Thisgavemesomechancealsotomakemyhistoricalstudiesmorerealbycloseobservationofacertainsortofmenwhohavehadthemakingoffartoomuchhistory;

butbooksinterestedmenonetheless。Anepochinmydevelopment，intellectualandmoral，wasmadeatthistimebymyreadinglargepartsofGibbon，andespeciallybyaverycarefulstudyofGuizot’s``HistoryofCivilizationinFrance，’’whichgreatlydeepenedandstrengthenedtheimpressionmadebyhis``HistoryofCivilizationinEurope，’’asreadunderPresidentWoolseyatYale。DuringthosesevenmonthsinSt。PetersburgandMoscow，IreadmuchinmodernEuropeanhistory，payingconsiderableattentiontothepoliticaldevelopmentandconditionofRussia，and，forthefirsttime，learnedthepleasuresofinvestigatingthehistoryofourowncountry。GovernorSeymourwasespeciallydevotedtotheideasofThomasJefferson，andlateatnight，aswesatbeforethefire，afterreturningfromfestivitiesorofficialinterviews，wefrequentlydiscussedthedemocraticsystem，asadvocatedbyJefferson，andtheautocraticsystem，aswesawitinthecapitaloftheCzar。TheresultwasthatmybeginningofrealstudyinAmericanhistorywasmadebyaverycloseexaminationofthelifeandwritingsofThomasJefferson，includinghisletters，messages，andotherpapers，andofthediplomatichistoryrevealedinthevolumesofcorrespondencepreservedintheLegation。Thegeneralresultwastostrengthenanddeepenmydemocraticcreed，andaspecialresultwasthepreparationofanarticleon``JeffersonandSlavery，’’which，havingbeenatalaterperiodrefusedbythe``NewEnglander，’’atNewHaven，onaccountofitstoopronouncedsympathywithdemocracyagainstfederalism，waspublishedbythe``AtlanticMonthly，’’andledtosomeacquaintancesofvaluetomeafterward。

ReturningfromSt。Petersburg，IwasmatriculatedattheUniversityofBerlin，andenteredthefamilyofaveryscholarlygymnasialprofessor，wherenothingbutGermanwasspoken。DuringthisstayatthePrussiancapital，intheyears1855and1856，IheardthelecturesofLepsius，onEgyptology;AugustBoeckh，ontheHistoryofGreece;FriedrichvonRaumer，ontheHistoryofItaly;

Hirsch，onModernHistoryingeneral;andCarlRitter，onPhysicalGeography。ThelecturesofRanke，themosteminentofGermanhistorians，Icouldnotfollow。Hehadahabitofbecomingsoabsorbedinhissubject，astoslidedowninhischair，holdhisfingeruptowardtheceiling，andthen，withhiseyefastenedonthetipofit，togomumblingthroughakindofrhapsody，whichmostofmyGermanfellow—studentsconfessedtheycouldnotunderstand。

Itwasacomicalsight:halfadozenstudentscrowdingaroundhisdesk，listeningaspriestsmightlistentothesibylonhertripod，theotherstudentsbeingscatteredthroughtheroom，invariousstagesofdiscouragement。Mystudiesatthisperiodweremainlyinthedirectionofhistory，thoughwithconsiderablereadingonartandliterature。ValuableandinterestingtomeatthistimeweretherepresentationsofthebestdramasofGoethe，Schiller，Lessing，andGutzkow，attheBerlintheaters。

Then，too，reallybeganmyeducationinShakspere，andtherepresentationsofhisplays（inSchlegelandTieck’sversion）were，onthewhole，themostsatisfactoryIhaveeverknown。IthusheardplaysofShaksperewhich，inEnglish—speakingcountries，areneverpresented，and，evenintothosebetterknown，wonderfullightwasattimesthrownfromthisnewpointofview。

Astomusic，theBerlinOperawasthenattheheightofitsreputation，theleadingsingerbeingthefamousJoannaWagner。Butmygreatestsatisfactionwasderivedfromthe``LiebigClassicalConcerts。’’Thesewere，undoubtedly，thebestinstrumentalmusicthengiveninEurope，andasmallpartyofuswereveryassiduousinourattendance。Threeafternoonsaweekwewere，asarule，gatheredaboutourtableinthegardenwheretheconcertsweregiven，and，inthemidstofus，AlexanderThayer，thebiographerofBeethoven，whodiscussedthemusicwithusduringitsintervals。Beethovenwas，forhim，theonepersonageinhumanhistory，andBeethoven’smusictheonlyworthyobjectofhumanconcern。Hekneweverycomposition，everynote，everyvariant，andhadwrestledforyearswiththeirprofoundmeanings。Manyofhisexplanationswerefantastic，butsomeweresuggestiveandallwereinteresting。Evenmoreinspiringwasanothernew—foundfriend，HenrySimmonsFrieze;athoroughmusician，andamostlovelycharacter。Hebroachednotheories，utterednocomments，butsatraptbythemelodyandharmony——transfigured——``hisfaceasithadbeenthefaceofanangel。’’IntheseLiebigconcertswethenheard，forthefirsttime，themusicofanewcomposer，——oneWagner，——andagreedthatwhileitwasallverystrange，therewasreallysomethingintheovertureto``Tannh<a:>user。’’

