登陆注册
5145700000009

第9章 IN PUBLIC LIFE(3)

I was re-elected, but by reduced majority. The assembly being a tie, it was several weeks before it could organize. I was the candidate in the caucus of the Republican members for speaker, but after the nomination one of the members, named Bemus, threatened to bolt and vote for the Democratic candidate unless his candidate, Sherwood, was made the nominee. So many believed that Bemus would carry out his threat, which would give the organization of the House to the Democrats by one majority, that I withdrew in favor of Sherwood. After voting hopelessly in a deadlock, day after day for a long period, a caucus of the Republican members was called, at which Sherwood withdrew, and on his motion I was nominated as the party candidate for speaker.

During the night a Democratic member, T.C. Callicot, of Kings County, came to my bedroom and said: "My ambition in life is to be speaker of the assembly. Under the law the legislature cannot elect the United States senator unless each House has first made a nomination, then the Senate and the House can go into joint convention, and a majority of that convention elect a senator.

You Republicans have a majority in the Senate, so that if the House nominates, the legislature can go into joint convention and elect a Republican senator. As long as the House remains a tie this cannot be done. Now, what I propose is just this:

Before we meet tomorrow morning, if you will call your members together and nominate me for speaker, the vote of your party and I voting for myself will elect me. Then I will agree to name General Dix, a Democrat, for United States senator, and if your people will all vote with me for him he will be the assembly nominee. The Senate has already nominated Governor Morgan.

So the next day the legislature can go into joint convention and, having a Republican majority, elect Governor Morgan United States senator." I told Mr. Callicot that I would present the matter to my party associates.

In the early morning Saxton Smith and Colonel John Van Buren, two of the most eminent Democrats in the State and members of the legislature, came to me and said: "We know what Callicot has proposed. Now, if you will reject that proposition we will elect you speaker practically unanimously."This assured my election for the speakership. I had a great ambition to be on that roll of honor, and as I would have been the youngest man ever elected to the position, my youth added to the distinction. On the other hand, the government at Washington needed an experienced senator of its own party, like Edwin D. Morgan, who had been one of the ablest and most efficient of war governors, both in furnishing troops and helping the credit of the country.

I finally decided to surrender the speakership for myself to gain the senatorship for my party. I had difficulty in persuading my associates, but they finally agreed. Callicot was elected speaker and Edwin D. Morgan United States senator.

The event was so important and excited so much interest, both in the State and in the country, that representative men came to Albany in great numbers. The rejoicing and enthusiasm were intense at having secured so unexpectedly a United States Senator for the support of Mr. Lincoln's administration.

That night they all united in giving me a reception in the ballroom of the hotel. There was a flood of euIogistic and prophetic oratory. I was overwhelmed with every form of flattery and applause, for distinguished service to the party. By midnight I had been nominated and elected Governor of the State, and an hour later I was already a United States senator. Before the morning hour the presidency of the United States was impatiently waiting for the time when I would be old enough to be eligible. All this was soon forgotten. It is a common experience of the instability of promises and hopes which come from gratified and happy enthusiasts, and how soon they are dissipated like a dream! I have seen many such instances, and from this early experience deeply sympathize with the disillusionized hero.

The Democrats of the assembly and also of the State were determined that Mr. Callicot should not enjoy the speakership. They started investigations in the House and movements in the courts to prevent him from taking his seat. The result was that I became acting speaker and continued as such until Mr. Callicot had defeated his enemies and taken his place as speaker in the latter part of the session.

I was also chairman of the committee of ways and means and the leader of the House. The budget of my committee was larger than usual on account of the expenses of the war. It was about seven million dollars. It created much more excitement and general discussion than does the present budget of one hundred and forty millions. The reason is the difference in conditions and public necessities of the State of New York in the winter of 1863 and now. It is also partly accounted for by the fact that the expenses of the State had then to be met by a real-estate tax which affected everybody, while now an income tax has been adopted which is capable of unlimited expansion and invites limitless extravagance because of the comparatively few interested.

Eighteen hundred and sixty-three was an eventful year; the early part was full of gloom and unrest. Horatio Seymour, as governor, violently antagonized President Lincoln and his policies. Seymour was patriotic and very able, but he was so saturated with State rights and strict construction of the Constitution that it marred his judgment and clouded his usually clear vision. In the critical situation of the country Mr. Lincoln saw the necessity of support of the State of New York. The president said: "The governor has greater power just now for good than any other man in the country.

