The Portland daily press., 1866-09-01

Characteristics of Democratic Leader.
The peculiar features of New York politics
which gave scope years ago to the exercise Of
such powers as were manifested by Thurlow
Weed on the one side and Dean Richmond on
the other, are not easily ineligible to the Cit
zens of State like Maine. As the people of
New York became more earnest in their con-
victions, the tricks Of the Regency" and the
"Lobhy' became Of less and less avail, until at
last we have seen the two great antagonists
in the natural course of events pitted togeth-
er against the people of the State, hoping that
their combined influence might secure once
more the power which each had formerly en-
joyed singly. We find in the New York Her
aid, now leading administration paper, some
instructive anecdotes of the life and character
of Dean Richmond, who died last Monday
"Mr. Richmond did not as the World says,
Cherish very lofty ideal of patriotism. His
character" the World continues, twas too ro-
bust and practical for any kind of sentiment
alism." 1t may be that character too robust
and practical to be patriotic does not deserve
any great tenderness; yet we should hesitate
to publish such revelations respecting the
dead, if they were not paraded as good and
honorable memorials of a life well spent. The
World goes so far as to say, that, "the loss of
great party chief, who commanded the re-
spect of the whole country, is a serious public
calamity" 1t is duty to the community to
show what coarse brutality Of manner and
dishonesty of political management, relieved
at times by q certain rough good nature, go 10
make up the character of great party chief
who commands the respect of the whole
Democratic party:
The illegibility of Mr. Richmond's hand
writing was proverbial, and amusing anecdotes
in relation to the difficulty of deciphering his
characters are related, although no doubt, like
the late President Lincoln, ne is made to father
some jokes which do not legitimately belong to
him. 1t is said that an employee of the Cen
trail Railroad, at Buffalo, once offended Mr..
Richmond, and received an abrupt dismissal,
by a card written by the then Vice President
of the road, briefly informing him that "his
services could be dispensed with after this date"
and signed I'D. Richmond" in the usual yigor-
GUS style. This card, SO says the story, was
used by the discharged official as family pass
over the road for twelve months, the conductor
being satisfied with the sight of the well-known
signature, without attempting to read the body
of the document. e4 s.f i '
When James Buchanan supposed himself to
stand some chance of denomination for the
Presidency, the manner in which the New York
delegation was divided with Mr.. Dickerson
puzzled the Washington politicians, and Mr..
Buchanan wrote letter to Mr.. Richmond, d.
lating on the dangerous condition of the coun-
try, requesting to be informed by Mr.. r.. of the
position that would probably be taken by the
New York delegates, and assuring him that any
information given should be held strictly "pri-
vate and confidential" When Mr.. Richmond
received this communication, an intimate DO
ltical friend to whom it was shown, inquired
G." said Mr. Richmond "of course must
answer a letter from the President" and he
took q sheet OF paper and wrote his answer,
AS there was a sly humor in his eye when he
made the above remark, it is fair to conclude
that he did not strive to make his writing any
palmer than usual. At all events, the letter
when written, would have puzzled a PhiladeI-
phia lawyer, had he desired to CLEAN any infor-
nation from it, Those who have seen Mr.. RS
writing, even at the best of times, will imagine
how little Mr.. buchanan learned from the "pri-
vate and confidential" epistle of the Sentiments
and policy of the New Workers.
Numerous are the anecdotes told of his no.
litical career. AT the Charleston Convention a
number of amusing incidents marked the
meetings of the New York delegation. over
minority in the delegation were opposed to the
policy OF nominating Mr.. Douglass, and among
them were Erastus Corning and Edwin Cres-
we'll At one period of the session at Charles
ton, resolution, very shrewdly drawn and cal
culated to seriously embarass the majority.
was sprung suddenly upon the committee by
Mr.. Cresswell. Several members saw at once
the necessity of defeating the resolution, but
no person seemed to know exactly in what
shape to offer his amendment. The conse-
quence was that several amendments were
made, and five or six were piled un-
one upon another, until at last
one struck the Chairman as placing the matter
in the proper shape. sThat amendments in
order" exclaimed Mr.. r., in the midst of the
confusion, and rapping Justify on the table;
Those in favor say aye-it's carried" Some
what surprised at this summary proceeding
MIR: Cochrane, with his accustomed courtesy
and admitted parliamentary skill, rose and beg
geo TO raise the point of order that no more
enan TWO amendments could be offered to an
al maj proposition at one time and that more
ol1n Two nad been made prior to the one thus
acted upon. Oh pariimentarv rnlesp; ar.
claimed the chairman, soto yoce. 1the amend
ments carried, by Cd! and it's going tn stick
too" And he passed on Immediately to an,
other subject. W on
But at the adjourned meeting at galt;uoro
when the Southern blood was up, Mr.. Richmon3
showed to most advantage. His perfect No.
chalance and abrupt, decisive manner. nuzziad
the "chivalry." At one period of the Conven
ton, incensed at the Roadway making against
the effort to induce the whole of the Southern
States to secede in body, and heated by, fire.
9uent applications at the bar, some OF the lead
ing fire-eaters grew fierce and clustering, and,
like Paddy at the fair, were eager to lind some
person willing to tread ON the tails of their po-
iiticai coats. ,Aparty ofthese pugnacious gen.
tlemen, who had made one successful and sew
eral Intellectual efforts to get up fight with
some prominent Northern delegates approach
ed Mr.. Richmond at the Eutaw House in an
abrupt and somewhat offensive manner
heavy moustache with much ferocty, II ask
you, as leading Northern man, what you
think ofthe action of our Southern delegations,
sir?" Think replied Mr.. Richmond, with
his hands in his pockets "why, by Cd, think
The "chivalry Redeemed, stared moment, and