on Fernando Wood
and Tammany had a severe struggle. Tammany won, but Wood appeared at
Syracuse with a full delegation, and for half an hour before the
convention convened Wood endeavoured to do by force what he knew could
not be accomplished by votes. He had brought with him a company of
roughs, headed by John C. Heenan, "the Benicia Boy," and fifteen
minutes before the appointed hour, in the absence of a majority of the
delegates, he organised the convention, electing his own chairman and
appointing his own committees. When the bulk of the Softs arrived they
proceeded to elect their chairman. This was the signal for a riot, in
the course of which the chairman of the regulars was knocked down and
an intimidating display of pistols exhibited. Finally the regulars
adjourned, leaving the hall to the Wood contestants, who completed
their organisation, and, after renominating the Democratic state
officers elected in 1857, adjourned without day.

Immediately, the regulars reappeared; and as the Hards from the
up-state counties answered to the roll call, the Softs vociferously
applauded. Then Dickinson made a characteristic speech. He did not
fully decide to join the Softs until Fernando Wood had sacrificed the
only chance of overthrowing them; but when he did go over, he burned
the bridges behind him. The Softs were delighted with Dickinson's
bearing and Dickinson's speech. It united the party throughout the
State and put Tammany in easy control of New York City.

With harmony restored there was little for the convention to do except
to renominate the state officers, appoint delegates to the Charleston
convention who were instructed to vote as a unit, and adopt the
platform. These resolutions indorsed the administration of President
Buchanan; approved popular sovereignty; condemned the "irrepressible
conflict" speech of Seward as a "revolutionary threat" aimed at
republican institutions; and opposed the enlargement of the Erie canal
to a depth of seven feet.

The Republican state convention had previously assembled on September
7 and selected a ticket, equally divided between men of Democratic and
Whig antecedents, headed by Elias W. Leavenworth for secretary of
state. Great confidence was felt in its election until the Americans
met in convention on September 22 and indorsed five of its candidates
and four Democrats. This, however, did not abate Republican activity,
and, in the end, six of the nine Republican nominees wer