Letters and Literary Memorials of Samuel J. Tilden, v. 1

by Samuel J. Tilden

S. E. CHURCH TO TILDEN

"Private.
"Albion, Sept. 17, 1866.
"Hon. Saml. J. Tilden.

"My dear Sir,—I went from Albany to Chautauqua Co., and did not get your telegram until late Saturday night—not in time to answer. It is impossible for me to go to New York. I am obliged to go to Albany to-night on business, and then hurry back to the Lockport circuit. On many accounts I would be glad to go to New York, but there will be many better speakers there than I am.

"I hope the committee will make you chn., and I have said so to everybody I have seen. I regard it very important that it should be so, although some of our friends think it should not be in N. Y.; but these men don't know that you belong to the party in the State, and not in the city.

"Now for the campaign. To be successful it must be effective; not merely noisy, but a hard-working campaign, and you will excuse a few practical suggestions.

"1st. A large amount of money must be raised, which, if properly laid out, will help very much. I think every county should have $1000, in two instalments—$500 to take a thorough canvass; this can only be done by hiring men in each town to do it. We have not had a canvass worth anything in many years, and an incorrect canvass is worse than none. The only way to do it is to appoint a reliable man in each judicial district to visit each co. and put the money and canvass books in the hands of a reliable man, who will hire and pay the men to take the canvass. It can be done in no other way.

"Then, during the week before the election, $500 more to be paid in getting the votes to the polls.

"2. A thorough and systematic course of meetings in every co.

"Such a campaign, carried on by the State com., with what our friends will do in each co., will carry the State. Anything short of this will result in defeat, in my judgment.

"The utmost care must be exercised to have the money properly expended. In most of the counties in the State we have no local officer to help us, and no canvass can be obtained except in the way I indicate—by paying men by the day for doing it.