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。