Theresultwasthenicknameofthe``OldWhiteHossofSchoharie,’’andareputationforsimplicityandhonestywhichmadehimforashorttimegovernoroftheState。
  Astorythentoldofhimrevealssomethingofhischaracter。BeinginformedthatBishopHughesofNewYorkwascomingtoAlbany,andthatitwouldbewelltotreathimwithespecialcourtesy,thegovernorpreparedhimselftobemorethangracious,and,onthearrivalofthebishop,greetedhimmostcordiallywiththewords,``Howdoyoudo,Bishop;Ihopeyouarewell。HowdidyouleaveMrs。Hughesandyourfamily?’’Tothisthebishopanswered,``Governor,Iamverywell,butthereisnoMrs。Hughes;bishopsinourchurchdon’tmarry。’’
  ``Goodgracious,’’answeredthegovernor,``youdon’tsayso;howlonghasthatbeen?’’Thebishopmusthavethoroughlyenjoyedthis。HisIrishwitmadehimquickbothatcomprehensionandrepartee。DuringadebateontheschoolquestionaleadingPresbyterianmerchantofNewYork,Mr。HiramKetchum,madeaveryearnestspeechagainstseparateschoolsforRomanCatholics,andpresently,turningtoBishopHughes,said,``Sir,werespectyou,sir,but,sir,wecan’tgoyourpurgatory,sir。’’
  Tothisthebishopquietlyreplied,``Youmightgofurtherandfareworse。’’
  Anotherleadingfigure,butontheWhigside,wasaStatesenator,commonlyknownas``Bray’’Dickinson,todistinguishhimfromD。S。DickinsonwhohadbeenasenatoroftheUnitedStates,andacandidateforthePresidency。``Bray’’DickinsonwasamostearnestsupporterofMr。Seward;staunch,prompt,vigorous,andreallydevotedtothepublicgood。Onestoryregardinghimshowshisrough—and—readiness。
  DuringapoliticaldebateintheoldWhigdays,oneofhisDemocraticbrothersenatorsmadealongharangueinfavorofMartinVanBurenasacandidateforthePresidency,andinthecourseofhisspeechreferredtoMr。VanBurenas``theCurtiusoftheRepublic。’’UponthisDickinsonjumpedup,wenttosomememberbettereducatedintheclassicsthanhimself,andsaid,``WhointhunderisthisCurtisthatthismanistalkingabout?’’``Itisn’tCurtis,it’sCurtius,``wasthereply。``Well,now,``
  saidDickinson,``whatdidCurtiusdo?’’``Oh,’’saidhisinformant,``hethrewhimselfintoanabysstosavetheRomanRepublic。’’UponthisDickinsonreturnedtohisseat,andassoonastheDemocraticspeakerhadfinished,aroseandsaid:``Mr。President,Idenythejusticeofthegentleman’sreferencetoCurtiusandMartinVanBuren。WhatdidCurtiusdo?Hethrewhimself,sir,intoanabysstosavehiscountry。What,sir,didMartinVanBurendo?Hethrewhiscountryintoanabysstosavehimself。’’
  Rarely,ifever,hasanyscholarusedabitofclassicalknowledgetobetterpurpose。
  Anotherleadingfigure,atalaterperiod,wasaDemocrat,FernandoWood,mayorofNewYork,abrilliantdesperado;andononeoccasionIsawthehenchmenwhomhehadbroughtwithhimtakepossessionofaStateconventionanddeliberatelyknockitspresident,oneofthemostrespectedmenintheState,offtheplatform。ItwasanunfortunateperformanceforMayorWood,sincethedisgustandreactiontherebyarousedledallfactionsoftheDemocraticpartytouniteagainsthim。
  OtherleadingmenweresuchasCharlesO’ConorandJohnVanBuren;theformerlearnedandgenerous,butimpracticable;thelatterbrilliantbeyondbelief,butnotconsideredasrepresentinganypermanentideasorprinciples。
  Duringthecampaignof1848,asayouthofsixteen,Itookthelibertyofbreakingfromthepaternalparty;
  myfathervotingforGeneralTaylor,IhurrahingforMartinVanBuren。Irememberwellhowonedaymyfatherearnestlyremonstratedagainstthis。Hesaid,``Mydearboy,youcheerMartinVanBuren’snamebecauseyoubelievethatifheiselectedhewilldosomethingagainstslavery:inthefirstplace,hecannotbeelected;
  andinthesecondplace,ifyouknewhimasweolderpeopledo,youwouldnotbelieveinhisattachmenttoanygoodcausewhatever。’’
  TheresultofthecampaignwasthatGeneralTaylorwaselected,andIrecallthefeelingofaweandhopewithwhichIgazeduponhiswar—wornface,forthefirstandlasttime,ashestoppedtoreceivethecongratulationsofthecitizensofSyracuse;——hope,alas,soonbroughttonaught,forhe,too,soonsuccumbedtothepressureofofficialcare,andMillardFillmoreofNewYork,theVice—
