The New York Herald Newspaper, August 20, 1872, Page 4

4 NEW YORK. A Herald Correspondent’s Tour in the Interior of the State. ———_—_>+—_—_——— WHAT THE CONGRESSMEN SAY. | SRS iE a The Signs and Signals in the Sky and What They Portend. The Chanevs of Grant and Greeley | from Different Standpoints. | nly BES The Split in the Republican Party in the State. Pees CONKLING VS. FENTON. | ere Sharp Criticism of Conkling’s Rule or Ruin | Poliey by a Grant Congressman, — The Outlook in the Congres- onal Districts. i i Saree A Greeley Republican Congressman on Grant’s Administration. a Re! The Congressmen Who Speak Their Minds and Those Who Don’t. —— THE FARMERS STRONG FOR GRANT. | The Leaders Who Abandon Their Fol- | lowers and the Followers Who Lead for Themselves. ee General View of the State Situa- | tion and the Way the Coun- trymen Will Vote. \ HOW WILL THE STATE GO? What May Be Expected in November and How the Tables Can Be Turned by Either Party. Some time ago 4 HERALD correspondent was despatched from this city to make a thorough tour of the various Congressional districts represented by republicans in this State. It was made his duty to ascertain how the situation stood Mm each dis- trict, and particularly to learn what the views of the Congressmen were as to Grant's and Greeley’s chances in the coming election and what way they were inclined to vote. His tour has been com- Pleted, and below will be found the result of his observations and conversations with the Con- gressmen. : WALTER L. SESSIONS. A Congressman Who i a Hard Road to Travei in Fenton’s Stronghold—Out for Grant Against All Odds aud Deter- mined to Win. PANAMA, N, Y., July 27, 1872. The first place I dropped into after getting be- yond Buffalo was Panama, where Iam now. Ihave been unable, however, during all the time I have ‘deen in the country to meet Mr. Sessions, the Rep- resentative in Congress fn the Thirty-first dis- trict; but at Dunkirk I fell in with a personal friend of his, who told me that the gentleman was an out- and-out Grant man. “I was told,’ I remarked to him, “when I was in Cattaraugus county that Mr. Sessions would soon come out for Greeley.” “By whom, pray?” “By a prominent gentleman Identified with the Greeley republicans.” “Well, sir, there fs no foundation whatever for the statement. Mr. Sessions has already spoken at meetings for General Grant, and from now until tne day of election he will work for him in dead earnest.” “Do you think he will run again for Congress ?’ “He will, and be elected.” + “But won't he have A HARD TUG on se right in the very heart of Fenton's strong- hold. +" “Yes, he will; but he’s not the man to get scared because he has a big fight on hand. By reason of his being in the district he ts, he will have the roughest road to travel of any one of the delegates bbl i es York city, but I think he'll come out ahead, “How egn he, if the two counties turn right over tor Greeley, as the latter's friends in Chautauqua claim they ‘will 1” “They talk very loudly, but ah opinion is that neither of the two will give anything like a majority for Greeley. You must understand in the first pase that we have @ good margin to work on. We ad in 1868 @ majority for Grant of over seven thousand. Do you suppose for an instant that the Greeley republicans can overcome that? They will PULL THAT MAJORITY DOWN & little if the democrats should be all one way; but that’s where the shoe pinches—the democrats are not all one way. Ican name among my own ac- quaintances in the two countles a hundred life- long democrats who will vote for Grant.” “But Mr. Sessions had a very silm majority the last tume he ran.” “No matter, he will win this time by a larger one; mark my words, “Do you think the German vote here in Dunkirk will hurt the Grant party?’ “{ don’t think it will. They tell me that most of the Germans will go for Greeley in the district, but it is very hard to speak accurately about it. At all events we've got to work hard in this district, and if every Grant man does his duty we will be sure to come out ahead.” Mr. Sessions, I found, had many strong adherents in the district among the democrats, and if they should go for him against whoever will be put up by the liberals, the issue may be quite diiferent from that which the Greeley men confidently expect. FREEMAN CLARKE. aeinlfinseananin An Ardent Grant Man and What He Thinks of the Split in the Republican Party in the State=A Peep Behind tho Scenes—-Peace Overtures that Were Re- jected and the Disastrous Effects of Conkling’s Stubbornness—A Strong Non- Conklingite State Ticket or a Greeley Victory. Rocursren, N, ¥,, July 30, 1872, Thad the ploasure to-day of meeting in this city Mr. Freeman Clarke, formerly Comptroller of the Currency under Lincoln, and at present the Repre- sentative in Congress from the Twenty-eighth, or rather what is now, under the new apportionment, the Twenty-ninth, district, which comprises the counties of Monroe and Orleans, It is almost un- y 5 of strength to the republican party in this section i of the State, and that among both democrats and re- i publicans he wields an infuence second to no other posn west of Albany. He is an out-and-out repub- necessary for me to say that Mr. Clarke isa tower | NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1872.-TRIPLE: SHEET. ican, it 1s true, but he is not one of that particular kind of leaders with which this section of the State seems so plentifully to abound, who are never willing to believe that the party can do any wrong, but who do believe that the best way to maintain its supremacy in the State and the country gene- rally is to GO IT ROUGHSHOD over all who dare to differ with them as to what means should be employed to keep the thing to- gether. In other words, he is a great peacemaker in times of factious outbreaks within the lines, and he firmly believes that a conciliatory spirit on the part of the leaders—not to say wire-pullers—is the strongest possible kind of preventive against tn- subordination in the ranks, Shortly after my arrival in town called at his office, but learned that he had gone to his residence, a considerable distance outside the city proper, and that it was more than likely that he would, in afew hours, leave for the Thousand Islands, on a visit, it was thought, to President Grant. I at once pro- cured a conveyance and was soon deposited at the gateway of the elegant mansion, Mr, Clarke was at home, and a¢ew minutes after I had been ush- ered into the parlor he came in, The usual for- malities of an introduction once over, we soon be- came engaged in a general chat