Chapter 50

[635]Among them were Augustus Schell of New York, Francis Kernan of Oneida, Allen C. Beach of Jefferson, then lieutenant-governor, Homer A. Nelson of Dutchess, formerly secretary of state, and Lucius Robinson of Chemung, the distinguished comptroller.

[636]September 6, 1872.

[637]Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 1, p. 226.

[638]The first ballot resulted as follows: Kernan, 42½; Beach, 32; Schell, 24½; Nelson, 10; Church, 11; Robinson, 6; necessary to a choice, 64.The ticket nominated by the two conventions was as follows: Governor, Francis Kernan of Oneida, Democrat; Lieutenant-Governor, Chauncey M. Depew of Westchester, Liberal; Canal Commissioner, John Hubbard of Chenango, Democrat; Prison Inspector, Enos C. Brooks of Cattaraugus, Liberal; 1 Congressman-at-large, Samuel S. Cox of New York, Democrat.

[638]The first ballot resulted as follows: Kernan, 42½; Beach, 32; Schell, 24½; Nelson, 10; Church, 11; Robinson, 6; necessary to a choice, 64.

The ticket nominated by the two conventions was as follows: Governor, Francis Kernan of Oneida, Democrat; Lieutenant-Governor, Chauncey M. Depew of Westchester, Liberal; Canal Commissioner, John Hubbard of Chenango, Democrat; Prison Inspector, Enos C. Brooks of Cattaraugus, Liberal; 1 Congressman-at-large, Samuel S. Cox of New York, Democrat.

[639]New YorkTribune, September 6, 1872.

[640]Attorney-General Champlain had publicly announced his purpose to authorise O'Conor to bring such suits before the Committee of Seventy had had its interview with the Governor.—Tilden'sPublic Writings and Speeches, Vol. 1, p. 590.

[641]James F. Rhodes,History of the United States, Vol. 6, p. 401, note.

[642]Elected in 1844 and 1847. Declined a renomination in 1849.

[643]New YorkTribune, September 5, 1872.

[644]Ibid., May 22, 1872.

[645]Twenty Years in Congress, Vol. 2, p. 534.

[646]"We asked our contemporary [World] to state frankly whether the pugilists, blacklegs, thieves, burglars, keepers of dens of prostitution, etc., etc., who make up so large a share of our city's inhabitants, were not almost unanimously Democrats."—Tribune, January 4, 1868."So every one who chooses to live by pugilism, or gambling, or harlotry, with nearly every keeper of a tippling house, is politically a Democrat.... A purely selfish interest attaches the lewd, ruffianly, criminal and dangerous class to the Democratic party by the instinct of self-preservation."—Ibid., January 7. Conkling quoted these extracts in his Cooper Institute speech of July 23.—New YorkTimes, July 24, 1872.

"So every one who chooses to live by pugilism, or gambling, or harlotry, with nearly every keeper of a tippling house, is politically a Democrat.... A purely selfish interest attaches the lewd, ruffianly, criminal and dangerous class to the Democratic party by the instinct of self-preservation."—Ibid., January 7. Conkling quoted these extracts in his Cooper Institute speech of July 23.—New YorkTimes, July 24, 1872.

[647]New YorkTribune, SyracuseHerald, and WatertownTimes.

[648]New YorkTribune, August 22.

[649]New YorkTimes, July 24. "The longest and greatest campaign speech of his life."—Alfred R. Conkling,Life of Conkling, p. 436.

[650]Hollister'sLife of Colfax, p. 387, note.

[651]The same article enumerates some of the charges published against him: "In Washington he was a briber. In Albany he was the head of the lobby. In New York he was a partner in the Ring frauds. He defended the rascalities of Tweed. He sold the influence of his paper to Tammany Hall. He intrigued to restore the thieves to power. He was involved in schemes for robbing the national treasury. He was plotting the payment of the Confederate debt. He had promised pensions to Rebel soldiers. He was an original Secessionist. He was once a slave-trader in Memphis. He was the friend of the Ku-Klux and ballot-box stuffers.... Dix blamed him for expressing ten or twelve years ago sentiments identical with those of Dix himself."—New YorkTribune, November 22, 1872.

