisted that fraud and forgery vitiated

all the convention did, and that the "short, direct, and honourable

way out of it was to refuse the nomination."[1796] The Kings County

executive committee assured him that many influential Republicans

considered this the wisest course. From prominent men in all parts of

the State came similar advice. This view appealed to his own better

judgment, and he had decided so to act until persuaded otherwise by

the pleadings of the Stalwarts.[1797] His acceptance, recalling the

Tilden letter of 1880, was a touching appeal to the voters. Referring

to the fraudulent practices, he said: "No one claims, no one believes,

that I had lot or part therein, or previous hint or suspicion thereof.

I scorn an end to be got by such means. I will not undertake to

measure the truth of all these reports; that of one is beyond

dispute."[1798] Nevertheless, Folger could not deny that he was a

willing recipient of that "one," through the influence of which, by

creating the impression that Robertson and other anti-Administration

leaders favoured the Stalwart's choice of a temporary chairman, he

gained a much greater power in the convention than his eight majority

represented.[1799]

[Footnote 1796: New York _Times_, September 29.]

[Footnote 1797: Albany _Evening Journal_, October 16.]

[Footnote 1798: Folger's letter is found in the daily papers of

October 4.]

[Footnote 1799: It was generally known that this influence changed the

votes of two acting State committeemen, who had agreed to act with the

Cornell men.--See the _Nation_ of October 5; also the New York

_Tribune_, October 4.]

In accepting the Democratic nomination Cleveland had the great

advantage of not being obliged to refer to anything of which he was

ashamed. Its tone was simple, sober, and direct, and from the

principles expressed, the measures advocated, or the language

employed, the reader could form no idea to what party the writer

belonged. He desired primary elections to be "uncontaminated and

fairly conducted"; condemned the interference of "officials of any

degree, State or Federal, for the purpose of thwarting or controlling

the popular wish"; favoured tenure of office in the civil service

being dependent upon "ability and merit"; and denounced the levying of

political assessments, declaring "the expenditure of money to

influence the action of the people at the polls or to secure

legislation is calculated to excite the gravest concern."[1800]

[Footnote 1800: Cleveland's letter appears in the press of October

10.]

The campaign became historic because it revealed the most serious

disturbance in the Republican party since the war. Little was heard

save apology, indignant protest, and appeal to tradition. Whatever

Republican hope existed was based upon the unworthiness of the

Democratic party. In a letter to an Albany meeting Folger declared,

after highly praising his opponent, that "There is one difference

which goes to the root of the matter when we are brought to view as

public men and put forward to act in public affairs. He is a Democrat.

I am a Republican." Then, becoming an alarmist, he referred to the

shrinkage in the value of stocks on the day after the Democratic

victory in Ohio. "That shrinkage has been going on ever since," he

said. "Do the business interests of the country dread a return of the

Democratic party to power? Will the election of Cleveland increase it?

These are questions for hesitating Republicans to ponder."[1801] This

Stock Exchange view of politics, redolent of the operations of brokers

in Wall Street, did not help the Republican candidate. Curtis thought

it, coming from the Secretary of the Treasury, "most extraordinary."[1802]

Besides, the decline in the stock market began before the Ohio

election, when conditions indicated Republican success.

[Footnote 1801: Albany _Evening Journal_, October 19.]

[Footnote 1802: _Harper's Weekly_, November 4.]

The local campaign in the metropolis assumed more life. In spite of

its avowed purpose to rid the city of dishonest political tricksters,

the County Democracy made bedfellows of Tammany and Irving Hall, and

nominated Franklin Edson for mayor. This union was the more offensive

because in its accomplishment the Whitney organisation turned its back

upon Allan Campbell, its choice for governor, whom a Citizens'

Committee, with Republican support, afterwards selected for mayor.

Campbell as city-comptroller was familiar with municipal affairs, and

of the highest integrity, independence, and courage. His friends

naturally resented the indignity, and for ten days an effective

canvass deeply stirred New York.

Nevertheless, the Republican party was doomed. Managers beckoned hope

by frequent assertions, sometimes in the form of bulletins, that the

indignation was subsiding. Smyth and his State Committee disclaimed

any part in the wrong-doing by expressing, in the form of a

resolution, their "detestation of the forged proxy, and of all the

methods and purposes to which such wretched fraud and treachery

apply."[1803] Even the nominee for lieutenant-governor argued that he

was an honest man. But the people had their own opinion, and a count

of the votes showed that Folger, in spite of his pure and very useful

life, had been sacrificed,[1804] while Cleveland had a majority

greater than was ever known in a contested State election. It was so

astounding that Democrats themselves did not claim it, in the usual

sense, as a Democratic victory.[1805] Everybody recognised it as a

rebuke to Executive dictation and corrupt political methods. But no

one denied that Cleveland helped swell the majority. He became known

as the "Veto Mayor," and the history of his brief public life was

common knowledge. His professional career, unlike Tilden's, disclosed

no dark spots. He had been an honest lawyer as well as an upright

public official, and the people believed that his stubborn

independence and sturdy integrity would make him a real governor, the

enemy of rings and bosses, and the foe of avarice and revenge.

[Footnote 1803: Appleton's _Cyclopædia_, 1882, p. 608.]

[Footnote 1804: "It will be two weeks to-morrow since I dined with

Judge Howe, the postmaster-general, going out to the table with him,

and here he is dead! Poor Arthur, he will find the Presidency more

gruesome with a favourite cabinet minister gone! If it were Folger

now, I suppose he would not care, for they really do not know what to

do with him."--Mrs. James G. Blaine, _Letters_, Vol. 2, p. 93.]

[Footnote 1805: The vote was as follows: Cleveland, 535,318; Folger,

342,464; plurality, 192,854. Hill, 534,636; Carpenter, 337,855;

plurality, 196,781. Ruger, 482,222; Andrews, 409,423; plurality,

72,799. Slocum, 503,954; Carroll, 394,232; plurality, 109,722.

In New York City the vote stood: Cleveland, 124,914; Folger, 47,785;

plurality, 77,129. Edson (mayor), 97,802; Campbell, 76,385; plurality,

21,417. Other candidates for governor received: Howe (Greenback),

11,974; Hopkins (Prohibition), 25,783.

Legislature: Senate, Democrats, 18; Republicans, 14. Assembly,

Democrats, 84; Republicans, 42; Independents, 2. Congress, Democrats,

19; Republicans, 14.]

INDEX

Abolitionists, denounced by press, ii. 9;

by meetings, 10;

influence of, 1838, 25;

1844, 82;

rapidly increasing strength, 89;

unite with Hunkers and Barnburners, 1849, 150;

separate nominations, 1850, 156;

election of Smith to Congress, 179;

nomination of Douglass for sec. of state, 216;

favour peaceable secession, 336.

Adams, Charles Francis, choice for President of Lib. Rep. leaders,

iii. 282;

defeated, 285.

Adams-Jackson campaign, resembled that of Blaine-Cleveland, i. 367-8.

Adams, John, cautioned not to speak of independence, i. 2;

on Jay's state constitution, 8;

suggests council of appointment, 8;

anxiety to have his son President, 240.

Adams, John Quincy, unpopularity of, i. 358;

an anti-mason, 361;

scene when elected President, 343;

action of Van Rensselaer, 343.

Administration Whigs, followers of Fillmore, ii. 157;

unite with Dems. for Seymour's election, 1850, 157.

Albany, political centre, i. 375.

Albany _Argus_, on Clinton's loss of canal patronage, i. 261;

paper of Edwin Croswell, 294;

Seward's "forty million debt," ii. 35;

on secession, 346.

Albany _Evening Journal_, established March, 1830, i. 374;

Thurlow Weed its first editor, 374;

salary of, 374;

largest circulation in U.S., 375.

Albany Regency, when established, i. 293-4;

original members of, 293-4;

other members, 294;

Thurlow Weed on, 294;

supports Crawford, 1824, 324;

removes Clinton from canal com., 328;

influence ended, ii. 53.

Albany _Register_, attacks Burr, i. 123.

Alberger, Franklin A., candidate for canal com., 1861, iii. 23, note;

elected, 29;

renominated, 1864, 117, note;

elected, 125.

Alien and Sedition Acts, overthrow Federal party, i. 84;

approved by Jay, 85;

Adams responsible for, 88.

Allen, Peter, treatment of Fellows, i. 256.

Allen, William F., Richmond's choice for gov., 1864, iii. 117;

nominated for comp., 1869, 226;

elected, 227.

Alvord, Thomas G., the Onondaga Chief, Speaker of Assembly, iii. 22;

ch'm. People's Union con., 22;

elected to Assembly, 29;

nominated for lt.-gov., 1864, 117, note;

elected, 125.

"Amens," The, cradle of, iii. 58.

_American Citizen and Watchtower_, controlled by Clinton, i. 122;

edited by Cheetham, 122;

attack on Burr, 122-3.

American Colonization Society, history of, ii. 7;

forms republic of Liberia, 8.

American party, see Native American party.

Anderson, Robert H., nominated for prison insp., 1876, iii. 346;

defeated, 350.

Andrew, John A., gov. of Massachusetts, i. 274;

Tompkins compared to, 274;

opinion of Brown, ii. 269.

Andrews, Charles, nominated for chief judge Court of Appeals, 1882,

iii. 494;

defeated, 498.

Anti-Federalists, organisation of, i. 38;

in majority, 38;

elect gov., 1789, 44;

also, 1792, 56;

defeated, 1795, 65;

1798, 82;

become known as Republicans, 80.