AtthecloseofthisstayinBerlin，Iwentwithapartyoffellow—studentsthroughAustriatoItaly。Thewholejourneywasadelight，andthepassagebysteamerfromTriestetoVenicewasmadenoteworthybyanewacquaintance，——JamesRussellLowell。Ashehadalreadywrittenthe``VisionofSirLaunfal，’’the``FableforCritics，’’andthe``BiglowPapers，’’Istoodingreataweofhim;butthisfeelingrapidlydisappearedinhisgenialpresence。Hewasastudentliketherestofus，——forhehadbeenpassingthewinteratDresden，workinginGermanliterature，asapreparationforsucceedingLongfellowintheprofessorshipatHarvard。Hecametoourrooms，andtherelingerdelightfullyinmymemoryhishumorousaccountsofItalianlifeashehadknownit。

Duringthewholeofthejourney，itwasmyexceedinggoodfortunetobethrownintoverycloserelationswithtwoofourparty，bothofwhombecameeminentLatinprofessors，andoneofwhom，——alreadyreferredto，——

Frieze，fromhislecture—roomintheUniversityofMichigan，afterwarddidmorethananyothermanwithinmyknowledgetomakeclassicalscholarshipameansofculturethroughoutourWesternStates。MyexcursionsinRome，underthatguidance，Ihavealwayslookeduponasamongthefortunatethingsoflife。Thedaywasgiventoexploration，theeveningtodiscussion，notmerelyofarchaeologicaltheories，butoftheweightiermatterspertainingtothehistoryofRomancivilizationanditsinfluence。DearFriezeandFishburne！HowvividlycomebackthedaysinthetoweroftheCrocediMalta，atGenoa，inoursky—parlorofthePiazzadiSpagnaatRome，andintheold``CapuchinHotel’’atAmalfi，whenweheldhighdebateontheanalogiesbetweentheRomanEmpireandtheBritish，anduponvariouskindredsubjects。

Anepisode，ofmuchimportancetomeatthistime，wasmymeetingourAmericanministeratNaples，RobertDaleOwen。HistalksonthepoliticalstateofItaly，andhispicturesofthemonstrousdespotismof``KingBomba’’tookstrongholduponme。NoteventhepagesofCollettaorofSettembrinihavedonesomuchtoarouseinmeasenseofthemoralvalueofpoliticalhistory。

Then，too，ImadethefirstofmymanyexcursionsthroughthehistorictownsofItaly。MyreadingofSismondi’s``ItalianRepublics’’haddeeplyinterestedmeintheirhistory，andhadpeopledthemagainwiththeiroldturbulentpopulation。IseemedtoseegoingonbeforemyeyestheoldstrugglebetweenGuelphsandGhibellines，andbetweenthedemagoguesandthecitytyrants。Inthemidstofsuchscenesmypassionforhistoricalreadingwasstrengthened，andthewholesubjecttookonnewanddeepermeanings。

Onmywaynorthward，excursionsamongthecitiesofsouthernFrance，especiallyNismes，Arles，andOrange，gavemeafarbetterconceptionofRomanimperialpowerthancouldbeobtainedinItalyalone，andAvignon，Bourges，andToulousedeepenedmyconceptionsofmediaevalhistory。

HavingreturnedtoAmericainthesummerof1856

andmetmyclass，assembledtotakethemaster’sdegreeincourseatYale，IwasurgedbymyoldYalefriends，especiallybyPorterandGilman，toremaininNewHaven。

Theyvirtuallypledgedmeapositionintheschoolofartabouttobeestablished;butmybeliefwasinthevalueofhistoricalstudies，andIacceptedanelectiontoaprofessorshipofhistoryattheUniversityofMichigan。Theworktherewasajoytomefromfirsttolast，andmyrelationswithmystudentsofthatperiod，beforeIhadbecomedistractedfromthembythecaresofanexecutiveposition，wereamongthemostdelightfulofmylife。

