se the errors of an opponent's argument in a
dozen sentences, found it woven too closely for hasty answer. On this
occasion his speech compelled the committee on resolutions, after an
all day and night session, to refer the matter to Samuel J. Tilden and
two associates, who finally evaded the whole issue by declaring for
"equal taxation." This meant taxation of government bonds without
specification as to their payment. John McKeon of New York City
attacked the words as "equivocal" and "without moral effect," but the
influence of Seymour and Tilden carried it with practical unanimity.

The power of Seymour, however, best exhibited itself in the treatment
accorded Andrew Johnson. The conventions of 1865 and 1866 had
sustained the President with energy and earnestness, endorsing his
policy, commending his integrity, and encouraging him to believe in
the sincerity of their support. In recognition Johnson had displaced
Republicans for Democrats until the men in office resembled the
appointees of Buchanan's administration. The proceedings of the
convention of 1867, however, contained no evidence that the United
States had a Chief Executive. Nothing could have been more
remorseless. The plan, silently matured, was suddenly and without
scruple flashed upon the country that Andrew Johnson, divested of
respect, stripped of support, and plucked of offices, had been coolly
dropped by the Democracy of the Empire State.

The campaign opened badly for the Republicans. Weighted with canal
frauds the party, with all its courage and genius, seemed unequal to
the odds against which it was forced to contend. The odious
disclosures showed that the most trifling technicalities, often only a
misspelled or an interlined word, and in one instance, at least,
simply an ink blot, had been held sufficient to vacate the lowest
bids, the contracts afterward being assigned to other bidders at
largely increased amounts. So insignificant were these informalities
that in many cases the official who declared the bids irregular could
not tell upon the witness stand wherein they were so, although he
admitted that in no instance did the State benefit by the change.
Indeed, without cunning or reason, the plunderers, embracing all who
made or paid canal accounts, declared bids informal that contracts at
increased prices might be given to members of a ring who divided their
ill-gotten gains. These increases ranged from $1,000 to $100,000 each,
aggregating a