Butmymainworkwasgiventopreparingapamphlet，inanswertothelettersfromAmericabyDr。Russell，correspondentoftheLondon``Times。’’Thoughnominallyonourside，heclearlywrotehisletterstosuitthedemandsofthegreatjournalwhichheserved，andwhichwasmostbitterlyopposedtous。NothingcouldexceeditsvirulenceagainsteverythingAmerican。Everyoccurrencewasplacedintheworstlightpossibleasregardedourinterests，andeventhetelegraphicdespatchesweremanipulatedsoastodoourcausealltheinjurypossible。Ithereforeprepared，withespecialcare，ananswertotheselettersofDr。Russell，andpublisheditinLondon。Itsfatewaswhatmighthavebeenexpected。Somepapersdiscusseditfairly，but，onthewhole，itwaspooh—poohed，explainedaway，andfinallyburiedundernewmassesofslander。
Idid，indeed，findafewfriendsofmycountryinGreatBritain。InDublinIdinedwithCairnes，thepoliticaleconomist，whohadearnestlywritteninbehalfoftheUnionagainsttheConfederates;andinLondon，withProfessorCarpenter，theeminentphysiologist，who，beingdevotedtoanti—slaveryideas，wasmildlyfavorabletotheUnionside。ButIrememberhimlessonaccountofanythinghesaidrelatingtothestruggleinAmerica，thanforastatementbearinguponthelegitimacyofthesovereignthenrulinginFrance，whowasatheartoneofourmostdangerousenemies。Dr。CarpentertoldmethatsometimepreviouslyhehadbeenallowedbyNassauSenior，whosepublishedconversationswithvariousmenofimportancethroughoutEuropehadattractedmuchattention，tolookintosomeoftherecordswhichMr。Seniorhadnotthoughtitbesttopublish，andthatamongthemhehadreadthefollowing:
``————showedmeto—dayanautographletterwrittenbyLouisBonaparte，KingofHolland，notfarfromthetimeofthebirthofhisputativeson，nowNapoleonIII。Onepassagereadasfollows:`J’ailemalheurd’avoirpourfemmeuneMessalene。Elleadesamantspartout，etpartoutellelaisedesenfants。’’’
IcouldnotbutthinkofthisafewweekslaterwhenI
sawtheemperor，whoderivedhistitletothethroneofFrancefromhisnominalfather，poorKingLouis，butwhosepersonalappearance，likethatofhisbrother，theDucdeMorny，wasevidentlynotderivedfromanyBonaparte。
AlltheJromeNapoleonsIhaveeverseen，includingoldKingJromeofWestphalia，andPrinceNa—
poleonJrome，otherwiseknownas``Plon—Plon，’’whomIsawduringmystudentlifeatParis，andtheeldestsonofthelatter，thepresentBonapartepretendertotheNapoleoniccrownofFrance，whomIsawduringmystayasministeratSt。Petersburg，verystrikinglyresembledthefirstNapoleon，thoughallwereofmuchlargersize。
ButtheLouisNapoleons，thatis，theemperorandhisbrothertheDucdeMorny，hadnosingleNapoleonicpointintheirfeaturesorbearing。
Ithinkthatthemoststartlinginspirationduringmylifewasonemorningwhen，onwalkingthroughtheGardenoftheTuileries，Isaw，withintwentyfeetofme，atawindow，intheoldpalace，whichafterwarddisappearedundertheCommune，theemperorandhisministeroffinance，AchilleFould，seatedtogether，evidentlyinearnestdiscussion。TherewasnotatthattimeanyhumanbeingwhomIsohatedandabhorredasNapoleonIII。
HehadbrokenhisoathandtroddentheFrenchrepublicunderhisfeet，hewasaidingtokeepdowntheaspirationsofItaly，andhewasdoinghisbesttobringonaninterventionofEurope，inbehalfoftheConfederateStates，todissolveourUnion。HewasthenthearbiterofEurope。
TheworldhadnotthendiscoveredhimtobewhatBismarckhadalreadyfoundhim——``agreatunrecognizedincapacity，’’
and，asIlookedupanddistinctlysawhimsonearme，thereflashedthroughmymindanunderstandingofsomeofthegreatcrimesofpoliticalhistory，suchasI
haveneverhadbeforeorsince。[1]
[1]SincewritingthisIfindintheAutobiographyofW。J。
Stillmanthatasimilarfeelingoncebesethimonseeingthisimperialmalefactor，InFrancetherewasverylittletobedoneforourcause。
ThegreatmassofFrenchmenwereeitherindifferentoropposedtous。TheonlyexceptionofimportancewasLaboulaye，professorattheCollgedeFrance，andhislecture—roomwasacenterofgoodinfluencesinfavoroftheAmericancause;inthemidstofthatfrivolousNapoleonicFranceheseemedbyfar``thenoblestRomanofthemall。’’