Then，perhaps，beganthemostrealpartofmyeducation。

ThehistoricalworksofBuckle，Lecky，andDraper，whichwerethenappearing，gavemeanewandfruitfulimpulse;

butmoststimulatingofallwastheatmospherecomingfromthegreatthoughtofDarwinandHerbertSpencer，——

anatmosphereinwhichhistorybecamelessandlessamatterofannals，andmoreandmorearecordoftheunfoldingofhumanity。Then，too，wasborneinuponmethemeaningoftheproverbdocendodisces。IfoundenergeticWesternmeninmyclassesreadytodiscusshistoricalquestions，anddiscoveredthatinordertokeepupmypartofthediscussions，aswellastofitmyselfformyclass—roomduties，ImustworkasIhadneverworkedbefore。TheeducationIthenreceivedfrommyclassesattheUniversityofMichiganwasperhapsthemosteffectiveofall。

PARTII

POLITICALLIFE

CHAPTERIII

FROMJACKSONTOFILLMORE——1832—1851

MyarrivalinthisworldtookplaceatoneofthestormyperiodsofAmericanpoliticalhistory。ItwasonthethirdofthethreeelectiondayswhichcarriedAndrewJacksonasecondtimeintothePresidency。

Sincethatperiod，theelection，withitsparalysisofbusiness，ghastlycampaignlying，andmonstrousvilificationofcandidates，hasbeenconcentratedintooneday;butatthattimealltheevilpassionsofapresidentialelectionwereallowedtofermentandgathervitriolicstrengthduringthreedays。

Iwasbornintoapoliticallydividedfamily。Mygrandfather，onmymother’sside，whosenameIwasdestinedtobear，wasanardentDemocrat;had，assuch，representedhisdistrictintheStatelegislature，andotherpublicbodies;tookhispoliticalcreedfromThomasJefferson，andadoredAndrewJackson。Myfather，ontheotherhand，wasinallhisantecedentsandhispersonalconvictions，adevotedWhig，takinghiscreedfromAlexanderHamilton，andworshipingHenryClay。

Thisoppositionbetweenmyfatherandgrandfatherdidnotdegenerateintopersonalbitterness;butitwasveryearnest，and，inlateryears，mymothertoldmethatwhenHayne，ofSouthCarolina，madehisfamousspeech，chargingtheNorthwithill—treatmentoftheSouth，mygrandfathersentacopyofittomyfather，asunanswerable;

butthat，shortlyafterward，myfathersenttomygrandfatherthespeechofDanielWebster，inreply，andthat，whenthiswasread，thefamilyallowedthatthelatterhadthebetteroftheargument。Icannothelpthinkingthatmygrandfathermusthaveagreedwiththem，tacitly，ifnotopenly。HelovedtheHampshireHillsofMassachusetts，fromwhichhecame。Yearafteryearhetooklongjourneystovisitthem，andWebster’smagnificentreferencetothe``OldBayState’’musthavearousedhissympathyandpride。

Fortunately，atthatelection，asatsomanyotherssince，thegoodsenseofthenationpromptlyacceptedtheresult，andafteritsshortcarnivalofpoliticalpassion，dismissedthewholesubject;theminoritysimplyleavingtheresponsibilityofpublicaffairstothemajority，andallbetakingthemselvesagaintotheiraccustomedvocations。

Idonotremember，duringthefirstsevenyearsofmylife，everhearinganymentionofpoliticalquestions。TheonlythingIheardduringthatperiodwhichbringsbackachapterinAmericanpolitics，waswhen，attheageoffiveyears，Iattendedaninfantschoolandtookpartinasortofcatechism，allthechildrenrisingandreplyingtotheteacher’squestions。Amongthesewerethefollowing:

Q。WhoisPresidentoftheUnitedStates？

A。MartinVanBuren。

Q。WhoisgovernoroftheStateofNewYork？

A。WilliamL。Marcy。

Thisistomesomewhatpuzzling，forIwasfouryearsoldwhenMartinVanBurenwaselected，andmyfatherwashisveryearnestopponent，yet，thoughIrecalleasilyvariousthingswhichoccurredatthatageandevenearlier，Ihavenoremembranceofanygeneralelectionbefore1840，andmyonlyrecollectionofthefirstNewYorkstatesmanelectedtothePresidencyisthismentionofhisname，inachild’scatechism。

MyrecollectionsofAmericanpolitiesbegin，then，withthefamouscampaignof1840，andofthattheyarevivid。

