nsive act during the ante-war
crisis, filled the minds of men with a growing dislike of the one
whose pen gave it life, and, in spite of his high character, his long
public career, and his eminence as a citizen, he was associated with
Pierce and Buchanan, who, as Northern men, were believed to have
surrendered to Southern dictation.[409]

[Footnote 409: "When Fillmore withdrew from the presidential office,
the general sentiment proclaimed that he had filled the place with
ability and honour. He was strictly temperate, industrious, orderly,
and of an integrity above suspicion. If Northern people did not
approve the fugitive slave law, they at least looked upon it with
toleration. It is quite true, however, that after-opinion has been
unkind to Fillmore. The judgment on him was made up at a time when the
fugitive slave law had become detestable, and he was remembered only
for his signature and vigorous execution of it."--James F. Rhodes,
_History of the United States_, Vol. 1, pp. 297, 301.]

In the national convention at Baltimore, which met June 1, 1852, the
New York Democrats were likewise destined to suffer by their
divisions. Lewis Cass, James Buchanan, and Stephen A. Douglas were the
leading candidates; though William L. Marcy and Daniel S. Dickinson
also had presidential ambitions. Marcy was a man of different mould
from Dickinson.[410] With great mental resources, rare administrative
ability, consummate capacity in undermining enemies, and an intuitive
sagacity in the selection of friends, Marcy was an opponent to be
dreaded. After the experiences of 1847 and 1848, he had bitterly
denounced the Barnburners, refusing even to join Seymour in 1849 in
his heroic efforts to reunite the party; but when the Barnburners,
influenced by the Utica statesman, began talking of him for President
in 1852 he quickly put himself in accord with that wing of his party.
Instantly, this became a call to battle. The Hunkers, provoked at his
apostacy and encouraged by the continued distrust of many Barnburners,
made a desperate effort, under the leadership of Dickinson, to secure
a majority of the delegates for Cass. The plastic hand of Horatio
Seymour, however, quickly kneaded the doubting Barnburners into Marcy
advocates; and when the contest ended the New York delegation stood
twenty-three for Marcy and thirteen for Cass.

[Footnote 410: "It was certain that Mr. Dickinson could not carry New
York.... Governor Marcy was strongly ur