o professed
to represent, and perhaps did represent, as fairly as anyone, the
ideas of the New York politicians of the school of Van Buren and
Marcy. I knew Mr. Tilden personally and very favorably, as we were
members of a board of railroad directors which frequently met. He
seemed to take pleasure in talking with me about political events,
and especially of the famous New York politicians, of whom Silas
Wright and Mr. Van Buren were his favorites. He had acquired great
wealth as the attorney of corporations, and was undoubtedly a man
of marked ability and sagacity. He had taken an active part in
defeating the corruption of Tweed in New York politics. He had
been elected governor of the State of New York, as the candidate
of reform and honesty in politics.

The long and important session of Congress adjourned on the 15th
of August. It had been the arena for long debates, mostly on
political topics growing out of reconstruction, and financial
measures heretofore referred to. The pending presidential contest
also excited much debate in both Houses. The administration of
General Grant had not been entirely satisfactory, and the long
continuance of the Republican party in power was an element of
weakness. The complaints, unavoidable in the most honest
administration, and the disappointments of office-seekers, placed
that party on the defensive. The south had, by reconstruction,
been practically restored to political power, and the body of the
negroes had been substantially disfranchised, though legally entitled
to the suffrage. Riots and crimes of every degree were committed
in the south, notably in Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida.
Organized mobs and violence had deterred many from voting, and in
some cases had prevented even the semblance of a free election.

I entered actively into this canvass, more so than in any previous
one. Three days before the adjournment, I made my opening speech
at Marietta, Ohio, in which I discussed fully the dangers of the
restoration of the Democratic party to power, the probability of
their failure to enforce the constitutional amendments, and the
protection of the rights of the freedmen. I claimed that the
election of Mr. Tilden would result in the virtual nullification
of the constitutional amendments, and amount to a practical
restoration to power of the old Democratic party. The revival of
the rebel claims, the refunding of the cotton tax, and the damages
done to