ThemaineffortinourbehalfwasmadebyMr。JohnBigelow，atthattimeconsul—general，butafterwardministeroftheUnitedStates，——tosupplywithargumentstheverysmallnumberofFrenchmenwhowereinclinedtofavortheUnioncause，andthishedidthoroughlywell。
Somewhatlatertherecameapieceofgoodfortune。
HavingbeensentbyaphysiciantothebathsatHomburg，Ifoundasourconsul—general，attheneighboringcityofFrankfort—on—the—Main，WilliamWaltonMurphyofMichigan，alife—longsupporterofMr。Seward，amostdevotedandactiveAmericanpatriot;——aroughdiamond;oneofthemostuncouthmortalsthateverlived;butbig—hearted，shrewd，ageneralfavorite，andprizedevenbythosewhosmiledathisoddities。HehadlaboredhardtoinducetheFrankfortbankerstotakeourgovernmentbonds，andtorecommendthemtotheircustomers，andhadatlastbeensuccessful。InordertogainandmaintainthissuccesshehadestablishedinFrankfortapapercalled``L’Europe，’’
forwhichhewroteandurgedotherstowrite。TothisjournalIbecameacontributor，andamongmyassociatesI
especiallyremembertheRev。Dr。JohnMcClintock，formerlypresidentofDickinsonCollege，andDr。E。H。
Chapin，ofNewYork，soeminentinthosedaysasapreacher。UndertheinfluenceofMr。Murphy，Frankfort—
on—the—Mainbecame，andhassinceremained，acenterofAmericanideas。ItsleadingjournalwastheonlyinfluentialdailypaperinGermanywhichstoodbyusduringourSpanishWar。
IrecallastorytoldmebyMr。Murphyatthatperiod。
HehadtakenanAmericanladyonabusinesserrandtothebankofBaronRothschild，and，aftertheirbusinesswasover，presentedhertothegreatbanker。IthappenedthattheConfederateloanhadbeenfloatedinEuropebyBaronErlanger，alsoaFrankfortfinancialmagnate，andbybirthaHebrew。IntheconversationthatensuedbetweenthisladyandBaronRothschild，thelattersaid:``Madam，mysympathiesareentirelywithyourcountry;butisitnotdishearteningtothinkthattherearemeninEuropewhoarelendingtheirmoneyandtryingtoinduceotherstolenditforthestrengtheningofhumanslavery？Madam，NONEBUTACONVERTEDJEWWOULDDOTHAT。’’
OntheFourthofJulyofthatsummer，Consul—GeneralMurphy——alwaysdevisingnewmeansofupholdingtheflagofhiscountry——summonedAmericansfromeverypartofEuropetocelebratetheanniversaryofourNationalIndependenceatHeidelberg，andatthedinnergivenattheHotelSchreiderseventy—fourguestsassembled，includingtwoorthreeprofessorsfromtheuniversity，asagainstsixguestsfromtheConfederateStates，whohadheldacelebrationinthemorningatthecastle。Mr。Murphypresidedandmadeaspeechwhichwarmedtheheartsofusall。Itwasathorough—going，old—fashioned，WesternFourthofJulyoration。IhadjeeredatFourthofJulyorationsallmylife，buttherewassomethinginthisonewhichshowedmethatthesediscourses，sooftenridiculed，arenotwithouttheiruses。Certainitisthatastheconsul—
generalrepeatedthephraseswhichhadmorethanoncerungthroughtheWesternclearings，inhonorofthedefendersofourcountry，thedivineinspirationoftheConstitution，ourinvincibilityinwarandoursuperiorityinpeace，allofuswereencouragedandcheeredmostlustily。
PleasingwasittonotevariousBritishtouristsstandingatthewindowslisteningtothescreamoftheAmericaneagleandevidentlywonderingwhatitallmeant。
Othersofusspoke，andespeciallyDr。McClintock，oneoftheforemostthinkers，scholars，andpatriotsthattheMethodistEpiscopalchurchhaseverproduced。Hisspeechwasinaveryseriousvein，andwellitmightbe。Inthecourseofithesaid:``AccordingtothelastaccountsGeneralLeeandhisforcesarenearthetownwhereIlive，andaremarchingdirectlytowardit。Itisabsolutelycertainthat，iftheyreachit，theywillburnmyhouseandallthatitcontains，butIhavenofear;IbelievethattheAlmightyiswithusinthisstruggle，andthoughwemaysuffermuchbeforeitsclose，theUnionistoendureandslaveryistogodownbeforetheforcesoffreedom。’’Thesewords，comingfromtheheartofastrongman，madeadeepimpressionuponusall。