Ourfamilyhad，in1839，removedtoSyracuse，which，althoughnowacityofaboutonehundredandtwentythousandinhabitants，wasthenavillageoffewerthansixthousand;but，asthecentraltownoftheState，itwasalreadyanotedgathering—placeforpoliticalconventionsandmeetings。ThegreatWhigmass—meetingheldthere，in1840，waslongfamousastheculminationofthecampaignbetweenGeneralHarrisonandMartinVanBuren。

AsaPresident，Mr。VanBurenhadfallenoneviltimes。

Itwasaperiodofpoliticalfinance;ofdemagogicalmethodsinpublicbusiness;andtheresultwas``hardtimes，’’withanintensedesirethroughoutthenationforachange。ThisdesirewasrepresentedespeciallybytheWhigparty。GeneralHarrisonhadbeentakenupasitscandidate，notmerelybecausehehadprovedhisworthasgovernoroftheNorthwesternTerritory，andasasenatorinCongress，butespeciallyastheheroofsundryfightswiththeIndians，and，aboveall，ofthepluckylittlebattleatTippecanoe。Themostpopularcampaignsong，whichIsoonlearnedtosinglustily，was``TippecanoeandTyler，Too，’’andsundrylinesofitexpressed，notonlymyowndeepestpoliticalconvictionsandaspirations，butalsothosecherishedbymyriadsofchildrenoffarlargergrowth。Theyranasfollows:

``Oh，haveyouheardthegreatcommotion—motion—motionRollingthecountrythrough？

Itistheballa—rollingonForTippecanoeandTyler，too，ForTippecanoeandTyler，too;

Andwiththemwe’llbeatlittleVan;

Van，Vanisausedupman;

Andwiththemwe’llbeatlittleVan。’’

Thecampaignwasanapotheosisoftom—foolery。

GeneralHarrisonhadlivedthelife，mainly，ofaWesternfarmer，andforatime，doubtless，exercisedamidhisrudesurroundingstheprimitivehospitalitynaturaltosturdyWesternpioneers。Onthesefactsthechangeswererung。

IneverytownandvillagealogcabinwaserectedwheretheWhigsheldtheirmeetings;andthebringingoflogs，withsingingandshouting，tobuildit，wasagreatevent;

itsfrontdoormusthaveawoodenlatchontheinside;

butthelatch—stringmustrunthroughthedoor;fortheclaimwhichthefriendsofGeneralHarrisonespeciallyinsisteduponwasthathenotonlylivedinalogcabin，butthathislatch—stringwasalwaysout，intokenthatallhisfellow—citizenswerewelcomeathisfireside。

Anotherelementinthecampaignwashardcider。

Everylogcabinmusthaveitsbarrelofthisacridfluid，astheantithesisoftheallegedbeverageofPresidentVanBurenattheWhiteHouse。He，itwasasserted，drankchampagne，andonthispointIrememberthataversewassungatlog—cabinmeetingswhich，afterdescribing，inapropheticwaythearrivalofthe``FarmerofNorthBend’’attheWhiteHouse，ranasfollows:

``Theywereallverymerry，anddrinkingchampagneWhentheFarmer，impatient，knockedlouderagain;

Oh，Oh，saidPrinceJohn，IverymuchfearWemustquitthisplacetheverynextyear。’’

``PrinceJohn’’wasPresidentVanBuren’sbrilliantson;famousforhiswitandeloquence，who，inafteryears，rosetobeattorney—generaloftheStateofNewYork，andwhomighthaverisentofarhigherpositionshadhisprinciplesequaledhistalents。

Anotherfeatureatthelogcabin，andinallpoliticalprocessions，wasatleastoneraccoon;andifnotaliveraccooninacage，atleastaraccoonskinnailedupontheoutsideofthecabin。Thisgavelocalcolor，buthencecamesundryjibesfromtheDemocrats，fortheywerewonttorefertotheWhigsas``coons，’’andtotheirlogcabinsas``coonpens。’’Againstalltheseelementsofsuccess，addedtopromisesofbettertimes，theDemocraticpartycouldmakelittleheadway。MartinVanBuren，thoughanadmirablepublicservantinmanyways，wasdiscredited。M。deBacourt，theFrenchMinisteratWashington，duringhisadministration，was，itistrue，veryfondofhim，andthiscynicalscionofFrenchnobilitywroteinaprivateletter，whichhasbeenpublishedintheselatterdays，``M。VanBurenisthemostperfectimitationofagentlemanIeversaw。’’Butthiscommendationhadnotthencometolight，andthemainrelianceoftheDemocratsincapturingthepopulargood—willwastheircandidatefortheVice—Presidency，ColonelRichardM。Johnson，ofKentucky。He，too，hadfoughtintheIndianwars，andbravely。ThereforeitwasthatoneoftheWhigsongswhichespeciallyrejoicedme，ran:

