hich he had to deal
consisted of such men as Martin Van Buren, Silas Wright, Willian L.
Marcy and others of equal ability. Such were the men with whom he was
pitted, but they soon found him in every way worthy of their steel. No
one, when speaking of this great political warrior ever thought or spoke
of him as a millionaire. Seemingly no one cared how much he was worth;
but what did worry them was,--what will be the outcome of this secret
conclave which we now suspect to be in progress at the headquarters of
the opposition of the 'Albany Regency.'

He went to battle fearlessly, and his terse pen dealt stinging blows
straight in the face of the opponent. Indeed, as an editor he has been
rarely equaled. While Greeley would devote a column to an article, he
would take the same subject and in a few words put the argument in such
shape as to carry far more conviction. His two terms in the State
Assembly wound up his career as a legislator, although he could have had
any place within the gift of his party from 1830 to 1860. His ambition
was not to hold office but to rule men, and it is well-known that his
desires were accomplished. He was a great dictator, being largely
instrumental as an independent advisor in the selection of Harrison,
Taylor and Scott. His first trial of personal strength in this line was
when he secured the nomination and election of his personal friend,
William H. Seward, as the first Whig Governor of New York. Mr. Seward,
who was an unobtrusive man, was one time riding with the driver on a
stage when that dignitary asked the stranger his name and business, as
was customary when people did not volunteer the information. The answer
was, "Why, I'm William H. Seward, Governor of the State." This was too
good for the driver, whose answer was a loud laugh, plainly implying
that he considered that the gentleman had given a most cute but evasive
answer. "Don't you believe me?" asked Seward. "Of course not," replied
the driver. Mr. Seward, who was acquainted with the proprietor of the
next hotel they came to, agreed to leave it to him. In time they arrived
and the driver, calling out the landlord, immediately said, "This man
says he is Governor of New York State and we have left the matter to
you." "Yes," broke in Seward, "am I not Governor of this State?" The
answer came quick and sharp; "No, but Thurlow Weed is." "There,"
exclaimed the ignorant driver, who could not see the point at once; "I
knew you weren't G