CONKLING AND FOLGER-1867-1868 135 



had seemed likely to overwhelm him and drive him out of 

 public life, and one thing seemed for a time likely to prove 

 fatal to him: the "New York Tribune, " the great organ 

 of the party, edited by Horace Greeley, gave him no effec- 

 tive support. But the reason was apparent later when it 

 became known that Mr. Greeley was to be a candidate 

 for the senatorship, and it was evidently felt that should 

 Mr. Conkling triumph in such a struggle, he would be a 

 very serious competitor. The young statesman had shown 

 himself equal to the emergency. He had fought his battle 

 without the aid of Mr. Greeley and the "Tribune," and 

 won it, and, as a result, had begun to be thought of as a 

 promising candidate for the United States senatorship. I 

 had never spoken with him; had hardly seen him; but 

 I had watched his course closely, and one thing especially 

 wrought powerfully with me in his favor. The men who 

 had opposed him were of the same sort with those who had 

 opposed me, and as I was proud of their opposition, I 

 felt that he had a right to be so. The whole force of 

 Tammany henchmen and canal contractors throughout 

 the State honored us both with their enmity. 



It was arranged among Mr. Conkling 's supporters that, 

 at the great caucus which was to decide the matter, Mr. 

 Conkling 's name should be presented by the member of 

 the assembly representing his district, Ellis Eoberts, a 

 man of eminent character and ability, who, having begun 

 by taking high rank as a scholar at Yale, had become one 

 of the foremost editors of the State, and had afterward 

 distinguished himself not only in the State legislature, but 

 in Congress, and as the head of the independent treasury 

 in the city of New York. The next question was as to the 

 speech seconding the nomination. It was proposed that 

 Judge Folger should make it, but as he showed a curious 

 diffidence in the matter, and preferred to preside over the 

 caucus, the duty was tendered to me. 



At the hour appointed the assembly hall of the old Capi- 

 tol was full; floor and galleries were crowded to suffo- 

 cation. The candidates were duly presented, and, among 



