lways
answered Seymour, presenting a fine and sustained example of debate,
keeping within strict rules of combat, and preserving a rational and
argumentative tone, yet emphasising the differences between Hunker and
Radical. Young could not be called brilliant, nor did he have the
capacity or finish of Seymour as an orator; but he formed his own
opinions, usually with great sagacity, and acted with vigour and skill
amid the exasperation produced by the Radical secession. Seward wrote
that "he has much practical good sense, and much caution." This was
evidenced by the fact that, although only four Radicals voted to
report Crain's bill, others gradually went over, until finally, on
its passage, only Hunkers voted in the negative. It was a great
triumph for Young. He had beaten a group of clever managers: he had
weakened the Democratic party by widening the breach between its
factions; and he had turned the bill recommending a convention into a
Whig measure.

The bad news discouraged the senators who dreamed of an abiding union
between the two factions; and, although one or two Radicals in the
upper chamber favoured the submission of the amendments separately to
the people, the friends of the measure obtained two majority against
all attempts to modify it, and four majority on its passage. The
Governor's approval completed Young's triumph. He had not only
retained his place as an able minority leader against the relentless,
tireless assaults of a Seymour, a Croswell, and a Wright; but, in the
presence of such odds, he had gained the distinction of turning a
minority into a reliable majority in both houses, placing him at once
upon a higher pedestal than is often reached by men of far greater
genius and eloquence.

The determination of the Hunkers to pass a measure appropriating
$197,000 for canal improvement made the situation still more critical.
Although the bill devoted the money to completing such unfinished
portions of the Genesee Valley and Black River canals as the
commissioners approved, it was clearly in violation of the spirit of
the act of 1842 upon which Hunker and Radical had agreed to bury their
differences, and the latter resented its introduction as an
inexcusable affront; but John Young now led his Whig followers to the
camp of the Hunkers, and, in a few days, the measure lay upon the
Governor's table for his approval or veto.

Thus far, Governor Wright had been a disappointment to his party.
Complaint