102: New York _Times_, September 13, 1866.]

[Footnote 1103: _Ibid._, September 9.]

[Footnote 1104: New York _Tribune_, November 1, 1866.]

[Footnote 1105: New York _Tribune_, Oct. 5, 1866.]

[Footnote 1106: _Ibid._, Oct. 10.]

[Footnote 1107: _Ibid._]

Although New York indicated the same direction of the popular will
that had manifested itself in Pennsylvania and other October States,
the heavy and fraudulent registration in New York City encouraged the
belief that Tammany would overcome the up-State vote.[1108] However,
the pronounced antagonism to the President proved too serious a
handicap, and the Radicals, electing Fenton by 13,000 majority,[1109]
carried both branches of the Legislature, and twenty out of thirty-one
congressmen. It was regarded a great victory for Fenton, who was
really opposed by one of the most formidable combinations known to the
politics of the State. Besides the full strength of the Democratic
party, the combined liquor interest antagonised him, while the Weed
forces, backed by the Johnsonised federal officials, were not less
potent. Indeed, Seward publicly predicted Republican defeat by 40,000
majority.[1110]

[Footnote 1108: Gustavus Myers, _History of Tammany Hall_, p. 250.]

[Footnote 1109: Fenton, 366,315; Hoffman, 352,526.--_Civil List, State
of New York_, 1887, p. 166.]

[Footnote 1110: New York _Tribune_, January 18, 1869.]

The result also insured the election of a Republican to the United
States Senate to succeed Ira Harris on March 4, 1867. Candidates for
the high honour were numerous. Before the end of November Horace
Greeley, having suffered defeat for Congress in the Fourth District,
served notice of his desire.[1111] George William Curtis had a like
ambition. Lyman Tremaine, too, was willing. Charles J. Folger, the
strong man of the State Senate, belonged in the same class, and Ransom
Balcom of Binghamton, who had achieved an enviable reputation as a
Supreme Court judge, also had his friends. But the three men seriously
talked of were Ira Harris, Noah Davis, and Roscoe Conkling.

[Footnote 1111: _Ibid._, November 9, 1866.]

Harris had been something of a disappointment. He had performed the
duties of judge and legislator with marked ability, but in Washington,
instead of exercising an adequate influence on the floor of the
Senate, he contented himself with voting, performing committee work,
and attending to the personal wants of soldiers and other
constituents