  President,reignedinhisstead。
  IrememberMr。Fillmorewell。Hewasatall,large,fine—lookingman,withafaceintelligentandkindly,andhewasnotedbothasanexcellentpublicservantandaneffectivepublicspeaker。HehadbeencomptrolleroftheStateofNewYork,——thenthemostimportantofStateoffices,hadbeendefeatedasWhigcandidateforgovernor,andhadbeenarepresentativeinCongress。HewasthesecondoftheaccidentalPresidents,andsoonfeltithisdutytoarrayhimselfonthesideofthosewho,bycompromisewiththeSouthontheslaveryquestion,soughttomaintainandstrengthentheFederalUnion。Underhimcamethecompromisemeasuresonwhichourgreatstatesmenofthemiddleperiodofthenineteenthcentury,Clay,Webster,Calhoun,andBenton,madetheirlastspeeches。Mr。Fillmorewasundoubtedlyledmainlybypatrioticmotives,inpromotingtheseriesofmeasureswhichwereexpectedtoendalltroublebetweentheNorthandSouth,butwhich,unfortunately,embracedtheFugitiveSlaveLaw;yetthis,asIthenthought,renderedhimaccursed。Irememberfeelinganabhorrenceforhisveryname,andthisfeelingwasincreasedwhentheretookplace,inthecityofSyracuse,thefamous``JerryRescue。’’
  CHAPTERIV
  EARLYMANHOOD——1851—1857
  OnthefirstdayofOctober,1851,therewasshufflingaboutthestreetsofSyracuse,inthequietpursuitofhissimpleavocations,acoloredperson,asnearly``ofnoaccount’’asanyeverseen。Sofaraswasknownhehadnosurname,and,indeed,noChristianname,savethefragmentandtravesty,——``Jerry。’’
  Yetbeforethatdaywasdonehewasfamous;hisname,suchasitwas,resoundedthroughtheland;andhehadbecome,inallseriousness,aweightypersonageinAmericanhistory。
  Underthelawrecentlypassed,hewasarrested,openlyandinbroaddaylight,asafugitiveslave,andwascarriedbeforetheUnitedStatescommissioner,Mr。JosephSabine,amostkindlypublicofficer,whointhismatterwassadlyembarrassedbytheantagonismbetweenhissworndutyandhispersonalconvictions。
  Thereby,aswassupposed,werefulfilledtheLawandtheProphets——theLawbeingthefugitiveslavelawrecentlyenacted,andtheProphetsbeingnolessthanHenryClayandDanielWebster。
  For,asiftopreparethelittlecitytosacrificeitscherishedbeliefs,Mr。ClayhadsometimebeforemadeaspeechfromthepiazzaoftheSyracuseHouse,urginguponhisfellow—citizensthecompromisesoftheConstitution;andsomemonthslaterMr。Websterappeared,spokefromabalconyneartheCityHall,andtothesamepurpose;butmoreso。Thelatterstatesmanwasprophetic,notonlyinthehortatory,butinthepredictivesense;forhedeclarednotonlythattheFugitiveSlaveLawmustbeenforced,butthatitWOULDbeenforced,andheadded,insubstance:``itwillbeenforcedthroughouttheNorthinspiteofallopposition——eveninthiscity——
  eveninthemidstofyourabolitionconventions。’’Thispieceofprophecywasaccompaniedbyagesturewhichseemedtomeanmuch;forthegreatman’shandwaswavedtowardtheCityHalljustacrossthesquare——theclassicseatandcenterofabolitionconventions。
  Howtrueisthewarning,``Don’tprophesyunlessyouknow!’’ThearrestofJerrytookplacewithinsixmonthsafterMr。Webster’sspeech,andindeedwhileanabolitionconventionwasinsessionatthatsameCityHall;
  butwhenthenewscametheconventionimmediatelydissolved,thefire—bellsbegantoring,acrowdmoveduponthecommissioner’soffice,surgedintoit,andsweptJerryoutofthehandsoftheofficers。Theauthoritieshavingrallied,re—arrestedthefugitive,andputhiminconfinementandinirons。Butintheeveningtheassailantsreturnedtotheassault,carriedthejailbystorm,rescuedJerryforgood,andspiritedhimoffsafeandsoundtoCanada,thusbringingtonoughtthefugitiveslavelaw,aswellastheexhortationsofMr。ClayandthepredictionsofMr。Webster。
