The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-21
Personal Politics.
How the New York Politicians of For
mer Generation Fought Their Battles.


From Thurlow Weeds Autobiography
An incident, not at first deemed of impor-
lance. became Unexpectedly an element in
several New York State elections alike vex-
atious and notifying to Governor Marcy and
his friends. Governor Marcy while Judge
OF the Supreme Court, held under special
act in 1929, the Niagara circuit, at which
several of the men indicted for the abduction
OF William Morgan were tried. The act pre-
vided for the payment by the State of the
Judges travelling and hotel expenses, Judge
Marcy kept an account of his expenses, and
on his return to Albany received payment
from the Comptroller, to whose annual
printed report 1t was appended | remem-
Der that that account contained the follow
ing item: "For mending my pantaloon, so
cents.'
To what | regarded as an unjnsiifable
personal attack in the Argus, retorted the
hfty-cent account against the State for mend
ing Governor Marcy's pantaloons. This par
agraph was republished and severely COM
mented upon by Wing journals throughout
the State. 1t was served up also upon the
stump. Fortunately for the Democracy,
their journals denied the truth of the state
ment. When the account duly authenticated
appeared, explanations were attempted. but
under the circumstances they proved unsat-
isfactory. Letters were received from
friends in different parts of the State, saving
that unless the accusation couasaaGasproved
II would cost the GovernSa many votes
Years afterwards | learned from Governor
Marcy himself, that nothing during his po-
lltical life had SO much disturbed and all
noyed him
Ia looking back, after an interval of nearly
forty years, and with perfect knowledge of
Governor Marcy's chara ter, cheertulty ac-
cept the justification thus offered. 1t was
that, instead of aggregating his hotel ex-
penses. including that with other charges in
one item, Judge Marcy conscientiously emu
merated every arGlcle, thus proving his hon
esty, for nothing would have been easier
than to have included the taior's bill
under an item of incidental expenses. 2
But during one of the later canvasses
Governor Marcy avenged himself at my
expense. Soon after the Morgan affair
reached the courts, Governor Throop APP
pointed John &. Spencer special coull-
sci to investigate the charges against
persons accused of The abduction of Morgan.
and to act upon all trials as counsel for the
State. In the progress of his investigation
the testimony of witness supposed to be in
Vermont or New Hampshire became indis-
| pensable. l was a member of what was
known and styled as the Morgan Commit
tee," taking an active part in the investiga-
tons and trials. With the approval of that
committee was dispatched by Mr.. Spencer
in pursuit of Adams, the absent witness.
The first step was to obtain requisition
from Governor Throop upon the Governor
of Vermont. The Governor was at his resi-
, dence near Auburn, and as time was impor
tant | was driven to Auburn that night in a
buggy, SO that l might get my requisition
| and take the Stage east the following MORN
| ing. My expenses and those of the witness
| who returned with me to CaDandaigua were
| paid by Mr.. spencer from a legislative APP
| preparation. Mr.. Spencer's accounts and
| vouchers were rendered to the Compti oilers
| Office, the incumbent then being William L.
| Marcy. Governor Marcy, ten years after
| ward, brushing up his memory, and repair
ng TO the Comptroller's office, detected
| there the following item: 'For transport
| ing Thurlow Weed to Auburn, ST. This
item, in a paragraph written in Governor
Marcy's happiest vein, appeared in the Al
bany Argus. That paragraph, while con-
ceding the propriety of transporting me
to Auburn, and admitting the reasonable
ness of the price paid, concluded by remark
| ing that the State could well have afforded
| to pay much larger snm, if the individual
| thus transported to Auburn" had been de-
| tanned there.
This retort went much farther to relieve
| Governor Marcy from The obnoxious 'patch''
than all the grave explanations aud argu.
| ments Of the Democratic press.