AbouttwoweekslaterIleftFrankfortforAmerica，andatmypartingfromConsul—GeneralMurphyatthehotel，hesaid:``Letmegointhecarriagewithyou;thisissteamer—dayandweshallprobablymeetthevice—consulcomingwiththeAmericanmail。’’Hegotin，andwedrovealongtheZeiltogether。Itwasatthebusiesttimeoftheday，andwehadjustarrivedatthepointinthatmainstreetofFrankfortwherebusinesswasmostactive，whenthevice—consulmetusandhandedMr。Murphyanewspaper。Thelattertoreitopen，readafewlines，andtheninstantlyjumpedoutintothemiddleofthestreet，wavedhishatandbegantoshout。Thepublicingeneralevidentlythoughthimmad;acrowdassembled;butassoonashecouldgethisbreathhepointedouttheheadlinesofthenewspaper。TheyindicatedthevictoriesofGettysburgandVicksburg，andtheendingofthewar。Itwas，indeed，agreatmomentforusall。
ArrivinginAmerica，IfoundthatsomefriendshadrepublishedfromtheEnglisheditionmylettertoDr。
Russell，thatithadbeenwidelycirculated，andthat，atanyrate，ithaddonesomegoodathome。
Shortlyafterward，beingonavisittomyoldfriend，JamesT。FieldsofBoston，IreceivedatelegramfromSyracuseasfollows:``YouarenominatedtotheStatesenate:comehomeandseewhoyourfriendsare。’’I
havereceived，inthecourseofmylife，manyastonishingmessages，butthiswasthemostunexpectedofall。Ihadnotmerelynotbeenacandidateforanysuchnomination，buthadforgottenthatanynominationwastobemade;I
hadpaidnoattentiontothematterwhatever;allmythoughtshadbeengiventoothersubjects;butonreturningtoSyracuseIfoundthatabittercontesthavingarisenbetweentwooftheregularcandidates，eachrepresentingafaction，thedelegateshadsuddenlyturnedawayfrombothandnominatedme。Myelectionfollowedandsobeganthemostactivephaseofmypoliticallife。
CHAPTERVI
SENATORSHIPATALBANY——1864—1865
OntheeveningofNewYear’sDay，1864，IarrivedinAlbanytobeginmydutiesintheStateSenate，andcertainly，fromapracticalpointofview，nomemberofthelegislaturewasmorepoorlyequipped。Ihad，indeed，receivedauniversityeducation，suchasitwas，inthosedays，athomeandabroad，andhadperhapsreadmorethanmostcollege—bredmenofmyage，butallmyeducation，study，andreadingwereremotefromthedutiesnowassignedme。Tohistory，literature，andtheoreticalpolitics，Ihadgivenconsiderableattention，butasregardedtheactualnecessitiesoftheStateofNewYork，therelationsofthelegislaturetotheboardsofsupervisorsofcounties，tothemunicipalcouncilsofcities，totheboardsofeducation，charity，andthelike，indeed，tothewholesystemthroughouttheCommonwealth，andtothemodesofconductingpublicandprivatebusiness，myignorancewasdeplorable。ManyatimehaveIenviedsomeplainfarmerhisterminaboardofsupervisors，orsomecountryschoolmasterhisrelationstoaboardofeducation，orsomealdermanhisexperienceinacommoncouncil，orsomepettifoggerhisacquaintancewithjustices’courts。
Myknowledgeoflawandthemakingoflawwaswretchedlydeficient，andmyignoranceofthepracticaladministrationoflawwasdisgraceful。Ihadhardlyeverbeeninsideacourt—house，andmymainexperienceoflegalprocedurewaswhenonedayIhappenedtostepintocourtatSyracuse，andsomeoldfriendsofminethoughtitagoodjoketoputauniversityprofessorasatalesmanuponajuryinahorsecase。AlthoughpressedwithbusinessIdidnotflinch，butacceptedtheposition，dischargeditsduties，andlearnedmoreoflegalprocedureandofhumannatureinsixhoursthanIhadeverbeforelearnedinsixmonths。EverafterwardIadvisedmystudentstogetthemselvesdrawnuponapetitjury。IhadreadsomeBlackstoneandsomeKentandhadheardafewlawlectures，butmyknowledgewaspurelytheoretical:
inconstitutionallawitwasderivedfromreadingscatteredessaysinthe``Federalist，’’withextractshereandtherefromStory。OftheStatecharitableandpenalinstitutionsIknewnothing。RegardingcollegesIwasfairlywellinformed，butastothepracticalworkingofoursystemofpublicinstructionIhadonlytheknowledgegainedwhileascholarinapublicschool。
