C^t ^•' .^' <^K * r>^ » • - ^ "^^ >v.' ,^^ .^J^:l^% ./^yj^k,^% /.'.^^^A J^yJ^/''^^ <.^ '"^ *l:a^* %'' ' ^^'% '"^^.^ /\ \^!*' ^^'% °^m^** J''^^ -.^P/ -.^"^^ < O ,G^ "^3 */7^T' />• o . :» X/ /Jfe'^ %.^^ ,*;^!»^. \./ /Jfev %/ yM£'^ \ >V.' ^* *bV* ;;^^'> "^^0^ :*^^*. '^oV* /?►- »^: .^^"V y ^ A <^ 'o.T' ,G^ V ♦T^Tfi" A !»*• % ^^^ »i!^VA' ^^ <^ » < V'^'^ ^ -..0' ^■*- - ^ %.^^ ;;«^'o X./ /.^ffll^-. ^<:.A' ;. '-^^0^ r • o.^ a"' V, *.ro' .^^ q, ♦,,,•' ^0 ,G^ ^. *7t^* A 'P'^^.. A° "-.9^' J"^-^ V ^ •n^o^ .'I* .0 ?* d* o ° • " ♦ "^o -^^0^ 'TVT* A *• ^^''% ^yws ^J'X -aK*' . ^^''^^ . "oww ..^^'"^^. \m^/ . ^'^"^<. ^.-'•.^ 1.0 r,. '-y-o^ -^^C^^ ^J^IE^-^^ ^•i'^rH oV^l^*. V^,^*^ 'VQ^-^'. >^«< v^o^ • -oV^^ \,^-\/ %'^\o'> v^*\/ V*^%°' \;^^-\/ '^^. >0 5° >L:r:j« ■?• V f 1* -n-o^ 'if^ 'oS" -^Ao^ », °o «u '»>.<<^ ■^ -®- H 2 / y t^M-RM^ 1 1! M % 1 2r^^,2l//^J^ -oc^^ *p .^BdUdi'^ 4^ 'i€UL^i. ^? ^^»- l-(s;t;, l^i^ i u iJflllPBICfll -nlp^ _2£ H#t RECORD' •^•^•■g.:^, ;"^ , . . -.■•53i?= j^-^tSikSiM-^ •^^^JfTJW.^ -liXlr -OF- Berrien and Cass Counties, NIICHIGAN. ■:'-2- CONTAINING Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, AND OF THE Presidents of the Ignited states. ) -^ CHICAGO: BIOa^E,.A.F:EiIO.A.L. FXJBILilSKCIISra- CO 1893 ^^ x^^^ ♦ ^ pi^Ep/\§E. -Jw^ -t-OH- Bioohaimiicai. Rii( !oui) of this county has been prepared. Instead of going to iiuisty records, and taking therefrom dry statistical matter that can be ai>preciated liy but few, oiii corps of writers have gone to the people, the men and women wlio have, by then enterprise and industry, brought the county to rank second to n^ Ji^3^; influence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who i?\(^iV$^ have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have ^^\^ become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and "^ ^ records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," conten" to have it said of tliem as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "they have done what they could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left the plow and the anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who follow after. Coming generations will appreciate this volume; and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact that it contains so much that would never lind its way into public records, and which would otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has I)ceu taken in the compilation of the work and every opportunity possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers (latter them- selves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biograph ical sketches, portraits of a numlier of representative citizens are given. The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to give the information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of tlie family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though repeated calls were made at their residence or place of business. September. 18'j:5. IIuh.i; \imik ai. rii!i.isMi\(, Co, ^^^" if?. ■v^^\~^-^W^§J^ ■A<^ '•'C^;. y^ ^^*v If^^- V BIOGEAFW OF THE i~ ri •^S" '^r;^ ^^i^ rsf'i." •■•^'•^^^'^^''^'^^(s^^l^v^ x~<=>'!ast->f^»£-<->i**s ■' l^>2^% i%^i:\;^^i^ jbk^^ 4 i /J ^^^ FIRST PRESIDENT. M '^^\^:^(S^i'^^i'^i^C'i>(\Kri^^cfi?i^^i^^(^c^i?i?'mi^^^^^^ fll'''''''''''^^'^'^'^^'^^''j£!ljlj'''''''''^ HE Father of our Country was -') horn in Westmorland Co., Va., '^'•' Feb. 2 2, 1732. His parents were Augustine and Mary (Ball) Washington. The family to which he belonged has not been satisfactorily traced in England. His great-grand- father, John Washington, em- igrated to Virginia about 1657, and became a prosperous planter. He had two sons, Lawrence and John. The former married Mildred Warner and had three children, John, Augustine and Mildred. Augus- tine, the father of George, first married Jane Butler, who bore him four children, two of whom, Lawrence and Augustine, reached maturity. Of six children by his second marriage, George was the eldest, the others being Betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles and Mildred. Augustine Washington, the father of George, died in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his sidest son, I^awrence, he bequeathed an estate on tiie Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, and to George he lett tlie parental residence. George received only such education as the neighborhood schools afforded, save for a short time after he left school, when he received private instruction in Hiathemat'cs. His spelling was rather defective. Remarkable stories are told of his great physica: strength and development at an early age. He wa.s an acknowledged leader among his companions, and was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. When George was 1 4 years old he had a desire to go to sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, but through the opposition of his mother the idea was abandoned. Two years later he was appointed surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In this business he spent three years in a rough frontier life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very essential to him. In 1751, though only ig years of age, he was ap[X)inted adjutant with the rank of major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for active service against the French and Indians. Soon after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They soon returned, and in the summer of -1752 Lawrence died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter who did not long survive him. On her demise ilie estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. U[X3n the arrival of Robert Dinwiddle, as Lieuten- ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed was between 500 and 600 uiilcs. Winter was at hand, and tb.e journey was to be made without mi!itar\' escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. Tht GEORGE WASHINGTON. trip was a perilous one, and several limes he came near losiiigSlis life, yet he returned in safety and furnished a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was then begun against tlie French and Indians, in which Washington took a most important part. In the memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock vvere disabled early in the action, and Washington alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter to his brother he says : " I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped unhurt, though death was leveling my companions on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit him. After having been five years in the military service, and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he look advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, to resign his conmiission. Soon after he entered the Legislature, where, although not a leader, he look an active and important part. January 17, 1759, he married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy widow of John Parke Custis. When the British Parliament had closed the port of Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- delphia,Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and responsible office was conferred upon Washington, who was still a memberof the Congress. He accepted it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he receive no salary. He would keep an exact account of expenses and expect Congress to pay them and nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the fortunes and liberties of the people of this country were so long confided. The war was conducted by him under ever)' possible disadvantage, and while his forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 1783, Washington, in a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the army to to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all connection with public life. In February, 1 7 89, Washington was unanimously elected President. In his presidential career he was subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a riew government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part of other governments ; trials from want of harmony between the different sections of our own country; trials from the impoverished condition of the country, owmgto the war and want of credit; trials from the beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His clear judg.nent could discern the golden mean; and while perhaps this alone kept our government from sinking at the veiy outset, it left him exposed to attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and very annoying. At the expiration of his first term he was unani- mously re-elected. At the end of this term manv were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi- dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there his few remaining yeais free from the annoyances of public life. Later in the year, however, his re]X)se seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France. At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to take command of the armies. He chose his sub- ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- ters in the field, which he superintended from his home. In accepting the command he made the reservation that he was not to be in the field umil it was necessary. In the midst of these prejiarations his life was suddenly cut off. December 12, he took a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling in his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- teenth his body was borne wiih military honors to its final resting place, and interred in the family vault at Mount Vernon. Of the character of Washington it is impossible to speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- miration. The more we see of the operations of our government, and the more deeply we feel the difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, the more liighly we must estimate the force of his tal- ent and cliaracter, which have bef'n able to challenge the reverence of all parties, and principles, and na- tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will be as lasting as the existence of man. The ]ierson of Washington was unusally tan, erect and well proportioned. His muscular strength was great. His features were of a beautiful synimetrv. He commanded respect without any appearance of haughtiness, and ever serious without l->eingdull, -ei^f^vi^ a^/yj SECOND PRESIDENT. JDIIK ADAMSo ^P?*??^ -«««- -*— ^;-^'^*^5''^^ »>» »»T5P^ ^J OHN ADAMS, the second '•?\ President and the first Vice- President of the United States, was born in Braintree ( now Quincy),Mass., and about ten /^*^ miles from Boston, Oct. 19, 1735. His great-grandfather, Henry- Adams, emigrated from England about 1640, with a family of eight ''\j, sons, and settled at Braintree. The parents of John were John and Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His father was a farmer of limited means, to which he added the bus- iness of shoemaking. He gave his eldest son, John, a classical educa- tion at Harvard College. John graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a ■'sci.ool of affliction," from which he endeavored to gain lelief by devoting himself, in addition, to the study of law. For this purjx)se he placed himself under tlie tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He had tiiought seriously of the clerical profession but seems to have been turned from this by what he termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- jils, cf diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,'' of the operations of which he had been a witness in his native town. He was well fitted for the legal profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- tive [HDwers. He gradually gained practice, and in 1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his marriage, (i7(''5), the attempt of Parliamentar)' taxa- tion turned liim from law to politics. He took initial Steps toward lioldinj, i town meeting, and the resolu- tions he offered on the subject became ver>' populai throughout the Province, and were adopted word for word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- lislature) in 1770. Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himself by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad- vocated the movement for independence against th° majority of the members. In May, 1776, he moved and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies should assume the duties of self-government. Hq was a prominent member of the committee of vivei appointed June 11, to prepare a declaration of inde- pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but on .'\dams devolved the task of battling it through Congress in a three days debate. On the day after the Declaration of Independence was passed, while his soul was yet warm with th^ glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday," he says, "the greatest question was decided that ever was debated in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or wil be decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, ' that these United States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversarj', festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of' deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows JOHN ADAMS. games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations Ironi one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward for ever. You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of •the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means; and that posterity will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I hope we shall not." In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a ddegate to France and to co-operate with Benijamin Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money from the French Government. This was a severe trial to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- posed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis- ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 1779. In September of the same year he was again ciiosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet might be found willing to listen to such pioposels. He sailed for France in Novemlier, from there he went to Holland, where he negotiated important loans and formed important commercial treaties. Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he was advised to go to England to drink the waters of Bath. While in England, still drooping anddesiwnd- ing, he received dispatches from his own government urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,hemade the trip. February 24, 1785, Congress appointed Mr. Adams envoy to the Co\irt of St. James. Here he met face to face the King of England, who had so long re- garded him as a traitor. As England did not condescend to appoint a minister to the United States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom- plishing but little, he sought permission to return to nis own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. When Washington was first chosen President, John Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at home and abroad, was chosen Vice President. Again at the second election of Washington as President, Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was elected President, though not without much opposition. Serving in this office four vears,he was succeeded by Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics. While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great French Revolution shook the continent of Euro|ie, and it was upon this point which he was at issue with the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson. Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French peo])le in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the classof atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it. On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence or- iginated the alienation between these distinguished men, and two powerful parties were thus soon organ- ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies were with England and Jefferson led the other in symjjathy with France. The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling had died away, and he had begun to receive that just appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till after death. No one could look upon his venerable form, and think of what he had done and suffered, and how he had given up all the prime and strength of his life to the public good, without the deepest emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar good fortune to witness the complete success of the institution which he had been so active in creating and supix)rting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest station in the gift of the people. The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the signers of that immortal instrument left .upon the earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is well known, on that day two of these finished their earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- dependence FOREVER." ,When the day was ushered in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, he was asked liy one of his attendants if he knew what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- ious fourth of July — God bless it — God bless you all." In the course of the day he said, " It is a great and glorious day." The last words he uttered were, "Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- signed his spiiit into the hands of his God. The personal appearance and manners of Mr. Adams were not particularly prepossessing. His face, as his portrait manifests.was intellecl\ial ard expres- sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and h'S manners were frequently abrupt and unrourteous. He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked the manners and address of Jefferson. Y /' viziA >:^^^72. THIRD PRESIDENT. 27 ©MAS JBlFiP!EHSD?J '^z HOMAS JEFFERSON was liorn April 2, 1743, at Shad- K**vell, Albermarle county, Va. His parents were Peter and Jane ( Randol()h) Jefferson, the former a native of Wales, and the latter born in Lon- don. To them were born six daughters and two sons, of whom Thomas was the elder. When 14 years of age his fatiier died. He received a most liberal education, hav- ing been kept diligently at school from the time he was five years of age. In 1760 he entered William end Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat of !he Colonial Court, and it was the obode of fashion a. id splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproacha- alile in his morals. It is strange, however, under such influences, that he was not ruined. In the sec- ond year of his college course, moved by some un- explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had previously given much time. Heoften devoted fifteen hours a day to haid study, allowing himself for ex- ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out of the city and back again. He thus attained very high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso- phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls; and w there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. Immediately uix)n leaving college he began the study of law. For the short time he continued in the practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a lawyer. But the times called for greater action. The policy of England had awakened the spirit of resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses In 1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- ful, wealthy and highly accom|)lished young widow Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, thire was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, which commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new home; and here he reared a mansion of modest ye* elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon became the most distinguished resort in our land. In 1775 li^ was sent to the Cilonial Congress. where, though a silent member, his abihties as a writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he was placed uiwn a number of imiwrtant committees, and was chainiian of the one appointed for the draw- ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was apiwinted to draw u|) the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 4, 1776. What must have been the feelings of that 28 THOMAS JEFFERSON. man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — who was charged with the preparation of that Dec- laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of America, was also to publish her to the world, free, Boverign and independent. It is one of the most re- markable papers ever written ; and did no other effort of tire mind of its author exist, that alone would be sufficient to stamp his name with immortality. In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to Patrick Henry, £.s Governor of Virginia. Atone time the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to Moniicello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five minutes elapsed after the hurried escape of Mr. Jef- ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never very good, was much injured by this excitement, and in the summer of 1782 she died. Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. Two years later he was appointed Minister Plenipo- tentiary to France. Returning to the United States in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned Jan. I, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- dent, and four years later was elected President over Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, and George Clinton, Vice President. The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- tion was disturbed by an event which threatened the tranquility and peace of the Union; this was the con- spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a military expedition into the Spanish territories on our ■southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there a new republic. This has been generally supposed was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been generally known what his real plans were, there is no doubt that they were of a far inore dangerous character. In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined to retire from [Xjlitical life. For a period of nearly forty years, he had been continually before the pub- lic, and all that time had been employed in offices of the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- voted the best part of his life to the service of his country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his declining years required, and \x\io\\ the organization of the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello. Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole families came in their coaches with their horses, — fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and nurses, — and remained three and even six months. Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a fashionable watering-place. The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver- sary of the Declaration of American Independence, great preparations were made in every part of the Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer, and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara- tion, to participate in their festivities. But an ill- ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and had been continually increasing, compelled him to decline the invitation. On the second of July, the disease under which he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced state that his medical attendants, entertained nc hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next dny, which was Monday, he asked of those around him, the day of the month, and on being told it was the third of July, he expressed the earnest wish tha'; he might be permitted to breathe the air of the fiftieth anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble life ! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- - the day which his own name and his own act had rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life. Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear him company, left the scene of his earthly honors. Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of freedom; hand in hand, during the dark and desper- ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and- animated their desponding countrj'men; for half a century they had labored together for tne good of the country; and now hand in hand they depart. In their lives they had been united in the same great cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not divided. In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes were light, his hair originally red, in after life became white and silvery; his complexion was fair, his fore- head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as well as personal courage; and r.:s command of tem- per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends never recollected to have seen him in a passion. His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic ; and his language was remarkably pure and correct. He was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is discernable the care with which he formed his style upon the best models of antiquity. S: '■'^ (t^'-'- ^'' '''"' FOURTH PRESIDENT. 31 tjfi\W& npDisoi]. AMES MADISON, "Father of the Constitution," and fourth President of the United States, was born March 16, 1757, and died at his home in Virginia, June 28, 1836. The name of James Madison is inseparably con- nected with most of the imiMrtant events in that heroic period of our country during which tlie founda- tions of this great repubUc were laid. He was the last of the founders of the Constitution of the United States to l)e called to his eternal reward. The Madison family were among the early emigrants to the New World, landing upon the shores of the Chesa- peake but 15 years after the settle- ment of Jamestown. The father of James Madison was an opulent planter, residing upon a very fine es- tate called " Montpelier," Orange Co., Va. The mansion was situated in the midst of scenery highly jjictur- esque and romantic, on the west side of South-west Mountain, at the foot of Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of Jefferson at Monticello. Tlie closest personal and jiolitical attachment existed between these illustrious men, from their early youth until death. The early education of Mr. Madison wasconducteti mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. Here he applied himself to study with the most im- prudent zeal ; allowing himself, for months, but three hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor of constitution. He graduated in 177 i, with a feeble body, witli a character of utmost purity, and with a mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsr ([uent career. Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. This educational course, the spirit of the times in which he lived, and the society with which he asso- ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work ot a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of mind, and his frail health leading him to think that his life was not to be long, he directed especial atten- tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mmd singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with almost unequalled powers of reasoning, lie weiglied all the arguments for and against revealed religion, until his fijith became so established as never to be shaken. In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to frame the constitution of the State. The next year (1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly. He refused to treat the wliisky-lovir.g voters, and consequently lost his election ; but those who had witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, and he was appointed to the E.