PERSONAL MEMORIES SOCIAL, POLITICAL. AND LITERARY Sketches of Many Noted People 1803-1843 E, D. MANSFIELD, LLD Author of "American Education," " Legal Rights of Women,' " Life of Daniet Drake," etc, etc. CINCINNATI ROBERT CLARKE & CO 1879 Copyrighted : E. D. MANSFIELD. 1S79. PREFACE. I HAD no snch vanity as would have induced the publication of this book. It was urged upon me by others. Several years ago a number of gentlemen iu Cincinnati sent me a written request to publish my reminiscences; After that my children made the same request. ISTot liking personal publicity, I paid, at first, little attention to the subject. Subsequently I began writing my memories in a series of letters to my children. In this form they had more of person ality and of personal address than perhaps a printed book should have, but the reader will no doubt make allowance for that. One reason for my publishing these personal remi niscences is, that I remembered I was always inter ested, and I think others have been also, iu this kind of narrative. Human nature is always interested in itself, and each individual looks with curiosity on the progress of others in the journey'of life. This com mon interest in each other is my best reaspn for this publication, a small contribution to th.e history of hu man nature. It will satisfy the curiosity of some, inform others upon the social events of my time, and record some portion.9 of unwritten history now almost iv Preface. forgotten, and which would otherwise remaiu un known. One other thing ought to be mentioned. Many persons of whom I might be expected to speak arc not named, and of the large commercial class, among whom I had many friends, little is said. For this, I think, there are sufficient reasons. First, the period to which I limited myself— 1803 to 1841 — excluded most of them; and secondly, while I was so limited, I excluded, as far as possible, the living. If I should be encouraged by tlie public, or my strength will per mit, I may add a second volume, which would bring the memories of my time through the "War ofthe Re bellion. Such a thing would be pleasing to mj'self ; but, like all human events, is in the hands of Divine Providence, which ordereth alt things right, and to which we should submit with patient and humble resignation. E. D. M. Yamoyden, March, 1879. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. My Father — Appointed Surveyor-General by Jefferson — Marietta in 1803 — Society — Madame Blennerhasset^ — Her Lament — Pioneer Survey of Indiana — Wild Animals of Ohio — Preva lence of Intemperance and Infidelity :...1-17 CHAPTER II Voyage down the Ohio — The "Ark" — "Keelboat" — Arrival at Cincinnati — General Findley — Fort Washington — Indian Lookout — Ludlow Station — Little Turtle; his Appearance, Character, and Death — Israel Ludlow — Sarah Bella Ludlow — John Mansfield 18-30 CHAPTER IIL First Observatory at Ludlow Station — Public Surveys — Society in the Country — War of 1812 — Volun teer Companies — Captain Mansfield — General Totten — Traveling in 1809 — First View of a Steamboat — Log School House— The Hunters — Earthquakes of 1812 31-47 CHAPTER IV. Journey to the East — The Wagoners — The Women of Stoning ton — Capture of the Macedonian — New Haven — Bishop — Dr. Dwight — Noah Webster — Captain Powell — Libraries — My Studies — West Point — No Text-Books — Cheshire Teaching — Governor Foote 48-63 CHAPTER V. West Point — Its Organization — Its Professors — Want of Text- Books— Cadet Life— Oral Teachings— Scenery and Memor ials 64^77 (V) vi Contents. CHAPTER VI. Go to a Connecticut Academy— Farmington— New England So ciety—Young People's Party— Timothy Pitkin— Missouri Compromise — Effect in Connecticut— Return to West Po)|nt — Classic Studies— Mr. Picton 78-91 CHAPTER VIL Princeton— College Life— Professors — Lindsley — Greene — Miller — Alexander — Hodge — My Classmates — .Senator Pearce — Pro fessor Dod; Richardson — The Philosophy of ideas; Wither spoon— Chesterfield 92-103 CHAPTER VIIL Again at West Point — Reading, History, and International Law — A Party — Distinguished Visitor.s — De Witt Clinton — Dr. Mitchell — Eliza Leslie — Mrs. Emma Willard — Percival the Poet — Female Education — Sally Pierce — Nathaniel Carter — Colonel Stone — Percival at Midnight 104^121 CHAPTER IX. Litchfield — Law School — Noted Men — Judge Reeve — Judge Gould^Anecdotes — Uriah Traoey^John Pierpoint — The Wol cotts — The Demings — Col. Tallmadge — Talk with Governor Wolcott — Connecticut Politics — The Seymours — Dr. Sheldon — Mode of Life — Dr. Beecher 122-140 CHAPTER X. Return to Cincinnati — Voyage Down the Ohio— Judge Baldwin —Judge Torrence— My Case— Nicholas Longworth — Martin Baum — Peyton Symmes — Dr. Wilson— Father Burke Churches in Cincinnati— Bishop Fenwick— Aydelotte — John son—Jacob Burnet, his Useful Life— David K. Este— Nathan iel Wright— Gazley— William Lytle— Robert Lytle 141-166 CHAPTER XI. Dr. Daniel Drake, his Genius and Character— Dr. Goforth— Cin cinnati in 1805— Medical Practice; Drake founds the Ohio Medical College ; is turned out by his Colleagues ; " Horace in Cincinnati; " Drake's Monody on the Death of his Wife— Contents. ^n Moses Dawson— Charles Hammond, Editor and Lawyer- States Rights in Ohio — Literary Institutions— Hiram Powers Poets — W. D. Gallagher 107-184 CHAPTER XIL Society in Cincinnati — Parties — Theaters — Actors — Prevalent Diseases — Taking the Census — Mechanics — Strange Imposition —General Koss 185-201 CHAPTER XIII. The Presidency — Candidates in 1824 — John Quincy Adams — Clay's Vote for Adams — Speech at Mack's Tavern — Henry Clay and his Character 202-218 CHAPTER XIV. Thomas Corwin ; his Genius', Career, Eloquence, and Character — Jackson; his Canvass for the Presidency — " Truth's Advocate" — Burr and Jackson 219-235 CHAPTER XV. Nullification — Calhoun's Theory — Hamilton's Speech — South Carolina Volunteers — Curious Incidents in South Carolina — Webster's Speech — Jackson's Position — The Proclamation — The Tariff — The Compromise — Failure of Oratory — Success of the Eepublic .236-253 CHAPTER XVI. The Cholera — Its Advent, Progress, and Mortality — Dr. Drake's Literary Parties — General King^Mrs. King (Mrs. Peters) — • Catharine Beecher — Harriet Beecher (Mrs. Stowe) — Professor Stowe — Judge Hall — Mrs. CaroUne Hentze — College of Teach ers — Albert Pickett — Joshua Wilson — Alexander Kinmont — James Perkins — Dr. Beecher — Alexander Campbell — Thomas L. Grimke 254-276 CHAPTER XVII. Ormsby Mitchell — The Political Grammar— Dr. Lyman Beecher —John Quincy Adams— Abolition— Right of Petition— Bank of the United States — Eemoval of the Deposits— Storer and Lytle— Cincinnati College— Dr. MoGuffey— Charles Telford-- Cincinnati Chronicle— Benjamin Drake— Myself. 277-295 viii Contents. CHAPTER XVIII. Southern Eailroad — My Article and Speech — Public Meeting in Cincinnati — Drake — J. S. Williams — Judge Hall — General Harrison — Knoxville Convention — Ohio Delegates — Scenery on tho Tennessee Eiver — Cincinnati Mob — Court-house Meet ing — Commercial Crisis of 1837 — First Observatory at Ludlow Station— Mitchell's Observatory 296-310 CHAPTEE XIX. Political Campaign of 1840 — Van Buren^— Washington Scandal — Break between Calhoun and Jackson — Van Buren's Success — Nomination of Harrison — Log Cabins and Hard Cider — Glee Songs — Defeat of Van Buren — Salt Eiver — Lamenta tions , 311-328 CHAPTER XX. The Newspaper Press— Its Origin, Character, and Purposes — The English Press— Public Writers — The " Morning Chronicle " — Fox and Sheridan — "Public Advertiser" — Junius — The American Press — Freneau — Duane — Ritchie — Robert Walsh " Evening Post" — Coleman — " National Intelligencer " — Gales — "New York Times" — Henry J. Raymond — Horace Greeley and Socialism— What should be the Tone and Character of a Newspaper 329-348 PERSONAL MEMORIES. By E. D. MANSFIELD. M'y Father — Appointed Surveyor- Oeneral by Jefferson — Marietta in 1803 — Society — Madam. Blennerhnsset — Her Lament — Pio7ieer Survey of Indiana — Wild Ani mals of Ohio — Prevalence of Intemperance and Infi delity.The reader of "Personal Memories" must desire to know something of the writer, and of his qualifica tions to interest the public. My father's family came from Exeter, in England, landed at Boston in 1634, and were among the first settlers in New Ilaven, in 1639. They were upright, intelligent people, who, with their descendants, have continued from that time to this — a period of tvvo hundred and forty years — without reproach; always in respectable situations, and some of them in public life. My father, Jared Mansfield, was, all his life, a teacher, a professor, and a man of science. He began his life as a teacher in New Ilaven, where he taught a mathematical school, and afterward taught at the "Friends' Academy," in Philadephia, where he was during the great yellow-fever season, and went from there to West Point, where he taught in the Military Academy, in 1802-3 and iu 1814-28. In the mean- Personal Memories. time, however, he was nine years in the State of Ohio, holding the position of Survej'or-General of the United States. The manner of his appointment, and the work he performed, will illustrate his character and introduce a small, but interesting chapter of events. While teaching, at New Haven, he had several pu pils who afterward became famous, or rather distin guished men. Two of these were Abraham and Henry Baldwin. The first was afterward United States Senator from Georgia, and the second. Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. These boys, as may be inferred, had decided talents, but were full of mischief. One day they played a bad trick upon my father, their teacher, aud he whipped them very severely. Their father complained, and the case came before a magistrate ; but my father was acquitted. It maybe thought that the boys would have become my father's enemies. Not so; they were of a generous temperament, and knew their conduct had been wrong; this they acknowledged, and they became ray father's fast friends. Judge Henry Baldwin told me that nothing had ever done him so much good as that whipping; and the brothers were warm iu their friendship to my father, both in word and act. While teaching, in New Haven, he published a book entitled "Essays on Mathematics." It was an original work, and but a few copies were sold ; for there were but few men in the country who could understand it. The book, however, established his reputation as a man of science, and greatly influenced his after life. Abraham Baldwin was, at that time, Senator from Georgia, and brought this book to the Personal Memories. notice of Mr. Jefferson, who was fond of science and scientific men. The consequence was, that my father became a captain of engineers, appointed by Mr. - Jefferson, with a view to his becoming one of the pro fessors at the West Point Military Academy, then es tablished by law. Accordingly, he and Captain Bar ron, also of the engineers, were ordered to West Point, and became the first teachers of the West Point cadets in 1802. He was there about a year, when he received a new appointment, to a new and more arduous field in the West. Mr. Jefferson had been but a short time in office, when he became annoyed by the fact that the public surveys were going wrong, for the want of establish ing meridian lines; for the accuracy of the surveys depended upon establishing meridian lines with base lines at right angles to them. The surveyors of that time, including General Rufus Putnam, then Sur veyor-General, could not do this. Mr. Jefierson wanted a man who could perform this work well, necessarily, therefore, a scientific man. This came to the ears of Mr. Baldwin, who strongly recommended my father, as being, in fact, the most scientific man of the country. My father did not quite like the idea of such a work, for he was a scholar and mathematician, fond of a quiet and redred life. He foresaw, clearly, that going to Ohio, then a fron tier State, largely inhabited by Indians and wolves, to engage in public business involving large responsibili ties, would 4iecessarily give him more or less of trou ble and vexation. He was, however, induced to go, under conditions which, I think, were never granted to any other officer. It was agreed that while he was Personal Memories. engaged in the public service in the West, his com mission in the engineer corps should go on, and he be entitled to promotion, although he received but one salary, that of Surveyor-General. In accordance with this agreement, he received two promotions while in Ohio, and his professorshij) at West Point was (on the recommendation of President Madison), subse quently, by law, conformed to the agreement, with the rank and emoluments of lieutenant-colonel. I mention this, to shopal prol'essor at West Point, received letters of introduction brought by cadets from all parts of the countiy. Their parents or friends also came to the Point quite often to see the young men. New York was near, and the distin guished raeu there also frequently A'isitcd this place. Mauy public characters came there, and most ofthem found their Avay at sorae tirae to our house. My raother was a fine talker, ancl hospitable, so mauy of these persons used to call at our house and talk vvith her, and occasionally she gave an CA-ening party. Thus I came to see and know something of many raen and women who carae to be distinguished in the country, aud some of whom were in themselves very interesting people. I was afterward, between 1822 and 1825, often at home, seeing and enjoying much of this kind of societv'. Without referring to a par ticular date or occasion, I Avill here briefly describe some of these persons. Many of thera are alraost forgotten novv, but they were marked persons at that time. First among these was Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, whora I saw one evening in a party at our house, and who was really a remarkable raan, though, for some peculiar ities, often laug^lied at. He was, at one time. United States Senator frora New York, but that was the least of his distinctions. He was chiefly known as a naturalist (being a pioneer, in this country, of that department of learning), and was in fact a learned raan. He was very fond of natural history, and taught the 108 Personal Memories. public raind raany things which uow seera very sim ple. There vvas quite a controversy in the newspa pers because Mitchell said, in sorae statement, that a whale was not a fish. The pubUc took it for granted that anything which swam in water was a fish. A whale is no more a fish than a bird. The whale belongs to the class of mararaalia. It was on account of sorae of his natural-history peculiarities, aud other what are called " notions," that the Avags, often very ignorant of such things, made fun of him. He in sisted upon calling the United States "Fredonia," be cause "Columbia" was wrong. Columbus did not discover the United States, and "States" did not mean anything; but Fredonia would signify the land of freedom. Sorae wit, in reference to these pecu liarities, wrote a bagatelle, in Avhich was this: " Of all the birds and fishes rarest, Fredonian Mitchell is the queerest. Dr. Mitchell Avas a large, portly man, full of conver sation ; aud, as I reraeraber, on that evening very complimentary to the ladies. Another man, whom the world will not forget so soon Avas Db Witt Clinton. He was occasionally at West Point; and no mau of that period is, or ought to be, better reraerabered. For twenty years De Witt Clinton was the bright particular star on the hori zon of New York politics, whose light also extended to other aud remote parts of this countiy. Clinton had the honor of doing one great thing, and that is what nine- tenths even of the greatest statesmen can not say. In England and this countiy raen have risen to the highest places, and have beeu regarded as great statesraen, without having accoraplished even oue Personal Memories. 