[652]Messages and Papers of the Presidents, Richardson, Vol. 7, p. 223.

[653]After the North Carolina election would-be Liberals rejoined the Republican party in great numbers.

[654]Grant, 440,759; Greeley, 387,279; majority, 53,480. Dix, 447,801; Kernan, 392,350; majority, 55,451. Robinson, 442,297; Depew, 397,754; majority, 44,543. Tremaine, 438,456; Cox, 400,697; majority, 37,759.

[655]Havermeyer, 53,806; Lawrence, 45,398; O'Brien, 31,121.

[656]Seymour (1868), 429,883. Greeley (1872), 387,279. Kernan (1872), 392,350. Cox (1872), 400,697.

[657]George W. Julian,Political Recollections, p. 348.

[658]He died November 29, 1872.

[659]"In the darkest hour my suffering wife left me, none too soon for she had suffered too deeply and too long. I laid her in the ground with hard dry eyes. Well, I am used up. I cannot see before me. I have slept little for weeks and my eyes are still hard to close, while they soon open again." Letter to his friend, Mason W. Tappan of New Hampshire.—Hollister'sLife of Colfax, p. 387, note.

[660]New YorkTribune, December 5, 1872.

[661]Cornell resigned as surveyor of the port and was elected to the Assembly.

[662]The Democrats voted for Charles Wheaton of Dutchess, distinguished locally as a county judge.

[663]Alfred R. Conkling,Life of Conkling, p. 451.

[664]Report of Civil Service Commission, 1871, p. 18.

[665]Conkling,Life of Conkling, p. 656.

[666]"He who does a thing by the agency of another, does it himself."

[667]TheNation, December 4, 1873.

[668]Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 1, p. 245.

[669]This letter, dated September 14, 1874, is published in nearly all the State papers of September 18. It is given in full in the New YorkHeraldandTimes.Sanford E. Church, in a published interview, charged that the story of his connection with the ring originated with Barlow.—New YorkTribune, April 2, 1875.

[669]This letter, dated September 14, 1874, is published in nearly all the State papers of September 18. It is given in full in the New YorkHeraldandTimes.

Sanford E. Church, in a published interview, charged that the story of his connection with the ring originated with Barlow.—New YorkTribune, April 2, 1875.

[670]The ticket presented was as follows: Secretary of State, Francis S. Thayer, Rensselaer; Comptroller, Nelson K. Hopkins, Erie; Treasurer, Daniel G. Fort, Oswego; Attorney-General, Benj. D. Silliman, Kings; Canal Commissioner, Sidney Mead, Cayuga; State Engineer, William B. Taylor, Oneida; Prison Inspector, Moss K. Platt, Essex.

[671]The following ticket was nominated: Secretary of State, Diedrich Willers, Seneca; Comptroller, Asher P. Nichols, Erie; Treasurer, Thomas Raines, Monroe; Attorney-General, Daniel Pratt, Onondaga; Canal Commissioner, James Jackson, Niagara; State Engineer, Sylvanus H. Sweet, Albany; Prison Inspector, George W. Mellspaugh, Orange.

[672]James Brooks was the only New York congressman implicated. The committee, finding him guilty of corruption as a member of the House and as a government director of the Union Pacific Railroad, recommended his expulsion, but on February 27, 1873, the House, by a vote of 174 to 32 (34 not voting) changed the sentence to one of censure. Brooks died on April 30 following.

[673]Harper's Weekly, September 10, 1874.

[674]July 24.

[675]September 18.

[676]New YorkHerald, September 7, 1874. See also BuffaloCourier, September 14.

[677]Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 1, pp. 221-222.

[678]For copy of this statement see New YorkWorld, September 10, 1874.

[679]BuffaloCourier, September 11; New YorkHerald, September 9.

[680]New YorkWorld, September 10, 1874.

[681]Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 1, p. 226. See also theNation, September 10, 1874.

[682]September 11. Reprinted from the RochesterUnionof September 4.

[683]September 16 and 17, at Syracuse.

