Although taking little part in debate, his judgment upon questions of governmental policy, indicating an accurate knowledge of men and remarkable familiarity with details, commended him as a safe adviser, especially in political…

Besides wielding an influence acquired in two gubernatorial terms, he combined the qualities of a shrewd politician with those of a merchant prince willing to spend money.

He belonged to a class of business men whose experience and ability, when turned to public affairs, prove of decided value to their State and country.

I differ widely with my party about the best means of crushing the rebellion," he said.

I can neither impress others with my views nor surrender my own solemn convictions.

I have not hesitated in choosing the path of peace as the path of duty.

However, when the enemies of the Government seemed likely to carry all before them, he spoke for the Union like one divinely inspired.

I would prefer that distinction to any honour my fellow-citizens could bestow upon me.

If the country lives, as I trust it will, let me be remembered among those who laboured to save it.

The determination of the great Central and Western States is to defend the rights of the States, the rights of individuals, and to restore our Union as it was.

We must not wear out the lives of our soldiers by a war to carry out vague theories.

The policy of subjugation and extermination means not only the destruction of the lives and property of the South, but also the waste of the blood and treasure of the North.

All must be made to feel that the mighty efforts we are making to save our Union are stimulated by a purpose to restore peace and prosperity in every section.

As to maintaining the nation's life and integrity, I assume and believe there cannot be a difference of purpose between you and me.

He wanted no relations with a President who seemed to prefer the abolition of slavery and the use of arbitrary methods.

He possessed no capricious dislikes, and his kindly heart, in spite of a stateliness of bearing, won all the people who came near him.

Curtis, referring to the refusal of the credentials' committee, declared that a voice from the Democratic masses of New York, seeking relief from a gang of thieves, was stronger, higher, and more sublime than mere questions of technicality.

Curtis characterised the question as one of life or death to a great community weighed down by oppression and crime, and maintained that the convention, if it sought to avoid its duty by the subterfuge already enacted, would show both…

The excitement threatened to become a riot, but Tilden, caring as little for disapprobation as the son of Tisander in the story told by Herodotus, calmly awaited silence.

And if that is to be regarded the regular ticket, I will resign my place as chairman of the State committee and help my people stem the tide of corruption.

It became dizzy when he denied Tammany's right to be regarded as the regular organisation, but his proclamation, defiantly and clearly made, that hereafter he should bolt its nominations even if the convention refused to impeach its…

The course taken by Tilden on this memorable occasion made his own career, and also a new career for his party.

From that hour he became the real leader of the Democracy.

Murphyism and Tweedism resembled each other so much that a contest against either presented a well-defined issue of political morality.

As the crusade progressed the details of the great crime, becoming better understood, made Tammany's position intolerable.