Seward’sactionwascharacteristic。Havingreturnedacurtanddryreplytotheguardedphrasesofthegovernor，hepressedbyhimwiththePresidentandhisassociatestothe``ExecutiveChamber’’neartheentrance，thewaytowhichhe，ofallmen，wellknew。InthatroomtheSenatewereassembledand，ontheentranceofthevisitors，GovernorFentonendeavoredtointroducetheminaformalspeech;butMr。Sewardwastoopromptforhim;hetookthewordsoutofthegovernor’smouthandsaid，inawaywhichthrilledallofuswhohadbeenbroughtuptoloveandadmirehim，``IntheExecutiveChamberoftheStateofNewYorkIsurelyneednointroduction。IbringtoyouthePresidentoftheUnitedStates;thechiefmagistratewhoisrestoringpeaceandprosperitytoourcountry。’’
Thewholesceneimpressedmegreatly;thererusheduponmeastrongtideofrecollectionasIcontrastedwhatGovernorFentonhadbeenandwas，withwhatGovernorSewardhadbeenandwas:itallseemedtomeaghastlymistake。TherestoodFenton，markingthelowestpointinthechoiceofaStateexecutiveeverreachedinourCommonwealthbytheRepublicanparty:therestoodSewardwho，fromhisboyhoodincollege，hadfoughtcourageously，steadily，powerfully，andatlasttriumphantly，againstthedominationofslavery;who，asStatesenator，asgovernor，asthemainfounderoftheRepublicanparty，assenatoroftheUnitedStatesandfinallyasSecretaryofState，hadrenderedserviceabsolutelyinestimable;whoforyearshadbravedstormsofcalumnyandridiculeandfinallytheknifeofanassassin;andwhowasnowadheringtoAndrewJohnsonsimplybecauseheknewthatifheletgohishold，thePresidentwouldrelapseintothehandsofmenopposedtoanyrationalsettlementofthequestionsbetweentheNorthandSouth。I
noticedonSeward’sbrowthedeepscarmadebytheassassin’sknifewhenLincolnwasmurdered;alltheothers，greatlyasIadmiredGrantandFarragut，passedwithmeatthattimefornothing;myeyeswerefixedupontheSecretaryofState。
AfterallwasoverIcameoutwithmycolleague，JudgeFolger，andaswelefttheCapitolhesaid:``Whatwasthematterwithyouinthegovernor’sroom？’’Ianswered:
``Nothingwasthematterwithme;whatdoyoumean？’’Hesaid:``ThemomentSewardbegantospeakyoufastenedyoureyesintentlyuponhim，youturnedsopalethatIthoughtyouwereabouttodrop，andImadereadytoseizeyouandpreventyourfalling。’’Ithenconfessedtohimthefeelingwhichwasdoubtlessthecauseofthischangeofcountenance。
AsonewhocherishesadeepaffectionformynativeStateandformenwhohavemadeitgreat，Imaybeallowedheretoexpressthehopethatthedaywillcomewhenitwillredeemitselffromthejustchargeofingratitude，anddoitselfhonorbyhonoringitstwogreatestgovernors，DeWittClintonandWilliamH。Seward。NostatueofeitherofthemstandsatAlbany，theplaceofallotherswheresuchmemorialsshouldbeerected，notmerelyasanhonortothetwostatesmenconcerned，butasalessontothecitizensoftheState;——pointingoutthequalitieswhichoughttoensurepublicgratitude，butwhich，thusfar，democracieshaveleastadmired。
CHAPTERVIII
ROSCOECONKLINGANDJUDGEFOLGER——1867—1868
AtthebeginningofmyfourthyearatAlbany，in1867，cameanelectiontotheSenateoftheUnitedStates。OfthetwosenatorsthenrepresentingtheState，one，EdwinD。Morgan，hadbeengovernor，andcombinedthequalitiesofamerchantprinceandofashrewdpolitician;
theother，IraHarris，hadbeenahighlyrespectedjudge，andwas，fromeverypointofview，amostworthyman:butunfortunatelyneitherofthesegentlemenseemedtoexerciseanyadequateinfluenceinsolvingthemainquestionsthenbeforeCongress。
NomoreimportantsubjectshaveevercomebeforethatbodythanthosewhicharoseduringtheearlyyearsoftheCivilWar，anditwasdeeplyfeltthroughouttheStatethatneitherofthesenatorsfitlyuttereditsvoiceorexerciseditsinfluence。
Mr。Cornell，withwhomIhadthenbecomeintimate，wasnevercensorious;rarelydidhesayanythingindisapprovalofanyman;hewascharitableinhisjudgments，andgenerallypreferredtobesilentratherthansevere;butI
rememberthatonhisreturnfromastayinWashington，hesaidtomeindignantly:``WhileattheCapitolIwasashamedoftheStateofNewYork:onegreatquestionafteranothercameup;billsofthehighestimportancewerepresentedanddiscussedbysenatorsfromOhio，Vermont，Missouri，Indiana，Iowa，andtherest;butfromNewYorkneveraword！’’