109 great original work. They have risen by force of talent, or opportunity, or achievements in war; but not by having suggested or done a single really great thing. Of all our presidents, an examination vvill show that three only, Washingiton, Jefferson, and Lincoln, actually did, iu and of themselves person aUy, an original work. De Witt Clinton had as much talent as either of them, and more cultivation. He was much better educated than Washington or Lincoln, and was quite as good a writer as Jefferson. As a literary jjroduction, his oration at the anniversary of Union College, N. Y., is equal to anything produced by our public raen, unless it is some of the addresses of John Quincy Adams. De Witt Clinton was in person remarkably hand some and dignified. He was portly, with a ruddy complexion and high forehead. His address was po lite and pleasant, vvithout inviting to any familiarity. He appeared to a mere bystander rather stiff"; but not enough so to be haughty and uncourteous. In fact his dignified manner, as compared vvith the frank, bluff" address of many public men, was used against hira by the pety politicians of the day. The one great thing, which I said Clinton did, was the Erie Canal. That was carried through by his talent and popularity. He always had a band of choice friends around hira, but the current of the public miud, and es pecially of the party which afterward became domi nant under the lead of Van Buren, Avas against him. They represented the enterprise as a " big ditch," to float mud-scows. It was the turning point in regard to the present enterprise and improvement of this country. If the construction ofthe Erie canal had been delayed 110 Personal 3]cmories. for several years, the physical improvement of the Avliole county Avould have l>een delayed as much. A canal, howcA'er great and hoAvever important it is at this day, was not, iu itself, of so great magnitude; but it Avas the initial step in those vast iraprovements which the countiy has since raade. At the head of this great enterprise, aud at the head of all the states raen who have since promoted the improvement of the country, stopd De Witt Clinton, and I may add, he Avas the head of the really Araerican statesraen. The only raan who could compete with hira on the sarae level of ideas and sentiraents was Henry Clay. Three years after this I had an opportunity of seeing those statesraen together. Ohio adopted the policy of Clin ton, and raade her own great canal. In July, 1825, the first ground for the Ohio canal was broken, near Middletown, by Governor Morrow and De Witt Clin ton. A few days after Mr. Clay was detained at Leba non by-the sickness of his child, ancl Mr. Clinton also arrived. My friend. Dr. Drake, and I traveling with him, Avere there also. A dinner Avas given to the dis tinguished strangers-by the people of Lebanon, when I saw three raen, really great in their day. I was not much struck by anything said or done, but I re member the difi'erent impressions made upon ra-e and Dr. Drake by these very different men. Dr. Drake, hiraself an impulsive Western mau, preferred Mr. Clay, especially for his ready address, his oft'-hand manner, his dash, and force. Mr. Clinton, he thought heavy, ou account of his slow and dignified address. There Avas, in fact, however, little comparison to be made between the two men. After alloAving for all the irapulse, and eloquence, and pleasant address of Personal 31cmnrics. Ill Mr. Clay, he fell far short of the high culture, the well-armed and vigorous raind of De Witt Clinton. A finished education and the culture of letters may not make a great man, but the want of thera will leave the finest intellect in the world defective and deficient. In three years, Mr. Clinton, in apparently the vigor of life, had passed from the stage of human action. He was not a mere comet, suddenly flashiuir, dazzling, and disappearing; nor vvas he a fixed star, but rather a planet, Avhicb, for some unknown reason, left our system before its career AA'as finished. I turn now to another person, Avho Avas the very opposite of Clinton. This was Eliza Leslie, a wo man with but comraon education, and occupying no public station. Miss Leslie was, nevertheless, a very interesting person. She vvas often at our house, and I vvould sit ancl listen, vvith pleased interest, to the conversation between her and my mother. Both vvere the best of talkers, and their strong rainda never wanted a subject to discuss. Miss Leslie's mind was not very broad, and her chief topics were those relating to society, manners, customs, ways of doing, dress, and character. In these she took great interest, and she was mistress of the subject. She moved in the best society of Philadelphia, and had strong social tastes. She wrote a series of storie.s, ofwhich, " Mrs. Washington Potts" was the principal, and which, at the time, were very popular. I thought they had merit. Her talk and her stories were exactly alike, showing great knowledge of society, and flowing on, in a clear aud animated style. Eliza Leslie is now best known as the author of a " Cook-Book," which I imagine must have beeu very successful, as it has kept 112 Personal Memories. the stage for raany years. Toward the close of her life, she undertook to write the life of John Fitch, the 8Uf)posed steamboat inventor, but the book Avas never published. There was a curious piece of history about this. Neither Fitch nor Fulton was the originator of steamboats. David Rurasey, a native of Virginia, Avas the first who launched a steamboat, and that was on the waters of the Potomac, about the year 1787. Mr. James, of Chillicothe, told me he was acquainted with this fact. Sorae five or six years after that John Fitch put a steamboat ou the Delaware, at Philadel phia, and succeeded, and my father saw his boat mov ing. But neither Rurasey nor Fitch succeeded in the practical part of raaking such a boat as would be profitable. This honor was reserved for Robert Ful ton. So, Fitch, being neither the original, nor the suc cessful one, in this undertaking, could not be lauded as the author of the stearaboat. Perhaps, for this reason, she gave up the undertaking. She was of rather a reraarkable family. Charles Leslie, the great painter, vvas her brother; General Leslie, who recently died in New York, was another, and one of her sis ters married one of the Careys, so long distinguished as book publishers. I will now introduce you to another lady, whom the world has not forgotten, who liA'es in the raeraory of thousands of women, and who, perhaps, will be re membered as long as any woman of her time. This vvas Mrs. Emma Willard. History may preserve royal names, aud the poetry of Mrs. Hemans may live, but none of them could have impressed their powers and minds on so raany thousands as the founder of Troy Seminaiy; the educator of thous- Personal Memories. 113 ands of Avomen, aud the author of those iniraitable stanzas : " Rocked in the cradle of the deep." Emma Hart, which was her maiden name, was born in Berlin, Connecticut. She married Doctor Willard, of Vermont, who was a man of strong sense, and though with none of the flashing spirit of his wife, seems not to have impeded but rather aided and encouraged her in her plans for female education, for it was in her married life in Vermont that sha began to form these plans for a higher and better culture for woraen. Subsequently she removed to Albany, New York, laid her plans before the legis lature and the people, and succeeded in getting aid from the people of Troy, so that in a short time she established that great seminaiy for girls, which con tinued half a ceutury, and was the model on which similar institutions have been built. But in saying this, I mtist also do justice to another person AA'hora I know, and who preceded Mrs. Willard in what is called a female school proper. This Avas Miss Sally Pierce, of Litchfield, Connecticut. It must not be supposed that Mrs. Willard was the first person to set up a female school, any more than we are to suppose our grandmothers were without education. Somehow, ancl in some way, they got an education suitable to ladies in their generation. Where the celebrated Mrs. Goodrich got her education I do not knoAv, but certain it is that she and others, like the Edwards and Dwights, would shine in any circle of ladies at this clay. At that time, however, the education airaed at was not to advance the mind in higher cultures so much as to shine in society. In New England of that day no 114 Personal Memories.- useful art in housekeeping was likely to be neglected; but, between these useful arts, and that of shining ad dress, there seems to have been little or none of that solid intellectual education which is given now. The idea of highest female education seems to have been that of address aud refinement. It may be iUustrated by an anecdote told of the eccentric Judge Brecken ridge, of Pittsburg. It is said that, attending court in one of the mountain counties of Pennsylvania, he noticed a handsome, well-formed girl, who proved to be the daughter of the landlord, who took his horse, watered him, aud in returning jumped over a five- barred gate. He was so struck by the girl that he determined, other things being inquired into, to make her his wife. But to do this it was neccessary to have her educated, that the native diamond might be polished into form and brilliancy. So he took her to a lady in Philadelphia, renowned for her fashionable education of girls. He stated his object, and the lady said : " What will you have her taught?" " Madame, ' Dress and address.' " " Sir, it shall be done." And it waa done. The lady became an elegant and accomplished woraan. That was undoubtedly the common idea of the day, when anything was meant beyond the com mon elements of education. There were, however, long before Mrs. Willard's time, schools in which young women were educated to perform well all the useful, practical duties of life. One of these was, as I have said, that of Miss SaUy Pierce, of Litchfield, Con necticut, which was in the full tide of success when I entered the law school in 1823. It had then, I think, been in existence for more than twenty years. I men tion this because eminent as were the services of Mrs. Personal Memories. 115 WiUard in this course of education, it would be wrong to suppose that she alone inaugurated the system of more advanced feinale education. Mrs. Willard was an intimate friend of my mother, and a teacher of her daughter. Hence she was often at our home, and I saw much of her. She was a woman of genius, hand some, dignified, and commanding iu presence, of most genial and pleasant manners, quick aud ready in con versation, and, in one word, attractive in society, and amiable in conduct. I said she was a woman of genius, ancl that is a very rare quality. She wrote on various subjects, and wrote well. Besides essays on feraale education, and the hymn " Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep," she wrote a medical disquisition on the cholera, which she sent to rae. It contained the raost novel rnd ingenious ideas, but passed for little with the medical fraternity. Among other traits of her character, she Avas fond of humor, and was a good teller of anecdotes. I Avill relate two or three little stories which I heard from her. " There was au old clergyman living nc«ar her place, quite reraarkable for eccentric ideas and sayings. Among other things he was very literal in his Avay of applying ideas. On one occasion, imraediately after the election of Jeff'erson, he being a Federalist, and a detester of Jeff'erson, was, as in duty bound, praying for the president, when he said: 'And now, Lord, bless thy servant Jefferson, for. Lord, thou knowest he needs it.' Among other curious ways, he was in the habit of asking a blessing on each particular thing on the table. At breakfast there was some bear meat (bears being then common in Vermont, and he abhorring it), when he prayed : ' Lord bless the coff'ee, bless the bread 116 Personal Memories. and butter, but as to this bear meat, Lord, I don't know what to say!' " There was another story told by Mrs. WiUard, the force of which, as told by her, can not be put on paper, but you will see the point. There had been an affray among some men in which one was hurt. A trial took place, in which the object was to find out who hurt the man, and Salstonstall was supposed to be the wrong doer. One of the Avdtnesses was up, who was supposed to know. " Well, what was Salstonstall doing ?" " Oh, he was slashing around." " WeU, what is that ?" "He was just knocking about him here aud there." " What did he do to this mau ?" " Why, he entice-d him." '¦'En ticed him, how?" "Oh, he enticed him with a crow bar — so!" And Mrs. Willard enacted the crowbar -scene. Mrs. Willard died in ripe years, surrounded by her friends, in the faith of a Christian, and the conscious ness of a well-acted life. Another person we at that time saw something of, was Nathaniel Carter, author of " Letters from Eu rope," and editor of the New York Statesman. His letters from Europe were at that time very interest ing ; for few Americans then knew much about Europe, and Mr. Carter was a close observer, and a literary man, with a pleasant style, putting things in an at tractive form. His paper, the Statesman, was well ed ited, and Clintonian in politics, shovfing, as many other things did, how the high qualities and command ing character of De Witt Clinton drew literary men around him. Mr. Carter was in ill-health, and died comparatively young ; one of those who, by dying in their prime, with Personal Memories. 117 a life unfilled aud with much promise, are a real loss to their generation. Another person occasionally at the "Point," Avas Col. William L. Stone, editor of the Neiv York Com mercial Advertiser. He was the author of the " Life of Brandt," the celebrated Indian chief, Thayendiuega. He is the first man who seems to have got an idea of the modern art of making a profitable ncAVspaper. If you take iip a newspaper of the old school, tAvo gen erations since, you will find that nothing could be more dry or inane. The ship news, the historical facts of the day, and some political abuse, with the adver tisements, made up nearly all of it. It was seldom that society, science, or literature had any representa tion. Of course, there were exceptions to this. Here and there a man got into a newspaper, who had some idea that society would be interested in itself, aud would like to see the movements of the great world around. But these were the exceptions. The great body of newspapers were dry enough. I said Col. Stone began to have an idea of the modern ueAvspaper, because of an iucident which happened while I was there. WTiile Stone was visiting the " Point," for a day or two, an Irish woman, for some t)"ouble, threw herself off the high rocks near Kosciusko's monu ment, and, of course, was killed instantly. It Avas a striking incident, hut Stone imraediately dressed it up, with a tale of roraance, aud extraordinary misfortunes, and it appeared in his paper as an extraordinary drama. When my mother saw it, who saw in the affair only the simple fact of a half-crazed woman kiUing herself, she looked upon Col. Stone as a fabu lous story-teller. But in this Stone only exhibited one 118 Personal 3'lemories. of the signs of the coraing newspaper; when crimes and accidents should be reported not only in the fuUneaa of detail, but iu exaggerated imagery. Thia is one of the arts of a newspaper; but, happily, the newspaper haa now a better side than that. It is now a fair repre sentative of the good as well as the evil of society. Society loves to look upon itself, and thinks, to use a classic sentiment, that nothing is foreign to itself vvhich is common to human nature. It was, I think, about this time, that James G. Per cival (the poet) held, for a short period, the post of professor of chemistry. He was occasionally a vis itor at our house, and I savv soraething, though not much, of this singular man. Singular he was, in his genius, learning, cliaracter, and manners. Not much of this would be visible in ordinary company; and there, he seemed nothiug extraordinary, except a very CA'ident retiring, shrinking raanner, the outward sem blance of that unfortunate trait of character which marred rauch of hia life. This was a reraarkable diffi dence. It is said that his friends, to help him, had instituted a course of lectures at Charleston (S. C), which were likely to be profitable, and the room was crowded vvhen I'ercival, from mere bashfulness, ran away, and the lectures were not delivered. He sought society very little, and seeraed to learn \'ery little of it. Yet, Percival was a learned man, and America has produced few so eminent in knowledge as he. Being essentially a student, his studies and ac- quireraents extended to various branches, especially languages and natural history. Once, at our house, he told us that he knew twelve languages, and, I thiuk, spoke ten of them. Latin, Greek, and Sanscrit Personal Memories. 