同类推荐
  • 好人歌

    好人歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉燕姻缘全传

    玉燕姻缘全传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说太子墓魄经

    佛说太子墓魄经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天王太子辟罗经

    天王太子辟罗经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说佛母宝德藏般若波罗蜜经

    佛说佛母宝德藏般若波罗蜜经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 十三经开讲:诗经开讲

    十三经开讲:诗经开讲

    本书以自由活泼又不失庄重的叙述方式,向读者展示《诗经》博大精深、包孕丰富的内容,精妙绝伦、美不胜收的艺术,以及这部经典对中国乃至世界文学所产生的巨大、深远的影响。考虑到《诗经》文字的深奥古僻,为了读者阅读方便,本书所引用的作品,大都翻译成现代汉语,并尽量达意、通顺。书末“鉴赏举隅”章,旨在通过对部分作品的赏析,使读者感受到《诗经》无穷的魅力。
  • 青少年应该知道的民间藏书(阅读中华国粹)

    青少年应该知道的民间藏书(阅读中华国粹)

    阅读中华国粹系列是一部记录中华国粹经典、普及中华文明的读物,又是一部兼具严肃性和权威性的中华文化典藏之作,可以说是学术性与普及性结合。丛书囊括古今,泛揽百科,不仅有相当的学术资料含量,而且有吸引入的艺术创作风味,是中华传统文化的经典之作。文献典籍为统治者所垄断,民间没有收藏流传,是中国图书萌芽时期的突出特点。
  • 唯有青春,最难将息

    唯有青春,最难将息

    中国年轻人和日本年轻人是性格反差很大的两个文化群体,本书围绕爱情与婚姻、职业与梦想、情绪与自我展开讲述,是作者近藤大介先生在日本成长、20世纪90年代在北京工作和生活的笔记和观感,着重对比了中国文化与日本文化的差异,中国年轻人与日本年轻人的区别。分析了日本人没有梦想、家庭教育失败、工作方式僵化、虚荣和贪婪冒进的性格及这种性格在推动日本从蛮荒之地、欧洲的弃儿走向繁荣富强道路上的突出作用。在对比中日两国年轻人的一些迥异的同时,点出了属于两国的优劣之势,让我们更加了解青春,也通过一个异国人的眼睛参透自己应如何度过青春。
  • 蛮妻难驯

    蛮妻难驯

    临近子夜,A市在豪华地段上,一家闪着璀璨夜灯的酒店最大最豪华的总统客房门口。楼道中一道纤细敏捷的身影悄然到达门口。看身影是个女子,回头谨慎看了下四周确认没人注意,这才伸手拿出一银制的钢丝一样的东西对着门轻松那么一扭。房门应声而开。“恩,好大的酒气。没想老大这次让我对个醉鬼下手,扫兴……不过醉了更好,更好办事。”女子灵巧进去,随即关上了门。入鼻就是浓重……
  • 草原之花:布木布泰

    草原之花:布木布泰

    《草原之花——布木布泰》为“中国文化知识读本”系列之一,以优美生动的文字、简明通俗的语言、图文并茂的形式,介绍了草原之花布木布泰传奇的一生。
  • 阴阳之虚空

    阴阳之虚空

    故事发生在天元大陆的一个时代交替的时间,时代的划分标志便是天道大劫,天道会直接创造强者魔兽等为他战斗。上个时代的诸位强者已经被天道消灭,这个时代的天道大劫即将来临,刘天带着五行大帝的传承,遵循上个时代强者残魂的指引,经历重重劫难,成就天帝,镇压天道!
  • 三字经讲记

    三字经讲记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 从女贼到皇妃:武妃传奇

    从女贼到皇妃:武妃传奇

    为救一名帅哥她莫名其妙穿越成了山寨寨主,不仅拥有绝世姿容,而且拥有一身绝世武功,哇!终于可以行侠仗义了。好不容易从官兵手里夺来那只木箱,哪知箱子里装的竟是一个俊美男子。可恶,这家伙竟不辞而别,于是,她踏入血雨腥风的江湖,又入险象环生的皇宫,开始了她传奇的一生…
  • 一场盛世许流年

    一场盛世许流年

    夜沐梓,二十一世纪最多金的雇佣兵女王。沉寒冥修真界中堪称妖孽的天才。当性情多变的她遇上腹黑外加醋坛的妖孽天才,且看两虎向斗,谁胜谁败。当各种技能接近完美的她,一朝成为修为高深,血统高贵的当朝太女,她是该君临天下,还是肆意人生?在面对这泼天富贵时,她是该欣然接受,还是淡泊名利?当洗牌再次来临她是该事不关己高高挂起,还是担起自身的责任,掌握大权坐镇其中?在洗牌的过程中他们是盟友还是敌人?
  • 高血压健康生活指南

    高血压健康生活指南

    高血压与心肌梗死关系密切。有资料表明高血压病人中约14%可出现心肌梗死,其中男性多于女性。在男性患者中,高血压病人心肌梗死的发病率比血压正常者高2~4倍。其次为临界高血压,而血压正常或偏低者心肌梗死的发生率较低,这说明高血压是引起冠心病心肌梗死的主要原因。