about things in general and State politics in particular. Mr. Clarke spoke unreservedly about the prospects of the campaign, and made no attempt to conceal the fact that there were some things in the conduct of the administration toward a large portion of the republican party in the State which, to putit mildly, were very much to be regretted, STRONG FOR GRANT. “You are a Grant man, of course,” I remarked, er We had talked for awhile about the chances of | »licau party being successful throughout the State. ‘Lam, most assuredly,” was his immediate and emphatic reply. “And you have no doubts about his election?” Mr. Clarke smiled good humoredly, and, witha y twinkle in his eye, replied :— “You know there is nothing certain in this world; but I think that General Grant’s success in the election is about as certain as anything I can think of that may come to pass, The great bulk of the republtean party I know will stand by him, and, what is more, lie will certainly be supported by a very large number of democrats—by a far larger number than people at present have any idea of.” How about tis State!” “Well, to tell you the truth, I think the result in this State will depend almost entirely upon THE STATE TI p “Then you concede that G f himself cannot defeat Greeley in this State ? “I don’t say that; but what [ mean to say is thts, that the party is just now in such a condition thé it willrequire the utmost caution and good judg- ment to prevent a serious break, tor you Must know that aM the republicansin the State are by no means of the same mind about certain matters with which the administration has had everything to do,’” “Do you reier to the feeling existing between the Conkling and Fenton men *” “Ido, Ihappento know of my own knowledge that party: could ha een made a unit long ago, even as late asthe Syracuse Convention. A day or s0 before the Convention I went down to Syracuse, and met Mr, Conkling and Mr. Cornell and Mr. Laflin and several others, and [ did my ut- most to prevail upon Mr, Conkling to take the only step m NECESSARY TO PRODUCE HARMONY. You remember all about the diiticulty between the Greeley committee and the other, The former contended, you know, that it would require a new State committee to do what the other had con- tended they had the power todo. But there is no use going over the matter. But to return to Mr. | Conkling. Lsaw plainly that he had a majority in | | the Convention, so 1 suggested that a new com- | | mittee could be appointed and resolve to do ex- actly what the other had done, The committee would, of course, be all his friends, and their action could not be found fault with by the Greeley or Fenton men after the declaration they ha aide, I remember his reply, as he brought down his hand on the table and exclaimed, ‘t WILL NOT CONCEDE ANYTHING !*"” “Do you suppose that this concession would have been satisfactory all round 1" “I do, for the reason that some time before this I wrote a letter to Senator Fenton about the diffl- cultics in the party, and his reply to me was very | satisfactory. He appeared willing that everything should be done, consistent with the rights of all, to | | weld the party together, Of course, armed with these assurances, [did all 1 could to induce Mr. Conkling to conciliate matters, although, of course, 1 did not exhibit Mr. Fenton’s private letter to him, Still, I gave Mr, Conkling to understand that. by bie as I suggested, and adopting a certain policy MUTUAL FORBEARANCE, all the difficulties between the two wings could be bridged over. When | found that he was deter- mined not to make any concessions I considered my task done, and went home satisfied that there would be a row at the Convention and that the gull between the two wings would grow wider than ever day by day, Subsequent events proved | that I was not wrong in my opinion." “You are friendly to the President and Mr. Conkling?” “Tam. Ihave a great regard for General Grant. avery highestimate of him in every way, and the personal relations hom ad between me and Mr. Conkling are of the most friendly character; but, for all that, T must that I think the party could have been made st ger by A DIFFERENT COURSE OF ACTION than has been pursued go far.” “Tn what a7 “In the first place, by a different treatment of the Fenton wing of thé Ue » The President has all along meant well and means well, but he was led to believe by Mr. Conkling and others that the part; in this State would be stronger without than with he, Fenton men, 1 freely confess that Mr. Fenton has always been, as far as I could learn, ex- ceedingly anxious to heal the breach in the | party, , but, of course, was not willing that e and his followers should be trampled upon to attain that end. I met him coming out of the dining room at the Ariimgton one morning, aiter breakfast, and we got talking about the dimculties in the hig and he satisfied me that he was willing to do all that lay in his power that was not degrad- ing to put an end to them. I myself, some time af- terward, made CERTAIN SUGGESTIONS TO THE PRESIDENT (without alluding ‘2 the conversation I had had with Mr. Fenton) about what could be done to staighten | things out in thimState. I also suggested to a cer- | tain Senator phat, without ever consulting Mr. Fenton, certait removals of officials might take place, certain changes be made here and there, and then all would be well. 1 was assured afterward that the suggestions were received in good part, A little ‘while after this Mr. Croy icy came to Wash- ington, with his recommendatica to be appointed Marshal of this digtrict. Mr. Fenton, who had not been at the White House for along time betore, called in person on the President and informed him that Crowley's appulutment would be very distaste- ful to him personally, The very next day the Presi- dent appointed Crowley, and of course that ended matters as to YENTON’S WILLINGNESS TO GO HALF WAY in bringing the two wings of the party together.’ Here Mr. Clarke drew a long breath and ex- claimed pathetically :— “And Lam truly sorry for it. In my opinion the party could easily have been made a unit long ago had a different course been pursued.” “Do you think,’ I here asked, “that Mr, Conk- Ung*'has got over his notion that the party is stronger without the Fenton men ? Mr. Clarke smiled @ grim simile full of meaning and repled:—“I1 certainly think he has. Why, sir, T cand a believe but for the diMfculties in this State in the party the Cincinnatl movement would never have been heard of. True, it was pushed on by many influences; but the troubles in this State brought it about as much as anything else. You see a portion of the party were offended by the way they were treated, and they lent their intuence to STRE! N THE OPPOSITION to the administration.’ “What do you think about Greeley’s chances in the State 1” “As L sald before, I believe that everything de- pends upon the State ticket tne republicans will nominate. If the candidate for Governor should be a pronounced Conkling man then there will be danger; for the Fenton men, uf they do not vote against him, will stand aloof and reiuge to vote at ali.” »o you think they age numerous enough to create much damage ?”’ “Lcertainly do. Any good man who can com- mand the reform vote m New York city Is the man who ougnt to be nominated; if that kind of a man is nominated he will surely be elected.” | ‘Have you any idea who the nominee will be 7" THR CONKLINGITR DANGER AMRAD. “T have not. I have heard George Opdyke’s name mentioned, but he is a strong Conkling man, and I think, therefore, ought not to be nominated.” “Now, Mr. Clarke, you say that im your opinion the result in this State will depend upon the State ticket to b® nominated. Do you mean to say that the Presidential electoral ticket Will also be affected by the State nominations 7” “Edo. Toa great extent it willbe, You know there are many of the Fenton men, in addition to those who would not vote the State ticket, who Will vote for the Presidential candidate supported by Mr. Fenton. Some wil do so from predilection; but in case @ pronotnced Conkling man should be | nominated hundreds would vote against Grant through sheer spite.’ THE MEN ON THR FENCE. “Do you not think that many people will be in- | fluenced by the way the North Carolina election 008 | oe OF course very many will; for youknow there are thousands who always want to be on the winniag le. Whichever way the tide goes they go.” iil Greeley have much strength in your dis- “Very littie. There are many voters at present who do not want to show their hands. Just now a | eg many refuse to sign cails for oreent See ngs or clubs, and that fact may be in the end somewhat deceptive as to his real strength, People | judge from it that all those who refuse.are Grant men, while all the time they are Og ee to see what the State Convention will do. If the ticket is not, us I have already said, a strong Conki! one they will be all right. If not, then I apprehend that they will come out for tne other side.”’ “What do you think of the liberal boast that Cicer carry the State by 50,000 majority?” ai m think that it is all talk, with nothing to justify Here, as a final question to cover not only New York but all the States, I asked Mr. Clarke how many States he thought General Grant would carry, He hesitated for a moment or so, and then replied :— GRANT IN A TIGHT PLACE. “Well, sir, that would be hard to tell just’ now. Some time ago I was rer with the President, and I told him that Ithought that Greeley would carry all except three of the Southern States, and one of the exceptions was North Carolina, which seems to have gone democratic,” and Mr. Clarke smiled bitterly, as though not at all pleased with the “exceptional” miscalculation he had made. “However,” said he, after a short pause and growing quite serious as he spoke, ‘judging from the present outiook, if General Grant does not carry New York he will have a tight pull of it.”” This ended the conversation, and your correspond- ent, thanking the ex-Comptroller for his courtesy, withdrew, and wended his way back to the hotel. SETH WAKEMAN. lettin Gelarageniee cis The Thirtieth District Not To Be Scared by Liberal Notions—An M. C. Who Don’t Relish Greeley Pie, but Who Tells All He Knows about Graat’s Strength in His District. Baravia, August 1, 1872. In the three counties which are included in the Thirtieth Congressional district—Genesee, Niagara and Wyoiming—there is @ lively contest going on among the republicans as to which county ought to have the honor of securing the Congressional nomi- nation for one of its ‘favored sons.’ The present representative is Mr. Seth Wakeman, of Genesee county, and the gentleman who wants to get the nomination against him is Mr. Hoskins, of Wyo- ming. The latter is a strong Grant man; and, anxious to ascertain whether Mr. Wakeman was “the other way,’ I called at his residence to have a cnat with him; but he was not in, nor was I able to find him at any place in the town. Fatigued and hungry after my long jaunt in the cars in the morning from Butfalo and my even more tedious tramp about the town, I returned to the depot, with a view of starting for Rochester, when my attention was attracted to two men on the station platform very warmly DISCUSSING THE POLITICAL SITUATION. One was a farmer, clad in homespun, The other was a pale-faced man, nervous and quick in his movements. He wore @ long linen wrapper and looked as though he had at some time been a farmer himself, but had got up in the worid by dint of hard labor and since hed had former roughness rubbed off. I soon learned that he was the gentle- man I had tramped ail over town in search of—Mr. Seth Wakeman. The eastward-bound train soon came along and Mr, Wakeman got into one of the cars, 1 took a seat near him, and soon got into conversation with him about the political situation as we joxged along. Liound him to be not much of a taiker; but, in answer to an innuendo of mine that I had been told he would soon declare for Greeley, he exclaimed :— is it 1? Why I would “T declare for Greele: sooner—well, no matter;? and he burst out laugh- ing as if he thought going for Greeley was rather a LAUGHABLE THING. Tis fit of merriment over, he continued :— Who- ever told you that told you a falsehood, Such an idea never entered my mind. In fact, itcould never have entered my He to do such a foolish thing. 1am for Grant, and} don't care who knows it. I am working for him now, and will continue to work for his clection until the polls are closed on the 5th of November. Declare for Greeley, indeed! Oh, no! i have'nt got so far out of the Tight way as that yet.’ : “What does your district think of Greeley? Is it of your opinion ¢” “We have a number of liberals among us, but they are, 1 think, more than odset by the number of democrats who say they will vote for Grant. In Genesee county the democrats who will vote for Grant or not vote at all are quite numerous. They are also pretty strong in Wyoming, but in Niagara things don't look so well. The republicans are badly broken up in some places, and there are fears Jor the county’s going Greeley. Still the Grantmen are contident. What is better they are WORKING LIKE BEAVERS, They have been up and at it ever since the Phila- delphia Convention, If hard work can make the district go Grant it will go for him by @ rousing majority.’