time pointing out that the only objection
which Senator Edmunds opposed to Judge Fuller was his pique because
Phelps had not received the appointment. Edmunds' attack on Judge
Fuller gave me the opportunity, and I read the speech of Judge
Phelps to the Senate, much to the chagrin and mortification of
Senator Edmunds.

The Democrats in the Senate enjoyed the controversy between Senator
Edmunds and myself; Senator Voorhees was particularly amused,
laughing heartily all through it. Naturally, it appeared to them
a very funny performance, two Republicans quarreling over the
confirmation of a Democrat. They sat silent, however, and took no
part at all in the debate, leaving us Republicans to settle it
among ourselves. The vote was taken and Judge Fuller was confirmed
by a substantial majority.

Judge Fuller was very grateful to me for what I had done in behalf
of his confirmation, and afterwards he wrote me a letter of thanks:

"Chicago, _July 21, 1888_.

"My dear Senator:--

"I cannot refrain from expressing to you my intense appreciation
at the vigorous way in which you secured my confirmation. I use
the word 'vigorous' because, though it was more than that, that
was the quality that struck me most forcibly when I saw the newspapers
this morning. When we meet, as I hope we will soon, I would very
much like to talk this matter over with you. I hope you will never
have cause to regret your action. I can't tell you how pleased I
am that Maine and Illinois, both so dear to me, stood by me. But
because I love them, I do not love my country any the less, as you
know.

"And so I am to be called 'Judge' after all! This is between
ourselves.

"Faithfully yours,
"M. W. Fuller."

Senator Frye voted in favor of Judge Fuller's confirmation. He
did this partly, I believe, because Fuller was a Maine man and a
classmate of his at Bowdoin College, he previously having entertained
some doubts, as he told me afterwards, whether Fuller was really
qualified to be Chief Justice of the United States. Very soon
after his appointment, the Chief Justice was invited to deliver an
address before the Joint Session of the two Houses of Congress.
I think it was on the occasion of the one-hundredth anniversary of
the inauguration of the first President of the United States.
Senator Frye and I walked together over to the hall of the House
where the joint session assembled, and he said as we went along:
"I will determine to