Therewasalsoanotherdisadvantage。IknewnothingofthepublicmenoftheState。HavinglivedoutsideoftheCommonwealth，first，asastudentatYale，thenduringnearlythreeyearsabroad，andthennearlysixyearsasaprofessorinanotherState，Iknewonlyoneofmycolleagues，andofhimIhadonlytheknowledgethatcamefromanintroductionandfiveminutes’conversationtenyearsbefore。ItwasnobetterasregardedmyacquaintancewiththeStateofficers;sofarasInowremember，I
hadneverseenoneofthem，exceptatadistance，——thegovernor，Mr。HoratioSeymour。
OntheeveningafterourarrivaltheRepublicanmajorityoftheSenatemetincaucus，partlytobecomeacquainted，partlytodiscussappointmentstocommittees，andpartlytodecideonapolicyregardingStateaidtotheprosecutionofthewarfortheUnion。Ifoundmyselftheyoungestmemberofthisbody，and，indeed，oftheentireSenate，butsoonmadetheacquaintanceofmycolleaguesandgainedsomefriendshipswhichhavebeenamongthebestthingslifehasbroughtme。
ForemostintheStateSenate，atthatperiod，wasCharlesJamesFolger，itspresident。HehadservedintheSenateseveralyears，hadbeenacountyjudge，andwasdestinedtobecomeassistanttreasureroftheUnitedStatesatNewYork，chiefjusticeofthehighestStatecourt，andfinally，todieasSecretaryoftheTreasuryoftheUnitedStates，afterthemostcrushingdefeatwhichanycandidateforthegovernorshipofNewYorkhadeverknown。Hewasanexcellentlawyer，animpressivespeaker，earnestlydevotedtotheproperdischargeofhisduties，andofextraordinarilyfinepersonalappearance。
Hiswatchuponlegislationsometimesamusedme，butalwayswonmyrespect。Wheneverabillwasreadathirdtimehewatcheditasacatwatchesamouse。Hishatredofdoubtfulorbadphraseologywasapassion。Hewasgreatlybelovedandadmired，yet，withallhisfineandattractivequalities，modestandevendiffidenttoafault。
AnothermanwhomIthensawforthefirsttimeinterestedmemuchassoonashisnamewascalled，andhewouldhaveinterestedmefarmorehadIknownhowcloselymyafterlifewastobelinkedwithhis。Hewasthenaboutsixtyyearsofage，tall，spare，andaustere，withakindlyeye，sayinglittle，andthatlittledryly。Hedidnotappearunamiable，butthereseemedinhimasortofaloofness:thiswasEzraCornell。
StillanothersenatorwasGeorgeH。Andrews，fromtheOtsegodistrict，theoldPalatinecountry。HehadbeeneditorofoneoftheleadingpapersinNewYork，andhadbeenrankedamongtheforemostmeninhisprofession，buthehadretiredintothecountrytoleadthelifeofafarmer。Hewasamantoberespectedandevenbeloved。Hisworkforthepublicwasexceedinglyvaluable，andhisspeechesofahighorder。JudgeFolger，aschairmanofthejudiciarycommittee，wasmostusefultotheStateatlargeinprotectingitfromevillegislation。
SenatorAndrewswasnotlessvaluabletothecities，andabovealltothecityofNewYork，forhisintelligentprotectionofeverygoodmeasure，andhisunflinchingoppositiontoeveryoneofthemanydoubtfulprojectsconstantlybroughtinbyschemersanddreamers。
StillanothersenatorwasJamesM。CookofSaratoga。
HehadbeencomptrolleroftheStateand，atvarioustimes，amemberofthelegislature。Hewasthefaithful``watch—dogofthetreasury，’’——bitteragainsteveryschemefortakingpublicmoneyforanyunworthypurpose，and，indeed，againstanyschemewhateverwhichcouldnotassignforitsexistenceareason，clear，cogent，andhonest。
Stillanothermember，greatlyrespected，wasJudgeBaileyofOneidaCounty。Hisexperienceuponthebenchmadehimespeciallyvaluableuponthejudiciaryandothercommittees。
Yetanothermanofmarkinthebodywasoneoftheyoungermen，GeorgeG。MungerofRochester。HehadprecededmebyafewyearsatYale，hadwonrespectasacountyjudge，andhadacertainlucidwayofpresentingpublicmatterswhichmadehimavaluablepublicservant。
AnothersenatorofgreatvaluewasHenryR。Low。
He，too，hadbeenacountyjudgeandbroughtnotonlylegalbutfinancialknowledgetotheaidofhiscolleagues。
HewaswhatThomasCarlylecalleda``swallowerofformulas。’’Thatathingwasoldandreveredmatteredlittlewithhim:hisquestionwaswhatisthebestthingNOW。
