his own. But he had faith that Dix's war
record would more than offset his political vagaries. "When there was
danger that Washington would fall into the hands of the rebels," he
said, "Dix severed his relations with the Democratic administration,
and in concert with Secretary Holt, Mr. Stanton, and Mr. Seward,
rendered services which saved the nation's capital. A few weeks
afterward, when in command of Fort McHenry, by a prompt movement
against a treasonable design of members of the Legislature, he
prevented Maryland from joining the Secessionists."[1391] Moreover,
Weed insisted that conservative Democrats and business men, having
confidence in his integrity, would vote for him regardless of party.

[Footnote 1391: Barnes' _Life of Weed_, Vol. 2, p. 485.]

The platform, endorsing the National Administration, failed to mention
the record of the Legislature. Praise for members of Congress
accentuated this omission. To enlarge the canal for steam navigation
it favoured an appropriation by the general government.[1392]

[Footnote 1392: The ticket was as follows: Governor, John A. Dix of New
York; Lieutenant-Governor, John C. Robinson of Broome; Canal
Commissioner, Reuben W. Stroud of Onondaga; Prison Inspector, Ezra
Graves of Herkimer; Congressman-at-large, Lyman Tremaine of Albany;
Thurlow Weed declined to head the electoral ticket, but suggested the
name of Frederick Douglass, who was nominated by acclamation.--Barnes,
_Life of Weed_, Vol. 2, p. 486.]

The Democrats and Liberals met in separate State conventions at
Syracuse on September 4. In numbers and enthusiasm the Liberals made a
creditable showing. Many Republicans who had assisted at the birth of
their party and aided in achieving its victories, adorned the platform
and filled the seats of delegates. John Cochrane called the convention
to order, Truman G. Younglove, speaker of the Assembly in 1869, acted
as temporary chairman, Chauncey M. Depew became its president, and
Reuben E. Fenton, with Waldo M. Hutchins, Archibald M. Bliss, Edwin A.
Merritt, D.D.S. Brown, and Frank Hiscock, served upon the committee of
conference. Among others present were Sinclair Tousey, William
Dorsheimer, George P. Bradford, and Horatio N. Twombly. In his speech
on taking the chair, Depew, who had attended every Republican State
convention since 1858, declared that he saw before him the men whom he
had learned to recognise as the trusted exponents of party policy in
their several l