Judge Robertson had been one of the influential leaders of the Blaine movement in New York.

It was he who had disregarded the action of the State Convention in instructing the delegates to cast the vote of the State as a unit for General Grant.

In bolting the action of the State Convention Judge Robertson carried about nineteen other delegates with him over to Mr.Blaine.Therefore Mr.Blaine insisted upon the appointment of Judge Robertson to the Collectorship of the port at New York.

Senator Conkling would not consent under any circumstances to this appointment.

Mr.Blaine, it appears, succeeded in convincing the President that, but for Judge Robertson's action, his, Garfield's, nomination would have been impossible and that consequently it would be base ingratitude not to appoint Robertson to the position for which he was an applicant.