The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-05

ALBANY, Feb. 4, 1851.
The secret history and the incidents connected with
the caucus to nominate United States Senator held on
Saturday night, will form one Of the most important
chapters the political annals of the Empire State and
especially will they be interesting for him Who fu
day furnishes the world with narrative Of facts in
regard to the progress and downfall of the republ
can party Nor will they be less important TO that bog
rapher who is called upon to record the private and pub
lie life OF Thurow Weed so long potent with his
party, and Of equal interest in the history and
adventures Of Horace Greeley. The events Of that
evening win form an important link in the
lives of those two individuals, tho record OF
his roaming powers, and tie other his advancement in
progress and political influence.
There Is fact In connection with the history Of
kings AID monarchs that all historians agree upon and
thas when their power is upon the wane and their
sceptrc about to pass from then person convince
them of their weak poston-even those friends that
have counselled with them and whose advice they have
followed in days Of prosperity then upheeded and pro-
nounced unoyal for thus doubling their power. doubt
if there is in all the numerous volumes Of his
tory that have been written single instance
Of monarch or leader on the Of his downfall that
could comprehend his true position; but whenever the
facts before him in all their solid reality he
forced 10 give way TO ct of passion it matered not
how composed and tempered he had been days OF
prosperity. 1t is thus that find the Warwick of the
republican party this State to-day. number of those
friends that have been Weeds most earnest supporters
have from the beginning Of the session, urged upon him
change his policy but confident of lis power and
willing to believe that the magic of his wand had de-
parted he persisted travelling his way and sound
ed his trumpet for his to rally to his support They
from all sections Of the State, but they like
old men in their dotage unable TO influence the active
that had enlisted against The long accredited chief
No has been so badly deceived in this whole
test has Weed During the last ten days before the
caucus, it was apparent that powerful combination was
being made for Geeley fearful OF the result of this
Weed summoned his faithful from almost every county
in the State cone and take of their particular
members and that they voted right. The faithful
came those too who had stood by the side of Weed in
many contest and therefore known to be reliable but
Ne power Of these gentlemen had like their leader,
departed; tho Dyes of tho members were
towards tho rising and not tho setting
These men thus summoned went to work
diligently, and daily reported changes from Greeley to
Evarts unfortunately the latter gentleman those
changes did not exist in fact and in this way that
Weed deceived in his strength. For instance, Alb.
Dickinson called upon TO drive from the minds Of the
Seubcn members the Greeley heresy that had taken pos
of them he commenced the task, and in short
time reported headquarters that they would
vote for Greeley statement winch any man that would
to be utterly false Again. Thompson OF Genesee coin
ty, went TO work upon Wright, from that coun-
~, and in short time reported to headquarters
that he sound for Evarts. Thus | might go
on and enumerate fifteen twenty in tho same way,
which continued to swell the list on Weeds side, and
mace him the confident. These reported changes
found the last Gay to be fase-not one had taken
place. but on the contrary gradual change had been
going on another direction This the friends OF Weed,
confident In the powers Of their chief were unwilling TO
until the solid reality made known by votes in
the caucus.
james NJ. Cook Bank superintendent; Comptroller Den
nison Attorney General Myers, Treasurer Dorsheimer,
the narbor Masters Canal Commissioners, and host OF
patriots New York, hand, skirmshng and
endeavoring to Dragon tbs forces into Evarts'
ranks; and these men continued to carry IA
reports were without any foundation in truth
do wish to BIO understood that these gentlemen VIII
fully misreprescnt the state of als 10 Weed, out do
say that they bndy refused TO look at the issue Of the
contest and thus msed ~ 10 the course that seve
raj OF the members would take Inc TACT OF the matter
is the whole force AT work Tor Evata were so confident
that Greeley could not get over twenty or twenty-five
votes that they laughed at the whole movement, and
seemed to consider 1t rdiculous but imagine their eyes
open now.
On Friday night much of the real work done. The
Greeley men-tweDty In number-ass EN- BLEED in caucus
at the Deavan half past eleven that ing, and ap
pointed vigilance committee of i've, senators SEES
sons and Truman, and Nessrs. Rice, Camp and Mer-
rtt OF the House. and 10 this way entered the field
for the Last days work, On Saturday there was fever
ish excitement everywhere. Evart was in the library
after the adjournment OF the morning session. the twenty
faithful Greeley assembled and reported the cond-
ton Of their and before adournng each one OF the
twenty pledg ed himself hs vote tor Greeley and
each Il see Id also the aTst bu!ot IL
seems that in this they fulfilled their promise, for there
precisely forty votes cast Tor Greeley on the nst
ballot
AT precisely half past six p Weed sent for Senator
Sessions the chairman OF Greeley Vigilance Commit
tee Sessions responded and immediately appeared in tho
the once king the republican party ard asked
what the wish OF his hignnces Weed commenced
frGft nyn faf
that no would find that he had MADE great mistake.
:. Do you not rcmembcr." says Weed how Gree and
the Tribune have signaiod YOU out and heaped upon
your head ali manner Of abase for your course last
winter, and charging yCu With corruption2 Can IL be
possible that you will now desert one VINO stood by you
and 20 for the person who has viied youY You have
made great take Mr.. Sessions and viii find IL sop
says Mr. sessons-.'I know, Mr.. Weed, that tho Fri
bune-and suppose il was from Greelcys penhas SAID
q great deal about in connection with my
course last winter, but you must remember
that It was SAID as furna',,, G ena oes Res
sir you asking TO vote for nsn who, over his
signature, united in inviting Governor Morgan TO
direct and personal charges against your friends In the
Legislature have sir 70 tell OF the position OF the
under consideration whatever, to night any other
time, viii 20 for Mr. Evartsfor United states SENATOR
The interview lasted untl almost seven O'clock the time
for the commencement Of the caucus.
The hour VI 81 .vchtful time when the fate
Of the factions TO DO decided arrived The Asscm-
bly, chamber and galleries were crowded, and the
side room filed with workers hanging to tho
very last cndeavEing TO change the tide Weed
ana Evarts took up their quarters in the Governors
Room, executive chamber, Just across hall from
the Assembly chamber. At little Later period Judge
harris joined them and they awaited the result Of the
baotting Weed confident Of success, and fully con-
WINGED that the first ballot would announce about nifty
votes his candidates. and that Greeley could not get
over thirty five thirty But imagine his surprise
when IL announced that Evarts vote
was only forty-two, and Greeleys only two short
Of that. There were many long and pale faces
upon this but they increased in length
whtones upon the result of the second ballot when
IL was found that Evarts had faHen off and Greeley
hat haar he re-