Thequestionnowwas，whoshouldsucceedSenatorHarris？Henaturallydesiredasecondterm，anditwouldhavegivenmepleasuretosupporthim，forhewasanoldandhonoredfriendofmyfatherandmother，theyhavingbeen，intheirearlylife，hisneighborsandschoolmates，andtheirfriendshiphavingdescendedtome;butlikeothersIwasdisappointedthatSenatorHarrishadnottakenapositionmorefitting。Hismaineffortsseemedtobeinthelineoffriendlyactsforhisconstituents。Insofarastheseweredoneforsoldiersinthearmytheywerepraiseworthy;thoughitwasgenerallyfeltthatwhilearisingprimarilyfromanaturalfeelingofbenevolence，theyweremainlydevotedtosecuringabodyoffriendsthroughouttheState，whowouldsupporthimwhenthetimeshouldcomeforhisrelection。Apparentlywiththesameobject，hewasamostdevotedsupporterofNewYorkoffice—seekersofallsorts。Hehadpleasingpersonalcharacteristics，butitwasreportedthatMr。Lincoln，referringtothesenator’spersistencyinpressingcandidatesforoffice，oncesaid:``IneverthinkofgoingtosleepnowwithoutfirstlookingundermybedtoseeifJudgeHarrisisnottherewantingsomethingforsomebody。’’
AnothercandidatewasJudgeNoahDavis，thenofLockport，alsoamanofhighcharacter，ofexcellentlegalabilities，agoodspeaker，andonewho，hadhebeenelected，wouldhavedonehonortotheState。ButonlookingaboutIdiscovered，asIthought，abettercandidate。JudgeBailey，ofOneidaCounty，hadcalledmyattentiontotheclaimsofMr。RoscoeConkling，thenamemberofCongressfromtheOneidadistrict，whohaddistinguishedhimselfasaneffectivespeaker，asuccessfullawyer，andanhonestpublicservant。Hehad，tobesure，runfoulofMr。BlaineofMaine，andhadreceived，inreturnforwhatMr。Blaineconsideredadisplayofoffensivemanners，averyseriousoratoricalcastigation;buthehadjustfoughtagoodfightwhichhaddrawntheattentionofthewholeStatetohim。Acoalitionhavingbeenformedbetweentheanti—warDemocratsandanumberofdisaffectedRepublicansinhisdistricttodefeathisrelectiontoCongress，ithadseemedlikelytooverwhelmhimanddrivehimoutofpubliclife，andonethingseemedforatimelikelytoprovefataltohim:——the``NewYorkTribune，’’thegreatorganoftheparty，editedbyHoraceGreeley，gavehimnoeffectivesupport。ButthereasonwasapparentlaterwhenitbecameknownthatMr。Greeleywastobeacandidateforthesenatorship，anditwasevidentlyfeltthatshouldMr。Conklingtriumphinsuchastruggle，hewouldbeaveryseriouscompetitor。Theyoungstatesmanhadshownhimselfequaltotheemergency。HehadfoughthisbattlewithouttheaidofMr。Greeleyandthe``Tribune，’’andwonit，and，asaresult，hadbeguntobethoughtofasapromisingcandidatefortheUnitedStatessenatorship。I
hadneverspokenwithhim;hadhardlyseenhim;butIhadwatchedhiscourseclosely，andonethingespeciallywroughtpowerfullywithmeinhisfavor。Themenwhohadopposedhimwereofthesamesortwiththosewhohadopposedme，andasIwasproudoftheiropposition，I
feltthathehadarighttobeso。ThewholeforceofTammanyhenchmenandcanalcontractorsthroughouttheStatehonoredusbothwiththeirenmity。
ItwasarrangedamongMr。Conkling’ssupportersthat，atthegreatcaucuswhichwastodecidethematter，Mr。
Conkling’snameshouldbepresentedbythememberoftheassemblyrepresentinghisdistrict，EllisRoberts，amanofeminentcharacterandability，who，havingbegunbytakinghighrankasascholaratYale，hadbecomeoneoftheforemosteditorsoftheState，andhadafterwarddistinguishedhimselfnotonlyintheStatelegislature，butinCongress，andastheheadoftheindependenttreasuryinthecityofNewYork。Thenextquestionwasastothespeechsecondingthenomination。ItwasproposedthatJudgeFolgershouldmakeit，butasheshowedacuriousdiffidenceinthematter，andpreferredtopresideoverthecaucus，thedutywastenderedtome。
AtthehourappointedtheassemblyhalloftheoldCapitolwasfull;floorandgallerieswerecrowdedtosuffocation。