119 as well as French, Spanish, Gerraan, and Italian, vvere familiar to him. In addition to that, he knew the languages of the North of Europe, and vvhat few per sons do the Slavonic tongues. He raade sorae trans lations of Slavonic poetry. I savv, in a biographical history, thia statement, that Percival had raade some translations of Slavonic poetry with all the spirit and reality of the original, and that this could not be, for he could not have been so very familiar Avith the or iginal; but I think he was, for he seized upon all languages, and all poetry, as if he had been born to them. In natural sciences, chemistry, geology', and kindred subjects, he was at horne. He was a short time professor of chemistry at West Point, and died, I think, Avhile geologist of Wisconsin. Percival was a raan of real genius, but seeraed alraost a stranger in society. He vvas never married, and it was said, as it frequently is in such cases, that he had an early dis appointraent in love, of which nothing now can be kuown. I do n't think he had any horror of young ladies, for he vvas a visitor at our house, when my sister was young aud thought beautiful. I remem ber one evening, in the -early part of summer, the month of roses, Percival was at our house and exhib ited the true character of a poet, soraething to the an noyance of poor huraan nature. The evening had passed in conversation, when, at ten o'clock, my fa ther, as he invariably did, retired. Soon after, ray mother, quite unusual for her, stepped out, too. Per cival, my sister, and myself, were left iu the parlor. The lights were dim, but the raoon cast its sUver rays through the Avindow, which probably suggested an idea to the poet. He began to describe a visit to Ni- 120 Personal Memories. agara by moonlight; the beauty which shone from rocks and waters; and, finally, what certainly must have been a beautiful phenomenon — a rainbow under the Falls of Niagara ! AU this was in the highest de gree poetic and interesting; but, alas! never did I have such a tirae to keep awake. The spirit was willing, but the flesh vvas weak. This is a very gopd illustration of Soloraou's saying, there is a time for all things; and never let poet or orator throw away their eloquence upou sleepy people. I cast away all poetry, and said to myself, Oh, for one hour of " Tired nature's sweet restorer — balmy sleep." I did not know a great deal of Dr. Percival, but what I have said here is exactly correct. He, like Mrs. Willard. was born in the little town of Berlin (Conn.), from which have come others of that high, spiritual cast, who seem to have shed the light of genius over this dull, plodding world. On inquiring for the poems of Percival, I found them out of print. This is due, no doubt, to the fact that he wrote no long, elaborate poems. But there are, among his fugitive pieces, some which de- serA'c imraortality ; and there will come a time when the gatherer of literaiy remains Avill place them higher than many of those which are uoaa' talked about. I have noAV finished the account of, so far as I can remember it, one of the most profitable and interest ing periods of my life. I only regret that in this half century which foUoAved, there were only two periods iu Avhich I saAV so much of genius, so much of that in teUectual life, which seems to shine upon and beautify the materialism of the world. The social history of Personal Mem.orics. 121 both England and America shows that there are times and circles of life in which there is a sort of shining forth of light, which seems almost to set fire to the mind of the day, and be felt in after history. Of this, I shall show you more hereafter. 122 Personal Memories. CHAPTER IX. Litchfield — Law School — Noted Men — Judge Reeve — Judge Gould — Anecdotes — Uriah Tracey — John Fier- poird — The Wolcotts — The Demings — Col. Tall madge — Talk with Governor Wolcott — Connecticut Politics — The Seymours — Dr. Sheldon — Mode of Life — Dr. Beecher. It was about the middle of Juue, 1823, that ray father and I drove up to Grove Catlin's tavern, on the "Green," of Litchfield, Connecticut. It was one of the most beautiful days of the year, and just before sunset. The scene was most striking. Litchfield is ou a hill, about one thousand feet above the sea, and having finfe scenery on every side. On the west rises " Mount Tom," a dark, frowning peak; in the south west, " Bantam Lake," on whose shores I have often walked and ridden. In the north aud east other ridges rolled away in the distance,'and so, from Litch field Hill, there is a varied and delightful prospect. One of the first objects which struck ray eyes was in teresting and picturesque. This was a long procession of school girla, coraing down North street, walking uuder the lofty elms, and moving to the music of a fljite and flageolet. The girls were gayly dressed and evidently enjoying their evening parade, in this most balmy season of the year. It was tbe school of Miss Sally Pierce, whom I have raentioned before, as one of the earliest and best of the pioneers in Araerican Personal Memories. 123 female education. That scene has never faded from my memory. The beauty of nature, the loveliness of the season, the sudden appearance of this school of girls, all united to strike and charm the mind of a young man, who, however varied his experience, had never beheld a scene like that. In the evening my father and myself walked up to the horae of Judge Gould, who was to be my future preceptor. The judge was a handsome man, a very able lawyer, with a keen and superior mind, subtle, discriminating, and yet clear as cry.stal. His treatise on " Pleading," which was one of the law titles upon which he lec tured to our class, ia the ablest law book there is ex tant. My father was acquainted with, him, and it was soon announced that I shouM enter as a law student, and, as it turned out, my residence iu Litchfield con tinued the next tvvo years, and I was adraitted to the bar by the county court of Litchfield, ih June, 1825. The next morning ray father introduced me to Gov ernor Wolcott, and my room and board were arranged for at Mrs. Lord's, whoise honse was just across the street from Dr. Lyman Beecher's, then paator of the LiTchfield Congregational Church. As my residence at Litchfield was one df the most important periods of my life, and, as I was there introduced into a so ciety, of which this couutry has bad none superior, I will state something of the growth aud character of Litchfield before I vvas there. Litchfield was settled nearly a hundred years after the first settlement of New Haven, and chiefly by immigrants from Hartford. The Wolcott family early came there, and they and their connections were araong the moat distinguished people i,n the state. Three successive Wolcotts vvere 124 Personal Memories. governors of the state, the second being one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the third the successor of Harailton, as secretary of the treasury, in the adraitiistration of Washington. Thia was the one then living in Litchfield. Then there were the Tallraadges, the Seyraours, the Buells, with Traey and others, who had made Litchfield noted for talent and social aristocracy long before I came there. Many striking anecdotes were told of the men and women of the forraer days, which still lingered in tradition. Two or three are worth preserving, because they at test to a wit far superior to what vve have now. Uriah Tracy, who lived at Litchfield, was a very superior raan, and noted for wit. He was United States Senator, from Conuecticut, in the time of Wash ington and Adaras, and to him are attributed, whether true or not, some of the sharpest sayings of that day. It is said that he Avas standing on the steps of tha Capitol, vvhich you know looks down Pennsylvania avenue, when a drove of mules was coming up. * Ran dolph, wh6 was standing by him, said : " There, Tracy, are sorae of your constituents." "Yes, sir;" said Tracy, " they are going to Virginia, to keep school." At another time Tracy was standing by the British Ambassador, in one of those receptions which Hunt ington has so well depicted, in what he calls the " Court of Washington," in the midst of which Mrs. Goodrich appears as one of the characters. This lady Avas, I think, of the Wolcott family, and distinguished for beauty, grace, and manners. The ambassador Avaa much struck by the appearance of Mrs. Goodrich, and exclairaed: "By George, Tracy, Mrs. Goodrich would be distinguished iu the Court of England!" Personal Memories. 125 "Yes, sir;" aaid Tracy, bowing, "she is distinguished even on Litchfield Hill!" Tracy was right, for, to be admired in the society of Litchfield, at that time, would have required talents and graces sufficient to se cure distinction in any court of the world. But, all thia is gone, and nothing can illustrate the evaneacent state of our society more than the changes which it has undergone in many of the old places in the old states. HoAvever excellent or able may be the people who live in Litchfield' now, there is no such social glory, no such marked superiority there, as that which distin guished the noted people of Litchfield iu the genera tion just paasing away, Avhen I came upon the stage. The change in people, manners, and conditions is quite as great as the change iu the dress of gentlemen. When I was a law student, a few old gentlemen still retained the dress of the Revolution. It was a pow- -dereS. queue, white-topped boots, silk stockings, and breeches with buckles. I can remember to have seen David E>aggett, chief justice, and a half dozen others, walking in the streeta with this dignified dress. It is iu vain to say that the present dress is at all equal to it — in what ought to be one of the objects of good dress — to give an idea bf dignity and respect. The man who is now inside of a plain black dress, with unpretending boots, may be as good a man, as able a man, as he in white-topped boots and breeches, but he ia not respected as much, for he no longer assuraes as much. In ceasing to claim the superiority due to high social position, he has Jost a part ofhis own self- respect. He has become only one of a multitude in stead of being one above a multitude. But I must hasten on. Perhaps you will like to 126 Personal Memories. know how the day passed with a law student, in a school and place vvhich has furnished many a great man to this nation. My room, at Mrs. Lord's, was in the northwest corner of alarge house, and, from its windows, I looked, on one side, over at Dr. Beecher's house, and, frorn another, west, to "Mount Tom." From the rooms of my fellow-students, on the south side, might be seen Bantam Lake, and the distant ridges and blue skies in the south. It was a pleasant house, and a good landlady, and to Mrs. Lord. I was indebted for many an act of kindness. She waa the widow of Sherift Lord, the mother of Mrs. Pierpoint, wife of the celebrated poet and minister. Pierpoint was a noted Unitarian ; but Mrs. Lord was a member of Dr. Beecher's church. The Pierpoints came from what was called " South Farms," a part of Litchfield township, on the road to Nevv Haven. The f'ather of John Pierpoint was a deacon inthe orthodox Congre gational church ; but the poet, for some reason, wan dered oft' and becarae a noted Unitarian, having at one time a congregation in Boston. Whatever else may have been his qualifications, he was a real poet, and also a wit. I have always thought that sorae parts of his "Airs of Palestine" were among the best speci raens of Araerican poetry. It is unfortunate that so many fine pieces of poetry are likely to be lost, because they are forgotten, and are only preserved in collec- lious, vvhich themselves are likely to" be epheraeral. But I will return to my day iu the law school. We breakfasted from seven to eight in the morning, and at nine o'clock went to the lecture-room to hear aud take notes of Judge Gould's lecture. The founder of the Litchfield Lavv School was Judge Tapping Reeve, Personal 3Icmorie3, 127 and, if tradition is correct, fow better men have ever lived, and scarcely any one was then better known to the bar. He was the author of a Treatise on Domes tic Relations, which tbe lawyers admired, but said was not lavv, on account, I believe, of its leaning too much to women's rights, a fault which would not be found with it iu this day. At the time I arrived in Litch field, Judge Reevehadgiven up the law school to Judge Gould", who had been his partner, and he soon after died. He was a man rather noted for eccentrici ties. After the death of his first wife, he married his housekeeper — a most respectable woman, however, dis tinguished for piety and benevolence. He was quite absent-minded, and one day he was seen walking up North street, vvith a bridle in his hand, but without his horse, which had quietly slipped out and walked off. The judge calmly fastened the bridle to a post, and walked into the house, oblivious of any horse. It was under the teaching of Judge Reeve that such men as John C. Calhoun aud John M. Clayton, of Delaware, were law students. The school was now under the sole care of Judge Gould. At nine o'clock we stu deuts walked to the lecture-room, with our note-books uuder our arms. We had desks, with pen and ink, to record the important principles and authorities. The practice of Judge Gould was to read the principle from his own manuscript twice distinctly, pausing be tween, and repeating in the sarae manner the leading cases. Then we had time to note down the principle and cases. The remarks and illuatrationa we did not note. After the lecture we had access to a law lib rary \ to consult authorities. The lecture and references took about two hours. Those of us who were in earnest, 128 Personal 3Iemories. of whom I waa one, iraraediately returned home, and copied out into our lecture-books all the principles and cases. My lecture-books made five volumes. The lec tures, the references, and the copying took me, ou au average, from nine o'clock until three or four o'clock, with the intermission of near an hour for dinner. I did not then, as I do not novv, study or write in the evening. Of course there were some exceptions. I regard night work, in vvhich nine-tenths of students indulge, as injurious to the health and even to the mind. Still, as man is an omnivoroua animal, so he may be as capable of choosing all tiraes as he is of all meats. From five to_six hours a day employed in this man ner was my regular work at Litchfield, and very seldom was a day missed. At four o'clock in the afternoon I was generally at leisure, and that was usually employed in walking or riding — sometimes in visiting. At Mra. Lord's were six of us ; two from Georgia ; ojie each fromN^ew_Y2i:k, Pennsylvania, and,Msissachusetts, and niyself. We often rode in the afternoons, and the vicinity of Litchfield aft'ords the most beautiful rides I have ever seen. A rolling coun-- try, on high ground, with here and there a mountain top or a little lake, and rapid, pure streams of water, nature presented most various and lovely pictures of beauty. We prolonged our rides in sumraer tirae, having taken an early tea, into the starlit shades of night. In the long days of suraraer, no candles were lit in the farm-houses of Connecticut. When the deep twilight came, every family had gone to rest as cora pletely as the chickens to their roosts ; but, when the dawn of day came, they were up ; aud when we lazy Personal Memories. 