FromthecityofNewYorkcamebutoneRepublican，WilliamLaimbeer，amanofhighcharacterandlargebusinessexperience;impulsive，butalwaysforrightagainstwrong;kindlyinhisnature，butmostbitteragainstTammanyandallitsworks。
FromEssexCountycameSenatorPalmerHavens，alsoofmiddleage，oflargepracticalexperience，withaclear，cleanstyleofthinkingandspeaking，anxioustomakeagoodrecordbyservingwell，andsucharecordhecertainlymade。
And，finally，amongtheRepublicanmembersofthatsessionImaynamethesenatorfromOswego，Mr。CheneyAmes。Perhapsnooneinthebodyhadsolargeaprac—
ticalknowledgeofthecommercialinterestsoftheState，andespeciallyofthetrafficuponitslakesandinlandwaterways;onallquestionsrelatingtothesehisadvicewasofthegreatestvalue;hewasineveryrespectagoodpublicservant。
OntheDemocraticsidetheforemostmanbyfarwasHenryC。MurphyofBrooklyn，evidentlyofIrishancestry，thoughhisimmediateforefathershadbeenlongintheUnitedStates。HewasagraduateofColumbiaCollege，devotedtohistoryandliterature，hadproducedsundryinterestingbooksontheearlyannalsoftheState，hadservedwithdistinctioninthediplomaticserviceasministertoTheHague，waseminentasalawyer，andhadalreadyconsiderablelegislativeexperience。
FromNewYorkCitycamealongseriesofDemocraticmembers，ofwhomtheforemostwasThomasC。Fields。
Hehadconsiderableexperienceasalawyerinthecitycourts，hadservedinthelowerhouseofthelegislature，andwaspreternaturallyacuteindetectingtheinterestsofTammanywhichheserved。Hewasamanofmuchhumor，withoccasionalflashesofwit，hisownworstenemy，evidently，andhiscareerwasfitlyendedwhenuponthefallofTweedhelefthiscountryforhiscountry’sgoodanddiedinexile。
TherewereothersonbothsideswhomIcouldmentionasgoodmenandtrue，butthoseIhavenamedtookaleadingpartasheadsofcommitteesandincarryingonpublicbusiness。
Thelieutenant—governoroftheStatewhopresidedovertheSenatewasMr。Floyd—Jones，adevotedDemocratoftheoldschoolwhoexemplifieditsbestqualities;agentleman，honest，courteous，notintrudinghisownviews，readyalwaystogivethefullestweighttothoseofotherswithoutregardtoparty。
Amongthemenwho，fromtheirconstantattendance，mightalmostbeconsideredasofficersoftheSenateweresundryrepresentativesofleadingnewspapers。Severalofthemweremenofmarkedability，andwellknownthroughouttheState，buttheyhavelongsincebeenforgottenwithoneexception:thiswasaquietreporterwhosatjustinfrontoftheclerk’schair，dayafterday，weekafterweek，throughouttheentiresession;amanofveryfewwords，andwithwhomIhadbutthesmallestacquaintance。GreatlysurprisedwasIinafteryearswhenherosetobeeditoroftheleadingDemocraticorganintheState，andfinally，underPresidentCleveland，avaluableSecretaryoftheTreasuryoftheUnitedStates:
DanielManning。
Inthedistributionofcommitteestherefelltomethechairmanshipofthecommitteeoneducation，or，asitwasthencalled，thecommitteeonliterature。Iwasalsomadeamemberofthecommitteeoncitiesandvillages，afterwardknownasthecommitteeonmunicipalaffairs，andofthecommitteeonthelibrary。ForthefirstofthesepositionsIwassomewhatfittedbymyknowledgeofthecollegesanduniversitiesoftheState，butinotherrespectswaspoorlyfitted。Forthesecondofthesepositions，thatofthecommitteeoncitiesandvillages，Iamfreetoconfessthatnoonecouldbemorewretchedlyequipped;forthethird，thecommitteeonthelibrary，myqualificationswerethoseofamanwholovedbothtocollectbooksandtoreadthem。
ButfromthebeginningIlaboredhardtofitmyself，evenatthatlatehour，forthedutiespressinguponme，andgraduallymypracticalknowledgewasincreased。
Stillthereweresadgapsinit，andmorethanonceIsatinthecommittee—room，lookingexceedinglywise，nodoubt，butwithanentirelyinadequateappreciationoftheargumentmadebeforeme。
