was an adroit specimen of political hypocrisy, by
which the actual favourite of the majority was not only sold, but was
induced to nominate the trickster who had defeated him."[1188]

[Footnote 1186: _Public Record of Horatio Seymour_, p. 343.]

[Footnote 1187: New York _Times_, August 10.]

[Footnote 1188: New York _Tribune_, November 5, 1868.]

After Seymour's nomination the first expression of the campaign
occurred in Vermont. Although largely Republican the Democrats made an
unusually animated contest, sending their best speakers and furnishing
the needed funds. Nevertheless, the Republicans added 7,000 to their
majority of the preceding year. This decisive victory, celebrated in
Albany on September 2, had a depressing influence upon the Democratic
State convention then in session, ending among other things the
candidacy of Henry C. Murphy for governor. The up-State opponents of
the Tweed ring, joined by the Kings County delegation, hoped to make a
winning combination against John T. Hoffman, and for several days
Murphy stood up against the attacks of Tammany, defying its threats
and refusing to withdraw. But he wilted under the news from Vermont.
If not beaten in convention, he argued, defeat is likely to come in
the election, and so, amidst the noise of booming cannon and parading
Republicans, he allowed Hoffman to be nominated by acclamation.[1189]

[Footnote 1189: "Then we have John T. Hoffman, who is kept by Tammany
Hall as a kind of respectable attache. His humble work is to wear good
clothes and be always gloved, to be decorous and polite; to be as much
a model of deportment as Mr. Turvydrop; to repeat as often as need be,
in a loud voice, sentences about 'honesty' and 'public welfare,' but
to appoint to rich places such men as Mr. Sweeny. Hoffman is kept for
the edification of the country Democrats, but all he has or ever can
have comes from Tammany Hall."--_Ibid._, March 5, 1868.]

In the selection of a lieutenant-governor Tammany did not fare so
well. Boss Tweed, in return for Western support of Hoffman, had
declared for Albert P. Laning of Buffalo, and until District Attorney
Morris of Brooklyn seconded the nomination of another, Laning's
friends had boasted a large majority. Morris said he had no objection
to Laning personally. He simply opposed him as a conspirator who had
combined with Tammany to carry out the programme of a grasping clique.
He wished the country delegates who had unconsciously ai