been an
assemblyman, a representative in Congress, a judge of his county for
twelve years, and a State senator of distinguished service. Although
prudent in utterance and somewhat cautious in entering upon a course
of action, his indefatigable pursuit of an object, coupled with
conspicuous ability and long experience, marked him as one of the
strong men of New York, destined for many years to direct the politics
of his locality.

Nevertheless, a feeling existed that his course in the Senate had
lacked force. The New York _Times_ severely criticised it, regarding
him too much of a tenderfoot in pushing the reform movement, and on
the eve of the convention it opposed his candidacy.[1387] The _Times_,
then the only paper in New York City upon which the party relied with
confidence to fight its battles, exerted an influence which could
scarcely be overrated. However, it is doubtful if its opposition could
have avoided Robertson's nomination had not the name of John A. Dix
been sprung upon the convention. It came with great suddenness. No
open canvass preceded it. Thurlow Weed, who had proposed it to nearly
every convention since 1861, was in Utica, but to Henry Clews, the
well-known banker, belonged the credit of presenting it "on behalf of
the business men of New York." The captivating suggestion quickly
caught the delegates, who felt the alarming need of such a candidate,
and the audience, rising to its feet, broke into cheers, while county
after county seconded the nomination. One excited delegate, with
stentorian voice, moved that it be made by acclamation, and although
the Chair ruled the motion out of order, the withdrawal of Robertson's
name quickly opened a way for its passage.

[Footnote 1387: August 21, 1872; New York _Tribune_, August 22.

"Senator Robertson failed to be governor only from lack of
boldness."--_Ibid._, May 8, 1880.]

This incident produced a crop of trouble. Because Clews happened to be
the guest of Conkling, Robertson, grievously disappointed, assumed
that the Senator had inspired the _coup d'etat_, and from that moment
began the dislike which subsequently ripened into open enmity. "As a
matter of fact," wrote Clews, "Conkling knew nothing of my intention,
but he was either too proud or too indifferent to public sentiment to
explain."[1388]

[Footnote 1388: Henry Clews, _Fifty Years in Wall Street_, pp. 307-309;
New York _Herald_, August 22.]

Dix's political course had been a tortuous o