GRANT AND SANTO DOMINGO- 1868-1871 153 



ward, and almost before the chairman had declared the 

 convention opened, cried out: "Mr. Chairman, I move 

 you, sir, that the Honorable 'Pot Platter' be made 

 president of this convention. ' ' A scream of laughter went 

 up from all parts of the house, and in an instant a gentle- 

 man rose and moved to amend by making the name l i Plait 

 Potter. ' ' This was carried, and the proposer of the orig- 

 inal motion retired crestfallen to his seat. 



I had the honor of presenting Mr. Andrews 's name. 

 He was nominated and elected triumphantly, and so be- 

 gan the career of one of the best judges that New York 

 has ever had on its highest court, who has also for many 

 years occupied, with the respect and esteem of the State, 

 the position of chief justice. 



The convention then went on to nominate other judges, 

 nomination being equivalent to election, but when the 

 last name was reached there came a close contest. An old 

 friend informed me that Judge Folger, my former col- 

 league in the Senate and since that assistant treasurer of 

 the United States in the city of New York, was exceed- 

 ingly anxious to escape from this latter position, and 

 desired greatly the nomination to a judgeship on the Court 

 of Appeals. 



I decided at once to do what was possible to secure 

 Judge Folger 's nomination, though our personal relations 

 were very unsatisfactory. Owing to our two conflicts at 

 the close of our senatorial term above referred to, and 

 to another case where I thought he had treated me un- 

 justly, we had never exchanged a word since I had left 

 the State Senate; and though we met each other from 

 time to time on the board of Cornell University trustees, 

 we passed each other in silence. Our old friendship, which 

 had been very dear to me, seemed forever broken, but I 

 felt deeply that the fault was not mine. At the same time 

 I recognized the fact that Judge Folger was not especially 

 adapted to the position of assistant treasurer of the United 

 States, and was admirably fitted for the position of judge 

 in the Court of Appeals. I therefore did everything pos- 