129 students were at breakfast, they had done hours of work. Such were the Connecticut farraers of that day. It was commonly my practice to walk in the after noons of suramer, aud the opportunities for pleasant walking were, like those of riding, very good and tempting. Litchfield, like many N^w_England towns. was built chiefly on two main streets, one going north and south, and the other east and west, and the whole on aTiiTl or ridge, with Bantam river running on the east aud another stream on the west. North and South street was more thau a mile in length, shaded nearly its whole length by those lofty and broad-spreading elms for which sorae of the. towns in Connecticut were noted. In the warra days of suraraer, and in those beautiful and cloudless sunsets, like the day iu which I had flrst seen it, most of the young people would be on the streets, and among them those of the stu- dents who, like myself, were lovers of beauty aud of scenery. Owing to my introduction to society, which is always a great benefit to young men of auy sense, I was soon acquainted with the best families, and my afternoon walks, as well as my evening visits, often led me among those distinguished iu beauty, grace, and position. One of my teraptations to au afternoon walk was to meet the girls, wTELO,_like ourselves, were often seen taking their dailyjaJk:. Among these, were the Wolcotts, the Demings, the Tallraadges, the Landons, and Miss Peck, who afterward became my Avife. The Demings were always my warm friends, and to them I am indebted for many a kindness, at a time Avhen I was ill and weak, and the bystanders hardly expected me to live. Of the Wolcotts, there were four, aud I think now, as I did then, that I never beheld more 130 Personal 3'lemories. beautiful women than were Hannah and Mary Ann Wolcott. Many a time have I met them on North street when it was a pleasure to look upon them, with the clearest complexions of white and red, the brightest eyes, with tall aind upright forms, and graceful walk. These ladies would have attracted admiration in any place of the world. The two other Wolcotts were also very handsome. EUzabgtlL married my intimate friend, John P. Jackson, of Newark, and Laura married another friend, Mr. Rankin. Their children are nu merous, and likely to maintain, in various ways, the fine character of . their ancestors. Of that circle of twelve or fifteen girls at Litchfield, with whom I waa specially acquainted, all but two were married to non residents and moved to other states. Two Avent to New York, three to New Jersey, one to Pennsylvania, two to Vermont, one to Ohio, one to West New York, one died unmarried, and two are living unmarried. These simple facts show what a moAdng and in some re spects unstable country is ours. The young men ofthe East migrate to the West, and the young women marry those who also migrate, and there are few parts of our country where there are families whose ancestors were there one hundred years before. In New Haven are still some Mansfields whose ancestors were born two hundred years before. But a far greater number have emigrated, and still our American population are moving on, restless, while there is any hope of gratify ing ambition or acquiring wealth. Connecticut has ever been a great hive, from which the young have swarmed, out ; making their homes in the vales of Ohio, on the mountain tops and on the ocean waves. My afternoon walks led also in a different direction, Personal 31emories. 131 into a society where there waa lesa to admire and more to learn. At the lower end of South street, in a large but plain houae, lived OUyerWolciitt, who had been amem- ber of Washington/scabijjet, and a man of great weight in the country. He was not the father, but the uncle of the Misses Wolcott, who were the daughters of his hrother. The first Oliver Wolcott known to history, was governor of Connecticut, one hundred and twenty years ago. The second was also governor, and was a member of the Revolutionary Congress and signed the Declara tion of Independence. The third Oliver Wolcott, of whom I speak, was in early life a merchant, then became comptroller of theti^easuiy in the early partjof_W^s- ington'a adminisjja-tion ; then, on the resignation of Hamilton, he was appointed secretary pf_the.tceaaiii:ji;, ancTierved until Adams was elected. He was now in retirement, living in his ancestral home, and quietly waiting the turn of events. Doubtless, he had other anticipations, but he made no public efforts, and lived in that qniet simplicity, which characterize a true Re- puhlican. He had two sons who died young, and with them haa perished in the direct hne, the Oliver Wol cott political distinction. My father had introduced me to Governor Wolcott, and occasionally I called upon him and had most interesting conversations on the past and future of our countiy. Several times, when my duties were over, and the pleasant summer afternoons invited a walk, I went down to Governor Wolcott's and talked with him alone on the condition of the country. From him I got some ideas which have remained with me ever since. He was a strong tariff man, and so was my father, aud most of the public men of that day. They saw that, owing to im- 132 Personal Memories. J ¦ mense importations of foreign goods, a large part of which might just as well have been made iu this coun try, the country was drained of its specie, industries kept back, and commercial affairs liable to sudden and ruinous fluctuations. They, therefore, concluded that to lay a high tariff on foreign fabrics would encourage American industry, and so far diminish importations, and give stability to trade. This view was earnestly taken by Governor Wolcott, and has continued with little exception to be the policy of the country ever since. Since the war of the Rebellion, the necessity for a large revenue has imposed the necessity for a high tariff", and will continue to do so for many years. In the meantime, also, Araerican manufactures of al most all kinds have risen up, and become so success ful that the questiou of the tariff is not likely to again agitate politics. In the uext thirty years, however, it did enter largely into political discussions. Happily for the countiy, the vicAvs of Wolcott ahd of nearly all the old statesmen prevailed, and the couutry has been saved frOm seeing its labor and industrial insti tutions prostrate at the feet of European capital. Governor Wolcott had old-fashioned ideas about many things. He did not believe in the necessity of having men of genius or brilliaucy to carry on the government. You know that young men are inordi nately attracted by those very qualities. The brilliant orator or writer, the man of great scheraes, and the professor of new ideas, are the sort of people who wiu the admiration of young raen. At thia time — the sumraer of 1824 — there were several men of this sort looming up as candidates for the presidency. There Avere Adaras, Clay, Calhoun, and De Witt Clinton — Personal Memories. 133 all men of brilliant qualities. It vvas probably with these in his mind — iu fact, we vvere talking of thera — that Governor Wolcott said to me, iu substance: " You do n't want a raan of genius for president. You want a plain, practical man. There is old Sit- greaves, of Pennsylvania, will make as good a pres ident as any other." Now, Sitgreaves was a meraber of congress, full of statistics and political econoray. I have thought since that the Araerican people had realized Wolcott's idea of getting a mau without ge nius, but had often failed in getting oue equal to Sit greaves. Just look in the calm light of history upon the adrainistrations of Polk, Pierce, and Buchanan ! Of genius, no huraan being would accuse thera. Of anything like a broad and sagacious statesraanship, just a little. Clinton, Calhoun, Webster, Clay — all rejected; and Polk, Pierce, and Buchanan accepted! What a record for a great aud enlightened nation to make ! Governor Wolcott was elected governor as the can didate of the Democratic party, vvhich had never at any time been able to elect a candidate. The nianner of it was curious, and aa it involves a chapter of po litical hiatory which will probably never be written, I vvill notice it here. - Connecticut had alwaya been governed by the old Federal party, which contained unquestionably four-fifths of the good and great raeu of the state. Iu the tiraes of Jeft'ersou and Madison, the p^niocratic_^arty, to which my f'ather belonged, was a small minority, which probably never vvould have come into power but for certain laws peculiar to that state. Connecticut had, in fact, coming down from Puritan tiraes, a sort of state church. It con- 134 Personal Memories. sisted in this, that a tax was levied for the support of religion, and paid to the churches. I believe only to the Congregational ; for that was for a long tirae the only church in the state. But in the meantirae the Episcopal Church, largely founded by my great- uncle, Richard Mansfield, had grown up to be a large body. Then carae in the Methodists and Baptists, and with them all, some able men who were Deists. Then carae coraplaints against the dominant infiuence of the Congregationalists and the imposition of a tax for religious purposes. This question came to he agi tated. Then the Democrats took advantage ofit, aud uniting with these discontented elements formed what was called the " Toleration " party. Wolcott, whose family were Federalists, and who had been a niember of the Federal adrainistration of Washington, was the candidate of this Toleration party, and was thus elected governor. By this combination Counectieut became for raany years a Democratic state, and was by uo means improved iu either the quality or caliber of its public men. There was some reaction in after years, when such men as Huntington and Bucking bara came into the United States Senate. But, as a Avhole, the political changes in Connecticut have been for the worse, as I fear they have iu the Avhole coun try. It is a sad and ominous thing for a great coun try', vvhen it can be truly said : " The post of honor is a private Station." Let me now turn to some other characters. On the North street was the residence of Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge. He was oue of the gentlemen of the old school, with the long queueTwEIte^^opped boots, and Personal Memories. 135 breeches. He had been au officer in the guard over Andre at the time he vvas ordered to execution. AT^r the war he had retired to Litchfield, and was one of the most marked as well as dignified men who appeared iu that aristocratic town. When the West ern Reserve of Ohio was set oft' to Counecticut and sold for the school fund, he became a large owner of lands there, and a township was named after hira. One of his daughters married iuto the distinguished Delafield family of Nevv York, aud vvas lierself a noted lady. At the upper end of North street, and near where I boarded, was the unpretending and home^like house of Dr. Daniel Sheldon. He was my physician in an attack of sickness, and one whom Lalways regarded with great respect. When he had just graduated from a medical college, he had an attack on the lungs, aud was supposed to be fast going into consumption, and was saved by what may be called heroic treatment. He vvent to Litchfield to practice medicine, vvhich in volved much riding on horseback, and he beijan taking opium, until he took incredible quantities. Nevertheless it cured hira ; aud he recovered frora the habit of taking opium as resolutely and bravely as he had began it. He survived all danger of earlj' death, and lived to be eighty-four years of age, quietly and peacefully declining, until he passed from this life as gently as the setting star. One of his sons was secre tary of legation in France, aud oue was a very suc cessful merchant in New York. I Avas indebted to him for a comforting assurance, when vve studeuts were charged with being uncommonly " fast." There were more than fifty law students boarding iu Litch- 136 Personal Memories. field, many of them of wealthj' farailies, and many of them frora the South. Of course, there raust be some amuseraent, and often the raidnight air resounded with the songs of raidnight rioters, and sometimes stories were circulated to the students' disadvantage. After hearing sorae remarks on the "fast" studeuts, I met Dr. Sheldon walking, aud said to him: "Doctor, they say we are the worst students ever were in Litchfield." " Pooh ! pooh !" said the doctor, " they are not half as bad as they were in my day." So I was comforted with the idea that we were not casting shame on those venerable Puritans, who had condescended to become our ancestors. Be this as it may, I greatly enjoyed those evening sleigh rides, and those countiy suppers, when we would ride off to Goshen, or Ilerwinton, or other Adllage, and order our turkey and oysters, served up with pickles and cake, and "then set Black CfEsar to play jigs on a cracked fiddle. But the grand occasions was something beyond this, when we got sleighs with fine horses, and buffalo robes, and foot-stoves, and invited the belles of Litchfield, Avho never hesitated to go, and sat off to the distant vUlage to have a supper aud dance. I aeldoni danced, and some of the girls did not, but there were always some who did, and we had jolly times. So passed my days in Litchfield, doing a great deal of good work in study, enjoying much of good society, and passing its hours in innocent amusements. Perhaps, before I close, I ought to notice two or three other farailies, not so rauch ou their account, as by way of illustrating how Connecticut, in that gen eration, becarae the great hive of the teachers and leaders of the country. I do not exaggerate when I say Personal Memories. 137 that at that time, when the countiy had not one-third of its present population, Connecticut, in proportion to its own population (Avhich Avas then 300,000), sent out three-fold as mauy as auy other state of those who be came eminent iu Avealth, literature, law, or politics. If any one shall deny this, it cau be proved by the re corded history of the country. One of the peculiar characteristics of Litchfield was, iu popular phrase, .that they "stuck to their men," and that is a good characteristic of any countiy. Litchfield elected two representatives to the legislature, and for nearly a cen tury two or three names raade up four-fifths of all the representatives. This certainly is one of tho reasons wliich gave Connecticut the soubriquet of " the land of steady habits." One of the coramo,u naraes in the township vvas that of Buell. I was well acquainted with Dr. Buell, who lived on South-strfeet, and one of whose daughters raarried a law student, a Mr. Frank lin, of Pennsylvania, aud was the raother of General Franklin, in the army of the Potonuic. Another noted raan iu Litchfield was Julius Deming. This gentle man was a merchant and emineiitly successful. No raan in the couuty was more honored and respected for integrity of character than this Litchfield raerchant. He became very wealth}'. His sons were wealthy, and his only surviving daughter has inherited the family mansion, and lives unmarried, preserving still the dig nity and character of the faraily. Another family there; was that of the Seymours, and there is scarcely another family more distinguished than theirs. Moses Seymour, the iramediate ancestor, was 'an officer of the Revolution, and settled in Litch field. One of the sons emigrated to Vermont, and 138 Personal Memories. became a United States Senator from Vermont. An other emigrated to New York, was a land corarais sioner, and raixed much in politica. His son, Horatio Seymour, was governor of New York, and the demo cratic candidate for the presidency in 1868, against Grant. The main stock of the faraily reraained in Litchfield, and vvere not without honors there. Oue of the sons was sheriff' of Litchtield county, and Ori gen Seymour, who was at the lavv school iu mv time, became J udge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut, and is yet ou the political stage. Since I have given an account of the Litchfield lavv school, in its beginning and its prime, I raay as well continue to the end. It vvas near hj. Judge Gould becoming infirm in health, J. W. Huntington, Esq., vvho was a relative of the Wolcotts, became his coad jutor until Gould died. Huntington, who soon after be came judge and United States Senator, had other affairs ou hand, and soon gave up the school. Practically the school died with Judge Gould. It vvas a private enterprise, and Avhen such really great men in lavv as Judge Reeve and Judge Gould ceased to live there were none both able and willing to conduct it. The mantles of such eminent lawyers could fall on few, and these few did not prefer this line of life. I might mention other families in Litchfield, for there was scarcely any family whose sons and daugh ters might not be found on the fields of the West and South, buUding up this great Republic. At this time. Dr. Lyman Beecher was pastor of the Congregational Church in Litchfield. His house was just across the street from Mrs. Lord's, where I boarded, and, as my window was on that side of the house, I used often to * Personal Memories. 