  Thisrescueproducedgreatexcitementthroughoutthenation。Variouspersonswerearrestedfortakingpartinit,andtheirtrialswereadjournedfromplacetoplace,tothegreathardshipofallconcerned。DuringacollegevacationIwaspresentatoneofthesetrialsatCanandaigua,theUnitedStatesJudge,beforewhomitwasheld,beingtheHon。N。K。Hall,whohadbeenMr。Fillmore’slawpartnerinBuffalo。Theeveningbeforethetrialananti—slaverymeetingwasheld,whichIattended。ItwasopenedwithprayerbyabishopoftheAfricanMethodistEpiscopalChurch,Loguen,andofallprayersIhaveeverheard,thisdwellsinmymindasperhapsthemostimpressive。Thecoloredminister’spetitionsforhisrace,bondandfree,forJerryandforthosewhohadsoughttorescuehim,forthesoulsofthekidnappers,andforthecountrywhichwastohispeoplealandofbondage,weremostpathetic。ThenaroseGerritSmith。OfallTribunesofthePeopleIhaveeverknownhedwellsinmymemoryaspossessingthegreatestvarietyofgifts。
  Hehadtheprestigegivenbygreatwealth,bylavishgenerosity,bytransparenthonesty,byearnestnessofpurpose,byadvocacyofeverygoodcause,byasuperbpresence,andbynaturaleloquenceofaveryhighorder。Hewasverytallandlarge,withanoblehead,anearnest,yetkindlyface,andofallhumanvoicesIhaveeverheardhiswasthemostremarkableforitsrichness,depth,andstrength。IrememberseeingandhearinghimonceataRepublicanStateConventionintheCityHallatSyracuse,when,havingcomeinforafewmomentsasaspectator,hewasrecognizedbythecrowdandgreetedwithoverwhelmingcallsforaspeech。Hewasstandingattheentrancedoor,toweringaboveallabouthim,andtherewasageneralcryforhimtocomeforwardtotheplatform。Hedeclinedtocomeforward;butfinallyobservedtothosenearhim,inhisquiet,naturalway,withtheutmostsimplicity,``Oh,Ishallbeheard。’’Atthisashoutwentupfromtheentireaudience;foreveryhumanbeinginthatgreathallhadheardthesewordsperfectly,thoughutteredinhisusualconversationalvoice。
  IalsorememberonceenteringtheoldDelavanHouseatAlbany,withacollegefriendofmine,afterwardBishopofMaine,andseeing,attheotherendofalonghall,GerritSmithinquietconversation。Inamomentweheardhisvoice,andmyfriendwasgreatlyimpressedbyit,declaringhehadneverimaginedsuchanutterancepossible。Itwasindeedamazing;itwaslikethedeep,clear,richtonefromthepedalbassofacathedralorgan。DuringhiscareerinCongress,itwasnotedthathewastheonlyspeakerwithinremembrancewhowithouteffortmadehimselfheardineverypartoftheoldchamberoftheHouseofRepresentatives,whichwasacousticallyoneoftheworsthallseverdevised。Anditwasnotacaseofvoiceandnothingelse;
  hisstrengthofargument,hisgiftoffitexpression,andhiswealthofillustrationwerenolessextraordinary。
  OnthisoccasionatCanandaiguaherosetospeak,andeverywordwenttotheheartsofhisaudience。``Why,’’
  hebegan,``dotheyconducttheseharassingproceedingsagainstthesemen?Ifanyoneisguilty,Iamguilty。
  WithSamuelJ。MayIproposedtheJerryRescue。Weareresponsibleforit;whydotheynotprosecuteus?’’
  Andthesewordswerefollowedbyatrainofcogentreasoningandstirringappeal。
  TheJerryRescuetrialsonlymademattersworse。
  TheirinjusticedisgustedtheNorth,andtheirfutilityangeredtheSouth。TheyrevealedonefactwhichespeciallyvexedtheSouthernwingoftheDemocraticparty,andthiswas,thattheirNorthernalliescouldnotbedependedupontoexecutethenewcompromise。InthisSyracuserescueoneofthemostdeterminedleaderswasaroughburlybutcher,whohadbeenallhislifeoneoftheloudestofpro—slaveryDemocrats,andwho,untilhesawJerrydraggedinmanaclesthroughthestreets,hadbeenmostviolentinhissupportofthefugitiveslavelaw。Thetrialsalsostimulatedtheanti—slaveryleadersandoratorstonewvigor。Garrison,Phillips,GerritSmith,Sumner,andSewardarousedtheanti—slaveryforcesasneverbefore,andthe``BiglowPapers’’ofJamesRussellLowell,whichmadeNorthernpro—slaverymenridiculous,werereadwithmorezestthanever。
  Buttheabolitionforceshadthedefectsoftheirqualities,andtheirmaindifficultyreallyarosefromthestimulusgiventoathinfanaticism。Therefollowed,inthetrainofthenoblerthinkersandorators,the``FoolReformers,’’——sundrylong—hairedmenandshort—hairedwomen,whothoughtittheirdutytostirgoodChristianpeoplewithblasphemy,todelugethefoundersoftheRepublicwithblackguardism,andtoinventevermoreandmoreingeniouswaysfordrivingeverysober—mindedmanandwomanoutoftheanti—slaveryfold。MorethanonceinthosedaysIhungmyheadindisgustasIlistenedtothesepeople,andwondered,forthemoment,whether,afterall,eventhesupremacyofslaveholdersmightnotbemoretolerablethanthenewheavensandthenewearth,inwhichshoulddwellsuchbedraggled,screaming,denunciatorycreatures。
