New-York tribune., 1879-05-27
POLITICS IN '62 AND ga.
LETTER FROM HUGH ]. HASTINGS.


WHO HAD PART IN 1T.
To the Edffor Of The Tribune
SIR: Mr. Weed and Professor Clark have told
how General Dix was nominated for Governor IN
1872. and the late Postmaster General King has
related how General Dix came to be appointed by
President Buchanan Secretary of the Treasury
These bits of history will be found by future his
torians very useful and very interesting. Ii IS well
that the men who acted history should write his
tory. propose. with vour permission, to make
contribution in that line and to relate how mar
rowly the General escaped being nominated for
Governor in 1864, and how it came about that
Reuben T.. Fenton was nominated BY way of pre-
face | recall the defeat of General Wadsworth
and the election of Horatio Seymour for Governor
in 1862 The success of the Democrats IN that
year was regarded in many quarters as unfortunate
to the Union cause, and was glorhed as a rebel
victory, notwithstanding Mr. Seymours speech
two or three DAYS before the election that he IA
vored "a vigorous prosecution of the war" Sey-
mours election fell like cold chill upon the Union
Army and on every recruiting station. The Union
men of the country remembered his speech at
Tweddle Hall. in Albany. IN 1861, and hls success
depressed every friend of the UnlOu in the country
Wadsworths defeat was charged to Mr.. Weed and
his friends This one Of the many wicked
falsehoods of the day alleged against MT. Weed. 1t
is due TO Mr. Weed 10 say he never was moro
earnest active and untring III the election OF
Seward at any time than he was for Jas. W ads
worth 1t was because Nj. Weeds advice was not
taken at the State Convention where Mr.. Wads-
worth was nominated that me was defeated.
The old Democratic Free Soil element, that few
years before Joined with the Wings to constitute
the Republican party, was recruited by old party
associates known as War Democrats" and soon
became most clamorOus for Office aud sought
to be tho dominating party of all conventions The
nominate on of Mr. WadswOrth was entirely accept
able to Mr. Weed and his old Wing friends. When,
however, the convention IN a moment of excite
ment nominated Lyman Tremain for Lieutenant
Governor, who only the year before made speech
in Twedde Hall with Seymour and Thayer, that
was looked upon by every friend of the Union as
disloyal and reasonable, il regarded as
unwise by the sagacOus men of the country. MIR.
Weed demonstrated and SAID Gentlemen, you
have made mistake. How can you expect to bring
out old Wings to support this ticket with enthu-
siasm T. THIS remOnstrance against the inconsdeTate
action of the convention after election was brought
forward by his enemies evidence of bis want OF
good faith to Wadsworth and the Republican
ticket The Wbg party then constituted eighty
five pei cent of the Republican party
and the fifteen per cent of Old Democracy
demanded about all the offices. Nothing out the
devotion Of the old Wings TO the cause of the
Union could have induced them 10 support the Re-
publican ticket that year. As ii was Seymour
only carried the State 10y a majority of 10000.
THE SITUATION IN 1864.
II is noticeable in connection with SeymOuT's suc
cess that the Republicans encountered defeat in the
States of New,Jersey. Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana
and Illinois the same year. Wadsworth's defeat
was regarded as a serious setback to the Republi-
can party in the State. The loyal men of the
country were more or less discouraged during the
years OF 1SG2 and 1868 with the prosecution of the
war. The Republicans were not Over-sanguine
Of success at the approaching election of 1864
in New-YOrk. The candidates for Governor wero
not numerous and about the only candidate who
was much talked of was Reuben f. FentOD, then
member of Congress for Chautauqua, serving his
fifth term. Mr.. Fenton understood that ThurlOw
Weed. although by his conservative course be had
arrayed against HIM the extreme radical element
of the party, still great power in Re-
publican conventions To win Weeds friends
over TO his side to remove the
only real obstacles in his way. Mr.. Fenton was
originally Democrat before becoming Republi-
can. and his friends the Importance of securing
The old Wing leaders who belonged TO the Weed
and Seward party, With the exception OF the
present writer, am OF opinion that MIR. Fenton
captured about all the active followers of Mr..
Weed. who were not long in convincing the old
man y that Mr. FeDton was the best man to nom
mate for Governor. 10 was arranged between
Fenton, the late Alex. Harvey and +. ID. Webster, OF
Buffalo and others, that Fenton and the old man"
ID
warm friends There long existed coldness be-
One morning carly in August, 1854, while Mr..
Weed was engaged in reading tue morning papers
IN room No. ~ the AstOr House, General Harvey
entered. accompanied by Mr.. Fenton. The recep
zion was rather tame and cool at first, but after a
brief conversation there was n change OF atmos-
pheTe and the business for winch Mr. Fenton called
was talked over. 1t is sufficient TO say that hr.
Weed was betrayed into COmmlttal TO favor Mir.
FentOns nomination for Governor. Ihe Sage OF
Ch9utauqUa returned to his rural retreat happy
man. The Republican state Convention met a
month later at Syracuse. General DIX at tnlS time
was in command Mt Fortress Monroe. lie had III
10 way identified himself with the Republican
party lie had gwen uJtelanCe, however, 10 iOydi
aud patriotic sentiments that had greatly endeared
him to Union men. 1t was regarded as OF vital M
pOrtance TO the cause of the Union that
NewYork should elect for Governor at the ap,
preaching election prOnOuuced Union man. Oeher&l
Dixs name had occasionally been mentioned aS
candidate He had been talked with by several
uersons hut he gave them no encouragement to use
ms name for tho Office Of Governor The present
Judge Hunt of the Unlt6d states supreme Court,
then private citizen of Utica, addressed the Gen
cral on the subject. He returned an answer which
Mr.. Hunt brought with him as delegate to the
convention. 1he letter regarded as not en-
trev satisfactory, and for this reason II was only
THE NOMINATION. MADE.
The writer met Messrs. Hunt and Roscoe Conk
ling in the Syracuse House on Che morning of the
convention. hey were then acting with the ex-
treme radical faction of the Republican party as
opposed 10 the Weed and Seward element. In
word they were unfriendly to Mr.. Weed, and not
disposed TO favor any candidate for Governor that
Mr.. Weed desired 20 nominate Your correspondent
WAS ilnpOrtuned by MT. COnkling as TO whom Mr..
Weed wished TO nominate for Governor Ireplied
that some fellows were fooling the old man., and
I was afraid he was for FentOn." Whom
are YOU for" inquired inQui tiye statesman.
For General Dix, ," replied. Mr.. Conkling went
l.. H.