al was capable of warm resentment, this
letter testifies:

MENTOR, OHIO, _September 20, 1880_.

I notice ---- is parading through the country devoting himself
to personal assaults upon me. Why do not our people republish
his letter, which a few years ago drove him in disgrace
from the stump, and compelled the Democracy to recall every
appointment then pending? Of all the black sheep that have
been driven from our flock, I know of none blacker than he,
and less entitled to assail any other man's character.

Very truly yours,

J.A. GARFIELD.

The speaking on the line of the Erie road by Garfield, Harrison, and
Kirkwood was of a very high and effective character. The man who did
more to make peace than any other was General Grant. Conkling had a
genuine affection for him, and consented to go with him to Mentor;
and yet there was some trifle always in the way of a complete
understanding with the old guard of the Third-Term Crusaders.

Garfield was very sensible of and grateful for the work done by Grant
and Conkling, and did not stint expression of his feeling. The State
of New York was carried by the Republicans, and Garfield indisputably
elected President of the United States. There was a vast amount of
worry in making up the cabinet, and Mr. Conkling's hand appeared,
but not with a gesture of conciliation. He and Garfield were of
incompatible temper. Each had mannerisms that irritated the other; and
when they seemed to try to agree, the effort was not a success.

As soon as the administration was moving the President was under two
fires: one in respect to the attempted reforms in the postal service,
and the other about the New York appointments. Mr. Conkling did not
seem able to understand that anything could be done that was not
according to his pleasure, without personal offence toward himself.
He was a giant, and that was his weakness. It was Garfield's ardent
desire to be friendly with the senior New York Senator; but one
position he avowedly maintained. It was that he was not to blame for
being President of the United States; that he had taken the oath
of office, and was the man responsible to the people for the
administration, and he could not, dare not, shift that obligation;
and, more than that, he must give the "recognition" due friends to
the men who had aided him in breaking down Mr. Conkling's policy at
Chicago. If that was a crime he was a criminal. He was Pre