Thecandidatesweredulypresented，and，amongthem，Mr。ConklingbyMr。Roberts。Idelayedmyspeechsomewhat。Thegeneralcourseofithadbeenthoughtoutbeforehand，butthephraseologyandsequenceofargumentwerelefttotheoccasion。IfeltdeeplytheimportanceofnominatingMr。Conkling，andwhenthemomentcamethrewmyheartintoit。Iwasinfullhealthandvigor，andsoonfeltthataverylargepartoftheaudiencewaswithme。PresentlyIusedtheargumentthatthegreatStateofNewYork，whichhadbeensolongsilentinthehighestcouncilsoftheNation，demandedAVOICE。Instantlythevastmajorityofallpresent，inthegalleries，inthelobbies，andonthefloor，roseinquickresponsetothesentimentandcheeredwithalltheirmight。Therehadbeennosuchoutburstinthewholecourseoftheevening。Evidentlythiswastheresponsivechord，andhavinggoneonwiththemainlineofmyargument，Iatlastclosedwiththesamedeclarationindifferentform;——thatourgreatCommonwealth，——themostimportantinthewholesisterhoodofStates，——whichhadbeensolongsilentintheSenate，WISHEDTOBEHEARD，andthat，therefore，IsecondedthenominationofMr。Conkling。Immediatelythewholehouserosetothissentimentagainandagain，withevengreaterevidenceofapprovalthanbefore;thevotingbeganandMr。Conklingwasfinallynominated，ifmymemoryiscorrect，byamajorityofthree。
Themomentthevotewasdeclaredthewholeassemblybrokeloose;thepressurebeingremoved，therecameageneraleffervescenceofgoodfeeling，andIsuddenlyfoundmyselfraisedontheshouldersofstalwartmenwhostoodnear，andrapidlycarriedovertheheadsofthecrowd，throughmanypassagesandcorridors，mymainanxietybeingtoprotectmyheadsothatmybrainsmightnotbeknockedoutagainststairwaysanddoorways;
butpresently，whenfairlydazedandbewildered，IwasborneintoaroomintheoldCongressHallHotel，anddepositedsafelyinthepresenceofagentlemanstandingwithhisbacktothefire，whoatonceextendedhishandtomemostcordially，andtowhomIsaid，``Godblessyou，SenatorConkling。``Amostheartyresponsefollowed，andsobeganmycloseracquaintancewiththenewsenator。
Mr。Conkling’selectionfollowedasathingofcourse，andthroughouttheStatetherewasgeneralapproval。
Duringthissessionof1867Ifoundmyselfinvolvedintworathercuriousstruggles，andwithnolessapersonagethanmycolleague，JudgeFolger。
AstothefirstoftheseIhadlongfelt，andstillfeel，thatofalltheweaknessesinourinstitutions，oneofthemostseriousisourlaxityintheadministrationofthecriminallaw。Noothercivilizedcountry，savepossiblythelowerpartsofItalyandSicily，showsanythingtoapproachthenumberofunpunishedhomicides，inproportiontothepopulation，whicharecommittedinsundrypartsofourowncountry，andindeedinourcountrytakenasawhole。
Innocountryisthedeterrenteffectofpunishmentsovitiatedbydelay;innocountryissomuchfacilitygiventochicanery，tofutileappeals，andtoeverypossiblemeansofclearingmenfromtheduepenaltyofhighcrime，andespeciallythecrimeofmurder。
Itwasinviewofthisfactthat，actingontheadviceofanoldandablejudgewhoseexperienceincriminalpracticehadbeenverylarge，IintroducedintotheSenateabilltoimprovetheprocedureincriminalcases。Thejudgejustreferredtohadshownmetheabsurditiesarisingfromthefactthattestimonyinregardtocharacter，eveninthecaseofprofessionalcriminals，wasnotallowedsaveinrebuttal。Itwasnotoriousthatprofessionalcriminalschargedwithhighcrimes，especiallyinourlargecities，frequentlywentfreebecause，whilethetestimonytotheparticularcrimewasnotabsolutelyoverwhelming，testimonytotheircharacterasprofessionalcriminals，which，inconnectionwiththefactsestablished，wouldhavebeenabsolutelyconclusive，couldnotbeadmitted。
Ithereforeproposedthattestimonyastocharacterinanycriminalcasemightbeintroducedbytheprosecutionif，afterhavingbeenprivatelysubmittedtothejudge，heshoulddecidethattheendsofjusticewouldbefurtheredthereby。
ThebillwasreferredtotheSenatejudiciarycommittee，ofwhichJudgeFolgerwaschairman。Afterithadlaintheresomeweeksandthejudgehadrathercurtlyansweredmyquestionsastowhenitwouldbereported，itbecamecleartomethatthecommitteehadnointentionofreportingitatall，whereuponIintroducedaresolutionrequestingthemtoreportit，attheearliestdaypossible，fortheconsiderationoftheSenate，andthiswaspassedinspiteoftheoppositionofthecommittee。Manydaysthenpassed;noreportwasmade，andIthereforeintroducedaresolutiontakingthebilloutofthehandsofthecommitteeandbringingitdirectlybeforethecommitteeofthewhole。ThiswasmostearnestlyresistedbyJudgeFolgerandbyhismainassociateonthecommittee，HenryMurphyofBrooklyn。OntheotherhandIhad，toaidme，JudgeLowe，alsoalawyerofhighstanding，andindeedallthelawyersinthebodywhowerenotuponthejudiciarycommittee。Theresultwasthatmymotionwassuccessful;thebillwastakenfromthecommitteeandimmediatelybroughtunderdiscussion。