139 see him and hear his violin, of which he was very fond, sending forth merry tones. It is said, that he would return from a funeral and send forth the quick est airs frora his fiddle. He was of the most cheerful temperament, as I, who knew, him for thirty years, cau well testify. Few clergymen — probably none — have been more noted, more able, and I may add more useful than Dr. Beecher. He was then in his prime. It was in Litchfield, the year after I left there, that he delivered his celebrated lectures on temperance. It was a good place to begin work, for Litchfield had several able and diatinguished men, who died or lost their influence by interaperance. Dr. Beecher waa called the "great gun of Calviniam," aud it seeraed to me the very irony of fate to see him tried ten years after by the Presbytery of Cincinnati for heresy in Calvinistic Theology. In the meanwhile, he had been called to one of the principal churches of Bos ton to combat Unitarianism. Whether he had much to do in repressing it, I know not. But it ia certain Unitarianism has grown very slowly since that tirae. i At the tirae I was in Litchfield, the Congregational Church on the little green embraced two-thirds of the ] people of the village, and more than that in the sur rounding country. Dr. Beecher was so far superior to all other preachers of that section, that all the students who went to church at all went to his church. I waa always a regular attendant, not loaing, I think, more than two or three Sundaya while I was there. Dr. Beecher waa remarkable for great irregularity in what may be called the quality of his sermons. There was none inferior, but there were times when he was dull. A friend said to me once that he had heard much of 140 Personal Memories. Dr. Beecher, aad Aveut to hear him, but he never heard a duller sermon. I can realize that might have been, but Dr. Beecher was at times, exceedingly eloquent. His spells of eloquence seemed to come on by fits. One very hot day in summer, and in the afternoon, I waa in church and Dr. Beecher was going on in a sensible, but rather prosy, half aermon, when all at once he seemed to recollect that we had just heard of the death of Lord Byron. He was an admirer of Byron's poetry, as airwIio~admire genius must be. He raised his spectacles, and began with an account of Byi'on, his genius, wonderful gifts, and then went on to his want of Adrtue, aud his want of true religion, and finally described a lost soul, and the spirit of Byron going off, wandering in the blackness of darkness forever ! It struck me as with an electric shock, and left an im perishable memory. Personal Memories. 141 CHAPTER X. Return to Cincinnati- — Voyage Down the Ohio — Judge Baldwin — J'udge Torrence — My Case — Nicholas Long- worth — Martin Baum — Peyton Symmes — Dr. Wilson — Father Burke — Churches in Cincinnati — Bishop Fenwick — Aydelotte — Johnson — Jacob Burnet, his Use ful Life — David K. Este — Nathaniel Wright — Gazley — WiUiam Lyde — Robert Lgtle. The time had now arrived when I-was to begin my professional life, if such I was to have. In May, 1825, I started, iu company with my f'ather, for Ohio, where, as it was intended, and it turned out in fact, I was to remain. We went by the route through New York, via Buffalo. At that time a large part of the New York and Erie Canal Avas completed. It seeraed to my inexperienced mind that nothing could be more pleasant thah a calm, unruffled voyage, without dan ger or noise, and with time to read and observe the scenery, in a nice, well-fitted canal-packet. So, we took passage ia auch a packet for Albany to Utica, ninety-five railea. Never waa a youthful vision so speedily and so utterly dispelled ! The quiet and beautiful canal-boat proved to be the dullest, the raost tedious, the raost wearisome of all earthly convey ances. Arrived at Utica, we were too glad to take an old-fashioned atage-coach, and complete our journey to Buff"alo. At that time the beautiful towns and villages of Western New-York had just risen, fresh 142 Personal Memoriis. Avith the newness of white houses and green fields, whUe here and there a calm and smiling lake, with its glassy surface, contrasted Avith the sky above and the green earth around. It was a lovely scene, aud the raore so to rae, as I had just come frora the rocks aud raountains of the highlands. Arrived at Buft'alo, in the latter part of May, we were raet bj' one of those lake storms which are char acteristic of that region. The wind blew fiercely, the rain poured down, and it rapidly grew colder; aud in Avhat should have been the warm and blooming spring, we were sitting at the hotel, half shivering round the fire. That clay we took the stage, on the lake shore, for Erie. The road led through the then fa mous Cattaraugua Swamp, almost impassable, even iu summer. Then the corduroy bridges and mudholes presented a disraal prospect. The driver, to avoid thera, often drove into the edge of the lake, Avhere the water was shallow. Now the traveler ia borne rapidly along by the Lake Shore Railroad, which an nually carries its raiUions to the far-off shores of Lake Superior, where already cities are springing up aud new states are formed. At length we arrived at Erie, and thence passed through Pittsburg and down the Ohio. At Pittsburg my father took me to call on Henry Baldwin, an old pupil of his in New Haven. Mr. Baldwin was a dis tinguished lawyer, but theu very much engaged vvith iron manufacture. He took me to see one of the great rolling-mills for vvhich Pittsburg was even then faraous. I have beeu through Pittsburg many times, and never without seeing the flames and smoke which were continually pouring out of its great iron works. Personal Memories. 143 Mr. Baldwin afterward becarae a meraber of con gress and judge of the Suprerae Court of the United States. His brother, Abraham, was senator from Georgia. Both vvere pupils and fast friends of my father. It was Abraham Baldwin who introduced him to the notice of Mr. Jeff'erson, and got him his first appointment as captain of engineers and teacher. You will remember he Avas the flrst teacher, in 1802, at Weat Poiut. Both these gentlemen were fair ex amples of those young, active, and ambitious men whom the liltle State of Connecticut was sending to take the lead in the West and South. There Avere hundreds of them, whose uames you will flnd re corded among the leaders of their country. The voyage down the Ohio iu 1825, and in a fast steamboat, presented a vivid contrast to that of 1805, in a pine-board ark. Between 1805 and 1812 had come into use for locomotion that mighty power, steam, now used to move tens of thousands of ma chines, supplying the labor of millions of men. The tirst steamboat was launched on the Ohio iu 1811, and in 1825 there were hundreds on all the Avaters of the Ohio and Mississippi. All the modes of locomo tion were changed, and in this same year (1825) the ih'st railroad was put in operation, between Liverpool and Manchester. Comraerce received new life, and the face of the world has since been rapidly changed. I arrived in Ciucinnati in June, and found it hot enough. My first acquaintance were my relatives, Dr. and Mrs. Drake. As they were in the midst of society, and my father was well remembered by all the old citizens, it did not take long for me — who, I found, was regarded as a promising young man — to . 144 Personal 31emories. become known to the best people of Cincinnati. So far as my memory extends, I will raention sorae of thera. Among the first I saw were General aud Mrs. James Findley, who were warm friends of my father and mother. He was the brother of Williara Findley, governor of Pennsylvania, and of John Findley, raem ber of congress. James Findley was receiver of pub lic moneys at Cincinnati, in 1805, when my father first arrived, aud the families became intiraate. He was novv out of office, but in good circurastances, living on Broadway. In that or the following year he was elected to congress, frora the Cincinnati dis trict. In a few years he died, and his wife soon fol lowed. He was an amiable, kindly mau of good sense and courteous manners. Another faraily, and connected with the Findleys, was that of Judge Tor rence, then president judge of the common pleas. He had married Mary Findley, a- niece of General Findle3''s. He vvas a bluft", honest, good-natured man, with not much law, but a great deal of good principle. He was very kind to me, and I have reraerabered him with gratitude. It was under him that I came to the bar — for a very brief time. The only case I really tried, was that of a man Avho, standing on the shore near Mill street, had shot soraebody in a boat upon the river. The facts vvere plain ; but I hit upon what I thought a happy expedient to clear hira. The State of Virginia, in ceding to the United States the North western Territory, had ceded it only from low-water mark on this shore; so that, in point of fact Vir ginia and Kentucky hold jurisdiction over the main channel of the Ohio. The man Avas shot in a boat upon the Ohio. Then I rose; made to the court vvhat I Personal Memories. 145 flattered myself was an invincible constitutional argu ment — that a crime beiug comraitted upon the river was out of the jurisdiction of Ohio. Then I was met by one of those rebufl"s which young lawyers are apt to meet with. The coramon-senae of Judge Torrence overcame the theory of the law. Judge Torrence said, that although the crirae raight have been out of the jurisdiction of Ohio, yet it had been the uniform custom of Kentucky and Ohio to exercise concurrent jurisdiction over the river ; and thua my constitutional castle in the air tumbled to the ground. Judge Tor rence left aeveral sons, who have been conspicuous among the citizens of Cincinnati, and one among them has been mayor of Cincinnati and member of the state senate. Present at this trial Avas Colonel Nathaniel Pendleton, who encouraged rae in my effort, and Avaa alwaya friendly to me. His first wife was a daughter of Jesse Hunt, one of the early settlera of Cincinnati. She was well known iu her day, and admired for her piety, benevolence, appearance, and character. Col. Pendleton was a leadingmeraber of thebar at that day, a popular man, and about that time a meraber of the state senate. In 1840, he vvas the candidate of the Whigs for Congress, in the great Harrison carapaign, and vvas elected. Two of his sons have been con spicuous in the public and social history ofthe tiraes, holding important offices in both state and church. Another man vvhose name has been spoken as often as that of any other man in Cincinnati, was Nicholas Longworth. He was a lawyer, who had come to Cin cinnati at au early day, from Newark, New Jeraey. He soon becarae well kuown, and continued so uutil his death, for some remarkable qualities. He was 146 Personal Memories. very shrewd, sagacious, quick-witted; with great com mon-sense and acquisitiveness. He had little dig nity or learning, but had a quiet good humor, and a readiness af repartee, Avhich made him popular. In the latter part of his life, and since his death, he waa chiefly known as acquiring and holding a great estate. A part of this he acquired by good fortune, a part by his practice of laAv ; but far the larger part by saga cious investments in real estate, which constantly rose in value with the growth of the city. He was a friend of artists. He assisted Powers, I believe, and I know he did Mrs. Spencer, a noted painter, Avhom Ifound ou the Muskingum river, near Marietta. He was also a noted horticulturist, especially in atrawberriea and vines. It is said that in the Mexican War he offered to raise a regiment on one condition. What was the condition ? Simply, that he raight pick out the raen ! The offer Avaa not accepted, for however much. Cin cinnati may have been benefited, the governraent cer tainly would not have been. He was said to have as sisted the poor liberally, and his house was alwaya a hospitable one, Avhich Mrs. Longworth and her daughters made a moat cheerful and pleasant place of resort for young men. At the tirae I speak of, Longworth lived on Front street, near the present Kilgour place. He soon after raoved to " Rose Cot tage," on Congress (near Pearl) street, opposite to, and not far frora the stone house, on the corner of Lawrence, built by Daniel Syraraes. In a year or two after, he bought of the United States Bank the square on the east aide of Pike street between Third and Fourth streets. The fiue, large house on it, and which StiU remains one ofthe best and finest iu the city, was Personal 3'lemories. 147 built by Martin Baurn. In all these residences the Longv\'orth family vvere hospitable, cheerful, and en tertaining. Martin Baum, whom I mentioned, deserves to be remembered by all who have prospered in Cincinnati, for she had few citizens Avho contributed more to her service. He was, I think, a Gerraan — one ofthe very first who came to Cincinnati. He was dark and swarthy in coraplexion, but of pleasant countenance. lie vvas a merchant, of active mind and public spirit. He was one of those who after the Avar with Great Britain — from 1815 to 1820 — embarked in great pub lic enterprises, vvhich were imraediately beneficial to the town, but quite disastrous to themaelves. All the leading men engaged in them, however remote their professional business from comraercial pursuits-. Among those engaged with Baum and others, in getting up banks and manufacturing corapanies, were General Harrison, Judge Burnet, Dr. Daniel Drake, General Findley, Oliver M. Spencer, and nearly all the best-known citizens. Baum was, I believe, a stock holder iu the Miami Exporting Company Bank, the Cincinnati Manufacturing Company, the Sugar Re finery, and sirailar enterprises. They all ultimately failed, and are scarcely remembered now ; aud yet they did an almost incalculable benefit to Cincin nati; for thoy employed many people, circulated a great deal of money, and set in motion a social ma chinery vvhich deterrained the fate of Cincinnati, and brought it from a village up to a city. Of course, these public-spirited citizens all lost a part, if not the whole, of their property ; but nearly all of thera hav ing held real estate, made up by its rise for what they 148 , Personal Memories. lost in speculation. Baura vvas obliged to give his fiue square and home to the United States Bank in pay ment of debts, but raanaged to save, frora the despised and weed-covered Deercreek valley, enough fora hand sorae estate. When the merchants do honor to their profession, they will scarcely find one more worthy of fame thau Martin Baum. Another German, a Prussian officer, and who died that year, was Major Zeigler. He, as well as Judge Burnet, Avas, like Baum, of very dark complexion. He used to speak of Burnet and Baum, as his " two black brothers." I scarcely knew hira; but he was one spoken of in society, and who seeraed to leave a pleasant raeraory behind him. I menticmed the atone house at the corner of Law rence and Congress atreets. Thia waa built by Dauiel Syraraes, a brother of Judge John Cleves Symmes, the patentee of the Miami country. About the tirae I carae out, in 1825, this house came into the possession of Peyton Symmes, his son. No picture of the social life of Cincinnati, from 1815 to 1840, would be com plete without Peyton Symmes. He was seen iu al most every gathering — at the corner of every street, and at odd times in newspaper offices, and soraetiraes in the theater, of vvhich he was very fond. If not a man of genius, he had the eccentricities of one, and these eccentricities were entirely out of what may be called the common line of eccentricity. He vvas un worldly and unselfish, and yet not very generous or benevolent. He was really a literaiy man of a good deal of talent ; but thought the dotting of au "'i," or the crossing of a " t," vvas a matter of supreme im portance. He waa great on " hyphens" aud " italics." Personal Memories. 