  AtthenextnationalelectiontheWhigsnominatedGeneralScott,amanofextraordinarymeritandofgrandioseappearance;butofboththesequalitieshewashimselfunfortunatelytoowellaware;asaresulttheDemocratsgavehimthenameof``OldFussandFeathers,’’andafewunfortunatespeeches,inoneofwhichheexpressedhisjoyathearingthat``sweetIrishbrogue,’’broughtthelaughofthecampaignuponhim。
  OntheotherhandtheDemocratsnominatedFranklinPierce;amangreatlyinferiortoGeneralScottinmilitarymatters,butwhohadservedwellintheStatepoliticsofNewHampshireandinCongress,waswidelybeloved,ofespeciallyattractivemanners,andofhighpersonalcharacter。
  HealsohadbeenintheMexicanWar,butthoughhehadrisentobebrigadier—general,hismilitaryrecordamountedtoverylittle。Therewasinhim,nodoubt,somealloyofpersonalwithpublicmotives,butitwouldbeunjusttosaythatselfishnesswastheonlysourceofhispoliticalideas。HewasgreatlyimpressedbythenecessityofyieldingtotheSouthinordertosavetheUnion,andhadshownthisbyhisutterancesandvotesinCongress:theSouth,therefore,acceptedhimagainstGeneralScott,whowassupposedtohavemoderateanti—
  slaveryviews。
  GeneralPiercewaselected;thepolicyofhisadministrationbecamemoreandmoredeeplypro—slavery;andnowappeareduponthesceneStephenArnoldDouglas——
  senatorfromIllinois,amanofremarkableability,——abrilliantthinkerandmosteffectivespeaker,withanextraordinarypowerofswayingmen。Iheardhimatvari—
  oustimes;andevenafterhehadcommittedwhatseemedtometheunpardonablesin,itwashardtoresisthiseloquence。Heitwaswho,doubtlessfromamixtureofmotives,personalandpublic,hadproposedtheabolitionoftheMissouriCompromise,whichsincetheyear1820hadbeenthebulwarkofthenewterritoriesagainsttheencroachmentsofslavery。Thewholeanti—slaverysentimentoftheNorthwastherebyintensified,andastheestablishmentofnorthpolarityatoneendofthemagnetexcitessouthpolarityattheother,soSouthernfeelinginfavorofslaverywastherebyincreased。UptoarecentperiodSouthernleadershad,asarule,deprecatedslavery,andhopedforitsabolition;nowtheyasgenerallyadvocateditasgoodinitself;——themainfoundationofcivilliberty;thenormalconditionoftheworkingclassesofeverynation;andsomeofthemurgedtherevivaloftheAfricanslave—trade。Thestrugglebecamemoreandmorebitter。IwasduringthattimeatYale,andthegeneralsentimentofthatuniversityinthosedaysfavoredalmostanyconcessiontosavetheUnion。ThevenerableSilliman,andagreatmajorityoftheolderprofessorsspokeatpublicmeetingsinfavorofthepro—slaverycompromisemeasureswhichtheyfondlyhopedwouldsettlethedifficultybetweenNorthandSouthandrestablishtheUniononfirmfoundations。Thenewcompromisewasindeedabitterdoseforthem,sinceitcontainedthefugitiveslavelawinitsmostdrasticform;andeveryoneofthem,withtheexceptionofafewtheologicaldoctrinaireswhofoundslaveryintheBible,abhorredthewholeslavesystem。TheYalefaculty,asarule,tookgroundagainstanti—slaveryeffort,and,amongotherwaysofpropagatingwhattheyconsideredrightopinions,therewasfreelydistributedamongthestudentsasermonbytheRev。Dr。BoardmanofPhiladelphia,whichwenttoextremesinadvocatingcompromisewithslaveryandtheslavepower。
  Thegreatbodyofthestudents,also,fromNorthandSouth,tookthesameside。ItisasuggestivefactthatwhereasEuropeanstudentsaregenerallyinclinedtoradicalism,Americanstudentshavebeen,sincethewaroftheRevolution,eminentlyconservative。
  Tothispro—slaverytendencyatYale,inhopeofsavingtheUnion,thereweretworemarkableexceptions,onebeingthebelovedandrespectedpresidentoftheuniversity,Dr。TheodoreDwightWoolsey,andtheotherhisclassmateandfriend,theRev。Dr。LeonardBacon,pastorofthegreatCenterChurchofNewHaven,andfrequentlyspokenofasthe``CongregationalPopeofNewEngland。’’Theywereindeedaremarkablepair;Woolsey,quietandscholarly,attimesirascible,butalwayskindandjust;Baconarugged,leoninesortofmanwho,whenheshookhismaneinthepulpitandaddressedtheNewEnglandconscience,washeardthroughoutthenation。
