His political interest in the affairs of our country began at about the time of the formation of the Republican party. He was a delegate to the Republican state convention in 1858. During the famous "Lincoln Campaign" he took the stump. His speeches, not only in the Hudson river districts but throughout the state of New York, were received with enthusiasm and he began to win his reputation as a speaker. His efforts were of great value to the party. His inherited love of liberty, and hatred of oppression in every form, gives him courage to champion the cause which his judgment tells him is just. He was nominated in 1860 to the state legislature and was elected. When reelected two years later, he was made chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, a testimony to his discernment and executive ability. The next state convention made him the Republican candidate for secretary of state. His physical strength stood him in good stead during this exhausting campaign, in which he spoke every day for nearly two months, coming out of the ordeal uninjured. He was elected by thirty thousand majority.
After the death of President Lincoln in 1865, he was appointed by President Johnson, collector of the Port of New York. But this appointment for political reasons was withdrawn. An appointment as Minister to Japan was then given him, and there were strong reasons in favor of his accepting the position; but after weighing the matter he returned the commission.
This refusal to enter the diplomatic service was a turning point in his life. He reasoned thus: "If I go to Japan, my career must be a political one. I have a fair practice and a good acquaintance. Commodore Vanderbilt has offered me the attorneyship of the New York and Harlem R. R. If the corporation grows, I grow with it. If I want then to go to the senate or to get a foreign mission, when I am old, I can get it. So I made my decision, and I have never regretted it." He accepted Mr. Vanderbilt's offer. In this attorney-ship his talents were fully employed and were strengthened by the administrative work which fell to his share. The elder Vanderbilt was the first to detect in the young man that shrewdness and finesse which was needed in the growing railway interests. "You had better come with us; there is no money in politics," said Mr. Vanderbilt. Mr. Depew rose with rapidity in this new career as a result of his probity and keen sagacity. His acumen, his diplomatic generalship and his power to coordinate details have not been so frequently
