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in politics to the leadership of his party； to the presidency of the greatest corporation in the State； the New York Central Railroad Company； and in his many and successful adventures had accumulated a fortune。 His foresight was almost a gift of prophecy； and his judgment was rarely wrong。 He believed that the disasters in the field and the bad times at home could be charged up to the Lincoln administration and lead to a Democratic victory。 He also believed that there was only one man in the party whose leadership would surely win； and that man was Horatio Seymour。 But Seymour had higher ambitions than the governorship of New York and was very reluctant to run。 Nevertheless； he could not resist Richmond's insistence that he must sacrifice himself； if necessary； to save the party。
The Republicans nominated General James W。 Wadsworth for governor。 Wadsworth had enlisted at the beginning of the war and made a most brilliant record； both as a fighting soldier and administrator。 The Republican party was sharply divided between radicals who insisted on immediate emancipation of the slaves； and conservatives who thought the time had not yet arrived for such a revolution。 The radicals were led by Horace Greeley； and the conservatives by Thurlow Weed and Henry J。 Raymond。
Horatio Seymour made a brilliant canvass。 He had no equal in the State in either party in charm of personality and attractive oratory。 He united his party and brought to its ranks all the elements of unrest and dissatisfaction with conditions； military and financial。 While General Wadsworth was an ideal candidate； he failed to get the cordial and united support of his party。 He represented its progressive tendencies as expressed and believed by President Lincoln； and was hostile to reaction。 Under these conditions Governor Seymour carried the State。
The election had reversed the overwhelming Republican majority in the legislature of the year before by making the assembly a tie。 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。
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