[684]New YorkWorld, September 17.

[685]Tilden, 252; Parker, 126; Robinson, 6.

[686]William Dorsheimer, 193; Weed, 155; Stephen T. Hoyt of Allegany (Liberal), 34; Edward F. Jones of Broome (Liberal), 15.

[687]He was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York on March 28, 1867. His successor's commission was dated March 23, 1871.—State Department Records.The ticket nominated was as follows: Governor, Samuel J. Tilden, New York; Lieutenant-Governor, William Dorsheimer, Erie; Court of Appeals, Theodore Miller, Columbia; Canal Commissioner, Adin Thayer, Rensselaer; Prison Inspector, George Wagner, Yates.

[687]He was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York on March 28, 1867. His successor's commission was dated March 23, 1871.—State Department Records.

The ticket nominated was as follows: Governor, Samuel J. Tilden, New York; Lieutenant-Governor, William Dorsheimer, Erie; Court of Appeals, Theodore Miller, Columbia; Canal Commissioner, Adin Thayer, Rensselaer; Prison Inspector, George Wagner, Yates.

[688]"Wickham has no conception beyond making a pleasant thing for himself and our friends out of the seat which he occupies." Letter of Charles O'Conor.—Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 1, p. 245.

[689]Myers,History of Tammany Hall, p. 307.

[690]The convention met at Utica on September 23. The ticket was as follows: Governor, John A. Dix, New York; Lieutenant-Governor, John C. Robinson, Broome; Court of Appeals, Alexander S. Johnson, Oneida; Canal Commissioner, Reuben W. Stroud, Onondaga; Prison Inspector, Ezra Graves, Herkimer.

[691]On June 23 the friends of total abstinence, resenting Dix's veto of a local option measure passed by the Legislature of 1873, assembled at Auburn, approved the organisation of a Prohibition party, and nominated a State ticket with Myron H. Clark for governor. About 350 delegates from twenty-five counties were present.

[692]Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 1, p. 233.

[693]Morgan A. Dix,Life of Dix, Vol. 2, pp. 128, 149.

[694]Morgan A. Dix,Life of Dix, Vol. 2, pp. 195-196.

[695]October 30, 1874.

[696]New YorkHerald, July 7, 1873.

[697]TheNation, October 29, 1874.

[698]April 16, 1874.

[699]Until then Croker had been an attaché of Connolly's office.

[700]"No law authorised Kelly to include convictions in the Police Courts, yet he did include them, thereby robbing the city of over thirty thousand dollars. He charged, at one time, double the rates for conveying prisoners to and from the Island; at another, 133 per cent. more. He charged for 11,000 vagrants committed to the work-house, a clear fraud upon the treasury."—New YorkTimes, October 20, 1875.

[701]New York papers of September 18, 1874.

[702]New YorkWorld, September 10, 1874.

[703]In 1872 Dix had 55,451.

[704]Tilden, 416,391; Dix, 366,074; Clark, 11,768; Dorsheimer, 416,714; Robinson, 365,226; Bagg, 11,310.New York City: Tilden, 87,623; Dix, 44,871; Clark, 160; Wickham, 70,071; Wales, 36,953; Ottendorfer, 24,226. Legislature: Assembly, Democrats, 75; Republicans, 53. Senate, Democrats, 12; Republicans, 18; Independents, 2. The Senators were elected in 1873.

[704]Tilden, 416,391; Dix, 366,074; Clark, 11,768; Dorsheimer, 416,714; Robinson, 365,226; Bagg, 11,310.

New York City: Tilden, 87,623; Dix, 44,871; Clark, 160; Wickham, 70,071; Wales, 36,953; Ottendorfer, 24,226. Legislature: Assembly, Democrats, 75; Republicans, 53. Senate, Democrats, 12; Republicans, 18; Independents, 2. The Senators were elected in 1873.

[705]New YorkTimes, November 4, 1874.Eleven amendments to the Constitution were ratified at this election. Those relating to political matters required thirty days' residence in an election district; abolished property qualification, thus removing all distinction between white and coloured voters; fixed the pay of legislators at $1500 per year, without limiting the length of a session; changed the terms of governor and lieutenant-governor from two to three years, with salaries of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively; required two-thirds of all the members elected to each house to override the governor's veto; authorised the veto of individual items in an appropriation act; and prohibited extra compensation being paid to a canal contractor.