InreplytotheadverseargumentsofJudgeFolgerandMr。Murphy，whichweretotheeffectthatmybillwasaninnovationuponthecriminallawoftheState，Ipointedoutthefactthatevidenceastothecharacterofthepersonchargedwithcrimeisoftenall—important;thatinourdailylifeweactuponthatfactasthesimplestdictateofcommonsense;thatifanysenatorpresenthadhiswatchstolenfromhisroomhewouldbeveryslowtochargethecrimeagainsttheservantwhowaslastseenintheroom，evenunderverysuspiciouscircumstances;butifhefoundthattheservanthadbeendischargedfortheftfromvariousplacespreviously，thiswouldbemoreimportantthananyothercircumstance。Ishowedhowsafeguardswhichhadbeendevisedinthemiddleagestoprotectcitizensfromthefeudallordwerenowusedtoaidcriminalsinevadingthelaw，andIendedbyratherunjustlycompar—
ingJudgeFolgertothegreatLordChancellorEldon，ofwhomitwassaidthat，despitehisprofoundknowledgeofthelaw，``nomaneverdidsomuchgoodasheprevented。’’TheresultwasthatthebillwaspassedbytheSenateinspiteofthejudiciarycommittee。
DuringthecontinuanceofthediscussionJudgeFolgerhadremainedinhisusualseat，butimmediatelyafterthepassageofthebillheresumedhisplaceaspresidentoftheSenate。Hewasevidentlyvexed，andindeclaringtheSenateadjournedhebroughtthegaveldownwithasortofflingwhichcausedittoflyoutofhishandandfallinfrontofhisdeskonthefloor。Fortunatelyitwasaftermidnightandfewsawit;buttherewasageneralfeelingofregretamongusallthatamansohighlyrespectedshouldhavesolosthistemper。Bycommonconsentthewholematterwashushed;nomentionofit，sofarasI
couldlearn，wasmadeinthepublicpress，andsoonallseemedforgotten。
Unfortunatelyitwasremembered，andinaquarterwhichbroughtuponJudgeFolgeroneoftheworstdisappointmentsofhislife。
For，inthecourseofthefollowingsummer，theConstitutionalConventionoftheStatewastoholditssessionanditspresidencywasjustlyconsideredagreathonor。Twocandidateswerenamed，onebeingJudgeFolgerandtheotherMr。WilliamA。Wheeler，thenamemberofCongressandafterwardVice—PresidentoftheUnitedStates。Theresultofthecanvasbythefriendsofboththesegentlemenseemeddoubtful，whenonemorningthereappearedinthe``NewYorkTribune，’’themostpowerfulorganoftheRepublicanparty，oneofHoraceGreeley’smosttrenchantarticles。ItdweltontheimportanceoftheconventioninthehistoryoftheState，ontheresponsibilityofitsmembers，onthecharacteristicswhichshouldmarkitspresidingofficer，and，astothislatterpoint，wounduppungentlybysayingthatitwouldbebesttohaveapresidentwho，whenhedisagreedwithmembers，didnotthrowhisgavelatthem。Thisshottookeffect;itranthroughtheState;peopleaskedthemeaningofit;variousexaggeratedlegendsbecamecurrent，oneofthembeingthathehadthrownthegavelatmepersonally;——andMr。Wheelerbecamepresidentoftheconvention。
ButbeforethecloseofthesessionanothermatterhadcomeupwhichcooledstillmoretherelationsbetweenJudgeFolgerandmyself。Formanysessions，yearafteryear，therehadbeenbeforethelegislatureabillforestablishingacanalconnectingtheinteriorlakesystemoftheStatewithLakeOntario。ThiswasknownastheSodusCanalBill，anditsmainchampionwasapublic—spiritedmanfromJudgeFolger’sowndistrict。Infavorofthecanalvariousargumentswereurged，oneofthembeingthatitwouldenabletheUnitedStates，whilekeepingwithinitstreatyobligationswithGreatBritain，tobuildshipsonthesesmallerlakes，which，incaseofneed，couldbepassedthroughthecanalintothegreatchainoflakesextendingfromLakeOntariotoLakeSuperior。Tothisitwasrepliedthatsuchanevasionofthetreatywasnotespeciallycreditabletothosesuggestingit，andthatthemainpurposeofthebillreallywastocreateavastwaterpowerwhichshouldenuretothebenefitofsundrygentlemeninJudgeFolger’sdistrict。