  Thesetwo,especially,bravedpublicsentiment,aswellastheopinionoftheircolleagues,andweresupposed,atthetime,toendangertheinterestsofYalebystandingagainstthefugitiveslavelawandotherconcessionstoslaveryanditsextension。AsaresultYalefellintodisreputeintheSouth,whichhad,uptothattime,sentlargebodiesofstudentstoit,andIrememberthataclassmateofmine,atall,harum—scarum,big—hearted,sandy—hairedGeorgianknownas``Jim’’Hamilton,leftYaleindisgust,returnedtohisnativeheath,andwastherewelcomedwithgreatjubilation。Apoemwassentme,writtenbysomeardentadmirerofhis,beginningwiththewords:
  ``Godblessthee,nobleHamilton,’’&c。
  OntheotherhandIwasoneofthesmallminorityofstudentswhoremaineduncompromisinglyanti—slavery,andwheneverIreturnedfromSyracuse,myclassmatesandfriendsusedtogreetmeinajollywaybyaskingme``Howareyou,Gerrit;howdidyouleavetheRev。
  AntoinetteBrownandbrotherFredDouglas?’’InconsequenceIcameverynearbeing,inasmallway,amartyrtomyprinciples。Havinghadsomesuccessinwinningessayprizesduringmysophomoreandjunioryears,mynamewasnaturallymentionedinconnectionwiththeelectionofeditorsforthe``YaleLiteraryMagazine。’’AtthisaveryconsiderablebodyofSouthernstudentsandtheirNorthernadherentsdeclaredagainstme。Ineithersaidnordidanythinginthepremises,buttwoofmymostconservativefriendswroughtvaliantlyinmybehalf。
  Onewasmydearoldchum,Davies,thepresentBishopofMichigan,attheveryantipodesfrommyselfoneverypossiblequestion;andtheothermylife—longfriend,RandallLeeGibsonofKentucky,himselfalargeslaveholder,afterwardageneralintheConfederateservice,andfinally,athislamenteddeathafewyearssince,UnitedStatessenatorfromLouisiana。Boththesefriendschampionedmycause,withtheresultthattheysavedmebyasmallmajority。
  Aseditorofthe``YaleLiteraryMagazine,’’throughmysenioryear,Icouldpublishnothinginbehalfofmycherishedanti—slaveryideas,sinceadecidedmajorityofmyfellow—editorswouldhavecertainlyrefusedadmissiontoanyobnoxiousarticle,andIthereforeconfinedmyself,inmyeditorialcapacity,toliteraryandabstractmatters;butwithmycollegeexercisesitwasdifferent。
  ProfessorLarned,whowaschargedwiththecriticismofouressaysandspeeches,thoughaveryquietman,wasatheartdeeplyanti—slavery,andthereforeitwasthatinsundryclass—roomessays,aswellasinspeechesatthejuniorexhibitionandatcommencement,Iwasabletopourforthmyideasagainstwhatwasstigmatizedasthe``sumofhumanvillainies。’’
  Iwasnotfreefromtemptationtoanoppositecourse。
  MyexperienceatthecollegeelectionhadmorethanoncesuggestedtomymindtheideathatpossiblyImightbewrong,afterall;thatperhapsthevoiceofthepeoplewasreallythevoiceofGod;thatifonewishestoaccomplishanythinghemustworkinharmonywiththepopularwill;
  andthatperhapsthebestwaywouldbetoconformtothegeneralopinion。Todososeemed,certainly,theonlyroadtoprefermentofanykind。Suchwerethetemptationswhich,inthosedays,beseteveryyoungmanwhodreamedofaccomplishingsomethinginlife,andtheybesetmeinmyturn;buttherecameadaywhenIdealtwiththemdecisively。IhadcomeupacrossNewHavenGreenthinkingthemover,andperhapspalteringrathercontemptiblywithmyconscience;butarrivingatthedoorofNorthCollege,Istoppedamoment,ranthroughthewholesubjectinaninstant,andthenandthere,onthestairwayleadingtomyroom,silentlyvowedthat,comewhatmight,Iwouldneverbeanapologistforslaveryorforitsextension,andthatwhatlittleIcoulddoagainstbothshouldbedone。
  ImayaddthatmyconsciencewassomewhataidedbyapieceofcasuistryfromthemostbrilliantscholarintheYalefacultyofthattime,ProfessorJamesHadley。
  IhadbeenbroughtupwithastrongconvictionofthenecessityofobediencetolawasthefirstrequirementinanyState,andespeciallyinaRepublic;butherewasthefugitiveslavelaw。Whatwasourdutyregardingit?