"Anti-Jackson," "Anti-Mortgage," "Anti-Regency" factions unite as Whigs,

i. 399.

Anti-Masons, bolted Thompson in 1828, i. 363;

nominated Granger, 363;

substituted Southwick, 364;

ticket defeated, 368;

issues of, broadened, 376;

nominated Granger, 1830, 376;

defeat of, 377;

nominated Wirt for President, 1832, 392;

in accord with National Republicans, 392;

nominated Granger, 1832, 393;

electoral ticket of, 393;

reason for defeat, 396;

party dissolved, 398;

become Whigs, 399.

Anti-Masonry, becomes political, i. 360;

excitement, 360;

confined to western half of state, 360;

Van Buren on, 365;

semi-religious, 370;

sudden reaction, 398;

popularity of Free-Masonry, 398.

Anti-Nebraska convention, ii. 194;

prominent men present, 194;

reassembles, 201;

forerunner of Republican party, 194.

Anti-Rent party, organisation of, ii. 82-3;

contest over constitutional convention, 97;

support Young for gov., 118-9;

influence of, 1848, 139.

Anti-Tammany organisations, 1871, iii. 268;

names and strength, 268, note;

unwilling to accept Kelly, 299.

Apollo Hall, organisation of, iii. 308;

combination with, rejected by Tam., 308;

accepted by Reps., 308.

Arbitrary arrests, opposition to, iii. 19, 20, 47, 58.

"Aristides," _nom de plume_ of William P. Van Ness, i. 123-6.

Armstrong, Cornelius W., nominated for canal com., 1865, iii. 129;

defeated, 135.

Armstrong, John, author of Newburgh Letters, i. 89;

opposes Alien-Sedition laws, 89;

brother-in-law of Chancellor Livingston, 116;

elected to U.S. Senate, 116;

resigned, 118;

minister to France, 150;

opposes Clinton, 204;

changed views, 204;

Tompkins jealous of, 216;

character and career of, 216;

sec. of war, 216, 222;

Spencer, a friend of, 216;

plan of Canada campaign, 222;

failure of, 223;

puts Wilkinson in command, 223;

plans again fail, 224-5;

promotes Brown and Scott, 225;

resigns in disgrace, 227;

Madison's dislike of, 238.

Arthur, Chester A., early career and character, iii. 399-402;

becomes collector of port, 1871, 399;

his successor appointed, 1877, 399;

reasons for, 399, 402;

successor defeated, 404-5;

President suspends him, 1878, 406;

reason for, 406, 408;

his defence, 408;

successor confirmed, 409;

name suggested for Vice-President, 1880, 444;

will not listen to Conkling's objection, 444;

Conkling refuses to present name to Nat. con., 444;

Woodford presents it, 444;

nominated on first ballot, 445;

people's reception of nomination, 445;

Sherman indignant, 445, note;

Mrs. Blaine's opinion of, 446;

career a study of evolution of character, 446;

supports Crowley for U.S. Senate, 1881, 465;

tries to compromise Robertson's appointment, 1881, 472;

becomes President, 1881, 485;

confidence expressed in, 485;

appointments favourably received, 486;

defeats Cornell's renomination, 1882, 493;

disastrous result, 498.

Assembly, Provincial, refuses to approve proceedings of Congress, i. 4.

Assembly, State, original membership of, i. 9;

election of, 9;

how apportioned, 9;

powers of, 9;

elected by, 9.

Astor, John Jacob, approves books of Tammany's city comptroller, 1870,

iii. 245.

Astor, William B., contribution to fusion ticket, ii. 332.

Auburn, gloom over Seward's defeat, ii. 290-1, note.

Babcock, George R., declines nomination for state comp., 1875, iii. 325.

Bacon, Ezekiel, in constitutional convention, 1846, ii. 103.

Bacon, Theodore, joins Lib. Rep. movement, iii. 284;

attends its Nat. con., 284;

denounces Fenton's scheme, 284.

Bacon, William J., congressman from Oneida district, iii. 385;

supports President Hayes, 385;

speech for, 385.

Bailey, B. Prentiss, Utica _Observer_, a leading Dem. editor, iii. 420.

Bailey, Theodorus, urged for appointment, i. 121;

Clinton's agent, 152;

elected to U.S. Senate, 156.

Balcom, Ransom, reputation as a judge, iii. 166;

aspires to U.S. Senate, 1865, 166.

Ballard, Horatio, nominated for sec. of state, 1861, iii. 23, note;

elected, 29.

Baltimore convention, 1860, ii. 294-303;

Seymour strengthened, 294;

New York in control, 294, note;

seceding delegations wish to return, 295;

bitter debate, 296-7;

New York admits contestants, 300;

states secede, 300;

Soule's speech, 300-1;

Douglas nominated, 302;

Fitzpatrick nominated for Vice-President, 302;

Johnson substituted, 302.

Baltimore Union Convention, 1864, iii. 93-5;

its platform and nominees, 94.

Banks, Republicans opposed to, i. 186;

Hamilton secures charters, 186;

clever trick of Burr, 187;

State Bank of Albany, 187;

Merchants' Bank of New York, 189;

Bank of America, 191;

charter granted, 197.

Bank of Albany, incorporation of, i. 186.

Bank of America of New York, incorporation of, i. 191;

inducements for, 191.

Bank of Columbia at Hudson, incorporation of, i. 186.

Bank of New York, incorporation of, i. 186.

Barker, George P., at.-gen., ii. 52.

Barkley, Alexander, nominated for canal com., 1868, iii. 196;

defeated, 215;

renominated, 1870, 238;

defeated, 244;

renominated, 1871, 264;

elected, 275.

Barlow, Francis C., record as a soldier, iii. 129;

nominated for sec. of state, 1865, 130;

elected, 135;

not renominated, 1867, 174;

nominated for atty.-gen., 1871, 264;

elected, 275;

fine record of, 307;

dropped as atty.-gen., 1873, 307.

Barnard, David, popular anti-masonic preacher, i. 370.

Barnard, George G., Tweed's trusted judge, iii. 177;

foppish dress, 177;

appearance of, 177;

begins 1857 as recorder, 177;

advanced to Sup. Court, 1860, 177;

part in election frauds, 1868, 216;

fraudulent naturalisations, 216-8;

exposure, 246;

impeached, 248;

death, 248.

Barnburners, Dem. faction, ii. 126;

why so called, 126;

leaders of, 126-7;

hostility to Hunkers, 127;

secede from Dem. con., 1847, 127;

withdraw from Baltimore con., 130;

hold Utica con., 131;

nominate Van Buren for President, 131;

two factions of, 131;

leading members, 131;

Buffalo con., 1848, 132;

indorsed Van Buren for President, 133;

Webster's pun, 133;

nominated Dix for gov., 133;

Seymour unites them with Hunkers, 149;

nominated Seymour for gov., 1850, 156;

defeated, 158;

support Marcy for President, 1852, 169-72;

support Pierce and Seymour, 1852, 169-78;

succeed, 178;

Hunkers secede, 1853, 180-5;

nominate separate ticket, 184;

approved canal amendment, 184;

called Softshells or Softs, 185;

see Softs.

Barney, Hiram C., appointed collector of port of New York, ii. 390;

choice of Lincoln, 390-6;

mysterious influence in favour of, 393;

career of, 395;

crippled Weed machine, 395-6;

Lincoln plans to transfer him, iii. 85;

sustained by Chase, 85;

unsatisfactory collector, 85;

Lincoln promises Weed to remove him, 87;

Draper appointed in his place, 97.

Barnum, Henry W., record as a soldier, iii. 129;

nominated for prison insp., 1865, 130;

elected, 135;

renominated, 1867, 196;

defeated, 215.

Barstow, Gamaliel H., cand. for lt.-gov., 1836, ii. 12;

career of, 13;

defeated, 14;

state treas., 18;

withdraws from politics, 38.

Bascom, Oliver, nominated for canal com., 1868, iii. 207;

elected, 215.

Bates, James K., nominated for prison insp., 1863, iii. 76;

elected, 83.

Bayard, James A., cand. in opposition to Greeley, 1872, iii. 289, note;

attitude toward Tilden, 354.

Beach, Allen C., nominated for lt.-gov., 1868, iii. 207;

elected, 215;

renominated, 231;

elected, 244;

aspires to be gov., 1872, 297;

nominated for sec. of state, 1877, 384;

vigorously opposed in campaign, 387;

elected, 387;

renominated, 1879, 424;

defeated, 427.

Beach, John H., Seward's reliance upon, ii. 34.

Beale, Charles L., in Congress, ii. 339, note;

disapproved Weed's compromise, 339, note.

Beardsley, Samuel, leads Dem. forces in Congress, ii. 1;

heads mob against anti-slavery meeting, 6;

character of, 53.

Beauregard, Pierre T., at Charleston, S.C., iii. 2;

reduces Fort Sumter, 3;

at Bull Run, 11.

Beebe, George M., strong supporter of Tammany, iii. 383.

Beecher's Bibles, Sharpe's rifles, ii. 224.

Beecher, Henry Ward, active against repeal of Missouri compromise, ii. 193;

in campaign, 1860, 240;

political sermons of, 329;

indifference to secession, 334;

peaceable secession, 336.

Resents Lincoln's relations with Conservatives, iii. 90;

forsakes Johnson, 163;

denounces his vicious course, 163;

supports Rep. ticket, 163;

on Cornell's defeat, 1882, 495.

