The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
DISAPPOINTED STATESMEN.
THE PATHWAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE
STREWN WIN WRECKS.
Triviaiities and Mistakes That Prevented
the Ne.sInstion or tho Election OF Men
to the neutrality-suspicious. Weeds Rem
inIscences Of tho Accidents or Politics.

10 ths ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "eed's Hcm-
inIseences OF tho Accidents OF Politics.
In his old ago Thurlow Weed was very fond
Of relating to his friends anecdotes that his
nifty years experience rs a politician had fur
nished. Moreover. his anecdotes we're usually
Of the kind that illustrate n point In politics,
aud he was frequently able to group number
together SO that they would serve as a DEM
oDstration OF a law OF American politics US 1t
had leon developed under his eye.
One evening Mr.. Weed was entertaining
some flends with political "reminiscences II
was not long after tho disputed election of
1870 and tho conversation turned upon tho
accidents Of politics as far as they mado or
unmudo Presidential candidates. aud Mr..
Weed told n must interesting story OF the cleo.
tioa OF John Quincy Adams. Ho had said that
the pathway to the White House was strewn
with wrecked am billions. the result of disaster
dive 10 Icident or mistake which at the mo-
ment OF occurrence seemed trivial.
Tho people voted in 1924 for electors com.
mitted to the selection either Of John Quincy
Adams. William II. Crawford, Andrew jack.
son. or Henry Clay. Tho strongest candidates.
1t was believed, were Crawford and jackson.
Gay was then young man. perhaps the
youngest who had cvor boon voted for for tho
Presidency. Adams represented what was left
OF the old Federal party and no had some sup
port among Democrats who wero opposed to
Crawford o: Jackson.
There is no doubt. or was no doubt in Thur
low Weeds mind, at that time that II majority
OF tho citizens of New York state were in favor
Of tho election of Mr.. Crawford. The Lcgis-
laturc. however, chose tho electors then. and
although majority Of that body seemed likely
to favor Crawford. the division Of sentiment
was such that Weed who was then n young
man learning his first lessons in politics. and
somc others believed that fusion ticket would
be offered which would be carried by the Leg
i-lature. Many OF Cruwlord's friends woro
wealthy New Workers. and they were deter
nined to give him the electoral vote.
Having told 81 much Of the preliminary his
tory Of that canvass. Mr.. Weed. with gentle
smile. added: And now l am going to tell
you what my first experiences of the accidents
or chances OF politics were"
He was a passenger on an Eric Canal boat
on his way to Albany. he said. On the same
boat was member Of the Legislature. elected
as an Adams man. Somewhere on the trip u
man boarded the canalboat whom Mr.. Weed
recognized as person employed to procure
legislation. or what is nowadays known as
lobbyist The lobbyist was soon in
close CONVEX sation with the Adams leg
islator. who did rot know Mr.. Weed.
As result OF their conference two
letters were write, and mailed from
tho canalboat. and Mr.. Weed was sharp
enough to see to whom they welo addressed.
They were mailed to two other members. also
chosen by Adams men. Then Mr.. Weeds sus-
picions were aroused and ho determined to
play the detective. He followed the lobbyist
4any 70 New YORK ety sRaaSw ea' t6Sm
until they roa he'd n hotel. whore they met u
manu. sna We Wse Tf n m ssnGnT
which ne did not caro- to reveal. was soon In
Tight attempt ut bribery Vas i being made n mIs by
FMS man. ami that a large sum Of money. at
the esY
lo1 OK solid body OF electors who would vote
,'of course the friends OF Adams were put to
their wits, end to prevent that and Mr. Weed
suggested the way ~ which it could lie done.
it"ian and ans other Mr Weed , ineed sam eU Of
tho memters ON whom briIeEy was attempted,
for Crawford They would bo publicly charged
In the Legs lature with bribery. Gen. Spencer
endorsed with his name on the back 20 that it
gould be discovered whether they wore faith
full " hud betrayed thcir constituents.
Legislature Nj. Weed licked himself in u" a
little printing office. put on an apron. rolled
ticket. majority OF tho names '1 on ait It Geos
those OF Adams ELECTORS. but there were some
possible !" elect solid Adams electoral Hs t tick Se
The ballots wore distributed secretly. When
ss Ssssn ii fS n bo sen "aa
saw that printed ballot something unpreee-
dented. was Deposited. and FORGETTING him
"A printed ballot is being voted" one
S 81 tns ssn& 4sasio+i umns to his feet
sssmed for fsw momenfs as though Hn shcre
YOU'D be a riot in ne &c, enamrter: The Crqw,
woulI reveal that those who had voted ii had
been true to their pledge, and the attemnt TO
YET. thyrR lalv aUuinst n pri toI hnl
lot, those offered were necessarily received.
And And us a result a fusion ticket was, elected
name, to tho House Of epresoptatiS" :s in
Vas CARRIED Had It not been Tor that FACTION sction
rni vote OF Now York. and would undou fHiH
have been chosen President.
~ Ter r., the hnnMS e"nGdence which
sanSI"at NJ Weed Su sn SSe and tnH tsms
th.s scheme would have carried. and M. Craw
Iord would nave been elected President
THE DEFEATS OF HENRY CLAY.
But II Mr.. Weed won that battle chance
fayorng him. his victory COST him n defeat
which gave him infinite sorrow, and caused II
tern Witnessed In a Presidential election. MIR.
aa ,nn Es .eGt1d reSdent and ty the Mid
pYintsi H. Gay $esSs'aTy Of Stale sG and t a
gam with Clay. and that the State Department
was offered nnl accepted rs the price Of Giny's
support In the House OF Representatives The
accusation caused passion which. NJ this day.
IN us intensity seems to have been utterly I'M
reasonable, 1t was yuhemently asserted and
phssionatey denied. Tho hest opinion now is.
and IL was the opinion OF Mr.. Weed and the
politicians Of the earlier day. that tho ;lccusn-
tiop was not literally true. but that Mr. Adams.
could SAf ess '9r ITS sesoR
nise # by calling cIay to the Cabinet, The ac-
eareer. II aliennted from him permanently
support which aiterward. had he possessed it.
Mr.. Weed was fond Of dwelling on clay's
singular career. Accidents and mistakes
consequence always defeated Clay for the
nopination when he might have been elected
and brought about his defeat at the polls
Whenever he had secured the no3minatlpn. OF
coqrss, there was no Ghaace o. Gays election
Jackson. nor again 10 1896; when Martin Van
prestige Of Old Hickory. But IN 1910 the tri-
umph,of the Wings was as we'll Indicated as
been period Of distress nd the country had