UptothistimeJudgeFolgerseemednevertocaremuchforthebill，andIhadnevermadeanyespecialeffortagainstit;butwhen，justatthecloseofthesession，certainconstituentsofmineupontheOswegoRiverhadshownmethattherewasgreatdangerintheproposedcanaltothewatersupplythroughthecountiesofOnondagaandOswego，Iopposedthemeasure。ThereuponJudgeFolgerbecamemoreandmoreearnestinitsfavor，anditsoonbecameevidentthatallhispowerwouldbeusedtopassitduringthefewremainingdaysofthesession。Byhisinfluenceitwaspushedrapidlythroughallitsearlierstages，andatlastcameupbeforetheSenate。Itseemedsuretopasswithintenminutes，whenI
movedthatthewholematterbereferredtotheapproachingConstitutionalConvention，whichwastobeginitssessionsimmediatelyaftertheadjournmentofthelegislature，andJudgeFolgerhavingspokenagainstthismotion，I
spokeinitsfavoranddidwhatIhaveneverdonebeforeinmylifeandprobablyshallneverdoagain——spokeagainsttime。Therewasno``previousquestion’’intheSenate，nolimitationastotheperiodduringwhichamembercoulddiscussanymeasure，and，astheyoungestmemberinthebody，Iwasinthefullflushofyouthfulstrength。IthereforeannouncedmyintentiontopresentsomethreehundredargumentsinfavorofreferringthewholemattertotheStateConstitutionalConvention，thoseargumentsbeingbasedupontheespecialfitnessofitsthreehundredmemberstodecidethequestion，asshownbythepersonalcharacterandlifehistoryofeachandeveryoneofthem。Ithenwentonwiththisseriesofbiographies，beginningwiththatofJudgeFolgerhimself，andpayinghimmostheartilyandcordiallyeverytributepossible，includingsomeofahumorousnature。
Havinggivenabouthalfanhourtothejudge，Ithentookupsundryothermembersandkeptonthroughtheentiremorning。Ihadthefloorandnoonecoulddispossessme。
Thelieutenant—governor，inthechair，GeneralStewartWoodford，wasperfectlyjustandfair，andalthoughJudgeFolgerandMr。Murphyusedalltheirlegalacutenessindevisingsomemeansofevadingtherules，theywereineverycasedeclaredbythelieutenant—governortobeoutoforder，andthefloorwasineverycasereassignedtome。Meantime，thewholeSenate，thoughanxioustoadjourn，enteredintothespiritofthematter，variousmemberspassingmeupbiographicalnotesonthemembersoftheconvention，someofthemverycomical，andpresentlythehallwascrowdedwithmembersoftheassemblyaswellassenators，allcheeringmeon。Thereasonforthiswasverysimple。Therehadcometobeageneralunderstandingofthecase，namely，thatJudgeFolger，byvirtueofhisgreatpowerandinfluence，wastryinginthelasthoursofthesessiontoforcethroughabillforthebenefitofhisdistrict，andthatIwassimplydoingmybesttopreventaninjustice。TheresultwasthatIwentonhourafterhourwithmyseriesofbiographies，untilatlastJudgeFolgerhimselfsentmewordthatifIwoulddesistandallowthelegislaturetoadjournhewouldmakenofurtherefforttocarrythebillatthatsession。TothisIinstantlyagreed;thebillwasdroppedforthatsessionandforallsessions:sofarasIcanlearnithasneverreappeared。
ShortlyafterourfinaladjournmenttheConstitutionalConventioncametogether。ItwasoneofthebestbodiesofthekindeverassembledinanyState，asalistofitsmembersabundantlyshows。Therewasmuchworkforit，andmostimportantofallwasthereorganizationofthehighestjudicialbodyintheState——theCourtofAppeals——whichhadbecomehopelesslyinadequate。
ThetwoprincipalmembersoftheconventionfromthecityofNewYorkwereHoraceGreeley，editorofthe``Tribune，’’andWilliamM。Evarts，afterwardAttorney—
General，UnitedStatessenator，andSecretaryofStateoftheUnitedStates。Mr。Greeleywasatfirstall—powerful。
Ashasalreadybeenseen，hehadbeenabletopreventJudgeFolgertakingthepresidencyoftheconvention，andforafewdayshehadeverythinghisownway。Buthesoonprovedsoerraticaleaderthathisinfluencewascompletelylost，andafterafewsessionstherewashardlyanymemberwithlessrealpowertoinfluencethejudgmentsofhiscolleagues。
Thiswasnotforwantofrealabilityinhisspeeches，foratvarioustimesIheardhimmake，forandagainstmeasures，argumentsadmirablypungent，forcible，andfar—reaching，butthereseemedtobeauniversalfeelingthathewasanunsafeguide。