Beekman, John P., ambitious to be gov., ii. 172-3.

Belmont, August, at Charleston convention, ii. 272;

approves Weed's compromise, 338, 341;

del. to Dem. nat. con., 1864, iii. 101;

1872, 287;

Ch'm. of nat. ex. com., 287.

Belmont, Perry, presented for gov., 1882, iii. 488.

Bemis, Horace, threatens to bolt leg. caucus, iii. 53, note.

Bennett, James Gordon, editor of N.Y. _Herald_, iii. 36;

contest with Greeley, 36;

favours Dix for gov., 42.

Benson, Egbert, atty.-gen., i. 16;

at Hartford con., 28;

at Annapolis, 29;

in Legislature, 33;

action on Federal Constitution, 33;

elected to Congress, 44;

appointed to Supreme Court, 61.

Benton, Thomas H., on Van Buren's conscription law, i. 232;

on Van Buren's rejection as minister, 389.

Betts, Samuel R., appointed to Supreme Court, i. 322.

Bigelow, John, ch'm. of Tilden's canal com., 1875, iii. 323;

declines Rep. nomination for state comp., 1874, 325;

accepts Dem. nomination for sec. of state, 1874, 326;

elected, 331;

Tilden's spokesman at Nat. con., 1876, 342;

bitterly opposed for renomination as sec. of state, 380;

defeated, 384.

Birdsall, John, on Supreme Court, i. 348;

induced to leave Anti-Masons, 397.

Birdsall, John, State senator, iii. 437;

declares he will vote for Blaine, 1880, 437.

Black, Jeremiah S., cand. in opposition to Greeley, 1872, iii. 289, note.

Blaine, James G., oratorical castigation of Conkling, iii. 168;

supported by Robertson, 1876, 335;

thought Dems. lacked firmness, 1877, 355;

why Dems. favoured Electoral Com., 355;

supports Conkling in contest to remove Arthur and Cornell, 405;

a striking tableau, 405-6;

again supports Conkling, 410;

name loudly applauded in state con., 1880, 433;

resented by Conkling, 433;

gets eighteen votes from N.Y., 1880, 441;

part in Robertson's appointment, 469-71;

Conkling's lack of confidence in, 471;

influence in Cornell's councils, 1882, 492.

Blair, Montgomery, letter to Welles, ii. 192.

Blatchford, Richard M., approved Weed's compromise, ii. 338;

acts as agent for the Government, iii. 7;

attends Saratoga con., 1866, 144;

thought Morgan's backbone missing, 222.

Blatchford, Samuel, law partner of Seward, ii. 165;

defeated for Supreme Court, 165.

Bliss, Archibald M., attended Lib. Rep. state con., 1872, iii. 296;

on com. to confer with Dems., 296.

Bostwick, William L., nominated for state treas., 1877, iii. 377;

defeated, 387.

Bouck, William C., compared with Young, ii. 53;

named for gov., 1840, 54;

defeated, 54;

renominated, 1842, 54;

elected, 55;

canal policy, 56;

nepotism of, 57;

defeated for renomination, 77-8;

in constitutional con., 1846, 103;

appointed sub-treas., 119;

reasons for it, 119, 123.

Boutwell, George S., compliments Weed, iii. 58;

about Robertson's election, 1881, 469-70.

Bowles, Samuel J., on Weed as a manager, ii. 283.

Bradford, George P., delegate to Lib. Rep. state con., 1872, iii. 296.

Bradish, Luther, speaker of Assembly, ii. 18;

defeated for nomination for gov., 1838, 19-21;

nominated for lt.-gov., 21;

nominated for gov., 1842, 51;

defeated, 55.

Bradley, George B., nominated for Court of Appeals, 1878, iii. 393;

defeated, 397.

Brady, James T., in campaign of 1852, ii. 178;

nominated for atty.-gen. by Hunkers, 183;

nominated for gov. by Hards, 325;

popularity of, 325;

defeat of, 333;

delegate to seceding states, 351-2.

Sympathy with the South, iii. 4;

tendered nomination for mayor, 1861, 30;

refused it, 30;

loyalty of, 59;

addresses to Union League, 1863, 59;

declines state comptrollership, 1863, 74;

active in campaign, 1867, 186.

Bribery, in chartering Albany State Bank, i. 186-7;

Purdy charged with, 190;

Thomas and Southwick indicted and acquitted, 191-4.

Bristol, Wheeler H., nominated for state treas., 1869, iii. 226;

elected, 227;

renominated, 1871, 273;

defeated, 275.

Brockway, Beman, Watertown _Times_, a leading Rep. editor, iii. 414.

Bronson, Greene C., appointed atty.-gen., i. 383;

character and career of, 383-4; ii. 196;

declines to support Softs, 186;

removed as collector, 187;

Greeley on, 187, 189;

nominated for gov. by Hards, 196;

inconsistency of, 196;

at peace congress, 350;

stands with Lincoln, iii. 15.

Brooks, Erastus, nominated for gov., ii. 238;

early career of, 238;

N.Y. _Express_, conspicuous as an editor, iii. 420.

Brooks, James, founded N.Y. _Express_, ii. 238;

early career of, 238;

forces nomination of Seymour, iii. 38;

controls Cons. Union con., 1863, 79;

connection with Crédit Mobilier, 309, note;

death, 309, note;

a leading Dem. editor, 420.

Broome, John, candidate for lt.-gov., 1804, i. 129;

death and career of, 180.

Brouck, Francis C., nominated for state treas., 1861, iii. 21, note;

declined to accept, 24.

Brown, D.D.S., attended Lib. Rep. state con., 1872, iii. 296;

on com. to confer with Dems., 296.

Brown, Jacob, valour at Sackett's Harbour, i. 223;

promoted, 225;

character and career of, 225;

on Niagara frontier, 226;

brilliant leadership, 227.

Brown, John, raid of, ii. 259;

career of, 259-60;

Douglas on, 260;

Emerson on, 260;

Thoreau on, 260;

Longfellow on, 260;

Lincoln on, 264;

Seward on, 266-7;

Andrew on, 269.

Brown, John W., nominated for judge Court of Appeals, 1865, iii. 129;

defeated, 135.

Brown University, William L. Marcy, graduate of, i. 292.

Bruce, Benjamin F., candidate for canal com., 1861, iii. 23, note;

elected, 29;

renominated, 1863, 76;

elected, 83.

Bryant, William Cullen, in campaign of 1844, ii. 84;

original Barnburner, 131;

supports Pierce and Seymour, 1852, 177;

theory of, 177, note;

active in campaign of 1856, 240;

meets Lincoln, 266;

ch'm. of Lincoln meeting, 263;

opposes Seward for President, 285;

elector-at-large, 328;

opposes Seward for sec. of state, 394.

Favours postponing Nat. Rep. Con., 1864, iii. 88;

resents Lincoln's relations with Seward and Weed, 90;

denounces expulsion of Louisiana legislators, 328.

Buchanan, James, nominated for President, ii. 228;

supported by Hards, 227-8;

Softs forced to vote for, 227-8;

criticised by Southern press, iii. 10.

Bucktails, followers of Van Buren, i. 251;

origin of name, 251.

Bucktails and Clintonians, 1820, two opposing parties, i. 273.

Buel, Jesse, cand. for gov., 1836, ii. 12;

career and gifts of, 12;

defeated, 13.

Buffalo, burned by British, i. 224;

Clinton predicts its great growth, 243.

Bull Run, battle of, iii. 11-12;

Scott did not approve, 11;

Lincoln favoured it, 11;

urged by the N.Y. _Tribune_, 11.

Burr, Aaron, with Arnold at Quebec, i. 5;

supports Yates for gov., 43;

atty.-gen., 45;

early career, 45;

his character, 45;

first meeting with Hamilton, 45-6;

opinion of Washington, 46;

legend as to Hamilton and, 46;

atty.-gen., 46-7;

elected to U.S. Senate, 49;

ambitious to be gov., 50;

checked by Clinton and Hamilton, 50;

non-attention to public business, 55;

referee in Clinton-Jay contest, 57;

undertakes to carry New York, 89;

skilful methods of, 90;

meets Hamilton at the polls, 91;

courtesy of, 91;

style of speaking, 91;

Root's opinion of, 91;

party triumphant, 91;

cand. for Vice-President, 98;

the tie vote, 98;

favours Jefferson's election, 98;

supported by Federalists, 98-9;

silent as to result, 102;

Van Ness, as a go-between, 103;

deceived by Edward Livingston, 103;

defeated for President, 104;

elected Vice-President, 104;

eulogised by Jefferson, 104;

sudden change toward, 105;

personal appearance, 106;

president constitutional con., 115;

helped Clinton's control, 115-6;

Clinton's dislike of, 116;

Clinton determines to destroy him, 116;

friends without an office, 119;

turns against Jefferson and Clinton, 121-2;

silence under attack, 123;

"Aristides'" defence of, 123;

nominated for gov., 1804, 131;

hopeless race from start, 131;

Hamilton's reasons for opposing, 133-5;

leader of secession, 134-5;

Lansing's withdrawal, 136;

reasons for election, 137;

powerful friends, 138;

defeated, 138;

challenged Hamilton, 139-40;

hostile meeting, 142;

death of Hamilton, 142;

indicted for murder, 144;

later career, 144-5;

character, 145;

unnatural parent, 146;

connection with Tam., 182;

clever trick to charter bank, 187.

