n Nelson went upon the bench of the national Supreme Court he became
acquainted with Stephen A. Douglas, who was then springing into
prominence in Congress; and it was said that the "little giant" got much
of the legal ammunition for his speeches from the new associate justice.
More than once Justice Nelson was suggested as the Democratic candidate
for President of the United States, and at the Democratic national
convention held in Chicago during the Civil War Governor Horatio Seymour
of New York attempted to carry his nomination. It was known, however,
that Judge Nelson had declined to allow the use of his name, and had
expressed the opinion that a justice of the federal supreme court never
should be regarded as a possible candidate for political office. Nelson
at this time was in many ways the strongest man on the bench of the
Supreme Court, and Salmon P. Chase, who was appointed chief justice in
1864, placed great reliance upon his advice and judgment. On one
occasion at the table of John V. L. Pruyn in Albany, when his host
addressed Chase as "Mr. Chief Justice," the latter pleasantly
interrupted him--"Your friend Nelson is Chief Justice," he said.

During the Civil War, although a member of the Democratic party, Justice
Nelson won and retained the confidence of the party in power, and his
loyalty was never questioned. He disapproved of what he held to be
invasions of the rights of citizens which were made under military
authority, but never by word or act obstructed the maintenance of the
federal government. President Lincoln and Secretary Seward reposed
great faith in Judge Nelson's wisdom, and in critical emergencies
consulted him upon delicate questions of international law which arose
during the progress of the war.

An episode of the Civil War period in Cooperstown, although the truth of
the matter was a state secret at the time, had a relation to Justice
Nelson that is of interest in this connection. In a visit of the
diplomatic corps from Washington the village enjoyed such memorable
emotions of civic pride that the date of the event, the twenty-first of
August, 1863, was long afterward referred to, by the oldest inhabitants,
as "Cooperstown's great day."

It was said that the entertainment of the legations at Cooperstown was
included as part of an excursion through New York State which Secretary
Seward had planned to impress upon foreign governments the strength and
resources of the North.

The party a