On the other hand, he was the rival of Horace Greeley in the field of journalism and had become personally estranged from the founder of the _Tribune;_ though in his early manhood he had been one of his editorial assistants.

The fact that the _Tribune_ was against the Administration would of itself dispose Mr.Raymond to support it.

But aside from this consideration, the chivalric devotion of Mr.Raymond to Mr.Seward would have great weight in determining his position in the pending conflict.

Mr.Seward's committal to the policy and the assault upon it by the _New-York Tribune_ would therefore through affection on the one side and prejudice on the other, naturally fix Mr.Raymond's position.

He had acquired wide and worthy fame as conductor of the _New-York Times_, had achieved a high reputation as a polemical writer, was well informed on all political issues and added to his power with the pen the gift of ready and effective speech.
On the twenty-fist day of December, the last day before the recess, Mr.
Raymond, desiring the floor, was somewhat chagrined to find himself preceded by Mr.Finck of Ohio, a respectable gentleman of the Vallandingham type of Democrat,--representing a political school whose friendship to the Administration at that time was a millstone about its neck.