``Theyshoutandsing，Ohhumpsydumpsy，ColonelJohnsonkilledTecumseh。’’

Amongthefeaturesofthatperiodwhichexcitedmyimaginationweretheenormousmassmeetings，withprocessions，cominginfromallpointsofthecompass，milesinlength，andbearingeverypatrioticdeviceandpoliticalemblem。HeretheWhigshadinfinitelytheadvantage。

Theircampaignwaspositiveandaggressive。Onplatform—

wagonsweremenworkingateverytradewhichexpectedtobebenefitedbyWhigsuccess;logcabinsofallsortsandsizes，hard—ciderbarrels，coonpens，greatcanvasballs，whichwerekept``a—rollingon，’’canoes，suchasGeneralHarrisonhadusedincrossingWesternrivers，eaglesthatscreamedindefiance，andcocksthatcrowedforvictory。Theturningballhadreferencetosundrylinesintheforemostcampaignsong。FortheOctoberelectioninMainehavinggoneWhigbyalargemajority，clearlyindicatingwhatthegeneralresultwastobeinNovember，theopeninglinesranasfollows:

``Oh，haveyouheardthenewsfromMaine——Maine——Maine？

Rollingthecountrythrough？

Itistheballa—rollingonForTippecanoeandTyler，too。’’

&c。，&c。，&c。

AgainstallthistheDemocrats，withtheirnegativeanddefensiveplatform，foundthemselvesmoreandmoreatadisadvantage;theyfoughtwithdesperation，butinvain，andoneoftheirmostunluckyventurestorecovertheirpositionwasanefforttoundermineGeneralHarrison’smilitaryreputation。Forthispurposetheylookedabout，andfinallyfoundoneoftheiryoungercongressionalrepresentatives，consideredtobearisingman，who，havinggainedsomelittleexperienceintheWesternmilitia，hadreceivedthehonorarytitleof``General，’’IsaacM。Crary，ofMichigan;himtheyselectedtomakeaspeechinCongressexhibitingandexplodingGeneralHarrison’smilitaryrecord。Hewasveryreluctanttoundertakeit，butatlastyielded，and，afterelaboratepreparation，madeanargumentloudandlong，toshowthatGeneralHarrisonwasamilitaryignoramus。Theresultwasbothcomicandpathetic。TherewastheninCongressthemostfamousstump—speakerofhistime，andperhapsofalltimes，amanofgreatphysical，intellectual，andmoralvigor;

powerfulinargument，sympatheticinmanner，ofinfinitewitandhumor，and，unfortunatelyforGeneralCrary，aWhig，——ThomasCorwin，ofOhio。Mr。Crary’sheavy，tedious，perfunctoryarraignmentofGeneralHarrisonbeingended，Corwinroseandbegananoffhandspeechon``TheMilitaryServicesofGeneralIsaacM。Crary。’’

Inafewminuteshehadashisaudience，notonlytheHouseofRepresentatives，butasmanymembersoftheSenate，oftheSupremeCourt，andvisitorstothecity，ascouldbecrowdedintothecongressionalchamber，and，ofallhumorousspeecheseverdeliveredinCongress，thisofCorwinhascomedowntousasthemostsuccessful。Longafterward，partsofitlingeredinour``speakers’manuals’’

andweredeclaimedinthepublicschoolsasexamplesofwittyoratory。Manyyearslater，whentheHouseofRepresentativeslefttheoldchamberandwentintothatwhichitnowoccupies，ThurlowWeedwroteaninterestingarticleonsceneshehadwitnessedintheoldhall，andmostvividofallwashispictureofthisspeechbyCorwin。HisdelineationsofCrary’sbrilliantexploits，hisportrayalofthevaliantchargesmadebyCrary’stroopsonmusterdaysuponthewatermelonpatchesofMichigan，notonlyconvulsedhisaudience，butwereechoedthroughoutthenation，WhigsandDemocratslaughingalike;andwhenJohnQuincyAdams，inaspeechshortlyafterward，referredtothemanwhobroughtonthistempestoffunas``thelateGeneralCrary，’’therewasafeelingthattheadjectiveindicatedafact。Itreallywasso;Crary，althoughamanofmerit，neverreturnedtoCongress，butwasthenceforthdroppedfrompoliticallife。Morethantwentyyearsafterward，asIwaspassingthroughWesternMichigan，afriendpointedouttomehistombstone，inalittlevillagecemetery，withcomments，halfcomic，halfpathetic;andIalsorecallamournfulfeelingwhenoneday，ingoingovertherollofmystudentsattheUniversityofMichigan，IcameupononewhoborethebaptismalnameofIsaacCrary。Evidently，theblightedyoungstatesmanhadadaughterwho，inallthisstormofridiculeandcontempt，stoodbyhim，lovedhim，andproudlynamedhersonafterhim。

