il disposed of. It was
a staggering blow. The air was thick with suggestions, contrivances,
expedients, and embryonic proposals. The Governor, finding Crain
inexorable, sent for Michael Hoffman; but the ablest Radical in the
State refused to intervene, knowing that if the programme proposed by
Wright was sustained, the Whigs would withdraw their support and leave
the Hunkers in control.

When the debate opened, interest centred in the course taken by the
Radicals, who accepted the principle of the bill, but who demurred
upon details and dreaded to divide their party. To this controlling
group, therefore, were arguments addressed and appeals made. Hammond
pronounced it "one of the best, if not the best, specimens of
parliamentary discussion ever exhibited in the capital of the
State."[353] Other writers have recorded similar opinions. It was
certainly a memorable debate, but it was made so by the serious
political situation, rather than by the importance of the subject.
Horatio Seymour led his party, and, though other Hunkers participated
with credit, upon the Speaker fell the brunt of the fight. He
dispensed with declamation, he avoided bitter words, he refused to
crack the party whip; but with a deep, onflowing volume of argument
and exhortation, his animated expressions, modulated and well
balanced, stirred the emotions and commanded the closest attention.
Seymour had an instinct "for the hinge or turning point of a debate."
He had, also, a never failing sense of the propriety, dignity, and
moderation with which subjects should be handled, or "the great
endearment of prudent and temperate speech" as Jeremy Taylor calls it;
and, although he could face the fiercest opposition with the keenest
blade, his utterances rarely left a sting or subjected him to
criticism. This gift was one secret of his great popularity, and daily
rumours, predicted harmony before a vote could be reached. As the
stormy scenes which marked the progress of the bill continued,
however, the less gifted Hunkers did not hesitate to declare the party
dissolved unless the erring Radicals fell into line.

[Footnote 353: Jabez D. Hammond, _Political History of New York_, Vol.
3, p. 544.]

John Young, who knew the giant burden he had taken up, showed himself
acute, frank, patient, closely attentive, and possessed of remarkable
powers of speech. Every word surprised his followers; every stroke
strengthened his position. He did not speak often, but he a