? Eas the liberals @ chance of carrying the dis- ct? * “Not the slightest; it will. go the regular ticket by a majority fully as great as that given in 68. I think it is quite possible It may give a larger majority. We have no fear whatever. Everyth ng is working nicely, and when the yotes are countet next November the boasts of the liberals will be found to have been based on absolutely nothing stronger than brag.” “Then you can be set down as a pretty good Grant man?” think he will vote for Grag$and induce others to do likewise.” “Who are the Greeley republicans in the district lthey wer tol itely com of the most ex. were U rN posed . treme Fadieals, Feho looked wy) the Tribune as ao sort of Bible to swear by. they are changing now very fast. They have come to the conclusion that the Greeley movement is @ democratic enter- pene throughout, and that in voting for Horace id are really Gamaging, instead of what they first called “purifying” t! 1 party, and that all the ad- vantage to be derived from the election of Greeley will be seeped exclusively by the democrats, The result is that they are DROPPING INTO THE GRANT RANKS, quietly, without saying anything to anybody. | They make no noise about the change; they don’t sign calis or anything like that, but on election day they will be found all right. This change of teeling since the endorsement of Greeley by the democrats has been quite noticeable, especially among the farmers. they don’t think it looks exactly right that the extreme democrats and Southerners should be so enthusiastic for a man who has been their bitterest foe. They look upon the coalition with suspicion, and hundreds who would have voted for Mr. Greeley as against Grant, if he was Mpls the Cincinnati nominee, will fall into line against him by reason of his having allied himself to the democratic party. THE BUSINESS MEN, I find, do not support Greeley in the district as a general thing. ey are afraid of his financial theories, manthave got it into their heads that, once in the White House, Greeley would be perpetually springing new-fangled notions of finance upon the country to such an extent that a disastrous panic would be inevitable. I have already spoken at several meetings where many business men have been present, and I find thi ticular kind of dread of Greeley almost universal among them.” a “Ts tren possible that the district will go for reeley’ “T cannot see how itcan be. He will get man; republican votes, but the democrats are-not unite by any means, and Grant’s majority will be a large one.’? Having to take the train at Canandaigua, on my way to Ovid, Seneca county, at three o'clock, and the hour being near at hand, at this st of the conversation I bade Mr. Lamport goodby, and Was soon aiterward rushing aloug toward Geneva. JOHN E. SEELEY. pe Rather Hard on Grecley—His Election Would Be a Misfortune to the Country and a Sure Precursor of an Oild-Style Democratic Rule—Disgusted Democrats to Vote for Grant. Ovip, August 5, 1872. It was rather late in the evening when the little steamer from Geneva, after quite a pleasant voyage up Lake Geneva, landed at Willard’s, or what the steamboat guide calls “Ovid’s Landing.’’ The stage from the far-off village of Ovid was not at hand, and as the night grew on apace I began to cast about for quarters, On one side of the dock was a small white frame house, with an invitingly comfortable look about it, although it dia seem rather lonely, all by itself in the valley near the lake. On the other side, some distance to the right and up a rather steep hill, was the Willard Asylum for the Insane. The choice between the two was easily made, espe- cially as I’ had been reading, coming up the lake, all about the alleged horrors of the Bloomingdale Asylum. ,So, carpet bag in hand, I trudged along over the uneven road till I reached the white trame house. A farmer sat on the stoop reading a New York newspaper two weeks old, and @ short distance beyond him, in the barnyard, a hale, good-natured looking man was milking a cow that was frantically endeavoring (thanks to the swarms of files that surrounded her) to kick over the pail she was expected to fill with THE GENUINE LACTEAL, The farmer, whom I addressed at considerable length as to the prospects of “board and lodging”’ for one until the following morning. and whose want of attention to my anxious queries exaspe- rated me beyond expression, turned ont to be deaf as a post, and the man who was milking the cow and whom I took for a hired help, introduced him- self finally as the landlord. I noticed a nice horse in one of the sta lis of the stable, and an idea at once struck me. There was a buggy in the yard. If the horse could be put to the buggy, and the landlord would only condescend, as late as it was, to drive me over the hills to Ovid, my happiness would be complete. No sooner suggested than done, and myself and the landlord were ina short time—a bargain being struck as to “carriage hire’’— jog- ing along toward “the town.” According to the jandiord, who was a democrat, Greeley was run- ning like wildfire through the county of Seneca, and by the time I was deposited at the inn of the village he had exhausted every argument that democratic ingenuity could devise to make me be- lieve that GRANT HAD NO SHOW whatever in the State. Afterarather fretful sleep of it during the night in a room vacated the previous night @ doctor, who had left all his him, including bottles with- number of nasty smelling compounds, got up bright and early the fellowing day and made my way toward the residence of Ju John E. Seeley, the Representative in Con- traps out I after “Well, [should say so,” exclaimed the M.C., as the train strapped at a small station, and he hur- riedly made his exit. WILLIAM H. LAMPORT. The Twenty-sixth Congressional District Sure for Grant—The Reason Why the Farmers Oppose Grecley-What They Think of Grant’s Moral Character and What They Consider a Democratic Enterprise. CANANDAIGUA, August 3, 1872. The Twenty-sixth Congressional district includes the coumtics of Ontario, Livingston and Yates. Its present Representative is a well-to-do farmer, William H. Lamport, who, in all probability, will run again at the coming election. Shortiy aftermy arrival I met him in a store on the main street of the village. He is a middle-aged man, fuil of good nature, and “takes”? well I understand with the tn- dependent men of both parties who do not adhere closely to party lines and always vote for the best man, no matter what fide he beiongs to. “Are you for Grant?’ I asked, as we sauntered back to the end of the store, the farthest away from the front door, sb/as to keep clear of the customers, “That's what they say hereabouts,” he replicd, laughingly. “Some of my old friends don’t call me a republican any longer, but they cut it short by calling me a Grantite—I mean those who DON’T GO FOR GRANT themselves, you know.” “And what lave you got to say about it your- self?” “Oh! Lagree with them. Iam a Grant man over and abow board, because I am a republican, and he deserves the support of republicans, not only because he is the nominee of the party, but because he has performed his high duties as Chief Executive in a way that onght to command the respect of the entire country.” “How do you account for it, then, that many re- publicans reiuse to look at things in this light?” The honorable gentlemen shrugged bis shoulders and remarked :— “You can’t please everynody. | of the question, Everybody has enemies, and Gen- eral Grant has very many J concede. But why? In my opinion he has made them by doing his duty regardless of their particular wishes, He is not easily MOVED FROM THE RIGHT WAY of doing things when he gets well started, and he has had during the last four years to tncur the wrath of many of his ott followers rather than to please them by doing wrong. Yet there are hundreds of republicans who honestly differ with the adminis- tration and who will oppose tt to the bitter end on what they call principle. Iam sorry that so many of them have gone against the administration, but I don't think that Grant will be the less victorious in the long run.” “How about your own district’ “[have no doubt but that it will give Grant o big majority. There is @ little trouble in Yates county, and the Greeley republicans, headed by Cleveland, are said tobe formidable in numbers. It is hard, however, to Set at theirexact strength. 1am of the opinion that they are more formidable on paper than in actual voters. ‘The farmers, aso neral rule, that is those who have heretofore Been republican, are almost TO A MAN FOR GRANT, ‘They like Greeley, but they do not think he has got into company, and believe, Hightly, that in voting for him they will be voting the democratic party into wer. There are many who tud a reat deal of fault about General Grant’s reputed had character—that he frequents sporting piaces, associates with sporting men and drinks at times to excess.’ “Will they vote against him on that account “gome of them may, but only those who swallow all the slanders they hear against the President and who never come across the real truth, A farmer who has considerable tnfluence in the dis- trict came to me the other day and said he was un- decided whether or not to vote for Grant on ac- count of bis BAD MORAL CHARACTER, Loffered to draw ny bond for $600, he to go to | Washington, call on reliable men there and see for himself whether the charges against General Grant on the score of inebriety were Well founded. If he found they were he could have the if not he would have to vote and work for He went away without the challenge, but I It is entirely on gress from the Twenty-fifth district. On the road F reputation and a man who commands a very large influence in Chemung county. The district is com- posed of Chemung, Steuben and Alleghany, the two latter being republican strongholds. I found Mr. Smith at his cosey residence “out on the plank road, the other side of the river,” to use the words of the hack driver, who told me how he would have to get me there. The only dimculty I found about reaching the “plank road” was that the bridge over the river. was in a_ rickety condition and that the horses had to ford the stream, greatly to the disgust of the driver, who complained bitterly, for the sake of a higher rate of fare than he had bargain: for, about the “extry warsh’ he would be compelled to give his shaky Vehicle on his return. The day was intensely hot, and Mr. Smith, when I met him, was, like a sensible man, sitting on the shady side of the piazza of the house, enjoying the breeze which swept with delicious coolness through the gardens, On learning that I was travelling about to find out how the political situation looked in the interior he remarked that he would gladly give me all the information in his power, ‘ fornia is 4 DEMOCRATIC COUNTY,” said ho, “and the Greeley men are very naturally met with in greater numbers here than in other portions of the district,” “Are they not strong in the district as a general thing?” “They are not to an extent that gives us cause for any alarm.’ “You are a Grant man, I believe ?? “Yes, sir, and I do not propose to be taken for ee else so long as Iam able to show by word and deed that lam he ’3 re- election a heartily in favor of Grant's re. understand that the Greeley republi quite numerous in Alleghany Sout ml seiei ae ‘i know they boast a great deal about their strength and are working hard, but they do not make much headway, so far as I can learn, I think that during the past week or 80, especially since the North Carolina election, the Greeley men have been losing ground. Many who were inclined to go with them have become weak-kneed, and now re- fuse to join them.” “As a general thing how do the farmers and the country people look upon the liberal movement ?!? “They do not like it. THE GREAT REPUBLICAN HEART of the State is as sound as ever, as far as I know, not only in this district, but in every other one. You hear a great deal about this and that promi- nent republican here and there in the State going over to the GWeeley party. Their names are familiar to everybody, and naturally people are led to be- lieve that with each one goes a !arge body of fol- lowers. In ordinary cases, Where there is no ques- tion of principles at stake, and the local leaders take sides in a contest, there is always a large fol- lowing of each one’s admirers or followers in poli- tics. But such has not been the case in this Gree- ley movement. The great mass of the people are true to the republican party, They seem to be ANGRY WITH THEIR LEADERS, who have abandoned them, and they, in their turn, have abandoned the leaders, and now the latter find themselves almost alone in the enemy’s camp, This, I assure you, is a most noticeable feature of the campaign thus far, so you can readily see that when a well known republican politician goes over to the Greeley side he does not carry much'of a backing with him. The masses who formerly be- lieved in these leaders refuse to be sold out like sheep, and apparently have determined to think and act for themselves.” “Does this not apply in your district and the State with equal force to the local democratic lead- ers who declare for Grant?’’ “I have no doubt it does; but the balance ts all the time in favor of the Grant party.” “Have all the Greeley republicans in the district been good republicans heretofore?” “There are many well-meaning men among them -who have acted zealously in times past with the Tepubljcan party, but the greater portion of them are men who have some personal grievance to vent on the party, who are sore over POLITICAL DISAPPOINTMENTS, or who in times past were always threatening bolts when matters here and there did not suit their whims or wishos.”” “Now, what do you think about the actual result in the three counties in your district?’ “T think there is no reason to doubt a large major- ity for eral Grant. The county of Chemung will fe de ratic, of course, but I think that the regu- lar republican vot@ even in it will be largely in excess of hat lied in 1868; and I suspect that the lemocratic vote will not be much heavier than that of 68, even with the accession ofthe Greeley republicans, for the reason that there are large numbers of demo- crats who will vote for Grant, and a large number again who prefer, rather than to sustain either, not to vote at all. Herein Elmira there are at least a hundred men of this stamp, all FORMERLY GOOD DEMOCRATS, and in the interior the numbers are very large, there being scarcely a village that has not its stuy- at-home or Grant democrat.” “Judging, then, from all you know of the situa- tion in this county and the other two, you believe that Grant will carry the district beyond a doubt?” “That is my firm conviction, and, moreover, I believe the inroads of the Greeley republicans upon the old majorities, all things considered, will be in- significant.”” This brought the conversation to a close, Met the gentleman dashing Gown the street in a buggy, driven by his son. The Ji found to be & man well advanced in years, and of an exceed- ingly amiable disposition, notwithstanding that he is {n very poor health, Owing to his condition I felt rather indisposed to talk to him on puitics, ‘but he assured me that he felt very well and took a great deal of interest in the cunpaign. “And what side have you taken?” I asked, as the old man’s son reined up the horse at the inn door. “THERE 18 ONLY ONE SIDE. in this pontest for a good republican to take,” was 3 reply. tbe a@ great many good republicans differ about pee suggested, ‘‘which side do you refer to, us The old gentleman smiled rather contemptuously at my remark, and replied in his quiet, gentle way:— a have taken sides with the men who are de- voted to the interests of the republican party, which, in my opinion, are now more than ever the Interests of the people. I am_in_ favor of the re- election of General Grant. He been a good President; he has done his whole duty to the people. the country has prospered under his ad- ministration, and he deserves to be re-elected, and he will be just as sure as the sun shines to-day.’” “Do you not think Mr, Greeley would MAKE A GOOD PRESIDENT!” “Ido not. I do not believe that Mr. Greele; ; could remain an out-and-out republican after his election a more than he could stick to any one particular theory of any kind for a twelvemonth at atime. Mr. Sumner makes a great mistake when he thinks that, because he remained a republican alter being helped to his seat in the Senate by democrats, Mr. Greeley will be aa steadfast.” “What makes you think so ?? “Mr. Greeley’s past life shows his changeable character. He is here to-day and there to-morrow, and the next day nowhere in dpe here’ that any- body can find out. Ifhe should, unfortunately for the country,. be elected he will be compelled to put leading democrats in his Cabinct and to . GIVE THE DEMOCRACY .A STRONG HOLD upon the reins of government. This is as plain as can be to any unprejudiced mind, Without the aid of the democrats he cannot be elected, and if elected he will be in their power. There is no use of begging the question; his election would be equivalent to an overthrow of the republican party and the establishment on its ruing of the old demo- cratic party, with all its hi and hopes of revenge renewed with tenfold vigor. In @ word, his elec- tion would be only affording a pati for the democratic party, now almost starved to death. They would thrive on it, wax strong and impudent, and we should ve again as far behind where we ought to be as we were in 1960, to all intents and purposes, 1 candid! lieve that Greeley’s election would be @ great misfottune for the country. His administration would be gov- erned by OLD STYLE DRMOORATS, . and we all know what kind of administration that would be.” ‘Do you think your district will go go for Grant?’ oly 1am positive of it, You know that there are three counties in Leas 6 Wayne and Sen- eca. The latter is democratic, but the district, as a whole, will give Grant a large bgt e 9 “But I find many, republicans in the district who will not go Grant.” “That may be, but compared with the great bulk of republicans in the district they will be a mere drop in the bucket. Here and there, in every vil- lage and town almost, you' will some one or two or more republicans who INTEND TO VOTR FOR GREELEY; but where you find one republican who will vote for him you will, on an average, find two demo- crats who will vote for Grant, and two more who will not vote at ali.”” “Are you sure of that ?? “Tam. You can have no real conception of the falling off of the demoerats frem their own party ip certain sections of the district. It is all very ‘well for Greeley men to say that they can, if not carry the counties, at least cut our majorities down to one-half; but the half they cut off, if they cut it off at all, will be more than made Sp by democratic yotes. You can rely on it, the district is sure to give General Grant a large majority.” The Judge at this point was hailed ty an old Sriend passing by, and your correspondent at once dropped the political confab and withdrew to the hotel. HORACE 8B. SMITH. A Legal Horace Who Does Not Go for the Philosopher Horace=—The Reasons Why and Wherefore—Still More Democrats for Grant=—The Masses that Refase to Follow the Reercant Republican Local Leaders, Evmira, August 7, 1872, Mr. Horace B. Smith represents the Twenty. eighth district in Congress. He is 6 lawyer of good MILO, GOODRICH. | A Greeley Republican Congressman’s Opinion About the Liberals and Their