AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PENNSYLVANIAN
they had been passed began to come to me, they were all analyzed and those which were faulty either in thought or construction were vetoed. Since this method of treatment had no reference to the sponsors of the bill or the interests which favored the enactment, it not infrequently happened that bills which were rejected had been favored by the Republican party and its leaders. Such happenings had just that flavor of excitement which pleased the newspapers, and by the close of the session I had received very general encomiums. It was my endeavor always in expressing disapproval of a measure to do it good-naturedly. Often a state senator who heard that some pet measure, which he thought safe, had gone overboard, would come to the office in wrath and after reading the veto message, laugh and say that “the old man was right after all.” A Quaker wrote to me March 21st:
Dear Governor:
Right now I want to tell thee that on account of thy connection with the Quay forces I opposed thy election, but now I extend my hearty support. The stand thou hast taken against vicious and mercenary legislation is to be commended and encouraged.
To which I replied:
Dear Friend:
I very much appreciate your letter and still more appreciate the spirit which induced you to write it. My only purpose is to do as well as I know how. I feel quite sure if you were to observe closely the course of Senator Quay and could become better acquainted with him you would find much in him also to commend.
There was nothing, however, spectacular about this kind of service and nothing likely to attract wide or prolonged attention. It was only doing the work of the state as it ought to be done. The volume of laws was reduced in size from the twelve hundred pages of that of my predecessor to seven hundred pages. My two volumes stand among the printed acts of assembly like oases, since, with the advent