Burrows, Lorenzo, nominated for gov. by Americans, ii. 249;

character of, 249;

defeated, 255;

manager Cons. state con., 1863, iii. 79, note.

Burt, James, in Council of Appointment, i. 156.

Burt, Silas W., appointed surveyor, port of New York, iii. 406;

confirmed, 409.

Butler, Benjamin F., district attorney, i. 289;

gifts, character, and career of, 289-94;

appearance of, 289;

relations with Talcott, 291;

law partner of Van Buren, 291;

member of Albany Regency, 293-4;

death of, 294;

sent to Assembly, 358.

U.S. atty.-gen., ii. 1;

practising law, 53;

at Baltimore con., 70-3;

declines to be sec. of war, 94;

a Barnburner, 120;

at Utica con., 131.

Butler, William Allen, son of Benjamin F., eulogy of Van Buren, i. 208.

Cady, Daniel, gifts and character of, i. 169;

career of, 169;

father of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 169;

assails embargo, 169.

Cagger, Peter, at Charleston con., ii. 272;

opposes Union State con., iii. 15;

draft-circular, 82.

Calhoun, John C., resembled John C. Spencer, i. 264;

Clinton on, 386, note;

opposes Van Buren, 387.

Callicot, Timothy, proposition to Depew, iii. 53;

elected speaker of Assembly, 54.

Cambreling, Churchill C., leads Dem. forces in Congress, ii. 1;

in constitutional con., 1846, 103;

minister to Russia, 103;

a Barnburner, 128;

at Utica con., 131;

supports Pierce and Seymour, 1852, 177.

Cameron, Simon, promised place in Lincoln's cabinet, ii. 288.

Campaign speeches, 1860, ii. 329.

Campbell, Allan, presented for gov., 1882, iii. 488, note;

ostensible choice of County Democracy, 489;

supported by Reps. for mayor of N.Y., 1882, 498;

character and ability, 498;

defeated, 498.

Canadian rebellion, history of, ii. 23-4.

Canal Ring, defeats Barlow for atty.-gen., 1873, iii. 307;

opposes Tilden for gov., 1874, 311;

members of it, 312;

exposed and crushed, 322-4.

Canal work and fraud, see Erie Canal.

Cannon, Joseph G., respecting Greeley and Lincoln, iii. 126, note.

Cantine, Moses I., brother-in-law of Van Buren, i. 251;

opposed Clinton and Erie canal, 251.

_Caroline_, steamer in Canadian rebellion, ii. 24.

Carpenter, B. Platt, nominated for lt.-gov., 1882, iii. 494;

defeated, 498.

Carr, Joseph B., nominated for sec. of state, 1879, iii. 416;

elected, 427;

renominated for sec. of state, 1881, 485;

elected, 486.

Carroll, Howard, named for congressman-at-large, 1882, iii. 494;

defeated, 498.

Carter, Luther C., in Congress, ii. 339, note;

disapproves Weed's compromise, 339, note.

Carver, Joseph, predicts inland waterway in New York, i. 241.

Cassidy, William, Albany _Argus_, a leading Dem. editor, iii. 420.

Castle Garden meeting, to unite Fillmore Whigs and Democrats, ii. 157.

Champlain, Marshal M., nominated for atty.-gen., 1861, iii. 24, note;

defeated, 29;

renominated, 1869, 226;

elected, 227;

renominated, 1871, 273;

defeated, 275.

Chandler, Zachariah, resented Lincoln's relations with Seward and Weed,

iii. 89.

Chapin, Edwin H., political sermons of, ii. 329.

Chaplin, William L., nominated for gov. by Abolitionists, 1850, ii. 156.

Chapman, George W., nominated for canal com., 1870, iii. 231;

elected, 244;

renominated, 273;

defeated, 275.

Charleston convention, 1860, ii. 270-9;

Softs admitted, 270;

N.Y. delegation, 271-2;

Richmond's leadership, 271-9;

struggle over platform, 273-5;

bitter debates, 273-6;

states secede, 275;

South against Douglas and Guthrie, 276;

adjourned to Baltimore, 279;

see Baltimore convention.

Charleston _Mercury_, resents action of Northern Dems., iii. 10.

Chase, Salmon P., chief of radicals in cabinet, iii. 14;

resigns, 84;

consents to remain, 84;

threatens to resign, 86;

resigns, 1864, 96;

Lincoln's tart acceptance, 97;

leads movement to substitute another cand. for Lincoln, 103;

aspires to be President, 1868, 197;

favoured by Seymour, 198;

gets few votes, 199;

several Lib. Reps. favour him, 1872, 282;

defeated, 286.

Chatfield, Thomas S., nominated for state treas., 1869, iii. 226;

defeated, 227.

Cheetham, James, editor of _American Citizen_, i. 122;

attacked Burr, 122-3;

assailed by Van Ness, 126;

challenged Coleman, 128;

assailed Burr, 1804, 137;

opposed embargo, 165;

expelled from Tam., 182;

death of, 182.

Cheever, George B., tours England in behalf of the Union, iii. 90;

resents Lincoln's relations with Conservatives, 90;

signs call for Cleveland con., 90;

denounces policy of Administration, 90.

Chicago convention, 1860, ii. 281-93;

prototype of modern con., 281;

Greeley on, 281;

ch'm. and platform of, 282;

influence of cheering, 288;

Lincoln nominated on third ballot, 289;

Evarts moved to make unanimous, 289;

Hamlin nominated for Vice-President, 289.

Church, Sanford E., elected to Assembly, 1841, ii. 47;

original Barnburner, 131;

nominated for lt.-gov., 1850, 156;

at Charleston con., 272;

temp. ch'm. Dem. state peace con., 354.

Opposes Union State con., 1861, iii. 15;

favoured for gov., 1862, 39;

attends Saratoga con., 1866, 144;

delegate-at-large, 144;

adjourns con. to defeat Dix, 158;

audacious act, 158;

abject apology, 158;

elected chief judge Ct. of Appeals, 234, note;

aspires to be gov., 1872, 297;

defeated by Tilden, 298;

ambitious to be gov., 1874, 311;

associated with canal ring, 312-3.

Churchill, John C., nominated for sec. of state, 1877, iii. 377;

defeated, 387;

aspired to be state comp., 1879, 417;

defeated, 417.

Cipher dispatches, iii. 350-1, note;

translated by _Tribune_, 394;

publication of, 395;

influence on Tilden, 395.

Cisco, John J., sympathy with the South, iii. 4.

Civil service reform, first effort of Fed. Gov., iii. 360;

Curtis heads Com., 360;

Hayes' efforts to establish it, 360;

opposition to, 361, 365.

Civil war, sec. of treas. predicts, ii. 332;

Reps. might have prevented, 342;

gov.'s message, 348;

petitions for peace, 349;

action of N.Y. Chamber of Commerce, 349;

of Legislature, 349;

delegates to peace congress, 350;

detention of guns, 351;

delegates sent to secession states, 351-2;

Dix's dispatch, 352;

state con. of fusionists, 354-8;

Conkling on, 357, note.

Clark, Gaylord J., nominated for prison insp., 1862, iii. 41, note;

elected, 51.

Clark, Israel W., Albany _Register_, i. 262;

friend of Erie canal, 262.

Clark, Myron H., nom. for gov., 1854, ii. 199;

career and character of, 199;

Weed opposed nomination for gov., 199;

elected, 203;

not renominated, 234.

Temperance cand. for gov., 1870, iii. 244;

defeated, 244, note;

renominated, 1874, 316;

defeated, 319.

Clay, Henry, aids in rejection of Van Buren, i. 387;

United States Bank, 393;

defeat, 1840, ii. 40;

anger of friends, 40.

Clay party, organised, 1831, i. 392;

nominated Henry Clay for President, 1832, 392.

Cleveland convention, 1864, iii. 92.

Cleveland, Grover, presented for gov., 1882, iii. 490;

career and character, 490;

County Democracy's influence, 490;

nominated on third ballot, 491;

appearance, 492;

his sturdy rectitude, 492;

letter of acceptance, 497;

enormous majority, 498;

known as the "Veto Mayor," 499.

Clews, Henry, recommends Murphy's appointment, iii. 233;

presents Dix for gov., 1872, 294.

