ty as the sea."[492]

[Footnote 492: Edward Cary, _Life of George William Curtis_, p. 113;
New York _Weekly Tribune_, August 16, 1856.]

Curtis thought the question of endangering the Union a mere pretence.
"Twenty millions of a moral people, politically dedicated to Liberty,
are asking themselves whether their government shall be administered
solely in the interest of three hundred and fifty thousand
slave-holders." He did not believe that these millions would dissolve
the Union in the interest of these thousands. "I see a rising
enthusiasm," he said, in closing; "but enthusiasm is not an election;
and I hear cheers from the heart, but cheers are not voters. Every man
must labour with his neighbour--in the street, at the plough, at the
bench, early and late, at home and abroad. Generally we are concerned
in elections with the measures of government. This time it is with the
essential principle of government itself."[493]

[Footnote 493: _Ibid._, August 16, 1856.]

The result of the election was not a surprise. Fremont's loss of
Pennsylvania and Indiana had been foreshadowed in October, making his
defeat inevitable, but the Republican victory in New York was more
sweeping than the leaders had anticipated, Fremont securing a majority
of 80,000 over Buchanan, and John A. King 65,000 over Amasa J.
Parker.[494] The average vote was as follows: Republican, 266,328;
Democrat, 197,172; Know-Nothing, 129,750. West and north of Albany,
every congressman and nearly every assemblyman was a Republican.
Reuben E. Fenton, who had been beaten for Congress in 1854 by 1676
votes, was now elected by 8000 over the same opponent. The Assembly
stood 82 Republicans, 37 Democrats, and 8 Know-Nothings. In the
country at large, Buchanan obtained 174 electoral votes out of 296,
but he failed to receive a majority of the popular vote, leaving the
vanquished more hopeful and not less cheerful than the victors.
Fillmore received the electoral vote of Maryland and a popular vote of
874,534, nearly one-half as many as Buchanan and two-thirds as many as
Fremont. In other words, he had divided the vote of the North, making
it possible for Buchanan to carry Pennsylvania and Indiana.

[Footnote 494: John A. King, 264,400; Amasa J. Parker, 198,616;
Erastus Brooks, 130,870.--_Civil List, State of New York_ (1887), p.
166.]

CHAPTER XVIII

THE IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT

1857-1858

It was the duty of the Legislature of 1857 to elect a succes