\ecutive Council. Both Patrick Henry and Tliomas Jefferson were Oovernors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained member of the Council ; and their appreciation of his 32 /AMES MADISON. intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year 1780, he was elected a member of the Continental Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of the most conspicuous positions among them. For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con- gress, one of its most active and influential members. In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was elected a member of the Virginia Legislature. No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na- tional government, with no power to form treaties which would be binding, or to enforce law. There was not any State more prominent than Virginia in the declaration, that an efficient national government must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison carried a resolution through the General Assembly of Virginia, inviting the other States to appoint commis- sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss this subject. Five States only were represented. The convention, however, issued another call, drawn up by Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their delegates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draft a Constitution for the United States, to take the place of that Confederate League. The delegates met at 'he time appointed. Every State but Rhode Island "fas represented. George Washington was chosen president of the convention; and the present Consti- tution of the United .States was then and there formed. There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- tive in framing this immortal document than the mind and the pen of James Madison. The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was to be presented to the several States for acceptance. But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected we should be left but a conglomeration of independent States, with but little power at home and little lespect abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven- tion to draw up an address to the people of the United States, expounding the principles of the Constitution, and urging its adoption. There was great opposition to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and went into effect in 1789. Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the avowed leader of the Republican party. While in New York attending Congress, he met Mrs. Todd, a young widow of remarkable jxswer of fascination, whom he married. She was in person and character queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied so prominent a position in the very peculiar society which has constituted our republican court as Mrs. Madison. Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under Jefferson, and at the close of his administration was chosen President. At this time the encroach- ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and our flag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring in his disposition, war had no charms for him. But the meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- ance he selects any nuirrber whom he may please to designate as British subjects ; orders them down the ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the battles of England. This right of search and im- pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce the British cabinet to relinquish. On the i8th of June, 1812, President Madison gave his approval to an act of Congress declaring war against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th of March, 1813, was re-elected by a large majority, and entered upon his second term of office. This is not the place to describe the various adventures of this war on the land and on the water. Our infant, navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grap- pling with the most formidable power which ever swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest by the appearance of a British fleet, early in February, 1813, in Chesai)eake Bay, declaring nearly the whole coast of the United States under blockade. The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me ditator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit- ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa- peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens- burg, upon Washington. The straggling little city of Washington was thrown into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the metropolis. The whole population fled from the city. The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the Wiiite House, with her carriage drawn up at the doer to await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers in a council of war. He met our troops utterly routed, and he could not go back without danger of being captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in Washington were in flames. The war closed after two years of fighting, and on Feb. T3, 1815, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. On the 4th of March, 1817, his second term of office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his Leau- dful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- son died July 12, 1849. yCiii^J->^'t^ P // Z -cr- ^^, 'FIFTH PRESIDENT. 35 PHQES n]0]]^OE. «^;i! AMES MONROE, the fifth .Presidentof The United States, was born in Westmoreland Co., Va., April 28, 1758. His early ' life was passed at the place of nativity. His ancestors had for ^ many years resided in the prov- ince in which he was born. When, , at r; years of age, in the process ^S of completing his education at WiUiam and Mary College, the Co- lonial Congress assembled at Phila- delphia to deliberate ujwn the un- just and manifold oppressions of Creat Britian, declared the separa- tion of the Colonies, and promul- gated the Declaration of Indepen- dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly probable that he would have been one of the signers of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left school and enlisted among tlie patriots. He joined the army when everything looked hope- less and gloomy. Tlie number of deserters increased from day to day. The invading armies came pouring in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, who were sufficiently terrified at liie prospect of con- tjndiiig witli an enemy whom they had been taught to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through (lilTiculty and danger, the United States owe their p;;!itical emancipation. The young cadet joined the ranks, and esix)used the cause of his injured country, with a firm determination to live o. lie with her strife for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled before its foes through New Jersey. In four months after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left shoulder. As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro-) moted a captain of infantry ; and, having recovered, from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an officer in the staff of Lord Steriing. During the cam- paigns of 1777 and i77cS, in the actions of Brandy wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a regiment for the Virginia line. Tliis scheme failed owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. In 17S2, he was elected from King George county, a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by tha! body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive Council. He was thus honored with the confidence of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having at this early period displayed some of that ability and aptitude for legislation, wiiich were afterward.^ employed with unremitting energy for the public good, i6 JAMES MONROE. he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of the Congress of the United States. Deeply as Mr. Monroe felt the imperfections of the old Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Qjnstitution, ihiiiking, with many others of ';he Republican parly, ihat it gave too much power to the Central Government, and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member of the United States Senate ; which office he held for four years. Every month the line of distinction be- tween the two great parties which divided the nation, the Federal and the Republican, was growing more distinct. The two prominent iaeas which now sep- arated them were, that the Republican party was in sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a strict construction of tlie Constitution as to give the Central Government as little power, and the State Governments as much ixswer, as the Constitution would warrant. The Federalists sympathized with England, and were in fiivor of a liberal construction of the Con- stitution, which would give as much power to the Central Government as that document could possibly authorize. The leading Federalists and Republicans were alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the good of the nation. Two more honest men or more pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In building up this majestic nation, which is destined to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com- bination of their antagonism was needed to create the light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was de- nounced as almost a demon. Washington was then President. England had es- poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi- ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- tween these contending powers. France had helped us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms of Europe were now combined to prevent the French from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse than that which we had endured Col. Monroe, more magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous and noble nature. He violently opposed the Pres- ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in magnanimity. Washington, who could appreciate such a character, developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de- nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr. .Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention in France with the most enthusiastic demonstr/>-tions. Shortly after his return to this countr\', Mr. Mon- roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining the vast territory then known as the Province of Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- tained from Spain. Their united efforts were suc- cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen millions of dollars, the entire territor)^ of Orleans and district of Louisiana were added to the United States. This was probably the largest transfer of real estate which was ever made in all the history of the world. From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- tain from that countrj' some recognition of our rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those odious impressments of our seamen. But Eng- land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng- land on the same mission, but could receive no redress. He returned to his home and was again chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned to accept the position of Secretary of State under Madison. While in this office war with England was declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during these trjing times, the duties of the \Var Departmen; were also put upon him. He was truly the armor- bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient business man in his cabinet. L^jwn the return of peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- tinued in the office of Secretar\' of State until the ex- piration of Mr. INIadison's adminstration. At the elec- tion held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had been chosen President with but little opposition, and upon March 4, tSiy, was inaugurated. Four years later he was elected for a second tenn. Among the important measures of his Presidencv were the cession of Florida to the United States; the Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.' This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe doctrine," was enunciated by him in T823. At that time the United States had recognized the independ- ence of the South American states, and did not wish to have European powers longer attempting to sub ■ due ix)rtions of the American Continent. The doctrine is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt on the part of European powers to extend their sys- tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety," and "that we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing or controlling American governments or provinces in any other light than as a manifestation by European powers of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States." This doctrine immediately affected the course of foreign governments, and has become the approved sennment of the L'nited States. At the end of his fecond term Mr. Monroe retired to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 1830 when he went to New Vork to live with his son-in- law. In that city he died.on the 4th of July rSji 5. 3. cAi .^b. .V. ^^ ' f^ .v^ ^ ■' "■^ j^ -'^"^ ^ -.v.-^ * ^>^^<^ .*■ ^-'.■^^ » -^'-.^.j^^-'^ .j^ ""''lai "^'"-^ A '''"'' A*'"" J^'^""-' JSg^^'^ JL,"^"^ Jb,"^'^ tit J01511 Qail]6Y ^DJinQS. I V} OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the Wi sixth President of the United j>States, was born in the rural home of his honored father, John Adams, in Quincy, Mass., on the I ith of July, 1767. His mother, a woman of exalted worth, watched over his childhood during the almost constant ab- sence of his father. When but eight years of age, he stood with his mother on an eminence, listen- ing to the booming of the great bat- tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on upon the smoke and flames billow- ing up from the conflagration of Charlestown. When but eleven years old he took a tearful adieu of his mother, to sail with his father for Europe, through a fleet ol liostile JJritish cruisers. The bright, ..nimated l>oy spent a year and a half in Paris, where his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted the notice of these distinguished men, and he received from them flattering marks of attention. Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this country, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad Again •ohn Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he applied himself with great diligence, for si.\ months, to .•.'udy; then accompained his father to Holland, wnere he entered, first a school in .