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In view of the approaching presidential election； the legislature passed a law； which was signed by the governor； providing machinery for the soldiers' vote。 New York had at that time between three and four hundred thousand soldiers in the field； who were scattered in companies； regiments； brigades； and divisions all over the South。 This law made it the duty of the secretary of state to provide ballots； to see that they reached every unit of a company； to gather the votes and transmit them to the home of each soldier。 The State government had no machinery by which this work could be done。 I applied to the express companies； but all refused on the ground that they were not equipped。 I then sent for old John Butterfield； who was the founder of the express business but had retired and was living on his farm near Utica。 He was intensely patriotic and ashamed of the lack of enterprise shown by the express companies。 He said to me： 〃If they cannot do this work they ought to retire。〃 He at once organized what was practically an express company； taking in all those in existence and adding many new features for the sole purpose of distributing the ballots and gathering the soldiers' votes。 It was a gigantic task and successfully executed by this patriotic old gentleman。
Of course； the first thing was to find out where the New York troops were； and for that purpose I went to Washington； remaining there for several months before the War Department would give me the information。 The secretary of war was Edwin M。 Stanton。 It was perhaps fortunate that the secretary of war should not only possess extraordinary executive ability； but be also practically devoid of human weakness； that he should be a rigid disciplinarian and administer justice without mercy。 It was thought at the time that these qualities were necessary to counteract； as far as possible； the tender…heartedness of President Lincoln。 If the boy condemned to be shot； or his mother or father； could reach the president in time； he was never executed。 The military authorities thought that this was a mistaken charity and weakened discipline。 I was at a dinner after the war with a number of generals who had been in command of armies。 The question was asked one of the most famous of these generals： 〃How did you carry out the sentences of your courts martial and escape Lincoln's pardons？〃 The grim old warrior answered： 〃I shot them first。〃
I took my weary way every day to the War Department； but could get no results。 The interviews were brief and disagreeable and the secretary of war very brusque。 The time was getting short。 I said to the secretary： 〃If the ballots are to be distributed in time I must have information at once。〃 He very angrily refused and said： 〃New York troops are in every army； all over the enemy's territory。 To state their location would be to give invaluable information to the enemy。 How do I know if that information would be so safeguarded as not to get out？〃
As I was walking down the long corridor； which was full of hurrying officers and soldiers returning from the field or departing for it； I met Elihu B。 Washburne； who was a congressman from Illinois and an intimate friend of the president。 He stopped me and said：
〃Hello； Mr。 Secretary； you seem very much troubled。 Can I help you？〃 I told him my story。
〃What are you going to do？〃 he asked。 I answered： 〃To protect myself I must report to the people of New York that the provision for the soldiers' voting cannot be carried out because the administration refuses to give information where the New York soldiers are located。〃
〃Why；〃 said Mr。 Washburne； 〃that would beat Mr。 Lincoln。 You don't know him。 While he is a great statesman； he is also the keenest of politicians alive。 If it could be done in no other way； the president would take a carpet…bag and go around and collect those votes himself。 You remain here until you hear from me。 I will go at once and see the president。〃
In about an hour a staff officer stepped up to me and asked： 〃Are you the secretary of state of New York？〃 I answered 〃Yes。〃 〃The secretary of war wishes to see you at once；〃 he said。 I found the secretary most cordial and charming。
〃Mr。 Secretary； what do you desire？〃 he asked。 I stated the case as I had many times before； and he gave a peremptory order to one of his staff that I should receive the documents in time for me to leave Washington on the midnight train。
The magical transformation was the result of a personal visit of President Lincoln to the secretary of war。 Mr。 Lincoln carried the State of New York by a majority of only 6；749； and it was a soldiers' vote that gave him the Empire State。
The compensations of my long delay in Washington trying to move the War Department were the opportunity it gave me to see Mr。 Lincoln； to meet the members of the Cabinet； to become intimate with the New York delegation in Congress； and to hear the wonderful adventures and stories so numerous in Washington。
The White House of that time had no executive offices as now； and the machinery for executive business was very primitive。 The east half of the second story had one large reception…room； in which the president could always be found； and a few rooms adjoining for his secretaries and clerks。 The president had very little protection or seclusion。 In the reception…room； which was always crowded at certain hours； could be found members of Congress； office…seekers； and an anxious company of fathers and mothers seeking pardons for their sons condemned for military offenses； or asking permission to go to the front； where a soldier boy was wounded or sick。 Every one wanted something and wanted it very bad。 The patient president； wearied as he was with cares of state； with the situation on several hostile fronts； with the exigencies in Congress and jealousies in his Cabinet； patiently and sympathetically listened to these tales of want and woe。 My position was unique。 I was the only one in Washington who personally did not want anything； my mission being purely in the public interest。
I was a devoted follower of Mr。 Seward； the secretary of state； and through the intimacies with officers in his department I learned from day to day the troubles in the Cabinet； so graphically described in the diary of the secretary of the navy Gideon Welles。
The antagonism between Mr。 Seward and Mr。 Chase； the secretary of the treasury； though rarely breaking out in the open； was nevertheless acute。 Mr。 Seward was devoted to the president and made every possible effort to secure his renomination and election。 Mr。 Chase was doing his best to prevent Mr。 Lincoln's renomination and secure it for himself。
No president ever had a Cabinet of which the members were so independent； had so large individual followings； and were so inharmonious。 The president's sole ambition was to secure the ablest men in the country for the departments which he assigned to them without regard to their loyalty to himself。 One of Mr。 Seward's secretaries would frequently report to me the acts of disloyalty or personal hostility on the part of Mr。 Chase with the lament： 〃The old manmeaning Lincolnknows all about it and will