"My dear Governor,—Herewith you will receive a fair copy of the views which strike me as just in respect to the leases.
"There does not seem any need of occupying your time with a call. Your allowance for this task of passing on the bills is so near its close that every intrusion, however slight in duration, must be an evil.
"But a single thing occurs to me in your aid.
"Where you cannot approve a bill, is not a simple withholding of your signature the true course?
"Such appears very clearly to me to be the proper course. A written memorandum of the reasons which governed you might be useful, and, if time admitted, should always be made; but a formal veto does not seem to be called for or expedient. It must necessarily wear an aspect of severity. A purely negative course is less offensive.
"Yours truly,
"Chas. O'Conor."
DANIEL MANNING TO TILDEN
"Office of 'The Argus,'
"412 Broadway, and 2, 4, 6, and 8 Beaver St.,
"Albany, June 20, 1875.
"Dear Governor,—Since you, following in the wake of the Legislature, abandoned the capital, Albany has been extremely slow and stupid; but the constant and voluminous gossip that has prevailed regarding the supply bill indicates that, although absent, you are very 'numerously remembered,' and, no doubt, prayed for. Will all the prayers be continued after the thirty days have expired? I am not sure, if I were near you, that I should ask you to approve the new capitol item. As an Albanian, perhaps yes; as a citizen of the State, possibly no; and as a Democrat, no, most decidedly, without a change in the management.
"Your arguments on the canal appropriation bills are really admirable—so strong, clear, and convincing, indicating so much research and such thorough knowledge of the whole intricate subject. They will be very popular, even beyond the State; and here no voice will venture to rise in opposition.