Sooncameafeatureinhiscoursewhichmademattersworse。Themembersoftheconvention，manyofthem，weremeninlargebusinessandveryanxioustohaveadayortwoeachweekfortheirownaffairs。Moreover，duringthefirstweeksofthesession，whilethemainmatterscomingbeforetheconventionwerestillinthehandsofcommittees，therewasreallynotenoughbusinessreadyfortheconventiontooccupyitthroughallthedaysoftheweek，andconsequentlyitadoptedtheplan，forthefirstweeksatleast，ofadjourningfromFridaynighttillTuesdaymorning。ThisvexedMr。Greeleysorely。Heinsistedthattheconventionoughttokeepatitsbusinessandfinishitwithoutanysuchweeklyadjournments，and，ashisargumentstothiseffectdidnotprevailintheconvention，hebeganmakingthemthroughthe``Tribune’’
beforethepeopleoftheState。Soonhisargumentsbecameacrid，andbeganunderminingtheconventionateverypoint。
AstoMr。Greeley’sfeelingregardingtheweeklyadjournment，onecuriousthingwasreported:TherewasamemberfromNewYorkofaliteraryturnforwhomthegreateditorhaddonemuchinbringinghisversesandotherproductionsbeforethepublic——acertainMr。Duganne;
butithappenedthat，ononeoftheweeklymotionstoadjourn，Mr。Dugannehadvotedintheaffirmative，and，asaresult，Mr。Greeley，meetinghimjustafterward，upbraidedhiminamannerwhichfilledtheruralbystanderswithconsternation。Itwaswellknowntothosebestacquaintedwiththeeditorofthe``Tribune’’that，whenexcited，heattimesindulgedinthemostingeniousandpicturesqueexpletives，andsomeofMr。ChaunceyDepew’sbeststoriesofthatperiodpointedtothisfact。OnthisoccasionMr。Greeleyreallyoutdidhimself，andtheresultwasthatthecountrymembers，whouptothattimehadregardedhimwithaweastherepresentativeofthehighestpossiblemoralityinpublicandprivatelife，weregreatlydismayed，andinvariouspartsoftheroomtheywereheardexpressingtheiramazement，andsayingtoeachotherinawe—strickentones:``Why！Greeleyswears！’’
ErelongMr。Greeleywastaking，almostdailyinthe``Tribune，’’steadygroundagainstthedoingsofhiscolleagues。Lessernewspapersfollowedwithnoendofcheapandeasydenunciation，andtheresultwasthattheconventionbecamethoroughly，thoughunjustly，discreditedthroughouttheState，andindeedthroughoutthecountry。Acuriousproofofthismetme。BeingatCambridge，Massachusetts，IpassedaneveningwithGovernorWashburn，oneofthemostthoughtfulandvaluablepublicmenofthatperiod。Inthecourseofourconversationhesaid:``Mr。White，itisreallysadtohearofthedoingsatyourAlbanyconvention。Icanrememberyourconstitutionalconventionof1846，andwhenIcomparethisconventionwiththat，itgrievesme。’’Myanswerwas:``GovernorWashburn，youareutterlymistaken:
therehasneverbeenaconstitutionalconventionintheStateofNewYork，noteventhatyouname，whichhascontainedsomanymenofthehighestabilityandcharacterastheonenowinsession，andnonewhichhasreallydonebetterwork。Iamnotamemberofthebodyandcansaythisinitsbehalf。’’Atthisheexpressedhisamazement，andpointedtothe``Tribune’’inconfirmationofhisownposition。Ithenstatedthecasetohim，and，I
think，alleviatedhisdistress。
Butasthesessionsoftheconventiondrewtoacloseandthevalueofitsworkbegantobeclearlyunderstood，Greeley’snoblerqualities，hisrealtruthfulnessandpublicspiritbegantoassertthemselves，andmorethanonceheshowedpracticalshrewdnessandinsight。Goingintoconventiononemorning，Ifoundthequestionunderdiscussiontobetheelectionofthesecretaryofstate，attorney—general，andothersofthegovernor’scabinet，whoseappointmentundertheolderconstitutionswaswiselylefttothegovernor，butwho，fortwentyyears，hadbeenelectedbythepeople。Therewasawide—spreadfeelingthattheoldsystemwaswiser，andthatthenewhadbynomeansjustifieditself;infact，thatbyfasteningonthegovernortheresponsibilityforhiscabinet，theStateislikelytosecurebettermenthanwhentheirchoiceislefttothehurly—burlyofintrigueandprejudiceinanominatingconvention。
Themainargumentmadebythosewhoopposedsuchareturntotheold，betterorderofthingswasthatthepeoplewouldnotlikeitandwouldbeinclinedtovotedownthenewconstitutiononaccountofit。