  Thisquestionhavingcomeupinoneofourdivision—
  roomdebates,ProfessorHadley,presiding,gaveadecisiontothefollowingeffect:``Onthestatutebooksofallcountriesaremanylaws,obsoleteandobsolescent;todisobeyanobsoletelawisfrequentlyanecessityandneveracrime。Astodisobediencetoanobsolescentlaw,thequestionineveryman’smindmustbeastothedegreeofitsobsolescence。Lawsaremadeobsolescentbychangeofcircumstances,bythegrowthofconvictionswhichrendertheirexecutionimpossible,andthelike。Everyman,therefore,mustsolemnlydecideforhimselfatwhatperiodalawisvirtuallyobsolete。’’
  Imustconfessthatthedoctrineseemstomenowratherdangerous,butatthattimeIwelcomeditasaveryserviceablepieceofcasuistry,andfeltthattherewasindeed,asMr。Sewardhaddeclared,a``higherlaw’’thantheiniquitousenactmentwhichallowedthetakingofapeacefulcitizenbackintoslavery,withoutanyofthesafeguardswhichhadbeendevelopedunderAnglo—Saxonliberty。
  Thoughmypoliticalfeelingsthroughoutthesenioryeargrewmoreandmoreintense,therewasnochancefortheirexpressioneitherincompetitionfortheClarkeEssayPrizeorfortheDeForestOrationGoldMedal,thesubjectsofbothbeingassignedbythefaculty;andthoughIafterwardhadthesatisfactionoftakingboththese,myexultationwasgreatlyalloyedbythethoughtthattheideasImostcherishedcouldfindlittle,ifany,expressioninthem。
  ButonCommencementDaymychancecame。ThenI
  chosemyowntheme,andonthesubjectof``ModernOracles’’pouredforthmyviewstoachurchfullofpeople;
  manyevidentlydisgusted,butafewasevidentlypleased。IdweltespeciallyuponsundryutterancesofJohnQuincyAdams,whohaddiednotlongbefore,andwhohadbeen,duringallhislateryears,amostearnestopponentofslavery,andIarguedthatthese,withthedeclarationsofotherstatesmenofliketendencies,weretheoraclestowhichthenationshouldlisten。
  Curiouslyenoughthiscommencementspeechsecuredformethefriendshipofamanwhowasopposedtomyideas,butseemedtolikemypresentingthemthenandthere——thegovernoroftheState,ColonelThomasSeymour。HehadservedwithdistinctionintheMexicanWar,hadbeenelectedandrelected,againandagain,governorofConnecticut,wasdevotedlypro—slavery,intheinterest,ashethought,ofpreservingtheUnion;butherememberedmyspeech,andafterward,whenhewasmadeministertoRussia,invitedmetogowithhim,attachedmetohisLegation,andbecameoneofthedearestfriendsIhaveeverhad。
  Ofthediplomaticphaseofmylifeintowhichheinitiatedme,Ishallspeakinanotherchapter;but,asregardsmypoliticallife,heinfluencedmedecidedly,forhisconversationandthereadinghesuggestedledmetostudycloselythewritingsofJefferson。TheimpulsethusgivenmymindwasnotspentuntiltheCivilWar,which,betrayingtheultimateresultsofsundryJeffersonianideas,ledmetorevisemyopinionssomewhatandtomoderatemyadmirationforthefounderofAmerican``Democracy,’’thoughIhaveeversinceretainedastronginterestinhisteaching。
  Butdeeplyasboththegovernorandmyselffeltontheslaveryquestion,webothavoideditinourconversation。
  Eachknewhowearnestlytheotherfeltregardingit,andeach,asifbyinstinct,keptclearofadiscussionwhichcouldnotchangeouropinions,andmightwreckourfriendship。Theresultwas,that,sofarasIremember,weneverevenalludedtoitduringthewholeyearweweretogether。Everyothersubjectwediscussedfreelybutthiswenevertouched。ThenearestapproachtoadiscussionwaswhenonedayintheLegationChanceryatSt。Petersburg,Mr。Erving,alsoadevotedUnionpro—
  slaveryDemocrat,pointingtoamapoftheUnitedStateshangingonthewall,wentintoarhapsodyovertheextensionofthepowerandwealthofourcountry。Ianswered,``IfourcountrycouldgetridofslaveryinallthatbeautifulregionoftheSouth,suchariddancewouldbecheapatthecostoffiftythousandlivesandahundredmillionsofdollars。’’AtthisErvingburstforthintoatorrentofbrotherlyanger。``Therewasnoconceivablecause,’’hesaid,``worththesacrificeoffiftythousandlives,andthelossofahundredmillionsofdollarswouldmeantheblottingoutofthewholeprosperityofthenation。’’Hisdeepearnestnessshowedmetheimpossibilityofconvertingamanofhisopinions,andthedangerofwreckingourfriendshipbyattemptingit。LittledideitherofusdreamthatwithintenyearsfromthatdayslaverywastobeabolishedintheUnitedStates,atthesacrificenotoffiftythousand,butofnearlyamillionlives,andatthecostnotmerelyofahundredmillions,but,whenallistold,ofatleasttenthousandmillionsofdollars!