Clinton, DeWitt, forces election of Council of Appointment, i. 107;

controls it, 107;

early career of, 108;

appearance and character, 108-9;

breaks with Jay, 110;

adds to authority of Council, 115;

prototype of political boss, 115, 119;

destroys Burr, 116, 119;

patronage to the Livingstons, 115;

elected to U.S. Senate, 118;

resigns, 119;

becomes mayor, 118;

with Jefferson against Burr, 121;

attacks Burr through press, 122;

assailed by Van Ness, 125-6;

challenged by Swartwout, 127;

wounds him, 127;

regrets it was not Burr, 127;

too young for gov., 1804, 136;

opposes Lewis' administration, 149-51;

bargains with the Burrites, 152;

hostility of Martling Men, 152;

three offices and salaries, 153;

opposed by W.W. Van Ness, 153;

removed from mayoralty, 155;

selects Tompkins for gov., 158;

contrasted to Tompkins, 160-1;

opposes embargo, 165, 168, 171;

changes opinion, 165;

reappointed mayor, 165;

urges uncle for President, 166-7;

series of mistakes, 167;

approves Madison's and Tompkins' administrations, 168;

assails Federalists, 168;

removed as mayor, 172-3;

reappointed, 179;

hostility of Tam., 180-5;

nominated lt.-gov., 181;

lavish style of living, 183;

wealth of wife, 183;

income as mayor, 183;

Irish friends, 183;

lack of tact, 184;

ready to defeat Tompkins, 184;

desertion of friends, 184-5;

elected lt.-gov., 185;

opposes charter of Merchants' Bank, 189;

silent as to Bank of America, 196;

estrangement of Spencer, 197;

seeks nomination for President, 199;

fitness for, 200;

nominated by Legislature, 201;

opposition to, 201-2;

Granger supports, 202;

opposed by Tompkins, 201;

by Rufus King, 203-6;

supported by Federalists, 204-8;

campaign managed by Van Buren, 206-10;

defeated for President, 210;

reasons for, 210;

King's election to U.S. Senate, 211-2;

not renominated for lt.-gov., 212;

attacks Tompkins and Taylor, 213;

retains mayoralty, 213;

Riker his enemy, 218;

refused a command in War of 1812, 221;

patriotic devotion, 221;

removed from the mayoralty, 235;

record as mayor, 235;

canal com., 242-3;

early efforts as, 243;

in retirement, 243;

begins correspondence with Post, 243;

plan for canal, 244;

heads new commission, 245;

friendship with Spencer renewed, 245;

brother-in-law of Spencer, 245;

cand. for gov., 245;

reports on cost of canals, 246-7;

supported by Federalists for gov., 1817, 247-8;

pictures Van Buren, 250;

nominated for gov., 1817, 250;

elected, 252;

inaugurated, 252;

began work on canal, 252;

at zenith of fame, 253;

lacked politician's art, 254, 257;

refused reconciliation with Young, 254;

believed Republican party would divide, 254-5;

refused to appoint Federalists, 255;

dismissed Tam. office holders, 255;

rivals of, 255;

character of messages, 256;

bolts party caucus, 257-60;

not a reformer, 260;

crippled in power, 261;

loss of canal patronage, 261;

sly methods of, 268;

removes Bucktails from office, 273;

calls Van Buren "arch scoundrel," 273;

hesitates to remove him, 274;

renominated for gov., 279;

without organisation, 279;

confident of election, 281;

elected, 281;

protests against Federal patronage, 283-4;

green-bag message, 285;

vituperative allusions to Van Buren, 286, note;

fails to defeat Van Buren for U.S. senator, 287;

trapped into opposing the constitutional con., 1821, 296;

friends without influence in con., 298;

not renominated for gov., 1822, 312;

reasons for, 314-5;

prophetic letter, 315;

deceived as to Yates' popularity, 320;

removed as canal com., 329;

great excitement, 329;

nominated for gov., 330-1;

stirring campaign against Young, 332;

elected, 333;

about the Presidency, 334-5;

favours Jackson, 334-6;

a censorious critic, 334-5, note;

likeness to Jackson, 336;

opening of Erie canal, 345;

ignores old custom, 347;

renominated for gov., 1826, 350;

re-elected, 352;

death of, 1828, 353;

remarks on, 354-5;

Van Buren on, 354;

Weed on, 355.

Clinton, George, member first constitutional con., i. 5;

proposed for gov., 17;

manners of, 19;

ancestry and career, 20;

elected gov., 21;

Schuyler on, 21;

Washington on, 22;

hatred of Tories, 23;

approves revenue going to Congress, 24;

insists upon its collection by state, 25;

refuses to convene Legislature, 25;

Hamilton opposes, 25;

not candid, 28;

opposes revision of Articles of Confederation, 29;

withdrawal of Yates and Lansing, 30;

reproves Hamilton, 31;

bitterest opponent of Federal Constitution, 32;

ignored it in message, 32;

proposed another con., 33;

conduct criticised, 36;

Washington on, 36;

opposed for re-election as gov., 37;

Hamilton's encounter with, 38;

re-elected, 1789, 44;

a master politician, 45;

reasons for appointing Burr, 46-7;

helped by the Livingstons, 47-8;

renominated for gov., 1792, 50;

abuse and misrepresentation, 54;

sales of public lands, 54;

elected, 55;

known as usurper, 61;

refused to nominate Benson, 61;

argument of, 61;

action of Council of Appointment, 62;

not a spoilsman, 62;

declined to stand for re-election, 63;

renominated for gov., 1801, 115;

elected, 115;

opposed methods of Council, 119;

declines re-election, 129;

elected Vice-President, 147;

opposed embargo, 165;

urged for President, 1808, 166;

re-elected Vice-President, 167;

defeats United States Bank, 186;

death and character of, 197-8;

the great war gov., 219;

plan to connect Hudson with Lake Ontario, 242.

Clinton, George W., son of DeWitt Clinton, ii. 183;

nominated sec. of state by Hunkers, 183;

Dem. state peace con., 356;

loyal sentiments of, 356-7, note.

Clintonians, followers of DeWitt Clinton, i. 251.

Clintonians and Bucktails, 1820, two opposing parties, i. 273.

Clinton, James, in first constitutional con., i. 5;

brother of George Clinton, 43;

father of DeWitt Clinton, 43;

his character, 43-4.

Cobb, Howell, sec. of treas., ii. 332;

on election of Lincoln, 332;

predicts panic, 332.

Cochrane, John, Barnburners' platform maker, ii. 197;

at Charleston con., 272;

career, appearance and ability of, 272.

Sympathy with the South, iii. 4;

speech at Richmond, Va., 4;

loyal speech at Union Square meeting, 6;

enters the army, 9;

criticised by Southern press, 10;

favours freeing and arming slaves, 25;

nominated for atty.-gen., 1863, 76, note;

elected, 83;

signs call for Cleveland con., 1864, 90;

resents infringement of rights, 90;

president of Cleveland con., 92;

denounces leaders of Rep. party, 92;

nominated for Vice-President, 92;

withdraws, 120;

at Rep. state con., 1871, 259;

joins Lib. Rep. movement, 283;

organises its con. for Greeley's nomination, 283;

calls Lib. Rep. state con. to order, 1872, 296.

Colden, Cadwallader D., ancestry and character, i. 56, 117;

district atty., 117, 179;

prophecy as to inland navigation in New York, 241;

removed as mayor of New York City, 287;

an Anti-Mason, 370.

Coleman, William, editor of _Evening Post_, i. 117;

clerk of circuit court, 117;

challenged by Cheetham, 128;

kills Cheetham's friend, 128.

Colles, Christopher, navigation of Mohawk River, i. 242.

Collier, John A., desired to be gov., 1842, ii. 51;

nominated Fillmore for Vice-President, 137;

career of, 138;

candidate for U.S. Senate, 145.

Columbia College, DeWitt Clinton in its first class, i. 108.

Committee of Fifty, differences with Committee of Fifty-one, i. 2;

assumed leadership of, 2.

Committee of Fifty-one, opposes Committee of Fifty, i. 2.

Committee of One Hundred, made up of Committees of Fifty and Fifty-one,

i. 4.

Committee of Seventy, charged with investigating Tweed Ring, iii. 247;

nominate Havermeyer for mayor, 1872, 299.

Committee of Sixty, substituted for Committee of Fifty-one, i. 4.

Compromises of 1850, character of, ii. 151.

Comstock, George F., nominated for Court of Appeals, ii. 215;

character and ability of, 215-6;

elected, 219;

nominated for judge, Court of Appeals, 1861, iii. 21, note.

Confederates, the, resent unanimity of the North, iii. 9.

Confederation, pitiable condition of, i. 28.

Confederation, Articles of, impotent to regulate commerce, i. 29;

Hamilton on revision, 29;

con. called for revision, 29.

Congress, Continental, recommends a war government, i. 1.

Congress, Provincial, takes place of Provincial Assembly, i. 4;

meets, 1776, 5;

adopts new name, 5;

continues common law of England, 5.

Conkling, Frederick A., aspires to be gov., 1868, iii. 193.

Conkling, Roscoe, ambitious to be atty.-gen., ii. 187;

early career of, 187;

defeated by Ogden Hoffman, 188;

on Whig con., 1854, 201;

in campaign, 1858, 251;

ability as speaker, 251;

his muscle, 251;

stigmatises Dem. state peace con., 357, note;

commends Clinton's loyalty, 357, note;

lack of tact, 389.