[705]New YorkTimes, November 4, 1874.

Eleven amendments to the Constitution were ratified at this election. Those relating to political matters required thirty days' residence in an election district; abolished property qualification, thus removing all distinction between white and coloured voters; fixed the pay of legislators at $1500 per year, without limiting the length of a session; changed the terms of governor and lieutenant-governor from two to three years, with salaries of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively; required two-thirds of all the members elected to each house to override the governor's veto; authorised the veto of individual items in an appropriation act; and prohibited extra compensation being paid to a canal contractor.

[706]The Republicans voted for ex-Governor Edwin D. Morgan, the vote standing: Kernan, 87; Morgan, 68; Hoffman, 1.

[707]Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 1, p. 285.

[708]The Governor plainly illustrated this device. The engineer having estimated the amount of work and materials, the bidders added their prices.A bid as follows:100 cubic yards of vertical wall, at $3$300.003,855 cubic yards of slope wall, at $1.505,782.502,400 feet B.M. white oak, at $50120.0060,000 feet B.M. hemlock, at $15900.00Total estimate of A$7,102.50B bid as follows:100 cubic yards of vertical wall, at $6$600.003,855 cubic yards of slope wall, at 30 cents1,156.502,400 feet B.M. white oak, at $70168.0060,000 feet B.M. hemlock, at $3180.00Total estimate of B$2,104.50B was given the contract as the lowest bidder, after which the work was changed as follows:3,955 cubic yards of vertical wall, at $6$23,730.0062,400 feet B.M. white oak, at $704,368.00Actually paid B by the State$28,098.00On ten of these contracts, originally amounting to $424,735.90 the State paid $1,560,769.84.—Tilden'sPublic Writings and Speeches, Vol. 2, pp. 106-108.

[708]The Governor plainly illustrated this device. The engineer having estimated the amount of work and materials, the bidders added their prices.

A bid as follows:

B bid as follows:

B was given the contract as the lowest bidder, after which the work was changed as follows:

On ten of these contracts, originally amounting to $424,735.90 the State paid $1,560,769.84.—Tilden'sPublic Writings and Speeches, Vol. 2, pp. 106-108.

[709]This commission was composed of John Bigelow, Daniel Magone of Ogdensburg, Alexander E. Orr of Brooklyn, and John D. Van Buren of New York.

[710]Indictments were found against the son of a State senator, a member of the board of canal appraisers, an ex-canal commissioner, two ex-superintendents of canals and one division engineer, besides numerous subordinates and contractors.—See Bigelow'sLife of Tilden, pp. 262-263; for names of the parties, see Appleton'sCyclopædia, 1875, p. 558.

[711]Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 2, p. 263.

[712]Harper's Weekly, August 28, 1875.

[713]Held at Saratoga on September 8, 1875.

[714]Appleton'sCyclopædia, 1875, p. 560.

[715]The ticket was as follows: Secretary of State, Frederick W. Seward, New York; Comptroller, Francis E. Spinner, Herkimer; Treasurer, Edwin A. Merritt, St. Lawrence; Attorney-General, George F. Danforth, Monroe; Engineer, Oliver H.P. Cornell, Tompkins; Canal Commissioner, William F. Tinsley, Wayne; Prison Inspector, Benoni J. Ives, Cayuga.

[716]After James Hayes' defeat for register in 1874, Kelly deprived Morrissey of his district leadership because he stirred up disaffection among the working men and sowed seeds of disloyalty. In their contest the Morrissey and Kelly factions were known as "Swallow-tails" and "Short-hairs," Morrissey, to rebuke Wickham's custom of requiring cards of callers in advance of admission to his office, having called upon the Mayor during business hours in evening dress, with white kids and patent-leather pumps.