Duringthisfirstsessionmymaidenspeechwasuponthegovernor’smessage，andIdidmybesttoshowwhatIthoughtHisExcellency’sshortcomings。GovernorSeymourwasapatrioticman，afterhisfashion，buttheoneagencywhichheregardedasdivinelyinspiredwastheDemocraticparty;hishatredoftheLincolnAdministrationwasevidentlydeep，anditwasalsoclearthathedidnotbelievethatthewarfortheUnioncouldbebroughttoasuccessfultermination。
WithothersIdidmybestagainsthim;butwhilecondemninghispoliticalcourseasseverelyaswaspossibletome，Ineverattackedhispersonalcharacterorhismotives。Theconsequencewasthat，whilepoliticallywewereenemies，personallyasortoffriendshipremained，andIrecallfewthingswithmorepleasurethanmyjourneyingsfromAlbanyuptheMohawkValley，sittingathisside，hegivingaccountstomeoftheregionsthroughwhichwepassed，andthehistoryconnectedwiththem，regardingwhichhewaswonderfullywellinformed。IfhehatedNewEnglandasthebreedingbedofradicalism，helovedNewYorkpassionately。
ThefirstimportantdutyimposeduponmeaschairmanofthecommitteeoneducationwaswhentherecameupabillfordisposingoftheproceedsofpubliclandsappropriatedbythegovernmentoftheUnitedStatestoinstitutionsforscientificandtechnicaleducation，underwhatwasthenknownastheMorrillActof1862。OftheselandsthesharewhichhadcometoNewYorkwascloseuponamillionacres——afair—sizedEuropeanprincipality。Here，owingtocircumstanceswhichIshalldetailinanotherchapter，IfoundmyselfinacontestwithMr。Cornell。Ifavoredholdingthefundtogether，lettingitremainwiththeso—called``People’sCollege，’’towhichithadbeenalreadyvoted，andinsistedthatthematterwasonetobereferredtothecommitteeoneducation。
Mr。Cornell，ontheotherhand，favoredthedivisionofthefund，andproposedabillgivingonehalfofittothe``StateAgriculturalCollege’’recentlyestablishedatOvidonSenecaLake。Theendwasthatthematterwasreferredtoajointcommitteecomposedofthecommitteesonliteratureandagriculture，thatis，toMr。Cornell’scommitteeandmyown，andasaresultnomeetingtoconsiderthebillwasheldduringthatsession。
GraduallyIaccumulatedareasonableknowledgeoftheeducationalinterestsintrustedtous，buterelongtherecameinfromthesuperintendentofpublicinstruction;Mr。VictorRice，aplanforcodifyingtheeducationallawsoftheState。Thisnecessitatedaworldoflaboronmypart。Sectionbysection，paragraphbyparagraph，phrasebyphrase，Ihadtogothroughit，andnightafternightwasdevotedtostudyingeverypartofitinthelightofpreviouslegislation，thelawsofotherStates，andsuchinformationascouldbeobtainedfromgeneralsources。Atlast，aftermuchalterationandrevision，Ibroughtforwardthebill，secureditspassage，andImaysaythatitwasnotwithoutausefulinfluenceuponthegreateducationalinterestsoftheState。
Inowbroughtforwardanothereducationalbill。VariouspersonsinterestedinthesubjectappearedurgingthecreationofadditionalStatenormalschools，inordertostrengthenandproperlydevelopthewholeStateschoolsystem。Atthattimetherewasbutone;thatoneatAlbany;andthusourgreatCommonwealthwasinthisrespectfarbehindmanyofhersisterStates。Thewholesystemwasevidentlysufferingfromthewantofteachersthoroughlyandpracticallyequipped。Outofthemultitudeofprojectspresented，IcombinedwhatIthoughtthebestpartsofthreeorfourinasinglebill，andalthoughatfirsttherewereloudexclamationsagainstsolavishauseofpublicmoney，Iinducedthecommitteetoreportmybill，argueditintheSenate，overcamemuchopposition，andthusfinallysecuredalawestablishingfourStatenormalschools。
StillanotherdutyimposeduponmenecessitatedmuchworkforwhichalmostanyothermanintheSenatewouldhavebeenbetterequippedbyexperienceandknowledgeofStateaffairs。TheconditionofthingsinthecityofNewYorkhadbecomeunbearable;theswayofTammanyHallhadgraduallybroughtoutelementsofoppositionsuchasbeforethattimehadnotexisted。Tweedwasalreadymakinghimselffelt，thoughhehadnotyetassumedthecompletecontrolwhichheexercisedafterward。