Anotherfeatureinthecampaignalsoimpressedme。

Ablackguardorator，ontheWhigside，oneofthosewhomgreataudiencesapplaudforthemomentandeverafterwarddespise，——amannamedOgle，——madeaspeechwhichdepictedtheluxuryprevailingattheWhiteHouse，andamongotherevidencesofit，dweltuponthe``goldspoons’’usedatthePresident’stable，denouncingtheirusewithsuchunctionthat，forthetime，unthinkingpeopleregardedMartinVanBurenasasortofAmericanVitellius。Asamatteroffact，thescantysilver—gilttableutensilsattheWhiteHousehavebeenshown，intheselatterdays，insomeverypleasingarticleswrittenbyGeneralHarrison’sgrandson，afterthisgrandsonhadhimselfretiredfromthePresidency，tohavebeen，forthemostpart，boughtlongbefore;——andbyorderofGeneralWashington。

Theonlymatterofpoliticalimportancewhich，asaboyeightyearsold，Iseizedupon，andwhichdwellsinmymemory，wasthecreationofthe``Sub—Treasury。’’Thatthiswasawisemeasureseemsnowprovenbythefactthatthroughallthevicissitudesofpolitics，fromthatdaytothis，ithasremainedandrenderedadmirableservice。ButatthattimeitwasusedasaweaponagainsttheDemocraticparty，andcametobeconsideredbyfeather—

brainedpartizans，youngandold，astheculminationofhumanwickedness。Astowhatthe``Sub—Treasury’’

reallywasIhadnottheremotestidea;butthisIknew;——

thatitwasthemostwickedoutrageevercommittedbyaremorselesstyrantuponalong—sufferingpeople。

InNovemberof1840GeneralHarrisonwaselected。Inthefollowingspringhewasinaugurated，andtheWhigsbeingnowforthefirsttimeinpower，therushforofficewasfearful。Itwasundoubtedlythiscrushingpressureuponthekindlyoldmanthatcausedhisdeath。WhatBritishsoldiers，andIndianwarriors，andfire，flood，andswampfeverscouldnotaccomplishinoversixtyyears，wasachievedbytheoffice—seekinghordesinjustonemonth。HewasinauguratedonthefourthofMarchanddiedearlyinApril。

Iremember，asifitwereyesterday，mydearmothercomingtomybedside，earlyinthemorning，andsayingtome，``PresidentHarrisonisdead。’’Iwonderedwhatwastobecomeofus。HewasthefirstPresidentwhohaddiedduringhistermofservice，andagreatfeelingofreliefcameovermewhenIlearnedthathishighofficehaddevolvedupontheVice—President。

Butnowcameanewtrouble，andmyyouthfulmindwassoonsadlyagitated。TheWhigpapers，especiallythe``NewYorkExpress’’and``AlbanyEveningJournal，’’

begantobringdepressingaccountsofthenewPresident，——tidingsofextensivechangesintheofficesthroughoutthecountry，andespeciallyinthepost—offices。AtfirsttheWhigpaperspublishedtheseundertheheading``AppointmentsbythePresident。’’Butsoontheheadingchanged;itbecame``AppointmentsbyJudasIscariot，’’

or``AppointmentsbyBenedictArnold，’’andwarwasdeclaredagainstPresidentTylerbythepartythatelectedhim。CertainitisthatnopartyeverfounditselfinaworsepositionthandidtheWhigs，whentheirVice—PresidentcameintotheChiefMagistracy;andequallycertainisitthatthispositionwastherichlyearnedpunishmentoftheirownfolly。