[717]The ticket was as follows: Secretary of State, John Bigelow, Ulster; Comptroller, Lucius Robinson, Chemung; Attorney-General, Charles S. Fairchild, New York; Treasurer, Charles N. Ross, Cayuga; Engineer, John D. Van Buren, New York; Canal Commissioner, Christopher A. Walruth, Oneida; Prison Inspector, Rodney R. Crowley, Cattaraugus.On September 22 the Liberals met at Albany. They eulogised Tilden by name, favored the Greeley doctrine of a single term for President, arraigned the Federal administration, and recommended the support of candidates who would coöperate with the Executive in his work of reform.For governor the Prohibitionists nominated George H. Dusenberre.

On September 22 the Liberals met at Albany. They eulogised Tilden by name, favored the Greeley doctrine of a single term for President, arraigned the Federal administration, and recommended the support of candidates who would coöperate with the Executive in his work of reform.

For governor the Prohibitionists nominated George H. Dusenberre.

[718]Address at Utica Fair, September 30, 1875.—Tilden'sPublic Writings and Speeches, Vol. 2, pp. 229-233.

[719]In the summer of 1875 he made a brief visit to Europe.—Conkling,Life of Conkling, p. 490.

[720]See Rhodes'History of the United States, Vol. 7, pp. 104-127. Also, Tilden's message to the Legislature, January 12, 1875,Public Writings and Speeches, Vol. 2, pp. 75-84.

[721]Godwin,Life of Bryant, p. 357. This meeting was held January 11.

[722]New YorkSun, February 17.

[723]Appleton'sCyclopædia, 1875, p. 743.

[724]See remarks of Forster of Westchester, a delegate to the Republican State convention of March 22, 1876.—New YorkTribune, March 23, 1876.

[725]TheNation, October 28.

[726]Bigelow, 390,211; Seward, 375,401. Robinson, 389,699; Spinner, 376,150. Legislature: Senate: 20 Republicans, 12 Democrats. Assembly: 71 Republicans, 57 Democrats. Morrissey's majority, 3,377. Dusenberre, Prohibitionist, total vote, 11,103.—Appleton'sCyclopædia, 1875, p. 564.Bigelow's majority in New York City was 17,013.—New YorkWorld, November 7, 1875.

Bigelow's majority in New York City was 17,013.—New YorkWorld, November 7, 1875.

[727]New YorkTribune, March 23, 1876.

[728]New YorkTribune, June 15, 1876.

[729]Official Proceedings of National Republican Conventions, p. 292.

[730]New YorkCommercial Advertiser, September 28, 1877.

[731]Conkling's votes came from the following States: California, 1; Florida, 3; Georgia, 8; Michigan, 1; Mississippi, 1; Missouri, 1; Nevada, 2; New York, 69; North Carolina, 7; Texas, 3; Virginia, 3. Total, 99. George William Curtis refused to vote for Conkling.Seven ballots were taken, as follows:Blaine285296293286308351Bristow11311412112611121Morton12412011310885Conkling9993908481Hayes61646768113384Hartranft5863687150Jewell11Wheeler332222On the final ballot the following New York delegates voted for Blaine: William H. Robertson, Westchester; James W. Husted, Westchester; Jacob Worth, Kings; John H. Ketcham, Dutchess; Jacob W. Haysradt, Columbia; James M. Marvin, Saratoga; Stephen Sanford, Montgomery; Amos V. Smiley, Lewis, and James C. Feeter, Herkimer.

Seven ballots were taken, as follows:

On the final ballot the following New York delegates voted for Blaine: William H. Robertson, Westchester; James W. Husted, Westchester; Jacob Worth, Kings; John H. Ketcham, Dutchess; Jacob W. Haysradt, Columbia; James M. Marvin, Saratoga; Stephen Sanford, Montgomery; Amos V. Smiley, Lewis, and James C. Feeter, Herkimer.

[732]John Russell Young,Around the World with General Grant, Vol. 2, p. 275.

[733]New YorkHerald, June 17, 1876.

[734]Hoar,Autobiography, Vol. 1, p. 244.