  Imaymentionherethatitwasinthiscompanionship,atSt。Petersburg,thatIbegantolearnwhynewspapercriticismhas,inourcountry,solittlepermanenteffectonthereputationofeminentmen。DuringfouryearsbeforecomingabroadIhadread,inleadingRepublicanjournalsofNewYorkandNewHaven,denunciationsofGovernorThomasHartSeymourasanignoramus,apretender,ablatantdemagogue,asotandcompanionofsots,anassociate,andfitassociate,forthemostworthlessofthepopulace。Ihadnowfoundhimamanofrealconvictions,thoroughlyagentleman,quiet,conscientious,kindly,studious,thoughtful,modest,abstemious,hardlyevertouchingaglassofwine,amanesteemedandbelovedbyallwhoreallyknewhim。Thuswasfirstrevealedtomewhat,inmyopinion,istheworstevilinAmericanpubliclife,——thatfacilityforunlimitedslander,ofwhichthefirstresultistodegradeourpublicmen,andthesecondresultistorobthepressofthatconfidenceamongthinkingpeople,andthatpowerforgoodandagainstevilwhichitreallyoughttoexercise。SincethattimeIhaveseenmanyotherexamplesstrengtheningthesameconviction。
  LeavingSt。Petersburg,Ifollowedhistoricaland,tosomeextent,politicalstudiesattheUniversityofBerlin,havingpreviouslygivenattentiontotheminFrance;andfinally,travelinginItaly,becameacquaintedwithamanwhomadeastrongimpressionuponme。ThiswasMr。RobertDaleOwen,thentheAmericanministeratNaples,whosepicturesofNeapolitandespotism,asitthenexisted,mademeevenastrongerRepublicanthanI
  hadbeenbefore。
  ReturningtoAmericaIfoundmyselfontheeveofthenewpresidentialelection。TheRepublicanshadnominatedJohnC。Frmont,ofwhomallIknewwasgatheredfromhisbooksoftravel。TheDemocratshadnominatedJamesBuchanan,whomI,asanattachofthelegationatSt。Petersburg,hadmetwhilehewasministeroftheUnitedStatesatLondon。Hewasamostkindlyandimpressiveoldgentleman,hadwelcomedmecordiallyathislegation,andatalargedinnergivenbyMr。GeorgePeabody,atthattimetheAmericanAmphitryonintheBritishmetropolis,discussedcurrentquestionsinawaythatfascinatedme。OfthatImayspeakinanotherchapter;
  sufficeitherethathewasoneofthemostattractivemeninconversationIhaveevermet,andthatissayingmuch。
  Itookbutslightpartinthecampaign;infact,anaturaldiffidencekeptmealooffromactivepolitics。Havinggivenupallhopeordesireforpoliticalpreferment,andchosenauniversitycareer,Imerelypublishedafewnewspaperandmagazinearticles,inthegeneralinterestofanti—
  slaveryideas,butmadenospeeches,feelingmyself,infact,unfittomakethem。
  ButIsharedmoreandmorethefeelingsofthosewhosupportedFrmont。
  Mr。Buchanan,thoughpersonalacquaintancehadtaughtmetolikehimasaman,andthereadingofhisdespatchesinthearchivesofourlegationatSt。Petersburghadforcedmetorespecthimasastatesman,representedtometheencroachmentsanddominationofAmericanslavery,whileFrmontrepresentedresistancetosuchencroachments,andtheperpetuityoffreedomupontheAmericanContinent。
  Onelectionday,1856,IwenttothepollsattheCityHallofSyracusetocastmyfirstvote。ThereIchancedtomeetanoldschoolmatewhohadbecomeabrilliantyounglawyer,VictorGardner,withwhom,intheolddays,Ihadoftendiscussedpoliticalquestions,hebeingaDemocratandIaRepublican。Buthehadnowcomeuponnewground,and,wishingmetodothesame,hetenderedmewhatwasknownas``TheAmericanTicket,’’
  bearingatitsheadthenameofMillardFillmore。Heclaimedthatitrepresentedresistancetotheencroachmentsanddangerswhichhesawintheenormousforeignimmigrationoftheperiod,andaboveallintheincreasingdespotismoftheRomanCatholichierarchycontrollingtheIrishvote。Mosteloquentlydidmyoldfrienddiscourseonthedangersfromthissource。HeinsistedthatRomanCatholicbishopsandpriestshadwreckedeverycountryinwhichtheyhadevergainedcontrol;thattheyhadaidedinturningthemediaevalrepublicsintodespotisms;thattheyhadruinedSpainandtheSouthAmericanrepublics;thattheyhadrenderedPolandandIrelandunabletoresistoppression;thattheyhadhopelesslyenfeebledAustriaandItaly;thatbySt。