Chances—Which is the Real Repub- lican Party—How Grant Might Have United the Republicans and Every- thing Been Made Lovely. Drypen, August 8—Evening. Of all the dreary, dumpy villages I ever put foot in, Dryden takes the palm. It has two hotels (bless the mark), and the population is largely made up of the farmer persuasion, who are never seea about the village except at evening time, when they loll about the groceryman’s door, the tavern piazza and wherever they can get intoa comfort- able sitting posture along the sidewalk of the main street, There are many ways to reach Dryden from any near-by given point of civilization. You can, for instance, go by horseback or wagon along the roadways, or if you are in a hurry and you happen to be, for instance, at Oswego, as I was the day I started for the place, you can take the Southern Central Railway. If, however, you value your life and have no sinister design upon the spare funds of the accidental in- surance companies you will patiently wait at the depot for an express train to come along, and not trust yourself, as I was forced to do, to the tender mercies of AN “ACCOMMODATION.” And such an accommodation. All the cars were freight cars but the passenger car, and that ought to have been a freight car too. The train stopped atevery station, and as a bell cord was nota part of its make-up fhe conductor, when he wanted to stop or get switched off or backed to a proper distance at any depot, coolly got up on top of one of the cars and hallooed to the engineer. Whenever the train did stop or start the engineer seemed to put his whole soul into the idea as well as the full ‘strength of his muscle. The consequence was that if you didn’t keep your eyes wide open and your hands firmly clutched to the bottom of the seat you were certain to make adive into the seat ahead of you or go heels over head backwards into the seat behind’ you. I got to the end of my journey without any broken bones, and put up shortly after at the “best’’ hotel in the vil- lage—“board $2 a day, $10a week.” Now Dryden has its big guns as well as most other places in the world, and enjoys the honor of being the abode of the Congressman from the Twenty-seventh dis- trict, Mr. Milo Goodrich, a lawyer by profession, who stands at the bead of the Bar in his district. He ts & real man of: the people and puts on no airs in his EVERY-DAY GOINGS ABOUT among the farmers and others in the rural nooks who in great part make up the voting bulk of the district. Soon after the Cincinnati Convention he made up his mind that Greeley was the comin; man, or rather that Grant ought not to be re-electe as against such a good republican as the Philoso- pher, and so he prepared his political house and as gone his wave ‘accordingly ever since. I called upon Mr, Goodrich at his office as soon as 1 was able to get out of my coating of Southern Central ust, and found him’ busily engaged with his law OKs. You are an out-and-ont Greeley man, I believe ?”" said I, after a little formal parley about matters and things in general. pr ayo favor of Mr. Greeley’s election, most de- edly. ¥ oe, have already taken the stump for him, I “{ um doing whatever lies in my power to ad- vance the liberal cause in this section. [have al- ready spoken at several meetings, and intend to speak at one to-night to be held in a neighboring village.’ “What are the prospects in the distgict’”” “They are very promising indeed. *Ihe liberals seem to be fully alive to THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CAMPAIGN, and although it Is quite early in the season they are doing wonders already, Meetings are being held right and left almost every night, and the activity displayed by the rank and t le of the party betokens in November.” Boro all the Iiberel republicans take kindly to the hands with the democrats ia th them do not like the idea, Tho Ang putting the democratic party cet into power again THE GREAT SCARECROW With many, but I think that between now and the day of election this Scarecrow will not amount to “You feel confident of that 1” “ i. ee ae are de good work in the district in hed Ser lowing the republicans that there is nothing dishon le or dangerous to the interests of the country by their cheerfully uniting with the democrats in freeing the country from an adminis- tration that is no longer republicantia the true sense of the word. We argue that it is a good si: for the nation when the democrats turn their backs upon their past, and resolutely come forward and jopt republican principles ag their future guide. We liberals have not gong over to the democrats, but the democrats have come up to us, and we now all stand on a platform that no honest man—no pees, who loves his country—can reasonably ob- ject to,” “Then you do not think that the present admin- istration represents THE TRUE REPUBLICAN PARTY ” “I do not, It has detracted from the Principles which ori; inaly. gave vitality to the arty, and from an administration of the people ¢ has dwindled down to a mere personal affarr, Genera! Grant was elected by the people four years ago, and was under no obligations to the Politicians for his nomination, as it was made in compliance with the almost unanimous demand of the people, He had a chance to become the most popular President who ever went to the White House. He could have set his foot down firmly and made HONESTY AND CAPACITY the test of his every action in governmental mat- ters and his appointments, By. treatin the South fairly, and telling the Southern’ peo) mle that, so long as they showed a good spirit and were will- ing to abide by the results of the war, he would see to it that their rights were respected and everything done to make their condition prosper- ous, ho would have concillated them, and the result would be that the republican fags to-day would be a unit, and Grant himself the most pouniar man in the Union, Instead of doing that he has allowed the Southern States to be overrun with A HORDE OF ADVENTURERS who, using the good name of the republican party to cover their villanies, have robbed the people right ang left and rendered thorough reconciliation ten times further off than ever. He has surrounded himself with men as counsellors that the nation has no confidence in. and seemed to have made gen- eral devotion to himself and his new Plans the only test of their fitness for office. It Is against the per- sistent follies and degrading influences of the ad- ministration that the liberal party is a patriotic Presa ei such, in my,opinion, the people will “Do you feel confident that the liberals weil be