[Footnote 1252: Stewart, _Reminiscences_, pp. 255-256.]

Fenton recalled Murphy's malodorous army contracts, spoke of his
disloyalty to the party while a member of the State Senate, submitted
proof of his unscrupulous business relations with the leaders of
Tammany, and denounced his political treachery in the gubernatorial
contest of 1866. In this fierce three hours' arraignment the Senator
spared no one. He charged that Charles J. Folger and Chester A. Arthur
had appeared in Washington in Murphy's behalf, because to the latter's
potent and corrupt influence with Tammany, Folger owed his election to
the Court of Appeals in the preceding May,[1253] while Arthur, through
Murphy's unclean bargaining with Tweed, was fattening as counsel for
the New York City Tax Commission.[1254]

[Footnote 1253: Under the provisions of the new judiciary article of
the Constitution a chief justice and six associate justices of the
Court of Appeals were elected on May 17, 1870, each party being
allowed to put up only four candidates for associate justices. To
complete their ticket the Democrats selected Folger and Andrews, two
of the four Republican candidates. The election resulted in the choice
of the Democratic ticket.]

[Footnote 1254: New York _Times_, July 12, 1870.]

In his reply Conkling spoke for an hour in his most vigorous style.
"Every sentence," said Stewart, "was replete with logic, sarcasm,
reason, and invective. Sometimes the senators would rise to their
feet, so great was the effect upon them. Toward the conclusion of his
speech Conkling walked down the aisle to a point opposite the seat of
Fenton. 'It is true,' he said, 'that Thomas Murphy is a mechanic, a
hatter by trade; that he worked at his trade in Albany supporting an
aged father and mother and crippled brother, and that while thus
engaged another visited Albany and played a very different role.' At
this point he drew from his pocket a court record, and extending it
toward Fenton, he continued,--'the particulars of which I will not
relate except at the special request of my colleague.' Fenton's head
dropped upon his desk as if struck down with a club. The scene in the
Senate was tragic."[1255]

[Footnote 1255: Stewart, _Reminiscences_, pp. 256-7.

"In early life Fenton, having undertaken to carry $12,000 to Albany,
reported the money lost. He was arrested and discharged after much
testimony was taken. Whether accused justly or unjustly (most persons
thought