Inreplytothis，Mr。Greeleyaroseandmadeamostadmirableshortspeechendingwiththesewords，giveninhisrapidfalsetto，withasortofsnapthatmadethewholeseemlikeoneword:``When—the—people—take—up—their—
ballots—they—want—to—see—who—is—to—be—governor:that’s—all—
they—care—about:they—don’t—want—to—read—a—whole—chapter—
of—the—Bible—on—their—ballots。’’
Unfortunately，themajoritydarednotriskthepopularratificationofthenewconstitution，andsothisamendmentwaslost。
NodoubtMr。Greeleywasmainlyresponsibleforthisconditionofthings;hisimpatiencewiththeconvention，asshownbyhisarticlesinthe``Tribune，’’hadbeencaughtbythepeopleoftheState。
Thelongdiscussionswereveryirksometohim，andonedayImildlyexpostulatedwithhimonaccountofsomeofhisutterancesagainstthemuchspeakingofhiscolleagues，andsaid:``Afterall，Mr。Greeley，isn’titaprettygoodthingtohavealotofthebestmenintheStatecometogethereverytwentyyearsandthoroughlydiscussthewholeconstitution，toseewhatimprovementscanbemade;andisnotthefamiliaritywiththeconstitutionandinterestinitthusarousedamongthepeopleatlargeworthallthefatiguearisingfromlongspeeches？’’``Well，perhapsso，’’hesaid，butheimmediatelybegantogrumbleandfinallytostorminacomicalwayagainstsomeofhiscolleagueswho，itmustbeconfessed，weretiresome。Stillhebecameinterestedmoreandmoreinthework，andasthenewconstitutionemergedfromthecommitteesandpublicdebates，heevidentlysawthatitwasagreatgaintotheState，andnowdidhisbestthroughthe``Tribune’’
toundowhathehadbeendoing。Hewroteeditorialspraisingtheworkoftheconventionandurgingthatitbeadopted。Butallinvain:theunfavorableimpressionhadbeentoowidelyanddeeplymade，andtheresultwasthatthenewconstitution，whensubmittedtothepeople，wasignominiouslyvoteddown，andthewholesummer’sworkoftheconventionwentfornothing。Later，however，aportionofitwasrescuedandputintoforcethroughtheagencyofa``ConstitutionalCommission，’’asmallbodyoffirst—ratemenwhosatatAlbany，andwhosemainconclusionswerefinallyadoptedintheshapeofamendmentstotheoldconstitution。Therewas，nonetheless，awretchedlosstotheState。
Duringthesummerof1867IwascompletelyimmersedinthedutiesofmynewpositionatCornellUniversity;
goingthroughvariousinstitutionsinNewEnglandandtheWesternStatestonotetheworkingsoftheirtechnicaldepartments;visitingIthacatoconsultwithMr。Cornellandtolookoverplansforbuildings，andcredentialsforprofessorships，or，shutupinmyownstudyatSyracuse，orinthecabinsofCayugaLakesteamers，drawingupschemesofuniversityorganization，sothatmypoliticallifesoonseemedagesbehindme。
WhileonavisittoHarvard，IwasinvitedbyAgassiztopassadaywithhimatNahantinordertodiscussmethodsandmen。Heenteredintothematterveryearnestly，agreedtogiveusanextendedcourseoflectures，whichheafterwarddid，andaidedusinmanyways。Oneremarkofhissurprisedme。Ihadaskedhimtonamemen，andhehadtakenmuchpainstodoso，whensuddenlyheturnedtomeabruptlyandsaid:``Whoistobeyourprofessorofmoralphilosophy？Thatisbyfarthemostimportantmatterinyourwholeorganization。’’
Itseemedstrangethatonewhohadbeenhonoredbythewholeworldasprobablytheforemostmaninnaturalsciencethenliving，andwhohadbeendenouncedbymanyexceedinglyorthodoxpeopleasanenemyofreligion，shouldtakethisviewofthenewfaculty，butitshowedhowdeeplyandsincerelyreligioushewas。Isoonreassuredhimonthepointhehadraised，andthenwentonwiththediscussionofscientificmen，methods，andequipments。
IwasalsoaskedbythepoetLongfellowtopassadaywithhimathisbeautifulNahantcottageinordertodiscusscertaincandidatesandmethodsinliterature。Nothingcouldbemoredelightfulthanhistalkaswesattogetherontheverandalookingoutoverthesea，withthegildeddomeoftheStateHouse，whichhepointedouttomeas``TheHub，’’inthedimdistance。Onequestionofhisamusedmemuch。WewerediscussingcertainrecenteventsinwhichMr。HoraceGreeleyhadplayedanimportantpart，andafteralludingtoMr。Greeley’scourseduringtheWar，heturnedhiseyesfullybutmildlyuponmeandsaidslowlyandsolemnly:``Mr。White，don’tyouthinkMr。Greeleyaveryuselesssortofman？’’Thequestionstruckmeatfirstasexceedinglycomical;for，I
