s of whatever party, who, believing in these
views, will act with them to secure honest administration in Federal
and State affairs, a rigid maintenance of the Constitution, economy in
public expenditures, honesty in the award of contracts, justice to the
soldier in the field and the taxpayer at home, and the expulsion of
corrupt men from office."[790]

[Footnote 790: New York _Herald_, August 9, 1861.]

It was hardly to be expected, perhaps, that Dean Richmond and other
representatives of a great party would be willing, even if moved by no
other motive than a love of country, to abandon a political
organisation that had existed for years, and that had already shown
its patriotism by the generous enlistment of its members; but it is
doubtful if they would have proclaimed, without the guidance of a
State convention, such an elaborate and positive platform of
principles, had not the serious defeat at Bull Run and the action of
the President in suspending the writ of _habeas corpus_, subjected the
national Administration to severe criticism. This, at least, was the
view taken by the radical Republican press, which viciously attacked
the patriotism of Richmond and his associates, charging them with
using the livery of Democracy to serve the cause of treason.[791]

[Footnote 791: New York _Tribune_, August 10.]

In the midst of these developments the Democratic State convention,
made up of a larger number of old men than usual, assembled at
Syracuse on September 4. It was not an enthusiastic body. The division
upon national affairs plainly had a depressing influence. Francis
Kernan became temporary chairman. At the Oneida bar, Kernan, then
forty-five years old, had been for nearly two decades the peer of
Hiram Denio, Samuel Beardsley, Ward Hunt, and Joshua Spencer. He was a
forceful speaker, cool and self-possessed, with a pleasing voice and
good manner. He could not be called an orator, but he was a master of
the art of making a perfectly clear statement, and in defending his
position, point by point, with never failing readiness and skill, he
had few if any superiors. He belonged, also, to that class of able
lawyers who are never too busy to take an active interest in public
affairs.

In his brief address Kernan clearly outlined the position which the
Democracy of the whole country was to occupy. "It is our duty," he
said, "to oppose abolitionism at the North and secession at the South,
which are equally making war u