unjustly) it blurred his career. Conkling had a copy of the
proceedings before the criminal court."--_Ibid._ See also _The
Nation_, July 14, 1870.]

It was a desperate battle. For several weeks heated politicians, with
pockets full of affidavits, had hurried to Washington from all parts
of New York, and while it was admitted that the appointee was not a
shining credit to his backers, the belief obtained that the control of
the party in the State depended upon the result. The two Senators so
understood it, and their preparation for the contest omitted all
amenities. Fenton, regardless of whom he hit, relied upon carefully
drawn charges sustained by affidavits; Conkling trusted to a fire of
scathing sarcasm, supported by personal influence with his Democratic
colleagues and the President's power in his own party. The result
showed the senior Senator's shrewdness, for when he ceased talking the
Senate, by a vote of 48 to 3, confirmed the appointment.

From Washington the contest was transferred to Saratoga. Fenton,
desiring to impress and coerce the appointing power, made a herculean
effort to show that although Conkling had the ear of the President, he
could control the convention, and his plan included the election of
Charles H. Van Wyck for temporary chairman and himself for permanent
president. No doubt existed that at this moment he possessed great
power. Delegates crowded his headquarters, and a score of lieutenants
reported him far in the lead. From Fenton's accession to the
governorship a majority of the State Committee had supported him,
while chairmen, secretaries, and inspectors of the Republican district
organisations in New York City, many of whom held municipal
appointments under Tweed, had been welded together in the interest of
the Chautauquan's ascendency. To try to break such a combine was
almost attempting the impossible. Indeed, until the President, in a
letter dated August 22, expressed the wish that Conkling might go as a
delegate, the Senator had hesitated to attend the convention.[1256]
Even on the eve of its meeting he counselled with friends on the
policy of not taking his seat, while his backers talked of harmony and
proposed George William Curtis for chairman. The confident Fenton,
having retired for the night, would listen to no compromise. Meanwhile
the senior Senator, accompanied by Thomas Murphy, visited the rooms of
the up-State delegates, telling them that a vote for Fenton was a blow
a