ed "honest efforts for the correction
of public abuses," pledged cooeperation "in every honourable way to
secure pure government and to bring offenders to justice," and
declared "unalterable opposition to the election of any President for
a third term."[1474] Furthermore, the convention sought candidates of
prominence and approved integrity. In the presence of threatened
defeat such men were shy. William H. Robertson of Westchester thrice
declined the comptrollership, and insistence upon his acceptance did
not cease until James W. Husted, springing to his feet, declared that
such demands were evidently intended as an insult. Then Edwin D.
Morgan proposed George R. Babcock, a distinguished lawyer of Buffalo,
who likewise declined. In a short, crisp letter, John Bigelow,
chairman of the canal investigating committee, rejected the proffered
honour. Finally, the choice fell upon Francis E. Spinner, formerly
United States treasurer, and although he sent two unconsenting
telegrams, the convention refused to revoke its action. Despite such
embarrassments, however, it secured an array of strong, clean
men.[1475]

[Footnote 1473: Held at Saratoga on September 8, 1875.]

[Footnote 1474: Appleton's _Cyclopaedia_, 1875, p. 560.]

[Footnote 1475: The ticket was as follows: Secretary of State,
Frederick W. Seward, New York; Comptroller, Francis E. Spinner,
Herkimer; Treasurer, Edwin A. Merritt, St. Lawrence; Attorney-General,
George F. Danforth, Monroe; Engineer, Oliver H.P. Cornell, Tompkins;
Canal Commissioner, William F. Tinsley, Wayne; Prison Inspector,
Benoni J. Ives, Cayuga.]

A week later the Democrats assembled at Syracuse. They quickly retired
an anti-Tammany delegation led by John Morrissey,[1476] reaffirmed the
platforms of 1872 and 1874, and nominated John Bigelow for secretary
of state. Bigelow, well known as a former editor of the _Evening Post_
and more recently minister to France, had always been a Republican.
Indeed, Tilden named and a Republican Senate confirmed him as one of
two Republicans on a non-partisan board; but for reasons best known to
himself Bigelow changed his party in the twinkling of an eye.
Associated with him were John D. Van Buren, also upon the canal
commission; Lucius Robinson, who won, when comptroller in 1862, great
honour in the teeth of much obloquy by paying the State interest in
coin; and Charles S. Fairchild, then a young lawyer earning
substantial credit, like Bigelow and Van Buren,