Thecitysystemwasbadthroughout;butattheverycenterofevilstoodwhatwasdignifiedbythenameofthe``HealthDepartment。’’AttheheadofthiswasacertainBoole，who，havinggainedthetitleof``cityinspector，’’hadthevirtualappointmentofawholearmyofso—called``healthinspectors，’’``healthofficers，’’andthelike，chargedwiththedutyofprotectingthepublicfromtheinroadsofdisease;andneverwasthereagreateroutrageagainstacitythantheexistenceofthisbodyofmen，absolutelyunfitbothasregardedcharacterandeducationforthedutiestheypretendedtodischarge。
Againstthisstateofthingstherehadbeendevelopeda``citizens’committee，’’representingthebetterelementsofbothparties，——itsmainrepresentativesbeingJudgeWhitingandMr。DormanB。Eaton，——andtheevidencethesegentlemenexhibitedbeforethecommitteeonmunicipalaffairs，atAlbany，astothewretchedconditionofthecityhealthboardswasdamning。Wholedistrictsinthemostcrowdedwardswereintheworstpossiblesanitarycondition。TherewasprobablyatthattimenothingtoapproachitinanycityinChristendomsave，possibly，Naples。Greatblocksoftenementhouseswereownedbymenwhokeptlowdrinkingbarsinthem，eachofwhom，havingsecuredfromBoolethepositionof``healthofficer，’’steadilyresistedallsanitaryimprovementoreveninspection。Manyofthesetenementhouseswereknownas``fevernests’’;throughmanyofthemsmall—
poxfrequentlyraged，andfromthemitwasconstantlycommunicatedtootherpartsofthecity。
ThereforeitwasthatonemorningMr。Laimbeer，theonlyRepublicanmemberfromthecity，rose，madeanimpassionedspeechonthisconditionofthings，movedacommitteetoexamineandreport，andnamedasitsmembersJudgeMunger，myself，andtheDemocraticsenatorfromtheBuffalodistrict，Mr。Humphrey。
Asaresult，aconsiderablepartofmysecondwinterassenatorwasdevotedtotheworkofthisspecialcommitteeinthecityofNewYork。Weheldasortofcourt，hadwithusthesergeant—at—arms，wereempoweredtosendforpersonsandpapers，summonedlargenumbersofwitnesses，andbroughttoviewastateofthingsevenworsethananythinganyofushadsuspected。
Againstthecitizens’committee，headedbyJudgeWhitingandMr。Eaton，Boole，aidedbyamostsuccessfulTammanylawyeroftheoldsort，JohnGraham，foughtwithdesperation。Inordertodisarmhisassailantsasfaraspossible，hebroughtbeforethecommitteeanumberofhis``healthofficers’’and``sanitaryinspectors，’’
whomheevidentlythoughtbestqualifiedtopassmuster;
butasoneafteranotherwasexaminedandcross—examined，neitherthecunningofBoolenortheskillofMr。
Grahamcouldpreventtherevelationoftheirutterunfitness。
Inthetestimonyofoneofthemthewholemonstrousabsurdityculminated。JudgeWhitingexamininghimbeforethecommissionwithreferencetoacaseofsmall—poxwhichhadoccurredwithinhisdistrict，andtowhich，ashealthofficeritwashisdutytogiveattention，andaskinghimifherememberedthecase，witnessansweredthathedid。Thefollowingdialoguethenensued:
Q。Didyouvisitthissickperson？
A。No，sir。
Q。Whydidyounot？
A。Forthesamereasonthatyouwouldnot。
Q。Whatwasthatreason？
A。Ididn’twanttocatchthediseasemyself。
Q。Didthefamilyhaveanysortofmedicalaid？
A。Yes。
Q。Fromwhomdidtheyhaveit？
A。Fromthemselves;theywas``highjinnicks’’（hygienics）。
Q。Whatdoyoumeanby``highjinnicks’’？
A。Imeanpersonswhodoctorthemselves。
Afterotheranswersofasimilarsortthewitnessdeparted;butforsomedaysafterwardJudgeWhitingedifiedthecourt，inhisexaminationofBoole’shealthofficersandinspectors，byfinallyaskingeachonewhetherhehadany``highjinnicks’’inhishealthdistrict。Someansweredthattheyhadthemsomewhat;somethoughtthattheyhadthem``prettybad，’’othersthoughtthattherewas``notmuchofit，’’othersclaimedthattheywere``quiteserious’’;and，finally，intheexaminationofacertainhealthofficerwhowasveryanxioustoshowthathehaddonehisbest，thereoccurredthefollowingdialoguewhichbroughtdownthehouse:
Q。（ByJudgeWhiting。）Mr。HealthOfficer，haveyouhadany``highjinnicks’’inyourdistrict？
A。Yes，sir。
Q。Much？
A。Yes，sir，quiteagooddeal。
Q。Haveyoudoneanythinginregardtothem？