  BartholomewmassacresandclearingoutofHuguenotstheyhadmade,first,terrorism,and,finally,despotismnecessaryinFrance;thattheyhadrenderedeverypeopletheyhadcontrolledcarelessoftruthandinclinedtodespotism,——eitherofmonarchsor``bosses’’;——thatourprisonswerefilledwiththeyouthwhomtheyhadtrainedinreligionandmorals;thattheywerereadytoravagetheworldwithfireandswordtogaintheslightestpointforthePapacy;thattheyweretheswornfoesofourpublic—
  schoolsystem,withoutwhichnosuchthingasrepublicangovernmentcouldexistamongus;that,infact,theirbishopsandpriestsweretheenemiesofeverythingweAmericansshouldholddear,andthattheirchurchwasnotsomuchareligiousorganizationasapoliticalconspiracyagainstthebestthatmankindhadachieved。
  ``LookattheItalians,Spanish,Frenchto—day,``hesaid。``TheChurchhashadthemunderitscompletecontrolfifteenhundredyears,andyouseetheresult。LookattheIrishallaboutus;——alwaysscreamingforliberty,yetthemostabjectslavesoftheirpassionsandoftheirpriesthood。’’
  Hespokewiththedeepestearnestnessandeveneloquence;othersgatheredround,andsometookhistickets。
  Irefusedthem,saying,``No。ThequestionofallquestionstomeiswhetherslaveryorfreedomistorulethisRepublic,’’and,havingtakenaRepublicanticket,Iwentup—stairstothepolls。Onmyarrivalattheballot—boxcameamostexasperatingthing。AdrunkenIrishDemocratstandingtherechallengedmyvote。Hehad,perhaps,notbeeninthecountrysixmonths;Ihadlivedinthatverywardsincemychildhood,knewandwasknownbyeveryotherpersonpresent;andsuchwasmydisgustthatitisnotatallunlikelythatifoneofGardner’sticketshadbeeninmypocket,itwouldhavegoneintotheballot—box。Butpersonsstandingby,——DemocratsaswellasRepublicans,——havingquietedthisperfervidpatriot,andsavedmefromtheignominyofswearinginmyvote,Icarriedoutmyoriginalintention,andcastmyfirstvotefortheRepublicancandidate。
  CertainlyProvidencewaskindtotheUnitedStatesinthatcontest。ForFrmontwasnotelected。LookingbackoverthehistoryoftheUnitedStatesIsee,thusfar,noinstantwheneverythingweholddearwassomuchinperilasonthatelectionday。
  WeoftheRepublicanpartywerefearfullymistaken,andamongmanyevidencesinhistorythatthereis``aPowerintheuniverse,notourselves,whichmakesforrighteousness,’’Ithinkthatthenon—electionofFrmontisoneofthemostconvincing。HiselectionwouldhaveprecipitatedthecontestbroughtonfouryearslaterbytheelectionofLincoln。ButtheNorthernStateshadin1856nosuchpreponderanceastheyhadfouryearslater。
  Noseriesofeventshadthenoccurredtoarouseandconsolidateanti—slaveryfeelinglikethosebetween1856and1860。Moreover,ofallcandidatesforthePresidencyeverformallynominatedbyeitherofthegreatpartiesuptothattime,Frmontwasprobablythemostunfit。HehadgainedcreditforhisexpeditionacrosstheplainstoCalifornia,anddeservedly;hispopularnameof``Pathfinder’’
  mighthavebeenofsomelittleuseinapoliticalcampaign,andsomeromanticinterestattachedtohimonaccountofhismarriagewithJessieBenton,daughteroftheburly,doughty,honest—purposed,headstrongsenatorfromMissouri。
  Buthisearliercareer,whencloselyexamined,and,evenmorethanthat,hislatercareer,duringtheCivilWar,showeddoubtfulfitnessforanydutiesdemandingclearpurpose,consecutivethought,adhesiontoabroadpolicy,wisdomincounsel,orsteadinessinaction。Hadhebeenelectedin1856oneoftwothingswouldundoubtedlyhavefollowed:eithertheUnionwouldhavebeenpermanentlydissolved,oritwouldhavebeenreestablishedbyanchoringslaveryforeverintheConstitution。Neverwasthereagreaterescape。