[735]Wheeler's name was presented by Luke P. Poland of Vermont, and seconded by S.H. Russell of Texas, and Henry R. James of New York (Ogdensburg). Thomas C. Platt presented Woodford."Wheeler very much disliked Roscoe Conkling and all his ways. Conkling once said to him: 'If you will join us and act with us, there is nothing in the gift of the State of New York to which you may not reasonably aspire.' To which Wheeler replied: 'Mr. Conkling, there is nothing in the gift of the State which will compensate me for the forfeiture of my own self-respect.'"—Hoar,Autobiography, Vol. 1, p. 243.

[735]Wheeler's name was presented by Luke P. Poland of Vermont, and seconded by S.H. Russell of Texas, and Henry R. James of New York (Ogdensburg). Thomas C. Platt presented Woodford.

"Wheeler very much disliked Roscoe Conkling and all his ways. Conkling once said to him: 'If you will join us and act with us, there is nothing in the gift of the State of New York to which you may not reasonably aspire.' To which Wheeler replied: 'Mr. Conkling, there is nothing in the gift of the State which will compensate me for the forfeiture of my own self-respect.'"—Hoar,Autobiography, Vol. 1, p. 243.

[736]"It was not to the credit of the New York delegation that Wheeler was obliged to look to other States for his presentation and support."—UticaHerald, June 17.

[737]With fifteen States and Territories to be called, the vote stood as follows: Wheeler, 366; all others, 245.

[738]The Republican State convention met at Saratoga on August 23.

[739]Although many prominent Republicans who voted for Greeley in 1872 had previously renewed their allegiance, the Liberals as an organisation did not formally coalesce with the Republican party until August 23, 1876. On that day about 200 delegates, headed by John Cochrane and Benjamin F. Manierre, met in convention at Saratoga, and after accepting Hayes and Wheeler as the exponents of their reform principles, were invited amidst loud applause to seats in the Republican State convention.

[740]Whole number of votes cast, 410. Necessary to a choice, 206. Morgan received 242; Evarts, 126; Robertson, 24; Martin, 1; Townsend, 18.

[741]New YorkTribune, August 24.

[742]The ballot resulted: Rogers, 240; Pomeroy, 178. Necessary to a choice, 210.The ticket was as follows: Governor, Edwin D. Morgan, New York; Lieutenant-Governor, Sherman S. Rogers, Erie; Court of Appeals, George F. Danforth, Monroe; Canal Commissioner, Daniel C. Spencer, Livingston; Prison Inspector, Charles W. Trowbridge, Kings.

[742]The ballot resulted: Rogers, 240; Pomeroy, 178. Necessary to a choice, 210.

The ticket was as follows: Governor, Edwin D. Morgan, New York; Lieutenant-Governor, Sherman S. Rogers, Erie; Court of Appeals, George F. Danforth, Monroe; Canal Commissioner, Daniel C. Spencer, Livingston; Prison Inspector, Charles W. Trowbridge, Kings.

[743]Tilden's policy of pardoning members of the Tweed ring had become intolerable. "On an average about nine out of ten men who were confessedly guilty of stealing were accepted as witnesses against the other one man, until the time came when there was but one man against whom any testimony could be used, and it was not considered wise to try him. It was a shameful condition of affairs."—John D. Townsend,New York in Bondage, p. 141.

[744]Tilden'sPublic Writings and Speeches, Vol. 2, pp. 237-295.

[745]The Democratic State convention was held at Utica, April 26, 1876.

[746]"It is natural enough that the canal ring and its followers, Tammany and its adherents, and that sort of Democrats who are commonly called Bourbons, should labour to defeat the nomination for high office of the man who represents everything that they oppose, and opposes everything that they represent; but it will be a most discouraging thing to every person who hopes for good at the hands of the Democratic party if such opposition is permitted to prevail in its councils. He has put his principles in practice in the most fearless and resolute manner, and has made himself especially obnoxious to his opponents as their hostility to him clearly shows."—New YorkEvening Post(editorial by William Cullen Bryant), May 26, 1876.

[747]New YorkTribune, June 17.

[748]New YorkEvening Express, June 23, 1876.

[749]The National Democratic convention assembled on June 27 and 28.

Back to Index Next