On battle of Ball's Bluff, iii. 31;

opposes legal tender act, 32;

character of, 32;

defeated for Congress, 1862, 52;

refuses to betray Lincoln, 104;

re-elected to Congress, 1864, 125;

tours state, 1866, 164;

cand. for U.S. Senate, 1867, 166;

service in House, 167;

Blaine's attack, 168;

his vanity, 168;

strong support by Roberts, 169;

declines to use money, 170;

wins because of ability, 171;

ch'm. of con., 1867, 172-3;

tolerant of Johnsonised Reps., 173;

Fenton suspicious of, 174;

vigorous campaign, 1868, 212;

on election frauds, 1868, 215;

relations with Grant, 232;

secures Murphy's confirmation, 1870, 235;

bitter contest with Fenton, 234-5;

resumed at Rep. state con., 1870, 235;

hesitates to attend, 236;

Grant requests it, 236;

defeats Fenton, 236;

urges Curtis for gov., 1870, 238;

dodges vote, 238;

active in campaign, 241-2;

loses, 244;

Greeley attacks him, 257;

efforts to crush Fenton-Greeley machine, 1871, 250-64;

speech at con., 1871, 261-63;

beats Fenton organisation, 263;

succeeds at the polls, 275;

upholds Grant's administration, 278-9;

Robertson's dislike begins, 294;

speech in campaign, 1872, 301;

re-elected, 1873, 305;

offered place on U.S. Sup. Court, 305;

declines law partnership, 305;

zenith of power, 305;

rivalry of Tilden, 1875, 329;

speeches in campaign, 330-1;

Reps. defeated, 331;

aspires to be President, 1876, 332;

Curtis' opposition, 333;

mild endorsement, 333;

treatment in Rep. Nat. con., 333-5;

fails to attend Rep. state con., 338;

strong speech in campaign, 347;

ignores Hayes and Wheeler, 347;

favours Electoral Com., 356;

excluded from it, 356;

at Rep. state con., 1877, 362;

Curtis' tart criticism, 369-70;

reply to Curtis, 370-7;

masterpiece of sarcasm and invective, 374;

attack regarded too severe, 376;

regretted by Rep. press, 376;

Curtis' opinion of, 376;

established newspaper at Utica, 385;

reason for defeat, 1877, 388 and note;

silent on money question, 390-1;

at Rep. state con., 1878, 391;

at peace with Curtis, 391-2;

work in campaign, 1878, 395;

re-elected to Senate, 1879, 397;

successors to Arthur and Cornell nominated, 1877, 399;

dislike of President Hayes, 402-3;

defeats Roosevelt and Merritt, 404-5;

reconciliation with Blaine surmised, 405-6, 410;

Arthur and Cornell suspended, 1878, 406;

fails to defeat successors, 408-9;

opposed adoption of hard-money platform, 407;

resists repeal of election laws, 411-2;

ch'm. Rep. state con., 1879, 412;

nominates Cornell for gov., 1879, 414-18;

his ticket elected, 427;

supports Grant for third term, 428-30;

controls Rep. state con., 1880, 432;

his speech, 433-4;

at Rep. nat. con., 1880, 438-46;

leader of the Stalwarts, 438;

remarkable receptions, 439;

brilliant speech, 439-40;

criticises Blaine, 440;

the faithful, 306, 441;

opposes Stalwarts accepting Vice-Presidency, 442-4;

stoutly objects to Arthur taking it, 444;

refuses to present his name, 444;

hostility to Garfield, 461;

avoids meeting him, 461;

a veiled threat, 461;

visits Garfield at Mentor, 1880, 461;

avoids political topics, 461;

congratulates Platt on election to Senate, 1881, 468;

visits Mentor, 1881, 468;

works in harmony with President, 468;

Robertson appointed, Mar. 23, 469;

a surprise, 469-70;

reports and theories, 469-70;

a Blaine triumph, 470-1;

fails to defeat it, 473-6;

last caucus attended, May 13, 476;

resignation forwarded to Cornell, May 13, 476;

reasons for it, 477-78;

seeks a re-election at Albany, 478;

Rep. caucus refused, 479;

first ballot gives highest vote, 479;

successor elected, July 22, 482;

defeats Cornell's renomination for gov., 1882, 493;

reasons for, 493.

Connolly, Richard B., known as "Slippery Dick," iii. 177;

suave and crafty, 177;

Tweed's bookkeeper, 177;

begins in 1857 as county clerk, 177;

made city comp., 1865, 177;

his rake-off on bills, 178;

exposure of, 1871, 246;

startling crime of, 246;

resigns, 247;

escapes to Europe with plunder, 248;

dies abroad, 248, note.

Conover, Daniel D., nominated for prison insp., 1869, iii. 226;

defeated, 227.

Conservative Democrats, first called Hunkers, ii. 95.

Conservatives, faction of the Dem. party, ii. 52, 126;

favoured using surplus for canals, 52, 126;

leaders of, 53, 126;

called Hunkers, 1845, 126;

see Hunkers.

Constitution, Federal, con. called, i. 29;

draft sent to legislatures, 32;

riots in New York, 32;

Clinton's opposition, 32;

Hamilton on, 32;

con. to ratify, 33;

held at Poughkeepsie, 33;

sacrifices of New York, 34;

people's dislike of, 34;

date of ratification, 35;

vote on, 36;

officially proclaimed, 36.

Constitution, State, drafted by Jay, i. 8;

in Jay's handwriting, 13;

when and how reported, 13-15;

approved by New England, 15;

conservative, 15;

not ratified by people, 15;

amended, 1801, 115;

new one adopted, 1821, 299-310;

broadened suffrage, 299-302;

popularised the judiciary, 302-6;

elective officers, 307-10;

changes made, 311;

ratified, 311;

new one adopted, 1846, ii. 103-13;

known as People's Constitution, 113.

Constitutional Amendments ratified, 1874, iii. 320, note.

Constitutional convention, first one, i. 5-14;

men composing it, 5;

assembles at Kingston, 1777, 5;

delegates elected by people, 5;

recess, 6;

reassembles, 6;

Jay drafts constitution, 6;

number of members, 13;

leader of radicals, 13;

hasty adjournment of, 14.

Second one, i. 115-6;

assembles at Albany, 1801, 115;

purpose of, 115;

Burr its president, 115.

Third one, i. 298-311;

assembles, 1821, 298;

distinguished delegates, 298;

Bucktail body, 298;

Tompkins its president, 299;

Van Buren its leader, 298;

reforms demanded, 299-310;

freehold suffrage, 299-302;

compromise suffrage, 299-302;

negro suffrage, 299-300;

suffrage to elect state senators, 300-1;

suffrage settled, 301;

Van Buren, speech of, 302;

sentiment against old judges, 302;

bitter words, 303;

Van Buren a peacemaker, 304;

former judges finally abolished, 306;

what con. substituted, 305;

justices of peace, 308-10;

constitution ratified, 311;

summary of changes made, 311.

Fourth one, ii. 103-13;

assembles, 103;

prominent delegates, 103-4;

absence of Seward, 104-5;

Greeley failed of election, 105;

popular sovereignty in, 105-6;

limited power of property, 107;

rights of negro, 107;

state indebtedness, 107-9;

elective judiciary, 109-12;

established Court of Appeals, 111;

ratified, 113.

Constitutional convention, 1867, iii. 184;

negro suffrage, 185;

recesses until after election, 185;

result submitted by legislature of 1869, 227;

unrestricted negro suffrage, 227;

defeated, 227.

Constitutional Union convention, The, 1863, iii. 79;

its platform, 79, note.

Constitutional Union party, organised, 1860, ii. 326;

Bell and Everett, 326;

platform of, 326;

fuses with Softs, 326;

scheme assailed, 327;

composition of, iii. 37;

opposes emancipation, 37;

its con., 1862, 37;

nominated Seymour for gov., 38.

Cook, Bates, state comp., ii. 36.

Cook, James M., nominated comp. of state, ii. 188;

ambitious to be gov., 1858, 247;

favours postponing Rep. nat. con., 1864, iii. 88.

Cooper, Edward, figures in cipher dispatches, iii. 351;

asked for money by Pelton, 351;

informs Tilden, 351;

nominated for mayor of N.Y., 393-4;

elected, 397;

strengthened by gov.'s appointments, 418.

Cooper, Peter, candidate for President, 1876, iii. 389.

Copeland, William, aids in exposure of Tweed ring, iii. 246.

"Copperheads," epithet first used, iii. 58, and note.

Cornell, Alonzo B., nom. for lt.-gov., 1868, iii. 196;

defeated, 215;

evidences of fraud in election, 215-8;

career and character, 251-2;

head of Rep. state organisation, 251;

efforts to crush Fenton-Greeley machine, 1871, 250-64;

bold ruling, 259;

defeated for nomination for gov. and lt.-gov., 1876, 337-8;

bitter feeling, 339;

his successor as naval officer appointed, 1877, 399;

confirmation defeated, 404-5;

President suspends him, 1878, 406;

reason for, 406;

successor confirmed, 409;

nominated for gov., 1879, 416;

alleged alliance with Kelly, 425;

reasons for the story, 426;

aided by Secretary Sherman, 427;

Sherman's excuse, 427, note;

elected, 427;

ran behind the ticket, 427;

did not attend Rep. nat. con., 1880, 465;

zenith of power, 465;

relations to Stalwart leaders, 465;

supports Platt for Senate, 1881, 465;

asks Garfield to withdraw Robertson's appointment, 472;

strained relations with Conkling, 478-9;

refused to become cand. against him, 479;

adm. as gov. approved by state con., 1881, 485;

cand. for renomination, 1882, 492;

opposed by Arthur, Conkling, and Jay Gould, 493;

coercion and fraud practiced, 493-4;

his defeat, 494.

Cornell, Oliver H.P., nominated for eng., 1874, iii. 325;

defeated, 331.

Corning, Erastus, at Charleston con., ii. 272;

at peace congress, 350.

Cand. for Senate, 1863, iii. 55;

character of, 56;

offices held, 56;

opposes Vallandigham's arrest, 65;

Lincoln's letter to, 66;

opposes Tilden, 1876, 342;

aspires to be gov., 1882, 488;

defeated, 489.

Cornwall, George J., nominated for lt.-gov., 1850, ii. 154.

Cotton Whigs, followers of Fillmore, ii. 165;

favourable to South, 165.

Council of Appointment, suggested by Adams, i. 8;

how elected, 11;

proposed by Jay, 11;

account of, 11, note;

bungling compromise, 12;

a political machine, 61;

Jay's interpretation of, 62;

offices controlled by, 62;

Clinton controls it, 107;

modified, 1801, 115-6;

reduced gov. to a figurehead, 119;

abolished, 1821, 311.