successful in your district ?”” “Ihave every reason to believe that they will carry the district De a handsome majority. Every indication points that way, and from now until Bese Movembae I think ene proapacts will become uring every day. There are many men in the district who at frat were .. LOATH TO JOIN WITH THE DEMOCRATS. But they are becoming gradually convinced that instead of pulling the democratic party Into power the result of a liberal uy will be that of a new repanitiany party made up of the patriotic and hon- est men of the old parties, whose aim it will be to carry on the government for the people and not to serve the personal ends of any man or particular set of men.” it will be remembered that Mr. Goodrich is the gentleman who, ina speech at Ithaca a tew days since, charged General Grant with having accepted his Long Branch cottage as a gift, and that Tom Murphy was one of the subscribers to the subscri tion list. Tom’s letter denying the soft impeach- ment and asking for @ retraction has already been Published. bi R. HOLLAND DUELL. great What the Congressman from the Twene ty-fourth District Has to Say About the Situation in His Region—Grant Sure to Carry the District by a Large Majority. CORTLAND, August 9, 1872. Ireached the pretty little village of Cortland to-day, after a twelve miles’ ride in @ wagon from Ovid. The village is the county seat, and has among its residents’ several men of considerable wealth, as well as of prominence in politics. It has always been noted for its strong republican pro- clivities, and invariably at every election rolls up a heavy majority for the radical ticket, no matter what the issue of the campaign may be. Mr. R. Holland Duell, the Representative in Congress from the present Twenty-fourth district, resides in the village. He 1s @ prominent lawyer, and stands high in the good opinion of his neighbors, and ts very popular politically with all classes in his dis- trict. Sunday and all, as it was, owing to the hurry which I was in to start for Norwich BEFORE DAYLIGHT the following morning, I took the liberty of calling upon him at his residence. He received me with the greatest courtesy, and it was not long before we were deep in matters of State—politics. “How do you find matters in your district ?” I finally asked, after we had talked awhile about the claims of the two candidates in the various States. “assure you, we republicans have nothing to complain of,” was the reply; “we are making an aggressive campaign of it, although it is early in the season.” “You mean “Of course. “Then 1 take it for granted you are strongly in favor of General Grant's re-election ?” “iam most heartily for General Grant. I think he deserves the support of ALL TRUB REPUBLICANS, and, what is more, I am of the opinion that he will get that support next November.” “Do you find that the Greeley republicans have made any serious inroads upon the party in your district?” “Detections, as the desertions from the regular ty are called, have taken place here and there; uy Say every place almost has its representa- tive Greeley republican ; but they are not so numer- ous as to create any fear on our part that they will ne able to change the general result on election lay. “What convinces you of that, Mr. Duell?’ “You must understand that this county is a ver strong republican county. The town of Cortland- ville atone gives a republican majority of 600, and at a Presidential election the majority is belt 4 about nineteen hundred in the county, The ma- jority in Onondaga was in 1868 3,297. The falling off of the Khe republicans, added to the demo- cratic vote in the two counties if polled solia, would, of course, materially lessen these majori- ties; but A THOROUGH CANVASS has shown that the democrats are very far from being united, and that-the disaffection among the republicans is not 80 at as some people a fow weeks ago anticipated it would be. Under all the circumstances, therefore, I fecl certain that the two counties will give Grant about the usual ma- <5 they give a Tepublican candidate at every dential election.” “Did Greeley’s chances look better some time ago than they do nowin the district” “J think they did, edt a i may be mistaken. However, had the election taken place a month ago Greeley, would, I believe, have carried the State. The Greeley movement as it is called has come toa head since then, andthe excitement produced by his sudden appearance on the scene asa candidate has subsided. Every day GRANT'S FRIENDS are becoming more numerous, and many who at first were inclined to support Horace, but who had not openly expressed any preference for either candidate, have decided to throw their influence in the scale of the lar Darty.” “How about the farmers *' “In the rural districta Greeley’s strength ts almost nothing. bs bah a Avg take to him, — Greeley men in the 8 Never expected this, and they no doubt fee! pte hr disappointed over this particular aspect of situation. To ilins- trate this condition of things Ineed only mention that outside this corporation of Uortland in this immediate neighborhood there are only two farm- ers who say they will vote for Groeley. Again, in this town alone 150 Tribunes used to bo taken. ‘Tho number has fallen to fifty lately; yet the majority of those republicans who say they will vote for him sare men who have taken his paper for years, They believe him to be AND CAPABLE. HONEST and that he will make a good President. Asa gen eral thing, however, the Patan who have de. clared for him are not of that class who in times always stuck to the regular ticket. They are of that class who bolted often simplf¥ because some Gavan thing didn’t please them. Of course here are honorable exceptions to the rule.” “The result in the district, then, will be, you think, in favor of Grant?’ * “By a most decisive majority. There is no room for doubt about the matter, judging evoryinieg the present. What may tarn up, as something Tay, between now and election time to change the aspect of aifairs, of course, no one can tell; but, asT repeat, as we now stand, the district will go handsomely for General Grant.” This endéd the confab. ELIZUR H. PRINOLE. ey republicans the Grant men ?”” In a Republican Stronghold—The Con- gressma@n from the Twenticth District Out for Grant—He Tells a Stratghtfor- ward Story—The Activity of the Grecley Men and the Results, Norwicu, N. Y., August 10, 1972. Norwich is ® “town’ of about five thousand in- habitants. It has become of late years considerable of a railroad centre, thanks to the Midland and Delaware and Lackawanna Railroads, which trav-