A。Yes，sir;IhavedoneallthatIcould。
Q。Witness，now，onyouroath，doyouknowwhattheword``highjinnicks’’means？
A。Yes，sir。
Q。Whatdoesitmean？
A。Itmeansthebadsmellsthatarisefromstandingwater。
Atthisthecourtwasdissolvedinlaughter，butMr。
Grahammadethebestthathecouldofitbythefollowingquestionsandanswers:
Q。Witness，haveyoueverlearnedGreek？
A。No，sir。
Q。CanyouspeakGreek？
A。No，sir。
Q。DoyouunderstandGreek？
A。No，sir。
``Thenyoumaystanddown。’’
Theexaminationwaslongandcomplicated，sothatwithvariousdepartmentstobeexaminedtherewasnotimetomakeareportbeforethecloseofthesession，andthewholematterhadtogooveruntilthenewlyelectedsenatecameintoofficethefollowingyear。
ShortlyafterthelegislaturehadadjournedIvisitedthecityofNewYork，andonarrivingtookuptheeveningpaperwhich，morethananyother，hasalwaysbeensupposedtorepresentthebestsentimentofthecity;——the``NewYorkEveningPost。’’Thefirstarticleonwhichmyeyefellwasentitled``TheNewYorkSenateTrifling，’’
andthearticlewentontosaythattheSenateoftheStatehadwasteditstime，hadpracticallydonenothingforthecity，hadneglecteditsinterests，hadpaidnoattentiontoitsdemands，andthelike。Thatstruckmeasungrateful，forduringthewholesessionwehadworkedearlyandlateonquestionsrelatingtothecity，hadthwartedscoresofevilschemes，andinsomecases，Ifear，hadsacrificedtheinterestsoftheStateatlargetothoseofthecity。Thustheredawnedonmeaknowledgeoftherewardwhichfaithfullegislatorsarelikelytoobtain。
Anotherofthesecityquestionsalsoshowedthesortofworktobedoneinthisthanklessprotectionofthemetropolis。Duringoneofthesessionstherehadappearedinthelobbyanexcellentman，Dr。LeviSillimanIves，formerlyProtestantEpiscopalBishopofNorthCarolina，who，havingbeenconvertedtoRomanCatholicism，hadbecomealaymanandheadofaprotectoryforCatholicchildren。Withhimcameanumberofothersofhiswayofthinking，andamostdeterminedeffortwasmadetopassabillsanctioningagiftofonehalfofthegreatpropertyknownasWard’sIsland，adjacenttothecityofNewYork，tothisRomanCatholicinstitution。
Ihadstrongsympathywiththemenwhocarriedontheprotectory，andwasquitewillingtogoasfaraspossibleinaidingthem，butwasopposedtovotingsuchavastlandedpropertybelongingtothecityintothehandsofanychurch，andIfoughtthebillatallstages。
Incommitteeofthewhole，andatfirstreading，priestlyinfluenceledamajoritytovoteforit，butatlast，despitealltheeffortsofTammanyHall，itwasdefeated。
ItwasduringthisfirstperiodofmyservicethatthelastandmostearnesteffortoftheStatewasmadeforthewar。Variouscircumstanceshadcauseddiscourage—
ment。Ithadbecomedifficulttoraisetroops，yetitwasmostimportanttoavoidadraft。InthecityofNewYork，attheprospectofanenforcedlevyoftroops，therehadbeenseriousuprisingswhichwereonlysuppressedafteraconsiderablelossoflife。Itwasnecessarytomakeonesupremeeffort，andtheRepublicanmembersofthelegislaturedecidedtoraisealoanofseveralmillionsforbountiestothosewhoshouldvolunteer。Thisdecisionwasnotarrivedatwithoutmuchopposition，and，strangetosay，itsmostseriousopponentwasHoraceGreeley，whocametoAlbanyinthehopeofdefeatingit。Invaluableashisserviceshadbeenduringthestrugglewhichprecededthewar，itmustbeconfessed，evenbyhismostdevotedfriends，thatduringthewarhewasnotunfrequentlyastumblingblock。Hiscry``ontoRichmond’’duringthefirstpartofthestruggle，hisfearfulalarmwhen，liketheheroesinthe``BiglowPapers，’’hereallydiscovered``whybaggonetsispeaked，’’histerrorastheconflictdeepened，hisproposalsforspecialpeacenegotiationslater——allthesethingswereamongtheseriousobstacleswhichPresidentLincolnhadtoencounter;andnow，fearingburdenswhich，inhisopinion，couldnotandwouldnotbebornebytheState，andconjuringupspectersoftrouble，hecametoAlbanyandearnestlyadvisedmembersofthelegislatureagainstthepassageofthebountybill。Fortunately，commonsensetriumphed，andthebillwaspassed。