IhaveseveraltimessincehadoccasiontonotethecarelessnessofNationalandStateconventionsinnominatingacandidateforthesecondplaceupontheticket——whetherVice—PresidentorLieutenant—Governor。Itwouldseemthatthequestionofquestions——thenominationtothefirstoffice——havingbeensettled，therecomesasortofcollapseinthesegreatpopularassemblies，andthatthen，forthesecondoffice，itisveryoftenanybody’sraceandmainlyamatterofchance。Inthiswayalonecanbeexplainedseveralnominationswhichhavebeenmadetosecondoffices，andaboveall，thatofJohnTyler。Asamatteroffact，hewasnotcommendedtotheWhigpartyonanysolidgrounds。Hiswholepoliticallifehadshownhimanopponentoftheirmainideas;hewas，infact，aSoutherndoctrinaire，andfrequentlysufferedfromacuteattacksofthatverytroublesomepoliticaldisease，Virginiametaphysics。AsPresidentheattemptedtoenforcehisdoctrines，andwhenWhigleaders，andaboveallHenryClayattempted，notonlytoresist，buttocrushhim，heassertedhisdignityatthecostofhisparty，andfinallytriedthatwhichotheraccidentalPresidentshavesincetriedwithnobettersuccess，namely，tobuildupapartyofhisownbyanewdistributionofoffices。Neverwasagreaterfailure。Mr。TylerwasdroppedbybothpartiesanddisappearedfromAmericanpoliticallifeforever。

Icannowseethathewasamanobedienttohisconvictionsofduty，suchastheywere，andinrevoltagainstattemptsofWhigleaderstohumiliatehim;butthen，tomyyouthfulmind，heappearedtheveryincarnationofevil。

Mynextrecollectionsareofthecampaignof1844。

AgaintheWhigpartytookcourage，andhaving，asaboyoftwelveyears，acquiredmoreearnestideasregardingthequestionsatissue，Ihelped，withotherWhigboys，toraiseash—poles，andtohurrahlustilyforClayatpublicmeetings。Ontheotherhand，theDemocraticboyshurrahedaslustilyaroundtheirhickorypolesand，aswasfinallyproved，tomuchbetterpurpose。Theysangdoggerelwhich，tome，wasblasphemous，andespeciallyasongwiththefollowingrefrain:

``AlaspoorCooneyClay，AlaspoorCooneyClay，YounevercanbePresident，Forsothepeoplesay。’’

Theash—poleshadreferencetoAshland，Clay’sKentuckyestate;andthehickorypolesrecalledGeneralJackson’ssobriquet，``OldHickory。’’FortheDemocraticcandidatein1844，JamesKnoxPolk，wasconsideredheirtoJackson’spoliticalideas。Thecampaignof1844wasnotmadesointerestingbyspectacularoutburstsoftom—fooleryasthecampaignof1840hadbeen。Thesobersecondthoughtofthecountryhadrathersickenedpeopleofthatsortofthing;still，therewasquiteenoughofit，especiallyasshownincaricaturesandsongs。ThepoorestofthelatterwasperhapsoneontheDemocraticside，forastheDemocraticcandidateswerePolkofTennesseeandDallasofPennsylvania，onelineofthesongembracedprobablytheworstpunevermade，namely——

``PORKinthebarrel，andDOLLARSinthepocket。’’

Itwasatthisperiodthatthefeelingagainsttheextensionofslavery，especiallyasindicatedintheproposedannexationofTexas，begantoappearlargelyinpolitics，andthoughClayatheartdetestedslaveryandalwaysrefusedtodothebiddingofitssupportersbeyondwhathethoughtabsolutelynecessaryinpreservingtheUnion，anunfortunateletterofhisledgreatnumbersofanti—

slaverymentosupportaseparateanti—slaveryticket，thecandidatebeingJamesG。Birney。TheresultwasthattheelectionofClaybecameimpossible。Mr。Polkwaselected，andunderhimcametheadmissionofTexas，whichcausedtheMexicanWar，andgaveslaveryanewleaseoflife。Themainresult，inmyownenvironment，wasthatmyfatherandhisfriends，thenceforwardforaconsiderabletime，thoughdetestingslavery，heldallabolitionistsandanti—slaverymenincontempt，——asunpatrioticbecausetheyhaddefeatedHenryClay，andasidioticbecausetheyhadbroughtontheannexationofTexasandtherebythesupremacyoftheslaveStates。

Buttheflameoflibertycouldnotbesmotheredbyfriendsorblownoutbyenemies;itwaskeptalivebyvigorouscounterblastsinthepress，andespeciallyfedbythelecturesystem，whichwasthenattheheightofitsefficiency。AmongthemostpowerfuloflecturerswasJohnParkerHale，senatoroftheUnitedStatesfromNewHampshire，hissubjectbeing，``TheLastGladiatorialCombatatRome。’’TakingfromGibbonthestoryofthemonkTelemachus，whoendedthecombatsinthearenabythrowinghimselfintothemandsacrificinghislife，Halesuggestedtohislargeaudiencesanargumentthatifmenwishedtogetridofslaveryinourcountrytheymustbereadytosacrificethemselvesifneedbe。Hiswordssankdeepintomymind，andIhavesometimesthoughtthattheymayhavehadsomethingtodoinleadingJohnBrowntomakehisdesperateattemptonslaveryatHarper’sFerry。