149 Accordingly, vvhen au article was to be i:)rinted, he Avaa the terror of the type-setters. He would publish a paragraph, ora couple of stanzis, aud go to the print ing-office half dozen times to see that the "hyphens" and the " commas " were exactly right. In this he Avas wiser than many writers; for, undoubtedly, the correctness of printing an article is like good dress to a lady, aud does much to set off natural beauty. With the same zeal vvith vvhich he pursued dots and coramas he pursued " puns." He was the great pun ster of the town ; and there was scarcely anything he could not make a pun upon. Sometimes people were annoyed by his pun-making; but, in general, they liked it, aud vvere glad to have something to laugh at. Another practice he had was pencil portrait taking. He had real genius for that ; but his pencil portraits, Avhile they Avere generally very accurate, often inclined to caricatures. Symmes vvould some times be found at a party, standing in a corner, with a large white card, pencil in hand, taking the por trait of some stranger. He would have dozens of these portraits in his pockets. When the Duke of Saxe-Weimer was in Cincinnati he was much amused with this eccentricity. When au American gentle man met the Duke on the Rhine, he asked about several persons in Cincinnati. He described Long- worth and asked about him, and about "the mau who took pictures with a pencil on cards." With a love for literature and a love of ease, and no habit of indus try, Symmes, who had earlj' advantages of property and business, closed his life with little of either. He was one of those who please and interest living aocietj', 150 Personal Memories. but who leave no irapressions for posterity. The water is stirred for a moraent and closes forever. Araong the noted, and certainly the most important members of society, are the clergy, and I will here describe the clergy of Cincinnati in 1825, as far as ray raeraory can call them up.' The first church iu Cin cinnati was the First Presbyterian Church, vvhich was built on the corner of Main and Fourth streets, where it stands now. It was still the raost important church in the city, although several others had been built. The pastor of the church was the Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, and after raaking. due aUowance for generals, lavAyers, and raerchants, there was no raan in the Cin cinnati of that day raore noted, more respected, or more remarkable. Personally, I knew little of him, but his narae and acts in society vvere known to ev erybody. He was a mau amiable in character, just in life, of great authority, and scarcely less pugnacity^ With strong opinions and strong character, he thought Avhat was worth preaching was worth fighting for. So, though no Ishmaelite, his hand was uplifted against the Ishmaelites Avhen they carae in his way. Abont the 1st of June, 1812, two volunteer corapanies of Cincinnati were about to join the army of Hull, marching for Canada. They, vvith a large congrega tion, assembled in the First Presbyterian Church to hear a parting sermon from Dr. Wilson. My father and myself were among the number. The doctor took his text from JeremisU^ : " Cursed be he that dealeth deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his svvord from blood." Whether the sermon corresponded with the warhke character of the text, I wan too young to notice. But there is no doubt of Personal Memories. 151 the doctor's zeal in a war for the country or a war for the churcb. Wilson took the Bible in the simplicity of faith and its terms literally. It is said he never would have a portrait or picture in his house, because it was an image, lie was a strict Calvinist, and thought he shouhl earnestly contend for the faith which was once deUvered unto the saints. Accord ingly, when the controversy of 1836-'37 came on, he was clad in battle array, or, i^ the Janguage of the Scots, entered on the foray. One of the first acts of the war was to call the men who dift'ered vvith Wilson, Breckinridge, and others of the old warriors, a "New School," although those who heard Bcman, Beecher, Fisher, and others preach, could never tell in Avhatthe doctrines of the " New School " diff'ered frora those of the others. However, the controversy had not at this time began, and Dr. Wilson, as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Avas pursuing the peaceful tenor ofhis way. He Avas a beloved pastor in his own con- grearatiou, respected by the people, and many yeara after died much lamented. The Second Presbyterian Church had now come into existence, and was, I believe, worshiping on Race street, iu ati old building, vvhich was said to be the same occupied originally by the fir.st church. At this time there was only one Roman Catholic church iu the city, and that was near where St. Xa vier Church now is, on Sycamore street. The preacher at that time was Bishop Fenwick, the first Roman Catholic bishop iu Ohio. I remember one bright Sunday in summer to have strolled into that church to hear vvhat the bishop vvould say. I forget what was the text or the subject; but I remember to have 152 Personal Memories. ^becn very "much struck Avith his iUustration of the doctrine of good works. He represented a man as going up to the gates of heaven, and St. Peter Aveighed his good deeds on one scale and his evil deeds ou an other. The good a little predominated, and iuto heaven he Avas received. Bishop Fenvyick vvas much respected in his own church. The first Catholic church in Ohio — St. Joseph's, in Perry county — waa consecrated by tlie then Rev. Edward Fenwick in 1818. He was a native of Maryland, and a member of the order of St. Dominic. At the same time there was only one Lutheran church in Cincinnati. This stood on the north side of Third street, just east of Broadway, on the original site of Fort Washington, For a long time this was a small but earnest congregation, Avhich a few yeara after removed to Sixth street. It Avas several years before the German immigration became large, ancl then the Lutheran churches increased in number and magnitude. I do not know much of the Methodist and Baptist preachers of that day, but some men among them were quite remarkable. Among them was " Father Burke," who occasionally preached in the next few years, but Avaa now postmaster. He was a Southern man, and had many of the prejudices of the South. He seemed to haA'e lost hia voice, and always spoke low aud in guttural tones. He waa always chewing tobacco, and being a postmaster, was ahvays a Demo crat. He waa a strong Methodist, and seemed an amiable man. Speaking of him brings up the mem ory of some other people connected with the post- office. When we left Cincinnati in 1812, the post- Personal Memories. 153 master was Colonel William Ruffin. His office waa on Front street, near Lawrence. You may judge from thia fact that there waa very little of Cincinnati weat of Main street in 1812. Just before we started for the East, we were at the Ilouse of Dr. Drake, on Syca more street, just below Fourth street. It waa then I witneased the great tornado, and one of the thinga I remember waa that there were no houses above Fourth atreet and east of Sycamore, except the " Sargent House," in the center of the square bounded by Fourth and Broadway. Looking southeast, we could see as far as Front and Lawrence, with only here and .there a house intervening. The bottom below Third and above Front was even then wet and swampy, and in winter was frozen over, and furnished skating for the boys. But we must return to the post-office. The daughter of Colonel Ruffin married Major William Oliver, who, when Harrison was elected president, also became postmaster. When quite young, Oliver had been a volunteer soldier at the siege of Fort Meigs, and performed good service. In after times he was one of the original proprietors of Toledo, and his daughter, Mrs. Hall, is still a proprietor there. Oliver was an amiable and intelligent gentleman, and to the hospitalities of Major and Mrs. OUver, I was after wards indebted for many a pleasant hour. Returning to the clergy. There appeared upon the stage in 1825 one whom I thought quite a remarkable man. Thia was John P. Durbin -(now Dr. Durbin), high iu the confidence of the Methodist Church. Mr. Durbin was this year appointed professor in the Au gusta (Kentucky) CoUege. It waa after this, how ever, that he preached in Cincinnati. I heard him 154 Personal Memories. several times, aud alwaya found hira eloquent and earnest. He was one of the very, few, nien vvhom I thought orators. He was uot striking in .either im agery or argument, and yet he carried his audience immediately along with him by the fervor of his thought and the grace of his manner. He would begin with a very lovv voice, and gradually ascend and warm vvith his subject. W by he did not continue a popular preacher I do not know. He was advanced high in the church, but put to other vvork. There vvere, I think, already (in 1825) two Episco pal churches, Christ's and St. Paul's. Christ's (uow on Fourth street) was the original Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, and it Avas for several years the only one. My family having been Episcopalians, this was the Churcli I attached niyself to. At this tirae the pulpit Avas vacant, and I was one of the original meet iug which called the Rev. B. P.Aydelotte. He minis tered to the church for mauy years, aud it has grown up to be oue of the largest and raost efficient churches. Dr. Aydelotte, in after j'ears, becarae president of Woodward College, and has since been au author and philanthropist — in all situations adorning, by his life and worth, the profession to vvhich he belongs. Of St. Paul's, vvhich either began at this tirae or soon after, the Rev. Samuel Johnston was pastor, who was highly esteeraed by the congregation, and whose name has been held in grateful remembrance. Such vvas the general state of the church and clergy in 1825. The city had more churches in proportion to its population than it; has now ; but I do n't think the standard of religion vvas any higher. It is true the immigration from Europe of many free-thinkers, Personal Memories. 155 the multiplication of amuseraents, the worldly spirit, and the fashionable life ancl luxury which arc so ap parent ou the surface of society, gives an impression that the church has not grown much in nurabers and strength ; but a closer exaraination vvill show that the churcli never vvas ao strong, so earnest, or so ef fective iu its work, as it is to-day. Let us novv look af the bar. Lawyers Avill always be, as^a profession, raen of mark and influence in so ciety, because they are, in the average, the best edu cated class, and because they have raost to do with business, and because the law coraraands respect. At this tirae there could not have been more than forty lawyers at the bar, and three or four of them had really retired from pr ictice. In this sraall bod^.were several raen of mark and influence — raen of raind, and weight, and character — sorae of whom had influ ence on the na'ion. I will mention tvvo or three. At the head of the bar, undoubtedly, though now retired from practice, was Jacob Burnet. This gentleman was the son of -Dr. Burnet, of Newark, New Jersey, a distinguished man in the Revolution. Jacob stud ied lavv, and about 1797 came out tO'Cincinnati, where he subsequently married Miss Rebecca Wallace, daugh ter of the former pastor of the Presbyterian Church, and ever after continued to reside in Cincinnati. Bur net at first boarded at the tavern on Front street, kept by Griffin Yeatman. Public houses for travelers then, and fbr thirty years after, had only two names, "tav erns " and houses of " private entertainraent." The former vvere phiin, honest taverns, and the latter more like private houses. " Hotels," " restaurants," " sa loons," and a whole clasa of modern hostelries. were 156 Personal 3Iemories. unknown, and so were also the enorraous prices and notorious shams of public houses in this day. Good board, lodging, and reasonable comforts could.be had then, and for thirty years after, for one-third tbe prices of the present day. What have we gained vvith our enormous prices and iraitation of European shams? Luxury, interaperance, extravagance, peculation, fashion, and arabition, which, in people without fixed principles, lead to unbounded desires and unconscion able raeans for their gratification. There was intem perance then, and much of it in the highest classes of society, and beyond doubt we have in that respect improved. But there vvere no low grog-shops at every corner, tempting and seducing workingmen, and thus impairing the very strength of society. Burnet boarded at Yeatman Tavern, on Front street, a short distance from Fort Washington, associating with the officers and gentlemen of the then village of Cincin nati, which he well described. Here I Avant to say a word for " Old Griff," as he was called fifty years afterward. His tavern was Avell liked by his custoraers, and I know of no one who was for half a century so poiiular in Cincinnati. Years after the time I speak of he left tavern-keeping, and was elected recorder of the count}', an office Avhich novv has immense business, but vvas then of small dimensions. "Old Griff" did his business well, and with his plain, blunt honest- ness, satisfying everybody. Often I have carried deeds to the office and found him sitting in the same old chair, Avriting in the record book, looking up with a smUe, and spitting out tobacco, of which he was a great chevVer. The host of the Front Street Tavern, Personal Memories. 157 though not a great man, was a better one, who thought nothing human beyond his care. Such a character vvas the puzzle and opprobrium of politicians, who would nominate somebody else for recorder, but were invari ably defeated. " Old Griff" kept his chair in the re corder's office until death laid him in the grave. At his tavern, Burnet, as I have said, for some time boarded, and was intimate with the officers of the Garrison, in Fort Washington. With one ofthem he became a life-long friend, and at length did much to make him President of the United States. This was William Henry Harrison, then a lieutennant ih the Fort, who having escaped the danger of intemperance, then abounding among the officers, and the dangers of dis ease, of field, and flood, was, in 1840, elected President of the Republic. No man did so much for his election as Jacob Burnet, whose intimacy with him began in Fort Washington. Burnet had come out as a lawyer, and in that profession he began and grew with the city, iu whose name, and fame, and interests he waa at all times no small part. In that day, to practice law at Cincinnati required the lawyer to ride the cir cuit. And what was the circuit ? No less thau the whole Northwestern Territory, now comprising five states and ten millions of people. In the circuit which Burnet rode, were Marietta, Detroit, and Vincennes. He would tell of hair-breadth escapes by field and flood. Here there were almost impassable SAvamps, and there unfordable streams. One night they were belated in making a certain point, and their horses stopped suddenly and would noi: go. They got off and had to camp there. Next morning they found the horsea had stopped just at the edge of a precipice 158 Personal 31tmories. which overhung Wolfe Creek. At other times they would stop iu an Indian village * and be careaaed by greasy squaws, and joked with by swarthy warriors. Such waa a part of the Cincinnati lawyers' practice in the close of the last century. Burnet saya that when he came to the bar, there were nine lawyers, who, all but one, became intemperate. The officera of Fort Washington were hard drinkers, and this led the citi zens to be intemperate. In a few yeara, Burnet waa the sole survivor of the early Cincinnati bar. When I came back, Burnet had retired from active business, . but was still the most influential private citizen. He had taken great interest in the' early improve ments of the city, of which I have spoken, and yet at thia time, when retired, he was spoken of as without public spirit, and rather illiberal. The very reverse was the fact, and to illustrate how much was done by the early citizens of Cincinnati to aid its progress, I will mention what he once told me in a conversation upon public improvements. He said that he had paid for public enterprise full $80,000, and lost nearly the whole of it. He was a stockholder in the Ciucinnati Manufacturing Company, the Sugar Refinery, the Iron Foundry, at the corner of Lawrence- street, the Mi ami Exporting Company Bank, and perhaps some others. The stock in theae companlea was a total loss, except the bank, whose assets subsequently paid some thing. The upshot of all J:his was that he became largely indebted to the United States Bank, and for that debt, sold the square on which the Burnet House and Shillito's store now stands, for $25,000. This was * Burnet's Notes on the Northwest Territory. Personal 31emories. 