the members divide that it took five
ballots to make a nomination. Conkling led on the first ballot and
Davis on the second. On the third, Conkling stood one ahead, and three
on the fourth, with Harris clinging to six votes. The disposition of
these six would make a senator, and by gaining them Conkling became
the nominee on the fifth ballot.[1122] Had they gone to Noah Davis,
Fenton's way to the Senate in 1869 must have been blocked. But the
Governor was watchful. At the critical moment on the last ballot, one
vote which had been twice thrown for Davis went back to Folger. The
Chautauquan did not propose to take any chances.

[Footnote 1122: The vote by ballots stood as follows:

First Second Third Fourth Fifth
Conkling 33 39 45 53 59
Davis 30 41 44 50 49
Harris 32 24 18 6 --
Balcom 7 4 2 -- --
Greeley 6 -- -- -- --
Folger 1 1 -- -- 1

The Democratic caucus, held the same evening, nominated Henry C.
Murphy of Brooklyn, who received 25 votes to 21 for A. Oakey Hall of
New York.]

CHAPTER XIII

THE RISE OF TWEEDISM

1867

The election of Roscoe Conkling to the United States Senate made him
the most prominent, if not the most influential politician in New
York. "No new senator," said a Washington paper, "has ever made in so
short a time such rapid strides to a commanding position in that
body."[1123]

[Footnote 1123: Washington _Chronicle_, March 28, 1867.]

Conkling was not yet established, however. His friends who wished to
make him chairman of the Republican State convention which assembled
at Syracuse on September 24, 1867, discovered that he was not beloved
by the Radical leaders. He had a habit of speaking his own mind, and
instead of confining his thoughts to the committee room, or whispering
them in the ears of a few alleged leaders, it was his custom to take
the public into his confidence. Horace Greeley, jealous of his
prerogative, disapproved such independence, and Governor Fenton, the
_Tribune's_ protege, had apprehensions for his own leadership.
Besides, it was becoming more apparent each day that the men who did
not like Greeley and preferred other leadership to Fenton's, thought
well of Conkling. He was not a wild partisan. Although a stiff Radical
he had no reason to feel bitter toward