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。