159 in 1825, and the price was about one^fortieth part of what the ground alone is now worth. Burnet, how ever, held a large amount of city lots, in what waa then alraoat out of the city, and to-day is the very heart of it, where the Second Presbyterian Church now stands, and extending through to Sixth street market. It need not be supposed, therefore, that Burnet, Baum, and other enterprising citizens of that day died poor. On the contrary, some of them left large estates, and nearly all had a competency. Judge Burnet lived nearly thirty years after the financial storm had passed by. He had ceased the practice of the law, but in the meanwhile entered upon public life. A few years after, he was elected judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, where, as in everywhere else, he was distinguished for great acuteness of intellect and solid integrity. Yet, Burnet was by nature and by habit of mind, a lawyer — that is, not merely a man acquainted with law, but a man who always has a side, and who thinks, whether by a virtue of a fee, or of his own opinion, that his side ought to prevail, unless he changes for cause. It was related of Burnet, in his early practice, that he defended a man for stealing an ax, and by his ability had him acquitted. Just then, as Burnet looked round for his client, the man had slipped ouit without paying the fee. Upon this, Burnet said : " Well, I really think that man was guilty after all." Burnet, on the bench of the Supreme Court, mani fested a good deal of the same acuteness, and the same one-sidedness. He gave dissenting opinions, which manifested more of his own oiDinion than of law. ,No man ever questioned his integrity, but no man ever knew him swerve from his own aide. Ai'ter the Whig 160 Personal Memories. party waa formed, Burnet waa elected to the United Statea Senate. When aaked about hia politica Burnet would smUe and say, " I am a Federalist, sir." But no man was a stronger Whig, and few men a stronger partisan. It was impossible for him not to have been a partisan. In the Senate of the United States, as in all the remainder of his life, he belonged to the great Whig party, and was fully up to the level of its great leaders, Clay and Webster. He was intimate with them, with Harrison, Crittenden, and others of the brilliant circle of public meu who have not been equaled since, and Avhom to thiuk of makes me almost doubt whether thia age of leveling haa not also leveled genius and dignity. Judge Burnet was present in the senate when Daniel Webster delivered his great speech in reply to Colonel Hayne. Much as I have read and admired that speech, I got a higher idea of it from his descrip tion of the manner and effect of it.- He described it as most impressively delivered, and as listened to with wrapt attention. WeU it might be, for it was not only a moat perfect piece of oratory in itself, more forcible and argumentative, but very much like some of Cicero's. But it was also the argument, the reply, which annihi lates the argument for nullification and secession. It waa a demonatration that auch proceedinga must ulti mately result in war. If Webster could have kuown or foreseen the effecta of that apeech on the minds of the young men in the countiy, he would have thought the presidency a little thing compared with thia crown of his reward in forming the public mind of the nation. With so cool a teraperaraent and so acute an intellect, Judge Burnet was a witness, who may be trusted for the truth of hiatory. The most important part Bmrnet Personal Memories. 161 took in politica was that of a delegate to the Whig convention at Harrisburg, in 1839. He was there the leading representative from Ohio, in favor of General Harrison. He had beeu, as I have said, intimate with Harrison, when the latter was a lieutenant in Fort Washington, and he was a man who never gave up his side. So Avhen Harrison vvas brought out for the presidency he became a strong advocate of the General, and the hero of Tippecanoe never had an abler or more active adherent than Burnet. I was told by a delegate from New York, who was in favor of Scott, that no man in the convention did as much for Harrison as Burnet. The result is now history, Harrison, ninth President of the United States, and Burnet, his advo cate, now lie in that silent grave where presidents and judges, heroes and their followers, are alike leveled with the dust. Two or three other members of the bar may be mentioned on account of their subsequent career. One of these was David K. Este, who came to Ciu cinnati about 1813. He, like Burnet and Longworth, was a Jerseyman, and, like thera, very success ful. He was a graduate of Nassau Hall (Princeton), and, at the time of his death, the oldest living graduate. He died in his ninety-first year, and one of several members of the Cincinnati Bar who have shown re markable longevity. He was a good lawyer, but chiefly distinguished for courtesy of manners, propriety of conduct, and success in business. Like Burnet, he was one of those cool and careful temperaments, who are incapable of being excited beyond a certain point, and who never commit themselves out of the way. He was several years president judge of the common 162 Personal Memories. pleas, and acquired the respect and esteem of the bar. With that he also acquired a large fortune, made hj investing the surplus avails of his practice in real estate, which rose rapidly in value. Here I may add that while we see many people who have accumulated large property by trade, I will venture to say that tbe Jerseymeu, who came to Cincinnati, and who all stuck to real .estate, got more property in the aggregate than all the leading merchants of the city. Este died at ninety-one, and his longevity brings to my mind some things he related of Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia. His brother persuaded him to attend medical lectures one winter. He was much interested, and told me the last remarks of the celebrated professor. In his last lecture, Dr. Rush said: "Young gentlemen, I have taught you the resources of the profession, I have told you of the necessity of temperance, of air, of exercise, and diet, but one thing I have not told you. . The exercise of the mind is as necessary as that of the body. Let no day pass without reading or reflecting upon some subject for an hour or two. Young gentlemen, your health is in your own hands." Judge Este waa always careful of his health, and often quoted Dr. Rush as authority. He was an Episcopalian in the church, a gentleman in society, and a Republican in politics. After a worthy life, he died respected by all classes. Another lawyer of that day, who died recently in his ninetieth year, was James W. Gazley. He came to Cincinnati at au early day, and practiced law, but was rather given to politics. In 1819-1820, he was elected to congress from the Cincinnati district, against Gen eral Harrison. It was rather surprising at the tirae, since one would have thought that such a man as Har- Personal Memories. 163 rison Avbuld have been elected at once. The election Avas affected, however, by circumstances arising out of the great financial difficulties vvhich were then in mid- crisis. Some questiou arose about aristocracy, and Gazlay represented the plebeian interests and was elected to congress. He was not re-elected, and after that did little at the bar. In the latter part of his life he retired to the country, and was much engaged in writing. He waa a patriotic raan, lived respectably, and died old. Nathaniel Wright was another of the old lawyers, who died recently at eigh|;y-eight years of age. He was a native of New Hampshire, and began life, as mauy lawyers have done, as a school-teacher. He came to Cincinnati severalyears after Este, married a niece of Judge Burnet, and soon got into good practice. He was one of the founders of the Second Presbyterian Church, of whiph he was an elder until death. Mr. Wright Avas a good lawyer, but vvas never in public life. • Another noted lawj'^er at the bar was Bellamy Storer. He was a New England man, I believe from Maine. He had a remarkably quick aud sprightly mind, also a certain species of humorous wit. In 1825, \yhen the " Crisis and Emporium " was published by Samuel J. Browne, Storer was said to be one of the "twenty-five" editors of that paper. I suppose, in fact, the young lawyers, who were Adams men, wrote for the " Crisis," of which, Browue, who lisped a little, used to say, he was " the thole editor and proprietor." He may have been, and yet the twenty-five young meu wrote for it. Storer was, I think, one of the first three judges elected to the Superior Court, of which he 164 Personal Memories. was an able judge aud ornament until near his death. He was once member of congress, and became one of the principal members of Christ's Church. " Horace in Cincinnati " described his then life as " youthful, gay, and wild," but he ended it, at the age of eighty, as one who had been a judge in the land, a legislator, aud an elder of the church. I must hasten on. " Horace in Cincinnati," whose account of the bar iu 1821 was very just, aays, in his 16th Ode: "With person of gigantic size, With thund'ring voice, and piercing eyes, When great Steniorius deigns to rise, Adjacent crowds assemble, To hear a sage the laws expound, In language strong, by reasoning sound. Till, though yet -not guilty found, The culprits fear and tremble. This is the picture of "Joe Benhara,'' as he was called. He vvas uot a " sage," but he was au orator, aud fevv men vvere more impressive iu power and man ner. I walked into the court-house one afternoon, when a boy was on trial for stealing some trifling ar ticle. Except the jury, there were not a dozen people iu the house ; but a more eloquent and pathetic appeal than Benham made for that boy, I have scarcely ever heard. Benham died in rather early life. He was the father of Mrs. George D. Prentice, of Louisville, and Avill probably be reraerabered by hia descendants. Mr. Corry, father of the present William M. Corry, was then at the bar, and, I beUeve, mayor of Cincin nati. Of him, Horace says : Personal -31emories. 165 " Slow to obey what 'er to call, And yet a faithful friend to all ; In person rather stout and tall, • In habits quite domestic. Devaux in elegance is found To run the same unvaried round; Ne'er grov'ling lowly on the ground, Nor sailing off majestic.'' In 1825, there were also at the bar two sons of Gen eral William Lytle, who had beeu an early pioneer, and was a gentleman of standing and wealth. Will iam Lytle, the eldest son, vvas spoken of in tho high est terms both for talents and character. He was consuraptive, and died young. Robert T. Lytle Avas for several years a raarked man in Cincinnati. His father was a warm personal friend of General Jack son, Avhoin he was thought to resemble in raany things. Robert was a young man of decided talent, and popular appearance and manners. So about 1832, when Jackson vvas at the height of his power, Robert Lytle vvas elected to congress, and became a protege of the General. When the war ou the United States Bank began, Lytle, of course, sided with Jackson ; but that did uot at all suit his constituents, especially merchants and manufacturers, who depended largely on the bank for money. So, in the election of 1834 there was a revolution in the politics of Hamilton county, and he Avas defeated, as I havo related, by Bellaray Storer. Mr. Lytle lived a few years longer, but died at au early age, and left behind hira the raemory of a brilliant, generous, aud popular man. I haA'e said enough to show the character of the bar of Cincinnati in 1825. It will be seen that in no larger number than forty, it certainly had as large a 166 Personal 31emories. proportion of gifted and reraarkable men as perhaps ever adorned a simUar body, and yet I have left out sorae (one in particular, to be raentioned hereafter) who were fully equal in talent and standing to the others. It is noticeable that there Avere among them some examples of uncommon longevity. Burnet, Gazley, Este, Wright, and Storer averaged eighty-five years of age, and tAvo of them' reached ninety years. In the year 1825 there was a little society- of not a dozen young lawyers assembled for mutual instruc tion, and at the end of half a centur}', four of them were living, and of the forty lawyers at the bar then, eight were living. This shows that the pursuit of in tellectual professions is by no means unfavorable to health; but, on the contrary, the regular exercise of the mind, and a uniform life of business, aids, rather than obstructs, a life of health aud happiness. In connection with this, vve may note the reraarkable fact, stated by Judge Burnet, that of the nine lawyers of the bar iu 1795, all but one perished sots. It is not, therefore, labor, or intellectual exciteraent, or eveu business cadres, vvhich shorteu life, but the irregular ities, and exhaustions, and excesses of indulgence and interaperance. The bar of this day haa very little interaperance coraparatively, for all things are rela tives. This is one evidence that society is not going backward, and that vve may expect better things for the future. Having described all that I know of ministers and lawyers, let me proceed to notice doctors and editors, aud here vve ahall find a much less harmonious scene, but sorae characters vvho had quite as much influence on society. Personal Memories. 167 CHAPTER XI. Dr. Danid Drake, his genius and character — Dr. Go- forth — Cincinnati in 1805 — 31edical Practice ; Drake founds the Ohio 3Iedical College) is turned out by his Colleagues; "Horace in Cincinnati;" Drake's 31on- ody on the Death of his Wife-^31oses Dawson — Charles Hammond, Editor and Lawyer — States Rights in Ohio — Literary Institutions — Hiram Poicers— Poets — W. D. Gallagher. In 1825, and for many yeara after, Daniel Drake waa rauch the raost distinguished physician of Cin cinnati. He vvas a raan of genius, of strong intellect, of warra temperament, zealous and ambitious. For forty years he was engaged iu nearly all public aft'airs — the founder of some, and the' friend of all good in stitutions — a life-long teacher in his profession, and a writer of no sraall erainence. In his little book called the " Picture of Cincinnati," he did more for this city thau probably any one raan had then done, and should be held iu grateful reraerabrance by thoae who profited by his labors. He waa a native of New Jersey, born in 1785. His father — a plain farmer — moved to Kentucky, near Maysville, and subsequently to Cincinnati. The young Daniel seems for some cause to have been destined to the medical profession at an early day. He carae to Cincinnati while he was quite a youth, studied, and afterward becarae a part ner, with the then noted Dr. William Goforth. Of 168 Personal Memories. this gentleman, Drake, iu some of his discourses, has given an interesting account. Goforth vvas one ofthe earliest and best of the raedical practitioners. He was a gentleman of the old school. With a gold- headed cane, a wig, and stately step, Goforth went forth. Of the kind of practice in those daya we can get an idea by hearing that the learned doctor would be called out in the night to visit a patient, four miles off, on Mill creek ; ride in the dark, sometimes lead ing his horse ; and theu get twenty-five cents in specie, besides a bite for his horse. The doctor, it was said, waa a very kindly raan, but quite oblivious of the ne cessity of collecting or keeping money. Of course, he did not succeed very vvell, and some years after went to New Orieans. I have a characteristic letter from him to my father, in which, after relating his experiences, he concludes with "New Orleans is hell upon earth." This vvas probably a correct, however brief, picture of it at that time. It was bad for Go- forth, fbr he got the liver-complaint, and returned to Cincinnati to die. At the time Drake atudied with Goforth, the town of Cincinnati was a dirty, and, vvhat sorae persons Avill scarcely believe, eveu a raarshy place. I have al ready said, that the bottom, below Eaat Third street to the river, was a marsh, the river bank being higher than the land back. This marsh was frozen over in Avinter, aud raade a skatiug-place for boys. So also Fifth street, Avhere the government buildings are uow erecting, Avas au alder swamp. Drake relates that, when studying medicine, he resorted to the bowers of Deer creek. This dirty little run had high banks, overgrown with trees, shrubs, aud flowers. There Personal Memories. 