nment was re-established in all its strength.

Kernan did not take kindly to these sentiments. Like Loomis he
resented arbitrary arrests in States removed from actual hostilities,
where the courts were open for the regular administration of justice,
and with a few ringing sentences he threw the delegates into wild
cheering. Though brief, this speech resulted in restoring the Loomis
resolution to its place in the platform, and in increasing the
clamour that Kernan lead the party as a candidate for attorney-general.
Kernan was not averse to taking office. For three years, from 1856 to
1859, he had been official reporter for the Court of Appeals, and in
1860 served in the Assembly. Later, he entered Congress, finally
reaching the United States Senate. But in 1861 prudence prompted him
to decline the tempting offer of a nomination for attorney-general,
and although entreated to reconsider his determination, he stubbornly
resisted, and at last forced the nomination of Lyman Tremaine of
Albany, who had previously held the office.[795]

[Footnote 795: The State ticket was made up as follows: Secretary of
State, David R. Floyd Jones of Queens; Judge of the Court of Appeals,
George F. Comstock of Onondaga; Comptroller, George F. Scott of
Saratoga; Attorney-General, Lyman Tremaine of Albany; Treasurer of
State, Francis C. Brouck of Erie; Canal Commissioners, Jarvis B. Lord
of Monroe, William W. Wright of Ontario; State Prison Director,
William C. Rhodes of New York.]

The work of the convention did not please all members of the party. To
some the drift of the speeches and resolutions seemed an encouragement
to armed rebellion; to others, although jealous of individual rights,
it appeared to confuse the liberty of the press with license. One
paper, an able representative of the party, disclaiming any desire "to
rekindle animosities by discussing its various objectionable points,"
felt "bound to express its heartfelt repugnance of the malignant and
traitorous spirit which animates the Loomis resolution."[796] These
were severe words, showing that others than Laning opposed such
criticism of the President.

[Footnote 796: New York _Leader_, September 9, 1861.]

Dean Richmond's refusal to unite in a Union convention did not stifle
the hope that many Democrats might participate in such a meeting, and
to afford them an opportunity a People's convention met at Wieting
Hall in Syracuse, on September 11, contemporaneously with the
R