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``Tannhuser。’’
  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;thatherealizedperfectlytheimpossibilityofhisrelection,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。