thought，``ImagineMr。Greeley，whothinkshimself，andwithreason，ausefulmanifthereeverwasone，andwhosewholelifehasbeendevotedtowhathehasthoughtofthehighestandmostdirectusetohisfellow—men，hearingthisquestionputinadreamywaybyapoet，——awriterofverse，——probablythelastmaninAmericawhomMr。
Greeleywouldconsider`useful。’’’Butmyoldadmirationforthegreateditorcamebackinastrongtide，andifI
wasevereloquentitwasinshowingMr。Longfellowhowgreat，howreal，howsincere，andinthehighestdegreehowusefulMr。Greeleyhadbeen。
AnothermanofnotewhomImetinthosedayswasJudgeRockwoodHoar，afterwardnamedbyGeneralGrantAttorney—GeneraloftheUnitedStates，notedasaprofoundlawyerofpungentwitandcharminghumor，thedelightofhisfriendsandtheterrorofhisenemies。I
sawhimfirstatHarvardduringacompetitionfortheBoylstonprizeatwhichwewerefellow—judges。Allthespeakingwasgood，someofitadmirable;buttheespeciallyremarkablepiecesweretwo。FirstofthesewasarecitalofWashingtonIrving’s``BrokenHeart，’’byanundergraduatefromtheBritishprovinces，RobertAlderMcLeod。Nothingcouldbemoresimpleandperfectinitsway;nothingmorefreefromanyeffortatorating;allwasinthemostquietandnaturalmannerpossible。ThesecondpiecewasarenderingofPoe’s``Bells，’’andwasamostamazingdeclamation，thedifferentsortsofbellsbeingindicatedbychangesofvoicerangingfrombassoprofondotothehighestfalsetto，andthefeelingsarousedintheoratorbeingindicatedbymodulationswhichmusthavecosthimmonthsofpractice。
Thecontestbeingended，andthecommitteehavingretiredtomaketheiraward，variousmembersexpressedanopinioninfavorofMr。McLeod’squietrecital，whenJudgeHoar，whohadseemeduptothatmomentimmersedinthought，seemedsuddenlytoawake，andsaid:``IfI
hadasonwhospokethatbellpieceinthatstyleIbelieveI’dchokehim。’’ThevotewasunanimouslyinfavorofMr。McLeod，andthencameoutacuriousfact。Havingnoticedthatheboreanemptysleeve，IlearnedfromProfessorPeabodythathehadlosthisarmwhilefightingontheConfederatesideinourCivilWar，andthathewasamanofremarkablyfinescholarshipandnoblecharacter。
HeafterwardbecameaninstructoratHarvard，butdiedearly。
Duringthefollowingautumn，inspiteofmyabsorptioninuniversityinterests，IwaselectedadelegatetotheStateConvention，andinOctobermadeafewpoliticalspeeches，themostimportantbeingatClinton，thesiteofHamiltonCollege。ThiswasdoneatthespecialrequestofSenatorConkling，andonmywayIpassedadaywithhimatUtica，takingalongdrivethroughtheadjacentcountry。
Neverwashemorecharming。Thebitterandsarcasticmoodseemedtohavedroppedoffhim;theoverbearingmannerhadleftnotraces;hewasfullofdelightfulreminiscencesanditwasadaytoberemembered。
Ialsospokeatvariousotherplacesand，lastofall，atCliftonSprings，butreceivedtherearebuffwhichwasnotwithoutitsuses。
Ihadthoughtmyspeechessuccessful;butatthelatterplace，takingthecarsnextmorning，Iheardadialoguebetweentworailwayemployees，asfollows:
``Bill，didyougotothemeetin’lastnight？’’``Yes。’’
``Howwasit？’’``Itwa’n’tnomeetin’，leastwisenoP’LITICAL
meetin’;therewa’n’tnothin’initfurtheboys;itwasonlyoneofthemscientificcollegepurfessorslecturin’。’’
AndsoIspedhomeward，ponderingonmanythings，butstrengthened，bythishomelycriticism，inmydeterminationtogivemyeffortshenceforthtothenewuniversity。
CHAPTERIX
GENERALGRANTANDSANTODOMINGO——1868—1871
Duringthetwoorthreeyearsfollowingmysenatorialterm，workinthefoundingandbuildingofCornellUniversitywassoengrossingthattherewaslittletimeforanyeffortwhichcouldbecalledpolitical。Intheearlyspringof1868IwenttoEuropetoexamineinstitutionsforscientificandtechnologicalinstruction，andtosecureprofessorsandequipment，andduringaboutsixmonthsIvisitedagreatnumberofsuchschools，especiallythoseinagriculture，mechanical，civil，andminingengineeringandthelikeinEngland，France，Germany，andItaly;boughtlargelyofbooksandapparatus，discussedtheproblemsatissuewithEuropeanswhoseemedlikelytoknowmostaboutthem，securedsundryprofessors，andreturnedinSeptemberjustintimetotakepartintheopeningofCornellUniversityandbeinauguratedasitsfirstpresident。OfallthisIshallspeakmoreindetailhereafter。