Council of Revision, created by first Constitution, i. 10;

membership of, 10;

failure to act, 10;

model for, 10.

Council of Safety, appointed by first constitutional con., i. 16;

orders election of gov., 17.

County Democracy, organisation of, iii. 483;

delegates admitted to Dem. state con., 1881, 484;

ticket elected, 486;

sagacity in Dem. state con., 1882, 490;

ostensibly for Campbell, 490;

solid for Cleveland, 491;

unites with Tam. on local ticket, 498;

elects city and state officials, 498.

Court of Appeals, established, 1846, ii. 111.

Court of Errors and Impeachment, created by first Constitution, i. 12;

composed of, 12;

model for, 12.

Court, Supreme, judges of, i. 12;

members of Council of Revision, 10;

how created, 12.

Cox, Jacob D., leaves Grant's cabinet, iii. 279-80;

joins Lib. Reps., 283;

opposes Greeley, 283.

Cox, Samuel S., removes from Ohio to New York, iii. 288, note;

elected to Congress, 288;

criticised by Greeley, 288;

attends Dem. nat. con., 1872, 287;

favours Greeley's nomination, 288.

Crane, William C., defeated for speaker, ii. 90;

contest over constitutional con., 97-9.

Crary, John, nominated for lt.-gov., 1828, i. 363;

unfaithful, 363-4;

defeated, 368.

Crawford, William H., favoured for President, 1816, i. 237;

character of, 237.

Crittenden Compromise, similar to Weed's, ii. 340;

not new to Congress, 341;

Greeley on, 341;

Dix on, 341;

Senate Committee of Thirteen, 341-2;

Republicans opposed it, 342;

its failure led to civil war, 342;

Lincoln opposed, 344;

majority of voters favour, 347;

petitions for, 349.

Crittenden, John J., author of compromise, ii. 340;

like Weed's, 340;

Nestor of U.S. Senate, 340;

weeps when Seward speaks, 378.

Croker, Richard, attaché of Connolly's office, iii. 318;

Kelly makes him marshal, 318.

Croswell, Edwin, editor _Argus_, i. 294;

lieutenant of Van Buren, 345;

opens the way for Jackson, 357;

gifts and career of, 374; ii. 56-7;

met Weed in boyhood, i. 374;

rival editors estranged, 375;

seeks Weed's aid in trouble, 375;

associates of, ii. 1;

reappointed state printer, 56-7;

ability and leadership, 58-9;

after Van Buren's defeat, 74, 83;

slippery-elm editor, 84;

supports Seymour for speaker, 91;

defeats Young, 92;

election of U.S. senators, 93;

shrewd tactics, 94-5;

part in Wright's defeat, 123;

retires from active life, 134.

Crowley, Richard, made U.S. atty., iii. 252, note;

member of Conkling machine, 252;

cand. for U.S. Senate, 1881, 465;

Stalwart leaders divide, 465;

fitness for position, 466;

handicapped by his supporters, 466;

defeated in caucus, 468.

Crowley, Rodney R., nominated for prison insp., 1874, iii. 326;

elected, 331.

Curtis, Edward, elected to Congress, ii. 16.

Curtis, George William, in campaign, 1856, ii. 240;

early career of, 240;

refined rhetoric, 240;

on Kansas struggle, 241;

at Chicago con., 282;

eloquence of, 282.

Reasons for Rep. defeat, 1862, iii. 52;

campaign of 1864, 121;

aspires to U.S. Senate, 1867, 166;

not an active cand., 169;

rejects a combination, 169;

nominated for sec. of state, 1869, 225;

withdraws from ticket, 225;

ch'm. of Rep. state con., 1870, 236;

name presented for gov., 1870, 238;

defeated, 238;

on civil service reform, 306;

praises Tilden, 310;

ch'm. Rep. state con., 1875, 324;

opposes Conkling for President, 1876, 332-3;

also Cornell for gov. and lt.-gov., 1876, 338;

at Rep. state con., 1877, 366;

insists on Hayes' endorsement, 366;

character and early career, 366;

offered choice of foreign missions, 366;

defence of President, 1877, 368;

criticism of Conkling, 368-70;

Curtis and Conkling contrasted, 370;

Conkling's attack upon, 371-4;

his opinion of, 376;

at Rep. state con., 1878, 391;

at peace with Conkling, 391;

votes against Cornell, 1879, 416;

called a "scratcher," 424;

sharp retort, 425;

answers Conkling's speech, 1880, 434;

opposed uniting with Stalwarts, 1881, 467;

stigmatises method of Folger's nomination for gov., 1882, 495;

resigns editorship of _Harper's Weekly_, 495, note;

mistake disavowed by publishers, 495, note.

Curtis, Newton M., at Rep. state con., 1880, iii. 434;

views as to independence of delegates, 434;

supports instructions of state con., 434.

Curtis, William E., activity in reform, 1871, iii. 268;

at Dem. state con., 1871, 272.

Cutting, Francis B., attends Saratoga con., 1866, iii. 144.

Cuyler, Theodore L., on Cornell's defeat for renomination, 1882, iii. 495.

Danforth, George F., nominated for atty.-gen., 1874, iii. 325;

defeated, 331;

nominated for judge Court of Appeals, 1876, 339;

defeated, 350;

renominated, 1878, 392;

elected, 397.

Davenport, Ira, supports Rogers for U.S. Senate, 1881, iii. 466;

nominated for state comp., 1881, 485;

elected, 486.

Davis, David, Lincoln's manager at Chicago con., ii. 288;

on Vallandigham's arrest, iii. 66;

favoured for President, 1872, iii. 282;

defeated, 286;

elected U.S. senator, 1881, 356;

fails to go upon Electoral Com., 356;

blow to the Dems., 356.

Davis, Jefferson, sharp controversy with Douglas, ii. 279-80;

reasons for secession, 375-6;

conditions on which he would accept peace, 1864, iii. 102-3.

Davis, Matthew L., urged for appointment by Burr, i. 121;

literary executor of Burr, 145;

leader of the Burrites, 152;

bitter opponent of DeWitt Clinton, 181.

Davis, Noah, cand. for U.S. Senate, 1867, iii. 166;

character and ability, 166;

Fenton not helpful, 171;

defeated by Conkling, 171.

Dawson, George, Albany _Journal_, a leading Rep. editor, iii. 414.

Dayton, Jonathan, member Council of Appointment, i. 231.

Dayton, William L., nominated for Vice-President, ii. 229.

Dearborn, Henry, in command on Canadian border, i. 221;

career and character of, 221;

plan of campaign, 221;

failure of, 222;

offers to resign, 222;

further failures, 223;

retires, 223.

De Lamatyr, Gilbert, nominated for prison inspector, 1867, iii. 174;

defeated, 188.

Delegate conventions, beginning of, i. 250;

prototype of modern con., 327, 331.

Democratic national conventions, Chicago, 1864, iii. 107-9;

New York City, 1868, 196-201;

Baltimore, 1872, 287-90;

St. Louis, 1876, 342;

Cincinnati, 1880, 455-9.

Democratic party, organised by Van Buren, i. 349, 350, 365;

its first national con., 391;

opposes U.S. Bank, 393;

triumph of, 396;

sweeps state, 1834, 404.

Again in 1836, ii. 13-14;

first defeat, 29;

defeat, 1840, 45;

recovers state, 1841, 47;

divided into Radicals and Conservatives, 52, 126;

leaders of, 53, 126;

Radicals called Barnburners, 126;

Conservatives called Hunkers, 126;

Seymour unites two factions, 149;

nominated Seymour for gov., 1850, 156;

defeated, 158;

united, 1852, 169-78;

carried state, 178;

again splits into Hunkers and Barnburners, 180-5;

factions called Hards and Softs, 185;

defeated by split, 189;

split continued by repeal of Missouri Compromise, 195;

united again, 232;

Wood captures state con., 257;

Hards yield to Softs, 258;

indorses Buchanan and popular sovereignty, 258.

Democratic peace convention, ii. 354-8;

met at Albany, 354;

Greeley on, 354;

utterances of Seymour, Parker, Clinton, and others, 355-8.

Democratic state conventions, 1861, Syracuse, iii. 16;

1862, Albany, 38;

1863, Albany, 79;

1864, Albany, 101, 117;

1865, Albany, 128;

1866, Albany, 155;

1867, Albany, 178;

1868, Albany, 205;

1869, Syracuse, 226;

1870, Rochester, 230;

1871, Rochester, 269;

1872, Syracuse, 296;

1873, Utica, 308;

1874, Syracuse, 313;

1875, Syracuse, 325-6;

1876, Saratoga, 345-6;

1877, Albany, 378-84;

1878, Syracuse, 392-3;

1879, Syracuse, 418-24;

1880, Syracuse, 449-50;

also Saratoga, 460;

1881, Albany, 484-5;

1882, Syracuse, 487-91.

Denio, Hiram, nominated for Court of Appeals, ii. 184;

character of, 184;

elected, 189.

Dennison, Robert, report on canal, ii. 60-1.