Howblindweallwere！HenryClay，aKentuckyslave—

holder，wouldhavesavedus。Infinitelybetterthantheviolentsolutionsproposedtouswashislargestatesman—

likeplanofpurchasingtheslavechildrenastheywerebornandsettingthemfree。Withoutbloodshed，andatcostofthemerestnothingascomparedtothecostoftheCivilWar，hewouldthushavesolvedtheproblem;butitwasnotsotobe。Theguiltofthenationwasnottobesocheaplyatonedfor。Fanatics，NorthandSouth，opposedhimand，asayouth，Iyieldedtotheirarguments。

Fouryearslater，in1848，cameaverydifferentsortofelection。GeneralZacharyTaylor，whohadshownster—

lingqualitiesintheMexicanWar，wasnowthecandidateoftheWhigs，andagainsthimwasnominatedMr。

Cass，ageneraloftheWarof1812，afterwardgovernoroftheNorthwesternTerritory，andsenatorfromMichigan。Asayouthofsixteen，whobythattimehadbecomeearnestlyinterestedinpolitics，Iwasespeciallystruckbyoneeventinthiscampaign。TheDemocratsofcourserealizedthatGeneralTaylor，withtheprestigegainedintheMexicanWar，wasaveryformidableopponent。Still，iftheycouldkeeptheirpartytogether，theyhadhopesofbeatinghim。ButaverylargeelementintheirpartyhadopposedtheannexationofTexasandstronglydislikedtheextensionofslavery;——thiswingofthepartyinNewYorkbeingknownasthe``BarnBurners，’’becauseitwasassertedthatthey``believedinburningthebarntodrivetheratsout。’’Thequestionwaswhattheseradicalgentlemenwoulddo。Thatquestionwasansweredwhenaconvention，controlledlargelybytheanti—slaveryDemocratsofNewYorkandotherStates，metatBuffaloandnominatedMartinVanBurentothePresidency。

Foratimeitwasdoubtfulwhetherhewouldacceptthenomination。Ononesideitwasarguedthathecouldnotaffordtodoso，sincehehadnochanceofanelection，andwouldtherebyforeverlosehisholdupontheDemocraticparty;but，ontheotherhand，itwassaidthathewasalreadyanoldman;thatherealizedperfectlytheimpossibilityofhisre<e:>lection，andthathehadabittergrudgeagainsttheDemocraticcandidate，GeneralCass，whohadvotedagainstconfirminghimwhenhewassentasministertoGreatBritain，thusobliginghimtoreturnhomeingloriously。Heacceptedthenomination。

Ontheverydaywhichbroughtthenewsofthisacceptance，GeneralCassarrivedinSyracuse，onhiswaytohishomeatDetroit。IsawhimwelcomedbyagreatprocessionofDemocrats，andmarchedunderabroilingsun，throughdustystreets，totheCityHall，wherehewasforcedtolistenandreplytofulsomespeechesprophesyinghiselection，whichheandallpresentknewtobeimpos—

sible。ForMr。VanBuren’sacceptanceofthe``freesoil’’

nominationwassuretodividetheDemocraticvoteoftheStateofNewYork，thusgivingtheStatetotheWhigs;

andinthosedaystheproverbheldgood，``AsNewYorkgoes，sogoestheUnion。’’

Foryearsafterwardtheredweltvividlyinmymindthepictureofthisold，sadmanmarchingthroughthestreets，listeninggloomilytothespeeches，forcedtoappearconfidentofvictory，yetevidentlydisheartenedanddisgusted。

VeryvividaremyrecollectionsofStateconventionsatthisperiod。Syracuse，asthe``CentralCity，’’wasafavoriteplaceforthem，and，astheycameduringthesummervacations，boysofmyageandtasteswereabletoadmirethegreatmenofthehour，——now，alas，utterlyforgotten。Wesawandheardtheleadersofallparties。

Manyimpressedme;butonedwellsinmymemory，onaccountofastorywhichwastoldofhim。Thiswasaverysolemn，elderlygentlemanwhoalwayslookedverywisebutsaidnothing，——WilliamBouckofSchoharieCounty。Hehadwhitehairandwhiskers，andhavingbeenappointedcanalcommissioneroftheState，haddischargedhisdutiesbydrivinghisoldwhitefamilynagandbuggyalongthetowing—paththewholelengthofthecanals，keepingcarefulwatchofthecontractors，andso，inhissimple，honestway，hadsavedtheStatemuchmoney。

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