proceedings. The convention was called to give effect to
the principles and policy of the Philadelphia convention, and
Republicans who approved those principles concurred in the call. But
how did this give that convention the right to commit them in favour
of measures alien from its ostensible purpose, and at war with their
entire political action? It is utterly preposterous to suppose that
they can cooeperate with the Democratic party in the accomplishment of
any such design."[1091]

[Footnote 1090: Buffalo _Commercial Advertiser_, September 14, 1866.]

[Footnote 1091: New York _Times_, September 27, 1866.]

Five days later Raymond announced his support of the Republican
ticket.[1092] It was significant of his sincerity that he declined to
run again for Congress. Thomas E. Stewart, a conservative Republican,
was easily elected in the Sixth District, and Raymond could have had
the same vote, but without "the approval of those who originally gave
me their suffrage," he said, "a seat in Congress ceases to have any
attraction. With the Democratic party, as it has been organised and
directed since the rebellion broke out, I have nothing in
common."[1093] It is impossible not to feel a high respect for the
manner in which Raymond, having come to this determination, at once
acted upon it. He resented no criticism; he allowed no gleam of
feeling to creep into his editorials. Few men could have avoided the
temptation to assume the tone of the wronged one who endures much and
will not complain. Instinctively, however, Raymond felt the bad taste
and unwisdom of such a style, and he joined heartily and
good-naturedly in the effort to elect Reuben E. Fenton.

[Footnote 1092: _Ibid._, October 2, 5.]

[Footnote 1093: _Ibid._, September 27.]

Thurlow Weed, on the other hand, remained a Conservative. Indeed, he
went a step farther in the way of irreconciliation, preferring Hoffman
and Tammany, he said, to "the reckless, red-radicalism which rules the
present Congress.... The men who now lead the radical crusade against
the President," he continued, explanatory of his course, "attempted
during the war to divide the North. That calamity was averted by the
firmness and patriotism of conservative Republicans. In 1864 the same
leaders, as hostile to Mr. Lincoln as they are to President Johnson,
attempted to defeat his election by a flank movement at Cleveland.
Mr. Greeley wrote private letters to prominent Republicans inviting
their