Depew, Chauncey M., nominated for speaker of Assembly, 1863, iii. 53;

withdrawn, 54;

nominated for sec. of state, 1863, 75;

character of, 75;

elected, 83;

beaten for ch'm. of Rep. state con., 1864, 91;

places Greeley in nomination for gov., 1868, 195;

at Rep. state con., 1871, 258-9;

president Lib. Rep. state con., 1872, 296;

nominated for lt.-gov., 297;

defeated, 302;

cand. for U.S. Senate, 1881, 466;

at Blaine's request, 466, note;

choice of majority of Half-breeds, 466;

throws his votes to Platt, 468;

Platt's promise, 468 and note;

sees President about Robertson's appointment, 1881, 473;

cand. for U.S. Senate in Platt's place, 479, 480;

withdraws, 480;

president Rep. state con., 1881, 485.

DeWitt, Simeon, surveys route for canal, i. 242;

estimated cost, 242;

long career as surveyor-general, 321.

Dickinson, Andrew B., career of, ii. 399, note;

appointed by Seward, 399;

reasons for, 400;

criticised by Greeley, 401;

gratitude to Seward, 401, note.

Dickinson, Daniel S., leading Conservative, ii. 53;

ability of, 53;

nominated for lt.-gov., 1840, 54;

defeated, 54;

at Baltimore con., 72;

declined renomination for lt.-gov., 78;

elected to U.S. Senate, 93;

approves compromise of 1850, 152;

wishes to be President, 1852, 169-72;

opposes Seymour's candidacy for gov., 172-3;

afterward supports him, 177;

indorsed by Hunkers, 1853, 183;

ambitious to be President, 1860, 256;

called "Scripture Dick," 257;

character of, 257;

yields to the Softs, 258;

at Charleston con., 276 and note, 278;

attacks Richmond, 302-3;

record as to slavery, 303-4 and note;

hallucination, 304;

speech at state con. of Hards, 324-5;

opposes fusion with Softs, 331.

Sympathy with the South, iii. 4;

speech at Pine street meeting, 4;

patriotic speech at Union Square meeting, 5;

criticised by Southern press, 10;

entertaining speaker, 22;

nominated for atty.-gen., 1861, 23;

elected, 29;

in campaign, 1862, 49;

cand. for U.S. Senate, 1863, 54;

delegate-at-large to Rep. nat. con., 1864, 92;

ambitious to be Vice-President, 94;

opposed by Conservatives, 94;

prefers another to Lincoln for President, 104 and note;

falls into line, 122.

Dillingham, William H., classmate of Talcott, i. 290;

on Talcott's eloquence, 290.

Diven, Alexander S., delegate to People's Union con., 1861, iii. 22;

colonel 107th N.Y. regiment, 22.

Dix, John A., member of Albany Regency, i. 294.

Sec. of state, ii. 1;

early career of, 2;

in war of 1812, 2;

resigns from army, 2;

gifts of, 2;

writes for _Argus_, 2;

his books, 3;

where educated, 3;

compared with Butler, 3;

superintendent of schools, 4;

elected to U.S. Senate, 93;

a Barnburner, 132;

nominated for gov., 1848, 133, 139;

regret of, 133, note;

defeated, 144;

Seward succeeds him in U.S. Senate, 145;

supports Pierce, 1852, 177, 178, note;

Pierce offers him secretaryship of state, 181, 352;

substitutes it for mission to France, 182, 352;

beaten by intrigue, 182, note;

favoured Crittenden Compromise, 341;

postmaster at New York City, 352;

secretary of treasury, 352-3, note;

historic despatch, 352;

favoured peaceable secession, 353;

resided at White House, 354.

Sympathy with the South, iii. 4;

acts as agent of President, 7;

commissioned major-general, 8;

criticised by Southern press, 10;

suggested for gov., 1862, 37, 49;

one vote for U.S. Senate, 1863, 56, note;

suggested for gov., 1864, 116;

ch'm. Philadelphia con., 1866, 144;

defeated for nomination for gov., 159;

nominated for gov., 1872, 293;

tortuous political course, 294;

Seymour's criticism, 295;

Weed's confidence in, 295;

renominated for gov., 1874, 315;

Seymour charges nepotism, 316;

apathetic managers, 317;

defeated, 319;

nominated for mayor of New York, 1876, 346;

defeated, 350.

Dodge, William E., at peace congress, ii. 350;

delivers peace petition, 381.

Dorn, Robert C., nominated for canal com., 1865, iii. 130;

elected, 135.

Dorsheimer, Philip, on Softs' con., 1854, ii. 198.

Dorsheimer, William, delegate to Lib. Rep. state con., 1872, iii. 296;

nominated for lt.-gov., 313;

character and ability, 314;

Tilden's spokesman at Dem. nat. con., 1876, 342;

cand. for gov., 1876, 345;

renominated for lt.-gov., 346;

cand. for U.S. Senate, 1879, 397;

at Dem. state con., 1879, 421;

begs delegates to reject Robinson, 421;

announces Tarn, will bolt, 422;

ch'm. of Kelly's con., 1879, 424;

nominates Kelly for gov., 424;

ch'm. of Kelly's state con., 1880, 451;

named as del.-at-large to nat. con., 452;

delegation rejected, 458.

Douglas-Bell-Breckenridge fusion, ii. 331;

aided by money, 331-2.

Douglas, Stephen A., denounces Kansas immigrants, ii. 224;

Harriet Beecher Stowe on, 224;

breaks with Buchanan, 246;

Greeley favours him for U.S. senator, 247;

suggested by Republicans for President, 247;

sharp controversy with Davis, 279-80;

nominated for President, 301;

fusion of, 331;

defeated, 333;

criticised by Southern press, iii. 10.

Douglass, Frederick, nominated for sec. of state, ii. 216;

career and character of, 216;

nominated to head Rep. electoral ticket, 1872, iii. 296, note;

elected, 302.

Dowd, William, nominated for mayor of N.Y., 1880, iii. 462;

bitter contest, 462;

supported by Irving Hall, 462;

defeated, 463.

Draper, Simeon, unavailable to stand for gov., ii. 247;

urges Lincoln's renomination, iii. 88;

becomes collector of customs, 1864, 97;

successor appointed, 1865, 131.

Duane, James, in first constitutional con., i. 5;

in Poughkeepsie con., 33;

campaign of 1789, 42;

character and career, 42;

appointed U.S. judge, 44.

Dudley, Charles E., member of Albany Regency, i. 294;

in U.S. Senate, 383;

character of, 383.

Duer, William, in campaign, 1789, i. 42;

career and character of, 42;

in campaign, 1792, 54.

Duer, William A., son of William, i. 42, note

Duer, William A., son of William A., friend of President Fillmore, ii. 155.

Dusenberre, George H., nominated for gov., 1875, iii. 326;

defeated, 331.

Earl, Robert, nominated for judge of Court of Appeals, 1869, iii. 226;

elected, 227;

renominated, 1876, 346;

elected, 350.

Editors, leading Democratic, 1865-80, iii. 420.

Editors, leading Republican, 1880, iii. 413-4.

Edson, Franklin, nominated for mayor of N.Y., 1882, iii. 498;

elected, 498.

Election frauds, 1866, iii. 175;

sudden increase in naturalization, 1866, 175;

state carried by fraud, 1868, 215-8;

practised in 1867, 187-8;

in 1870, 242.

Election of U.S. senators, influence of money, iii. 221;

Conkling's testimony, 170.

Electoral Commission, iii. 352;

preceded by civil war spirit, 351-2;

rule insisted upon by two parties, 352;

com. made up, 353;

bill passed by Dem. votes, 355.

Ellicott, Joseph, resigns as canal commissioner, i. 261.

Elmendorff, Lucas, removed Clinton from mayoralty, i. 231.

Ely, Alfred, in Congress, ii. 339, note;

disapproves Weed's compromise, 339, note.

Ely, Smith, nominated for mayor of N.Y., 1876, iii. 346;

elected, 350.

Emancipation, opposition to, iii. 17, 18, 34, 37, 76.

Embargo, ordered by Jefferson, i. 163;

opposed by the Clintons, 165, 168, 171;

by Van Vechten and Cady, 169;

defended by German and Sanford, 170-1, 174;

repeal of, 179.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo, influence of attack on Fort Sumter, iii. 3.

Emmet, Robert, son of Thomas Addis Emmet, i. 357;

sent to Assembly 1827, 357;

ch'm. Rep. nat. con., 1856, ii. 232;

on Seward, 232.

Emmet, Thomas Addis, brother of Robert Emmet, i. 183;

his coming to America, 183-4;

attorney-general, 213;

removed, 213;

request in Clinton's behalf, 221;

resents Clinton's removal as canal commissioner, 329.

England, cause of trouble with America, i. 2.

English, William H., nominated for Vice President, 1880, iii. 457;

defeated, 463.

Equal Rights party, history of, ii. 16.

Erie canal, early views and surveys of, i. 241-3;

discouragements, 242;

no help from Congress, 243;

Tompkins does not favour, 246;

opposed by Tammany, 251;

supported by Van Buren, 251;

bill passed, 251;

sentiment in its favour, 252;

work on, began, 252;

its progress, 253;

Tammany's opposition silenced, 261-2;

opened between Utica and Rome, 327;

Utica and Montezuma, 327;

opening of in 1825, 345.

Seward on, ii. 34-5-6;

cost of, 1862, 36;

policy of enlargement, 49-50;

Dems. divided, 52;

stop and tax law of 1842, 54;

estimated and actual cost of, 60;

Seymour's prophecy, 63-4;

how affected by constitution of 1846, 107-9;

nine million loan unconstitutional, 163;

constitution amended, 183;

loan of ten and one-half millions, 183-4;

boast of Whigs, 188.