The Portland daily press., 1883-05-30

from April till December 10 the Presidential
question. had attended two extra sessions
of the Legislature and meeting Of the EleC-
toral College. | had travelled pretty thor
oughly throughout the State, and with tho
exception of $50 contributed by Mr.. Yer
panck, of the New York American, wholly
at my own expense. To defray these e1-
penses / had borrowed $3.50 Of Mr.. LAWS
Benedict, Of Albany, and 500 of General
Walter Cunningham, of Ponghkeepsie. l
paid the money borrowed of Mr.. Benedict,
with interest, twelve years afterward, not
being able to do SO ut an earlier day. For
the purpose of enabling me to discharge ma
debt to Mr.. Benedict, and TO pay my BIO ard
my political friends in the Legislature signed
a letter, addressed to Mr. Elisha D0rr, of
Albany, one of the electors, saying that it
was owing to my personal zeal and efforts
that an Adams organization had been effect
ed in the State, that had contributed large
ly to the union between the Adams and
Clay members of the Legislature, union TO
which the State and the Nation were in
debted for the defeat OF the Regency and the
Crawford party, and asking the Electoral
College to appoint me the messenger TO car
ny their votes to Washington.
When the electors assembled, the venera-
BILE Ebenezer Sage, OF Suffolk County, was
absent, aud ex observation-disclosures John
Taylor, of Albany, was appointed to supply
that vacancy. Governor Taylor, always dis
tingnished for his hospitallties, gave the
electors an entertainment; and before they
lett his house, and while under the influence
Of his oysters, eomtits and champagne, Mr..
John lay or Cooper, grandson of the Lieu
tenant Governor was announced as Il snita-
bic gentleman as messenger to convey the
electoral vote to Washington. Governor Tay-
lor, not originally on the electoral ticket,
knew nothing of the arrangements with ref
erenee TO myself, Mr.. Dofr, to whom the
letter of the members Of the Legislature had
been intrusted, had left before young Mr..
Cooper was announced as candidate. Mr..
Burnham of Cayuga, informed the electors
under what circumstances | was candi-
| date; but Governor Taylors high standing
| induced the electors 10 disregard other con-
| sieerations, and by general consent Mr..
| Cooper's appointment was acquiesced In.
On the following day Mr.. Dorr produced his
letter and endeayored to secure my appoint
ment, butt was too late. When the question
was taken, the vote of the Adams men was d.
vlded between Mr.. Cooper and myself Mr.
Russell, OF Niagara County, himself an cleo.
tor, received the vote of the Crawford cleo
tors. As there was no choice on the first
ballot, Mr.. Russell succeeded, by strong per-
sonal appeals, in securing majority on a
subsequent ballot, so that the vote of the
State of New York in favor OF Mr.. Adams
was carried 10 Washington by a Crawford
messenger.
This disappointment, more crushing to me
than the loss of much more exalted place
under other circumstances could have been,
| was "a blessing in disguse.n As an Office
seeker. thenceforward, | was "discharged,
cured To the question, which has been a
thousand times asked, but never before re-
| sponded to, why never accepted office, this
is my answer. From the day that shameful
injustice was practised, have had an aver
sion and repugnance to office, which neither
time, change nor conditions have either ov-
| ercoIne or weakened.