far as they affected him
personally. Although his friends thought the old supporters of Seward,
if not Seward himself, had failed to sustain him for the United States
Senate in 1861 as faithfully as he would have supported the Secretary
of State under like conditions, there is no evidence that he ever
found fault. When in Hayes' Cabinet and afterwards in the Senate
(1885-91), he did not take or attempt to take, either in the counsels
of his party or of his colleagues, the leadership for which he was
admirably fitted. It is doubtful, in fact, if he ever realised the
strong hold he had upon the respect and admiration of the country. But
the people knew that his high personal character, his delightful
oratory, his unfailing wit and good-nature, and his great prestige as
a famous lawyer of almost unexampled success commended him as an ideal
candidate. Conspicuously among those urging his candidacy for governor
in 1876 appeared a body of influential leaders from the Union League
and Reform clubs of the metropolis, calling themselves Independents.
The Liberals, too, added voice to this sentiment.[1499]

[Footnote 1498: The Republican State convention met at Saratoga on
August 23.]

[Footnote 1499: Although many prominent Republicans who voted for
Greeley in 1872 had previously renewed their allegiance, the Liberals
as an organisation did not formally coalesce with the Republican party
until August 23, 1876. On that day about 200 delegates, headed by John
Cochrane and Benjamin F. Manierre, met in convention at Saratoga, and
after accepting Hayes and Wheeler as the exponents of their reform
principles, were invited amidst loud applause to seats in the
Republican State convention.]

If the candidate could not be Evarts, the same elements evidenced a
disposition to support Edwin D. Morgan, who had shown of late a
disturbing independence of the machine. Of the other aspirants William
H. Robertson presented his usual strength in the Hudson River
counties.

Alonzo B. Cornell was the candidate of the organisation. Evarts had
illustrated his independence in accepting office under President
Johnson, in criticising the Grant administration, and in protesting
against the Louisiana incident. Robertson, in voting for Blaine, had
likewise gone to the outer edge of disloyalty. Nor did Morgan's
attitude at Cincinnati commend him. His ambition, which centred in the
vice-presidency, left the impression that he had cared more for
himself