\msterdam, then the University at Leyden. About a year from this time, in t78i, when the manly boy was but fourteen yea"; of age, he was selected liy Mr. Dana, our min- ister to the Russian court, as his private secretar)-. In this school of incessant labor and of enobling culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned to Holland through S\veined 40 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; where he remained until July, 1799, when, having ful- filled all the purjxjses of his mission, he solicited his recall. Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to I he Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then was elected Senator of the United States for six years, from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his ability and his experience, placed him immediately among the most prominent and influential members of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern- ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- sulting our flag. There was no man in America more familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon these points, and no one more resolved to present a firm resistance. In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- idential chair, and he immediately nominated John Quincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign- ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked at Boston, in August, 1809. While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an uitense stu- dent. He devoted his attention to the language and history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the European system of weights, measures, and coins ; to the climate and astronomical observations ; while he Kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. All through life the Bible constituted an imix)rtapt part of his studies. It was his rule to read five chapters every day. On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr. Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he sailed in June, 1819, forthe United States. On tlie i8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his home in Quincy. During the eight yearsof Mr. Mon- roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary of State. Some time before ihe close of Mr. Monroe's second term of office, new candidates began to be presented forthe Presidency. The friends of Mr. .\dams brought forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- ceived ninety-nine; John Quincy .Adams, eighty-four; William H. Crawford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirty- se\fen. As there was no choice by the people, the question went to the House of Rei)resentatives. Mr. Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and be was elected. The friends of all the disappointed candidates now ;ombined in a venomous and persistent assault upon Mr. Ailams. Tliere is nothing more disgraceful in »Ke past history of our country than the abuse which was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was an administration more pure in principles, more con- scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per- haps, was there an administration more unscrupu-- lously and outrageously assailed. Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab- stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising early, and taking much exercise. When at his hcmein Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said that he was the first man up in the city, ligluing his own fire and applying himself to work in his library often long before dawn. On the 4th of March, 1820, Mr. Adams retired from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew- Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- dent. The slavery question now began to assume portentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was elected representative to Congress. For seventeen years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre- sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of " the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in the House, he announced that he should hold him- self bound to no party. Probably there never was a member more devoted to h's duties. He was usually the first in his place in the morning, and the last to leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. The liattle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against the prosLvery party in the Government, was sublime ill Us moral daiing and heroism. For persisting in presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he was threatened with indictment by the grand jury, with expulsion from the House, with assassination but no threats could intimidate him, and his final triumph was complete. It has been said of President Adams, that when his body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before he slept, the pra)er which his inotlier tauglit him in his infant years. On the 2ist of February, 1848, he rose on the floor of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paraly- sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and said " This is the end of earth ,-"tlien after a moment's pause he added, " / am contetit " These were the last words of the grand "Old Man Eloquent." ■'"'^^•a r7>/ /7 n )^^IJ^C/ ^^c^/j U^u^^-z^^^ EIGHTH PRESIDENT. cki. ''^'^^^:f^^'<&^f^>~,^^'^-j^^A®m^j^. ARTIN VAN BUREN, the eighth President of the United States, was born at Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1782. He died at the same place, July 24, 1862. His body rests in the cemetery at Kinderhook. Above it is a plain granite shaft fifteen feet high, bearing a simple inscription about half way up on one face. The lot is unfenced, unbordered or unbounded by shrub or flower. There '- uui lUtle in the life of Martin Van Buren of romani c interest. He fought no battles, engaged in no wild adventures. Though his lite w.is stormy in political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many signal victories, liis days passed uneventful in those incidents which give zest to biography. His an- cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, and were among the earliest emigrants from HoUand to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- ligence and e.xemi)lary [liety. .■fe was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies in his native village, and commenced the study of law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven years of study in a law-office were required of him Oefore he could be admitted to the bar. Insjiired with JL lofty ambition, and conscious of liis powers, he ])ur- sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After s[>ending si.K years in an office in '-js native village, he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted hi^ studies for the seventh year. In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years o) age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- lage. The great conflict between the Federal and Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van Buren was from the beginning a [lolitician. He had, perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the many discussions which had been carried on in his father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with, Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently esix)used ll.2 cause of State Rights ; though at thai time the Y^C- eral party held the supremacy both in his tow:v and State. His success and increasing ruputation led him after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, tli. county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years constantly gaining strength by contending in tht covins with some of the ablest men who have adorned the bar of his State. Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for beauty and accompUshments. After twelve short years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump- tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep ovei her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was; an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record of those years is barren in items of public interest. In 18 1 2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to the State Senate, and gave his strenuous sup|X)rt to Mr. Madison's adniinstration. In 1815, he was ap- pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved to Albany, the capital of the State. '.Vhile he was ackno\Vledged as one of the most p.ominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had 4S MARTJN VAN BUREN. the moral courage to avow that true democracy did not require that '' universal suffrage" which admits the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of governing the State. In true consistency with his democratic principles, he contended that, while the path leading to the privilege of voting should be open to every man without distinction, no one should be invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue and some property interests in the welfare of the State. In 182 I he was elected c, member of the United States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat in the convention to revise the constitution of his native State. His course in this convention secured the approval of men of all parties. No one could doubt the singleness of liis endeavors to promote the interests of all classes in the community. In the Senate of the United .States, he rose at once to a ■:onspicuous position as an active and useful legislator. In 1827, John Quincy Adams beirg then in the ^residential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to .he Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- termined opposer of the Administration, adopting the ■'State Rights" view in opposition to what was deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his ■seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q. \dams from the Presidential chair, and placing in it Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- garded througiiout the United States as one of the most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians It was supposed that no one knew so well as lie how io touch the secret spiings of action; how to pull all She wires to put his machinery in motion; and ho-v to organize a political army which would, secreily and Ete.-3Uhily accomplish the most gigantic results. By these powers it is said that he outv.'itted Mr. Adams, Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which tew thought then could be accomplished. Wliji Andrew Jackson was elected President he appointed Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately appointed Minister to England, where he went the same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned home, apparently untroubled ; was nominated Vice President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and fiowns for none, he took his place at the head of that Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination as ambassador. His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor- ite ; and this, probably more than any other cause, secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief E::ecu tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. Jackson as President of the United States. He was elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred upon him the power to appoint a successor. ' His administration was filled with exciting events- The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in- volve this country in war with England, the agitation of the slavery question, and finally the great commer- cial panic which spread over the country, all were trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- tributed to the management of the Democratic party, and brought the President into such disfavor that he failed of reelection. With the exception of being nominated for the Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848, Mr. Van Buren lived quietly upon his estate until his death. He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, and living within his income, had now fortunately a competence for his declining years. His unblemished character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned ])atn'otisin, and the distinguished positions which he had occui)ied in the government of our country, se- cured to him not only the homage of his party, but the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from the presidency. From his fine estate at LindenwaM, he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics of the country. From this time until his death, on the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of culture and of wealth; enjoying in a healthy old age, probably far more happiness than he had before experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active lifoi ^K M )7(^^^y^^cn.\^ NINTH PRESIDENT. 5' k^4f|^^^ HExNRY 4^: t: J w J>S] J /•» He was born in Charles-city *~N (g^**v^ l ^ t^o-! ^'^a., March 29, 1790. He '"^ was the favored child of af- fluence and high social po- sition. At the early age of twelve, John entered William and Mary College and grad- uated with much honor when but seventeen years old. After graduating, he devoted him- self with great assiduity to the study of law, partly with his father and partly with Edmund Randolph, one of the most distin- guished lawyers of Virginia. At nineteen years of age, ne commenced the practice of law. His success was rapid and aston- ishing. It is said that three months had not elapsed ere there was scarcely a case on the dock- et of the court in which he was 1, Jt retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he was almost unanimously e'ected to a seat in the State Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- criitic party, and warmly advocated the measures of Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the unanimous vote or his county. When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and ably wiih the Democratic party, 0|)iX)sing a national bank. intern;jj. improvements by the General <^;vem- ment, a protective tariff, and advocating a strict con- struction of the Constitution, and the most careful vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress were so arduous that before the close of his second term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, however, soon after consented to take his seat in the State Legislature, where his influence was powerful in promoting public works of great utility. With a reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen by a very large majority of votes. Governor of his native State. His administration was signally a suc- cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election. John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the United States. A portion of the Democratic party was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent, considering him the only man in Virginia of suflficient popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor. In accordance with his professions, upon taking his seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi- tion. He opposed the tariff; he sjxske against and voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren- uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- ing all projects of internal improvements by the Gen- eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. Calhoun's view of nullification; he declared that Gen. Jackson, by his opposition to the nulHfiers, had abandoned the principles of the Democratic party. Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record in perfect accordance with the principles which be had always avowed. Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of bis profession. Ther? was a rjM'i in the Democraiir JOHN TYLER. i>arty. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef- fersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compli- ments upon him. He had now attained the age of forty-sLx. His career had been very brilliant. In con- sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri- vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; and it was not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan- tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, for the better education of his children; and he again look his seat in the Legislature of Virginia. By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in •839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har- rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa- thy with the Whig party in the Noith: but the Vice President has but very little power in the Govern- ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre- side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a Democratic Vice President were chosen. In 1 84 1, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- lent of the United States. In one short month from that time. President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler thus .;und himself, to his own surprise and that of the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential chair. This was a new test of the staliility of our institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler was at home in Williamsburg when he received the unexpected tidings of the death of President Harri- son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of A^ril was inaugurated to the high and responsible office. He was placed in a position of exceeding delicacy and difficulty. All his long life he had been opposed tc the main principles of the party which had brought him into power. He had ever been a con- sistent, honest man, with an unblemished record. Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or, on the other hand, should he turn against the party which had elected him and select a cabinet in har- n.ony with himself, and which would oppose all those views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub- lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- vited the cabinet which President Hanrison had selected to retain their seats. He reccommended a day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and bless us. The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States. The President, after ten days' delay, returned it witli his veto, He 'suggested, however, that he >vould approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M. Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely touched the pride of the President. The opposition now exultingly received the Presi- dent into their arms. The party which elected him denounced him bitterly. All the members of his cabinet, excejiting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a meeting and issued an address to the people of the United States, proclaiming that all political alliance between the Whigs and President Tyler were at an end. Still the President attempted to conciliate. He appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs and Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra- tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Whigs and Democrais alike assailed him. More and more, however, he brought himself into svmpathy with his old friends, the Democrats, until at the close of his term, he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr. Polk, the Democratic candidate for his successor. On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the harassments of office, tothe regret of neitherparty, and probably to his own unspeakable lelief. His first wife, Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married, at New York, to Miss Julia (lardiner, a young lady of many personal and intellectual accomplishments. The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For- est, Charles city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in his manners, richly furnished with information from books and experience in the world, and" possessing brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle was the scene of unnsual attractions. Witli sufficient means for the exercise of a generous hos|)itality, he might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few friends who gathered around him, were it not for the storms of civil war which his own principles and policy had helped to introduce. When the great Rebellion rose, which the State- rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Ca\- houn had inaugurated, President Tyler renounced his allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- erates He was chosen a member of their Congress; and while engaged in active measures to destroy, by force of arms, Mie Government over which he had once presided, he was taken sick and soon died, ELE l^NTJf PRE^TDENli ' 59 JAMBS M, P®]LM •V- ->._ jPS'f; , ' C 'V v. ' C;.^ '^.i^ . • *'"^>\> '>i^^ ■--^^■" ''^!^'\J^-- ■ "'" iSk. "''^^i^ ■^ § I AMES K. POLK, the eleventh ^kPresident of the United States, ^ was born in Mecklenburg Co., /J N. C, Nov. 2, 1795. His par- ,3, ents were Samuel and Jane (Knox) Polk, the former a son ' of Col. Thomas Polk, who located at the above place, as one of the first pioneers, in 1735. In the year i3o6, with his wife and children, and soon after fol- lowed by most of the members of tlie Polk famly, Samuel Polk emi- grated some two or three hundred miles farther west, to the rich valley of the Duck River. Here in the midst of the wilderness, in a region wiiich was subsequently called Mau- ry Co., they reared tlieir losi huts, and established their homes. In the hard toil of a new farm in the wil- derness, James K. Polk s|)ent the early years of Jiis childhood and youth. His father, adding tlie pur- suit of a surveyor to tliatof a farmer, gradually increased in wealth imtil he l)ecame one of the leading men of the region. His mother was a superior woman, of strong common sense and earnest piety. Ver)' early in life, James developed a taste for reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain a liberal education. His mother's training had made him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- uality and industry, and had ins])ired him with lofty principl(;s of morality. His health was frail ; and his tather, fearing tliat lie niigiit not W able to endure a sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits. This was to James a bitter disapix)intnient. He had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. With ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sopliomorel class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel! Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious service. He graduated in 1818, with the highest honors, be- ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both irj mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- three years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this time much impaired l)y the assiduity with which he had prosecuted his studies. After a short season .of rela,xation he went to Nashville, and entered the office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few miles from Nashville. They had probably been slightly acquainted before. Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Re])ublican, and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same jioliti- cal faith. He was a jwpular ]niblic speaker, and was constantly called upon to address the meetings of his party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that he was jwpularly called the Napoleon of the stump. He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and 6a JAMES K. POLK. courterus in his bearing, and with that sympathetic nature in the joj s and griefs of others which ever gave him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his strong influence towards the election of his friend, iMr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States. In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was altogether worthy of him, — a lady of beauty and cul- ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con- tinue(^ in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair of Tennessee. In Congress he was a laborious men7ber, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was always in his seat, always courteous ; and whenever he spoke it was always to the point, and without any ambitious rhetorical display. During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused, and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr. Polk per- Jormed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was |)assed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of March, 1839. In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was elected by a large majority, and on the 14th of Octo- ber, 1839, took the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, his term of office expired, and he was again the can- didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur- ated President of the United States. The verdict of the countryin favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig- nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the •jd of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and /Jeft the country, declaring the act of the annexation ito be an act hostile to Mexico. In his first message. President Polk urged that Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- ceived into the Union on the same footing with the other States. In the meantime, Gen. Taylor was sent with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, where he erected batteries which commanded the Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on the western banks. The anticipated collision soon took place, and wai was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first called one of "observation," then of "occupation,' then of " in vasion, " was sent forward to Monterey. The feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly ana awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. It v/as by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration that the war was brought on. 'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands. We now consented to peace upon the condition that Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen majestic States to be added to the Union. There were some Americans who thought it all right : there were others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from office, having served one term. The next day was Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the Capitol in the same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, and his health was good. With an ample fortune, a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years of tranquility and happiness were before him. But the cholera — that fearful scourge— was then sweeping up the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, and died on the istli of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen. TWELFTH PRESIDENT. 6} i^_ ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth President of the United States, g'^^was born on the 24tli of Nov., 1784, in Orange Co., Va. His o father. Colonel Taylor, was ') a Virginian of note, and a dis- tinguished patriot and soldier of the Revolution. When Zachary was an infant, his father with his wife and two children, emigrated to Kentucky, where he settled in the pathless wilderness, a few miles from Louisville. \\\ this front- ier home, away from civilization and all its refinements, young Zachary could enjoy but few social and educational advan- tages. When six years of age he attended a common school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of cliar- icter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and iKuiifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight the l.idians who were ravaging the frontiers. There is little to l)e recorded of the uneventful years of his childhood on his father's large but lonely [jlantation. In 1S08, liis father succeeded in obtaining for him the <:onnnis^i()ll of lieutenant in the United States army ; and lie joined ihe troops which were stationed at New Odeans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after thi;: he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady Ironi one of the first families of Maryland. Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng- hind, in 1812, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been |iromoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- ness by Gen. Harrison. on his inarch to Tij)pecanoe. It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, led by Tecuniseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of whom were sick. Early in the autumn of 1812, the Indians, stealthily, and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. Their approach was first indicated by the murder of two soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor made every possible preparation to meet the antici- pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that in the morning their chief would come to have a talk with him. It was evident that their object was merely to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept them at a distance. The sun went down ; the savagps disappeared, the garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips in the forest around, followed by the discharge of musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- ceeded in setting lire to one of the block-houses- Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict continued. The savages then, baffled at every [xjint, and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the rank of major by brevet. Until the close of the war. Major Taylor was placed in such situations that he saw but little more of active service. He was sent far away into the depths of the wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 64 ZACHARY TAYLOR tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of colonel. In the Black-Hawk war, which resulted in the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged in the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and m Employments so obscure, that his name was unknown /beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance. (In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to com])el the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, liac" promised they should do. The services rendered he5e secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated Ic ;he rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon nfter, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com- mand of the United States troops in Florida. After two years of such wearisome employment amidst the everglades of the peninsula. Gen. Taylor ■obtained, at his own request, a change of command, jind was stationed over the Department of the South- >Aest. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters 3tt Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family f.o a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, fnvm the world, but faithfully discharging every duty ■jn\posed upon him. In 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land bclween the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river t>eing the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed "by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico wa.; brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la P'aJma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the Mi;xicans. The rank of major-general by brevet was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and Euena Vista in which he won signal victories over fcrces much larger than he commanded. His careless habits of dress and his unaffected ■simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, x\ie. sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready.' Tlie tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista spread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The H hig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- fu/ po]3ularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un- ■■ ^red, honest soldier as their candidate for the Pi esidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- nouncement, and for a time would not listen to it; de- cl.'iring that he was not at all qualified for such an oftfce. So little interest had he taken in politics that, foi forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen wlio had been long years in the public service found fj.inr claims set aside in behalf of one whose name had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made." Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine writer His friends took posse'ssion of him, and pre- pared such few communications as it was needful should be presented to the public. The popularity of the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, — Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren. Though he selected an excellent cabinet, che good old man found himself in a very uncongenial position, and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party was pushing its claims with tireless energy , expedi- tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found the political conflicts in Washington to be far more trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or Indians In the midst of all these troubles. Gen. Taylor, after he had occupied the Presidential chair but liitle over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of but little over five days, died on the 9th of July, 1850. His last woids were, "I am not afraid to die. I am ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the affections of the people; and the Nation bitterly la- mented his death. Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful description of his character: — " With a good store of common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- quence. The frontiers and small military posts had been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out- side pocket, — in any such case, this critic held the offender to be S, coxcomb (perhaps something worse), whom he would not, to use his oft repeated ])hrase, 'touch with a pair of tongs.' "Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. Inshore few men have ever had a more conifortah'!e, 'a,'>^T. saving contempt for learning of every kind-" '/^,. ./ J^(T^ t^.cnj-' THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 6? ^■MILLflRn FILLMDHE.'^ •^"-^^u-^^'^ A "^V^ itti "-''■''-' itti ^"'-^ rib ^"'^ Wt» ^'-'-^ »<* ^''^-'-tttt "''-•'''-ta* """^^-A ^''"''-iBi '^'-'^■fc'':5'^'^^il ^'!^|fcj>^:<^ ILLARD FILLMORE, thi.-- ^. teenth President of the United ^-' States, was born at Summer Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on the yth of January, i8oo. His ""^^ father was a farmer, and ow- ing to misfortune, in humble cir- cumstances. Of his mother, the daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, "lU of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been said that she [assessed an intellect of very high order, united with much jiersonal loveliness, sweetness of dis- position, graceful manners and ex- quisite sensibilities. She died in 1831 ; having lived to see her son a young man of distinguished prom- ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high dignity whicli he finally attained. In consequence of the secluded home and limited means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slerder ad- •vantages for education in his early year.s. The com- mon schools, ivliic h he occasionally attended were very imperfect uistitutions; and books were scarce and expensive. There was nothing tlien in his char- acter to indicate the brilliant career uiwn which he was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy ; intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, and had laid the foundations of an upright character. When fourteen years of age, lis father sent him some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some enterprising man had commenced the collection of a village library. This proved an inestimable blessing to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate and the selections which he made were continually more elevating and instructive. He read history, biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- kindled in his heart a desire to be something more than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, educated man. The young clothier had now attained the age of nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter Wood, — who was struck with the prepossessing ap- pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint- ance, aTid was so much impressed with his ability and attainments that he advised him to abandon his trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The young man replied, that he had no means of his own, no friends to help him and that his previous educa- tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to take him into his own office, and to loan him such money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous offer was accepted. There is in many minds a strange delusion about! a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- lege. But many a boy loiters through university hal' ■ edition was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr, Fill- more, having served one term, retired. In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, he was mostly silent. It was generally supjxjsed that his sympathies were rather with those who were en- deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874- c. . ^ FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT. 7» jfilrifi •— =r-S S=»- , ^9aS^^^ Mpll^it- ^FRANKLIN PIERCE.-'^ .^1 <=^-S^ife)>''^A,.+,.t..t.*„t.A,.t.,t-.fa.t,.t„.^^^^^ r". RANKLIN PIP:RCK, the lourteenth President of tlie i- L'liited States, was born in Hillsborough, N. H., Nov. 23, 1804. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, who, with his own strong arm, hewed out a home in the wilderness. He was a man of inflexible integrity; of strong, though uncultivated mind, and an uncompromis- ing Democrat. The mother of Franklin Pierce was all that a son could desire, — -an intelligent, pru- dent, affectionate. Christian wom- an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children. Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the love of old and young. The boys on the play ground loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors looked upon him with pride and affection. He was by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words, doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact which taught him what was agreeable. Without de- veloping any i)recocity of genius, or any unnatural devotion to books, he was a good scholar; in body, in mind, in affections, a finely-developed Iwy. When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was one of the most (Xjpular young men in the college. The purity of his moral character, the unvarying courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. There was something very peculiarly winning in his address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- gree studied: it was the simple outgushing of his own magnanimous and loving nature. Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce commenced tlie study of law in the office of Judge Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of the State, and a man of great private worth. The eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant jxjlitical career into which Judge Woodbury was en' tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- nating yet perilous path of political life. With all the ardor of his nature he esixjused the cause of Gen. Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here he served for four yeais. The last two years he was chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. In 18,33, ^^ 'he age of twenty-nine, he was elected a member of Congress. Without taking an active part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom he was associatad. In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, he was elected to the Senate of the United States; taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced his administration. He was the youngest member in the Senate. In the year 1834, he married Miss Jane Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every station with which her husband was honoted, Of the 7* hRANKLIN PIERCE. three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with their parents in the grave. In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States; but the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous professional engagements at home, and the precariuos state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also, about the same time declined the nomination for governor by the Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. He took an important part in this war, proving him- self a brave and true soldier. When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, very frequently taking an active part in political ques- tions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic party. The compromise measures met cordially with his approval ; and he Istrenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- iuous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious sensibilities of the North. He tlius became distin- guished as a "Northern man with Southern principles.'' The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- quently regarded him as a man whom they could safely trust in office to carry out their plans. On the I 2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the Presidency. For four days they continued in session, and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been throv\ n for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation brought forward his name. There were fourteen . more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly gained strength, until, at tlie forty-ninth ballot, he received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pierce was therefore inaugurated President of the United States en the 4th of March, 1853. His administration proved one of the most stormy our country had ever experienced. The controversy be tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its culminating point It became evident that there was an "irrepressible conflict" between them, and that this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution of the Union were borne to the North on every South- ern breeze. Such was the condition of affairs when President Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all the intellectual ability and social worth of President Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- cated those measures of Government which they ap- proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two had died, and his only surviving child had been killed before his eyes by a railroad accident , and his wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left alone in the world, without wife or child. When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until the time of his death, which occurred in October, 1869. He was one of the most genial and social of men, an honored communicant of the Episcopal Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen erous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the al- leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns- people were often gladened by his material bounty. FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT ■ ^m. ►-• y » )> w- BiicfpT^'SAM^ m iim''^'=Si'^'^^'^'^'aS'j';^'i^'^gi'g^'ig>'5."'i' ■' '■ ■' '■ '' ■ '' '■'>'■'■ '■■'< . '■ '■■'> '..'t^t^iJ^t^tsS'tSa^ -s««s ►-» •-4 »>»- ^>, AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- .teenth President of the United States, was born in a small frontier town, at the foot of the eastern ridge of the Allegha- nies, in Franklin Co., Penn.,on the 23d of April, 1791. The place where the humble cabin of his father stood was called Stony ^ Batter. It was a wild and ro- mantic s[X)t in a gorge of the moun- tains, with towering summits rising grandly all around. His father was a native of the north of Ireland ; a poor man, who had emigrated in I 1783, with little property save his own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married F31izabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- form his obscure part in the d-rama of life. In this se- cluded home, where James was born, he remained for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual advantages. When James was eight years of age, his father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where his son was placed at school, and commenced a course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among the first scholars in the institution. His application to study was intense, and yet his nati^'c powers en- abled him to master the most abstnise subjects wi '■ facility. In the year 1809, he graduated with the highes' honors of his clas^. He was then eighteen years of age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand with the ablest law)ers of the State. When but twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- cessfully defended before the State Senate ore of tiie judges of the State, who was tried upon articles u\ impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; anc there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- crative practice. In 1S20, he reluctantly consented to run as » candidate for Congress. He was elected, and foi ten years he remained a member of the Lower House During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally tried some imiwrtant case. In 1831, he retired altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac- ([uired an ample fortune. Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency, appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The duties of his mission he performed with ability, which gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, iti 1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated th.e meas- ures pro|X)sed by President Jackson, of m.-il-'ng repn- 76 JAMES BUCHANAN. sals against France, to enforce the payment of our claims against that country; and defended the course of the President in his unprecedented and wholesale removal from office of those who were not the supporters of his administration. Upon this question he was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. lie also, with voice and vote, ad- vocated expunging fi'oin the journal of the Senate the vote of censure against Gen. Jackson for remov- ing the deposits. Earnestly he opposed the aboli- tion of slavery in the District of Columbia, and xu-ged the prohibition of the circulation of anti- slavery documents by the United States mails. As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he ad- vocated that thej' should be respectfully received; and that the reply should be returned, that Con- gress had no power to legislate upon the subject. "Congress," said he, "might as well undertake to interfere with slavery under a foreign government as in any of the States where it now exists." Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that cross- ing the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed territory was not wrong, but for the Mex- icans to cross tlie Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration of war. No candid man can read with pleasure tlie account of the course our Gov- ernment pursued in tiiat movement. Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with the party devoted to the perpetuation and extension of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his cordial approval to tlie compromise measures of 1850, which included the fugitive slave law. Mr. Pierce, ujjon his election to the Presidency, hon- ored Mr. Buchanan with the mission to England. Iq the j'ear 18.56, a national Democratic conven- tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The political conflict was one of the most severe in which our country has ever engaged. All the friends of slavery were on one side; all the advo- cates of its restriction and final abolition on the other. Mr. Fremont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, received 114 electoral votes. Mr. Bu- chanan received 174, and was elected. The popular vote stood 1,340,618 for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On March 4, 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 3ears were wanting to fill up his three-score j'eais and ten. His own friends, those with whom he had been allied in political principles and action for years, were seeking the destruction of the Gov- ernment, that they might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a nation whose corner-stQue should be human slavery. In this emergency, Mr. Bu- chanan was hopelessly bewildered. He could not, with his long-avowed principles, consistently o|> pose the State-rights party in their assumptions. As President of the United States, bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws, he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, >inite with those endeavoring to overthrow. the Republic. He therefore did nothing. The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration nominated Abraham Lincoln as their stsmdard- bearer in the next Presidential canvass. The pro- slavery party declared that if he were elected and the control of the Government were thus taken from their hands they would secede from the Union, tak- ing with them as they retired the National Capi- tol at Washington and the lion's share of the ter- ritory of the United States. As the storm increased in violence, the slave- holders, claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Bu- chanan avowing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental imbecility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He declared that Congress had no power to enforce its laws in any State which had withdrawn, or which was attempting to withdraw, from the Union. This was not the doctrine of An- drew Jackson, when, with his hand upon his sword- hilt, he exclaimed. "The Union must and shall be preserved!" South Carolina seceded in December, I860, nearly three months before the inauguration of President Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless de- spair. The rebel flag was raised in Charleston; Ft. Sumter was besieged; our forts, nav3r-}-ards and arsenals were seized; our depots of military stores were plundered; and our custom-houses and post- offices were appropriated by the rebels. The energy of the rebels and the imbecility of our Executive were alike marvelous. The nation looked on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away and close the administration, so ter- rible in its weakness. At length the long-looked- for hour of deliverance came, when Abraham Lin- coln was to receive the scepter. The administration of President Buchanan was certainly the most calamitous our country lias ex- perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame, that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's banner should triumph over the flag of the Rebellion. He died at his Wheatland re- treat, June 1, 1868. fi :/2--. ' '-> c^^ C^ ' <2-^-^^ e. '^^:-^-z^ SIXTEE.VTII PRES/DEN-T. -" ' ABRAHAM > ^^>^^€& < LINCOLN. > J w F5RAHAM LINCOLN, the §\ sixteenth President of the i®United States, was born in Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12, i8og. About the year 1780, a CJ^ man by the name of Abraham '^ Lincohi left Virginia with his family and moved into tlie then wilds of Kentucky. Only two years after this emigration, still a young man, while working one day in a field, was stealthily approached by an Indian and shot dead. His widow was left in extreme poverty with five little children, three boys and two girls. Thomas, the youngest of the boys, was four years of age at his father's death. Tliis Tliomas was the father of Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States w hone name must henceforth fo-'ever be enrolled with the most prominent in the annals of our world. Of course no record has been kept of the life of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among the poorest of the [)oor. His home was a wretched log -cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. Education he had none; he could never either read or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend- .ess, wandering boy, seeking work. He iiired him- self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a /.il)orer in the fields of others. When twenty-eight years of age he buili a log- labin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their second child was Aljraham Lincoln, the subject of this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. '"AH that I am, or hope to be," e.xclaims the grate- ful son " I owe to my angel-niother. When he was eight years of age, his father sold his cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana Whc;- two years later his mother died. Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated community around him. He could not liave had a better school than this to teach him to put thought? into words. He also became an eager reader. The books he could obtain were few ; but these he ead and re-read until they were almost committ? I ic memory. As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly fanvilj was the usual lot of humanity. Thi"re were joys aid griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sistt \ Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was niai ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, anc soon died. The family was gradually scattered. M"- Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim -n 1830 and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age., With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this until he saw the family comfortably settled, and theii small lot of enclosed prairie pl.inted with corn, wl en he announced to his father his intention to leave home, and to go out into tlie world and seek his for- tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value o! education and was intensely earnest to improve his mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin which ardent spirits were causing, and became strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in God's word, "Thou shall not take the name of ths Lord thy God in ''.,..;" and a profane expression he was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His morals were pure, and he was uncontaminatcd by a single vice. Voung Abraham woiked for a time as a hired labor© among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield where he was emijloyed in building a large flat-boat In this he took a herd of swine, floated them dowi the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mia sissippi to New Orleans. A\'hatevor Aliraham Lii coin undertook, he performed so faithfully as to giv, great satisfacticn to his employers, in this adven 8o ABRAHAM LINCOLN. ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon his return tiiey placed a store and mill under his care. In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew Jackson the appointmentof Postmaster of New Salem, His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he received he carried there ready to deliver to those he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon made this his business. In 1834 he again became a candidate for the Legislature, and was elected. Mr. Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. His success with the jury was so great that he was 20on engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question. In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, in 1856; he took an active part, and at once became one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most notable part of his history. The issue was on the ilavery question, and he took the broad ground of .he Declaration of Independence, that all men are created e(iual. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- test, but won a far higher prize. The great Republican Convention met at Chicago on the i6th of June, i860. The delegates and strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- five thousand. An immense building called "The Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most orominent. It was generally supposed he would be the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him: And as little did he dream that he was to vender services to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of the whole <;ivilized world, and which would give him a place in the affections of his countrymen, second cnly, if second, to that of ^Vashington. Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, constitutionally elected President of the United States. The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this good and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was greater than upon any other man ever elected to this high position. In February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started for Washington, stopimig in all the large cities on his way making speeches. The whole journey was frought with much danger. Many of theSoutliern States had already seceded, and several attempts at assassination were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- more had arranged, ujx>n his arrival to" get up a row," and in the confusion to make sure of his death with revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled the plot. A secret and special train was p"ovided to take him from Harrisburg, through Baltimrfe, at an unexpected hour of the night. The train s'ntted at half-past ten ; and to prevent any possible communi- cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con- federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train hac. started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated, although great an.xiety was felt by all loyal people In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave to Mr Seward the Department of State, and to other prominent opponents before the convention he gave imiOTrtant positions. During no other administration have the duties devolving upon the President been so manifold, and the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his trials, bo'h personal and national. Contrary to his own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the most courageous of men. He went directly into the rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he had left Springfield, in i86r, however, plans had been made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim to one of them. April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It was announced that they would Le present. Gen. Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- ing, wiili his characteristic kindliness of heart, that it would lie a disappointment if he should fail them, very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth entered the box where the President and family were seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the next morning at seven o'clock. Never before, in the history of the world was a nation plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler. Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a model. His name as the savior of his country will live with that of Washington's, its father; hisc^-^ntry- roer. being unable to decide whii h is ti'e ereatet. J <^^<^:2^{f-:>^ SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT. ymw ji NDREW JOHNSON, seven- teenth President of the United Slates. The early life of Andrew Johnson contains but the record of poverty, destitu- tion and friendlessness. He ^[y was born December 29, 1808, in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, belonging to the class of the "poor whites " of the South, were Y ; I y 'i in such circumstances, that they "' y could not confer ::vei\ the slight- '■*' est advantages of education upon their child. When Andrew was five years of age, his father accidentally lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a friend from drowning. 'Jnvil ten years of age, Andrew was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by the labor of his mother, who obtained her living with her own hands. He then, having never attended a school one day, and being unable either to read or write, was ap- prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often read from the speeches of distinguished British states- men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more than ordinary native ability, became much interested in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. He accordingly applied himself to tlie alphabet, and with tlie assistance of some of his fellow- workmen, learned his letters. He then called Ujxin the gentle- man to borrow the book of si)eeches. The owner, pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the booK. but assisted him in learning to combine the letters into words. Under such difficulties he pressed oi. ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest and recreation to devote such time as he could to reading. He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at Greenville, where he married a young lady who pus sessed some education. Under her instructions he learned to write and cipher. He became prominent in the village debating society, and a favorite witk the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- ganized a working man's party, which elected him alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which position he held three years. He now began to take a lively interest in political affairs ; identifying himself with the working-classes, to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. He became a very active member of the legislature gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to thosv of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased his reputation. In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he was elected a member of Congress, and by successive elections, held that important post for ten years. In, 1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and' was re-elected in 1855. In all these resiwnsible |X)si- tioT«, he discharged his duties with distinguished abi. 84 ANDREW JOHNSON. ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected United States Senator. Years before, in 1S45, he had warmly advocated the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, and become merged in a population congenial to themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- promise measures, the two essential features of which were, that the white people of the Territories should De permitted to decide for themselves whether they would enslave the colored people or not, and that the *'rec States of the North should return to the South persons who attempted to escape from slavery. Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly origin: on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- ior was the son of a carpenter." In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of i8uo, ne .ivas the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the "Presidency. In 186 1, when the purpose of the South- am Democracy became apparent, he took a decided stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he established the most stringent military rule. His numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 18-65, became President. In a speech two days later he said, " The American people must be taught, if fhey do not already feel, that treason is a crime and must be cutiished ; that the Government will not always beai with its enemies ; that it is strong not only to protect, but to punish. * * The people must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole administration, the history of which is so well known, was in utter inconsistency with, and the most violent op]X)sition to, the principles laid down in that speech. In his loose policy of reconstruction and general amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char- acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In the beginnirig of 1868, on account of "high crimes and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three months. A test article of the impeachment was at length submitted to the court for its action. It was certain that as the court voted upon that article so would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against him. The change of one vote from the not guilty side would have sustained the impeachment. The President, for the remainder of his term, was but little regarded. He continued, though impotently, his conflict with Congress. His own party did not think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- alleled since the days of Washington, around the name of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con- gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-President made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was apparently in his usual vigorous healtli, but on reach- ing the residence of his child the following day, was stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 2 A.M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, with every demonstration of respect. ErGrfTEENTH PRESIDENT. LYSSES S. GRANT, the |J) eighteenth President of the ^> United States, was born on the 29th of April, 1822, of Christian parents, in a humble ''iS^ti^vV^J:/; home, at Point Pleasant, on the banks of the Ohio. Shortly after his father moved to George- town, Brown Co., O. In this re- mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses received a common-school edu- cation. At the age of seven- teen, in the year 1839, he entered the Military Academy at West Point. Here he was regarded as a solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank as a scholar. In June, 1S43, he graduated, about the middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- fantry to one of the distant military posts in the Mis- scuri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating Indians. The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at Resaca de la Palma, his second battle. At the battle of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that ne performed a signal service of daring and skillful horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- munition. .\ messenger must be sent for more, along a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging u|X)n one side of the anin»i>l, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- pultepec. At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- turned with his regiment to New York, and was again sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The discovery of gold in California causing an immense tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. Grant resigned his commission and returned to the States; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- lena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — "Uncle Sam has educated me for the army: though I have served him through one war, I do not feel that I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready todis«:harge my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my iword and see Uncle Sam through this war too." He went into the streets, raised a cempany of vol- unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, the capital of the State, where their services were offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt. ; Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the^ volunteer organization that was being formed in the State in behalf of the Government. On the ic*'' oj •38 UL YSSES S. GHA NT. June, 1 86 1, Capt. Grant received a commission as Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who had served for 15 years in the regular array, were such that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- (General and was placed in command at Cairo. The irebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and stripes were unfurled in its stead. He entered the service with great determination and immediately began active duty. This was the be- ginning, and until the surrenderor Lee at Richmond he was ever pushing tlie enemy with great vigor and effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was immediately made a Major-General, and the military district of Tennessee was assigned to him. Like all great captains. Gen. Grant knew well how to secure the results of victory. He immediately pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the •lerrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid i»f Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas- ures put tlie Union Army in fighting condition. Then followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels were routed with great loss. This won for him un- bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials and enter upon th*" duties of his new office Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of ihe army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains were burdened with closely packed thousands. His plans were comprehensive and involved a series of campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- render of Lee, April 9, 1865. The war was ended. The Union was saved. The almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its saU vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered the country brought him conspicuously forward as the Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. At the Republican Convention held at Chicago. May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the Presidency, and at the autumn election received a majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 electoral votes. The National Convention of the Republican party which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 electoral votes being cast for him. Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant started upon his famous trip around the world. He visited almost every country of the civilized world, and was everywhere received with such ovations and demonstrations of respect and honor, iiiiv.ite as well as public and official, as were never before bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. He was the most prominent candidate before the Re])ublican National Convention in 1880 for a re- nomination for President. He went to New York and embarked in the brokerage business under the firm nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to the, penitentiary. The General was attacked with cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as General of the Army and retired by Congress. The cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of the illustrious General. 6.^-^o-'^' , L <^-v^ -y^^j NINETEENTH PRESIDENT. 91 RUTHERF©MD Be H^aY^SS. UTHERFORD B. HAYES, the nineteenth President of the United States, was born in Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- most three months after the death of his father, Rutherford Hayes. His ancestry on both the paternal and maternal sides, was of the most honorable char- acter. It can be traced, it is said, as far back as 1280, when Hayes and Rutherford were two Scottish chief- tains, fighting side by side with Baliol, William Wallace and Robert Bruce. Both families belonged to the nobility, owned extensive estates, and had a large following. Misfor- :ane cvtf