169 Diake, Avith his books, aud while listening to the song of birds, the croaking of frogs, and the rustling of the wind, studied the science which has made Hip pocrates and Galen, Boerhave and Rush, famous. He was very fond of natural scenery, and in the latter part of his life wrote " Remiuiscential Letters," which are full of the most beautiful descriptions, thoughts, and sentiments. Drake began his practice young ; went into partner ship with Goforth, Avhich partnership did not flourish very well. It was soon dissolved, and Drake had managed to get enougli to take him to Philadel phia, there to hear the lectures of the celebrated Dr. Rush and his coUeagues. Improved aud stimulated by intercourse with great minds, he returned to Cin cinnati, to begin a career which, in thia country, is unique in the variety of its incidents, the magnitude of its labors, and the usefulness of its work. The country Avas nevv ; the town vvas young ; society mis cellaneous ; and eveiy public institution had to be founded, and the social character to be formed. There Avas no man better fitted for this than he, and no mau did more of it. In the course of this varied career, he was at times involved in bitter controA^ersies, but time smoothed theni over, and he lived to forgive, if not forget, his enemies. He was a founder of good tbings, an author, teacher, and physician. In 1818- 1819, he Avent before the legislature, and presented personally his views on medical education, aud pro cured the charter ofthe Medical College of Ohio, and of the Commercial Hospital of Cincinnati, both of which remain monuraents to his raemory. He had beeu the first medical student in Cincinnati, and on the 170 Personal Memories. organization of the college became (he first medical professor. It was this which led him into a great controversy. He fell into the error vvhich the Uni versity of Virginia, and several institutions of the West, have fallen into — that of importing professors from abroad, either from Europe or the East. All of these institutions found out their error, and some of thera by severe suff'ering. Drake's medical college suf fered. He got his professors from the East ; and the medical college opened, in 1821, with the announce ment of Daniel Drake, Jesse Smith, Benjamin L. Bohrer, and Elijah Slack aa professors. The three last had been imported. Bohrer was an intriguer, who immediately began a cabal to supplant Dr. Drake. There was a great defect in the charter, vvhich made the professors also the trustees ; so that, in fact, the majority of the faculty could turn out the others, and elect whora they pleased. Bohrer left of his ovvn accord, bnt had alienated the other professors fn-m Drake. This occasioned a singular and very ludicrous scene. The three professors met in solemn councU, Drake presiding, when Smith raoved the expulsion of Drake, and Slack seconded it ; whereupon Drake put the raotion, and the founder of the Medical Col lege of Ohio was expelled frora the institution he had created, by the colleagues whom he had made! The society of Cincinnati waa not so large then as not to syrapathize with a medical quarrel. The town Avas soon filled wilh partisans, and the raedical war went on for neariy twenty years. Two years after " Horace in Cincinnati " wrote " Ode 24th," on the J^sculapian war. He saya: Personal 31e'mories. 171 " The warfaie was begun Long ere we shook with laughter, To see Pilgarlio run, And Dr. Pompous after. " And t' other day we find (Here none can think me bouncing) Professor Pill designed To give " one Ben " a trouncing. Though famous as a Turk, The last seem'd not to mind him, But promptly drew a dirk, And popt it in behind him." This ia an actual fact. Dr. Pill ia supposed to have been Dr. Morehead, an Irish doctor, who Avas after- Avard quite a popular physician. " One Ben" Avas Drake's brother Benjarain, who encounlered More- head in the raanner described. The incident is trifling, but it illustrates the manners of the day, vvhen Cin cinnati vvas yet a smal! town, and, of course, jiarfak- ing in all the feuds and bickerings of its leading men. Twenty years scarcely allayed these quarrels, in which nearly all the theu citizens of Cincinnati Avere en gaged. In 1825, when I arrived in Cincinnati, Drake, Avhose wife was my cousiu, had apparently got through with those quarrels — although they broke out subsequently. lie was a bankrupt, financially ; had been expelled, iu the way described, from the institution he had founded ; and Avas now turning round to see what the world would be to him. He was poor, and nearly all Cincinnati were also. Even Burnet had been com pelled to sell his house and square for what turned out to be a song; and Baura, just after building his fine residence on Pike street, had sold that and the whole 172 Personal Memories. square to the Bank of the United States. The wealth iest citizens were those vvho suffered moat. Drake had not been wealthy, but he had gone into the speculaT ¦ tions of the day, and become one of the unfortunate victims of the United States Bank. In this condi tion, and in the spirit ofthat economy which few now realize, he Avent into a log cabin, at the foot of the hUls, above Liberty street, Avhich he aptly called " Mount Poverty." But he had the practice of his profession, and was altogether too able aud brilliant a man to be neglected. In the year 1825 he vvas mak ing arrangements vvith Transylvania University, at Lexington, Kentucky, to become a professor there — which he was for several years. In the aummer of 1825 he lost his wife, for whose loss he mourned as few ever do. Annually he raade a pUgrimage to her tomb, and commeraorated her death with an anni versary byran, for the coraposition of which he had much aptness. I quote the last three stanzas of that for 1831 — iu reference to something he did for the theu graveyard : " Thou lonely widowed bird of night, As on this sacred stone, Thou may 'st in wandering chance to light, Pour forth thy saddest moan. " Ye giddy throng, who laugh and stray Where notes of sorrow sound, And mock the funeral vesper lay, Tread not this holy ground. " For here my sainted Harriet lies ; I saw her hallowed form Laid deep below, no moro to rise, Before tho judgment morn." Personal Memories. 173 The reference to the "giddy throng Avho laugh and stray " round graveyards was very apt in reference to that of Cincinnati. The principal graveyard at that time — the one set apart to Presbyteriaus and Episco palians — waa what is now called "Washington Square," between Twelfth and Fourteenth, Race and Elm streets. At this time it was quite full of graves and grown over with weeds, and frequented by idlers of all descriptions. Here the body of Mrs. Drake was deposited, aud the doctor imraediately set to work to clear and iraprove the grounds. He got some small subscriptions, cleared off the ground, and planted trees, so that in a short time the grounds assuraed a decent and pleasant aspect. It was perhaps well that the horae of the dead was soon converted into a park for the living. In the beautiful cemetery of Spring Grove, at least oue generation of the dead may rest iu peace. More than that can hardly be expected, when we reflect that in tvventy years two successive grave yards of the pioneers have been broken up and built upon ! After the death of his wife, Drake removed to Lc.k- ington, Ky., but the next year returned to Cincinnati, Avhere, until his death, he was kuown as teacher, jour nalist, and author, eminent at horae and distinguished abroad. In these characters Ave shall see hira again, and especially in social raoveraents, Avhere he vvas not only conspicuous, but very useful iu his influence. About this period there vvere several respectable physicians in Cincinnati, although not distinguished as literary or scientific men. Among them vvas Dr. Ramsey. He waa of Scotch descent, one of the old school gentlemen, stiff', starched, and stately, with hia 174 Personal Memories. queue and high-topped boots, viaiting his patients ou horseback or in his gig. Then there were Pierson, •Jesse Smith, Cramner, Morehead, and others. We can see frora this that the medical, as well as the legal faculty, at that time Avas of a high order of talents and attainments. Now, if you please, we aa'IU turn to a very dift'erent order of men, aud oue Avhich, in all the changes of time, has au imraense influence. I raean the news paper writers.' The terra _" editor" is constantly used in a false sense. The editor of a book or journal or newspaper is the one vvho raakes it up, prepares it, ancl u.shers it before the public. He is not necessarily the writer at all; but, in the econoray as Avell as ne cessities of nearly all newspapers, the editor is the chief writer, and hence the confusion of terras. At this time, and I mean from 1825 to 1828, Ciucinnati had tAvo reraarkable ncAvspaper Avriters. These vvere MosES Dawson and Charles Hammond. The former (Dawson) vvas an Irishman, who then published aud edited the Cincinnati Advertiser, which, in the new formation of parties, becorae the Jackson, and subse quently the loading Democratic paper of this region. Dawson was a rough, ungainly raan, but quite a vig orous writer. He vvrote, I think, a life of General Harrison, and aa the leader of the rough and unedu cated class of the coramunity, although respectable himself, vvas quite a conspicuous persou. I Avas nat urally averse to such people, and so never became much acquainted Avith him. Sorae tirae after this, Charles Hammond became editor of the Cincinnati Gazette. Hammond, of course, came right iuto con flict Avitb Moses Dawson, for Hammond was a firm Federalist of the old school, had edited a paper iu Personal 3'lemories. 175 Belmont county, Ohio, Avas an able lawyer, and com promised nothing of his opinions for anybody. Such a man on one side and an Irish Democrat on the other Avould of course, and actually did, make a literaiy and political pugilism worthy of Donnybrook. Newspaper conflicts have never been confined to polite usages or tender language. So Dawson and Hararaond kept up a running fight which was more worthy of Ireland than of Araerica. There vvas, however, uo equality in the contestants. Haramond Avas not only an able lawyer, and familiar Avith the political history of the day, but was one of the sharpest and raost vigorous writers. While Hammond was firing rifles, whose balls invariably hit the mark, Dawson Avould reply Avith a blunderbuss, heavily charged, but raaking more noise than execution. Both these men vvere jovial companions, and would often meet in a " coft'ee-house," as the saloons of this day were theu called. It was told me, by one who waa preaent, that they would meet at a noted coffee-houae on Front street, Avhere they vvould banter each other over their toddy. Dawson would say : " I 'll beat you, Charley," and Hammond vvould say : " I'll give it to you in the raorning." If anyone objects to this un dignified proceeding, they will please to remember that it was a counterpart to the convivial scenes of Loudon, vvhen Fox and Pitt frequented the club- rooms. But Hammond had a higher and a nobler office than Dawson or any other editor of the West could then perform. It is singular that no one has prepared a memoir or sketch of this remarkable man. He was born, I think, in Western Virginia, near the Pennsylvania line, at any rate near the border; he set- 176 Personal 3Iemories. tied iu Belraont county, Ohio; practiced law, and waa known as an able lawyer, in the day when Doddridge, of West Virginia, vvas yet on the stage, and John C. Wright and Tappen practicing at the aame bar. He had great fondness for politics, and edited the leading paper of that section. He was a firm Federalist and opposed the Democratic party at all times. Yet he was found at one tirae supporting the leading heresy of that party, " State Rights." Of this, however, he quickly repented and raade araends by a long, vigor ous defense of the true constitutional doctrine. The occasion of his error was the attempt of the State of Ohio to tax the United States Bank, branchea of which vvere eafablished in Cincinnati and ChUlicothe. The state taxed them $50,000 each. The bank re fused to pay, and the auditor of state collected the' tax by force. Upon these proceedings, the Circuit Court of the United States ordered the money to be refunded, which Avas done, and a case vvas made — that of Osborne against the Bank of the United States— yvhich was ultimately decided iu favor of the bank, by the Supreme Court of the United States. The entire principle was discussed and finally decided iu the case Of McCoUovgh versus the State of Maryland. In that case, the supreme conrt decided thatthe charter ofthe bank was constitutional, being one ofthe raeans appro priate to the objects of governraent; thatthe bank had a right to establish offices of discount and deposit withiu any state, and that no state had a right to tax this, or any constitutional means employed bythe Governraent of the Union for conatitutional objects. This settled that questiou, but it seeras strange now, and will seem more so in future history, that the State Personal Memories. 177 of Ohio, in 1820 and 1821, deliberately affirmed the States Rights heresy embodied iu the Virginia Reso lutions of 1798, and protested against the right of the supreme court to adjudicate questions concerning the statea. It waa a series of decisions in the supreme court which bound the American Union and educated the coraing generation iuto just ideas of nationality. Nevertheless, it took forty years of discussion, of nulli fication, of secession, and of civil war to terminate this political controver.sy and settle the American Governraent upon, Ave hope, durable foundations. In the proceedings against the bank, it was understood Mr. Hararaond was the adviser. Being, however, a consistent believer in law and government, he yielded at ^nce to the decision ofthe court, aud never again advocated the doctrine advauced in the Virginia or the Ohio Resolutions. In fact, the whole affair was an episode in Ohio history, produced, no doubt, by the great and extraordinary financial embarrassments AA'hich took place betvveen 1819 aud 1823. This con troversy began in 1820 and ended iu 1824. About this time, Mr. Hammond reraoved to Cincinnati, where he practiced law, and in a short time, x>robably 1826, becarae editor of the Cincinnati Gazette. " Liberty Hall" was a weekly paper, originally conducted by the Rev. John W. Browne. It waa for many years the title of the preaent Weekly Gazette, which waa established ii^ an early day. The Gazette was a semi-weekly at the tirae Mr. Hammond took it, aud re.sembled in size and appearance the second-class countiy papers ofthe present day. It had been edited by Isaac Burnet, mayor of the city, and a brother of Judge Burnet. Hammond soon made himself felt, although the 178 Personal Memories. amount of editorial raatter he furnished seems surpris ingly sraall when corapared Avith the ponderous arti cles of this day. There was a lesson iu them, how ever, which might now be heeded Avith advantage. He made up in quality what he wanted iu quantity. I know of uo Avriter who could express an idea so clearly and so briefly. He wrote the pure old EngUsh — the vernacular tongue, unraixed vvith French or Latiu phrases or idioras, and unperverted with any scholastic logic. His language was like hiraself — plain, sensible, and unaff'ected. His force, however, lay not so rauch in this as in his truth, honesty, and courage, those moral qualities Avhich made him distinguished at that day, and Avould distinguish him now. Ih 1828, Avhile editor of the Gazette, he edited " Truth's Advocate," a raonthly, which, for about a year, was published by the friends of Adams and Clay against the claims of General JacksOn. Several his torical and some very able articles appeared in it. Jackson's illegal marriage (for it vvas illegal, although raorally right), his duels, his arbitrary conduct, his despotic character, were all shown up in strong colors, and the account vvas, with little excei)tion, true. Yet, I could not see that it made any impression upon the people, who looked upon Jackson as a patriotic man, who had fought the battle of New Orleans and beat the British. The popular sentiraent Avas expressed by Counselor Sampson, of New York, in some speech before a jury, in which an old soldier was a party. " This war-worn soldier," said he, " vvho bled upon the field of New Orleana — that death-bed of British Glory ! " The popular feeling against the British con tinued raany years after the war, aud Jackson was a Personal 31emories. 179 sort of popular synonym for the Anti-British feeling. In truth, Jackson had more than this form of patriot ism. He was iu every sense patriotic, and the countiy owes a debt of gratitude to him, for his stern opposi tion to the nullification scheme, and to all those anti- national ideas, vvhich afterward resulted in secession and civil war. Ilis determined course postponed the time of the outbreak and strengthened the feeling of Union, which afterward sustained the governraent. That his adrainistration contained rauch evil, as well as some good, uo future historian will deny. His election brought on a fierce and bitter controversy, which coutinued for thirty 3'ears, aud which termin ated ouly in the greater controversy upon the ques tion of slavery. At that tirae, Henry Clay vvas the great political leader in the West, to whose fortune, both Ohio and Kentucky steadily adhered. Hararaond was the per sonal and political friend of Clay, often practicing in the sarae courts. So he raade war on Jackson, and was unrelenting in his attacks. Although he failed to defeat Jackson, he laid the foundation for the over throw of his successor. Van Buren. Mr. Hararaond, although exercising a wide infiuence on politics and public men, was alvvays a private citizen. He seemed not ambitious, but on oue or tvvo occasions, he re jected office for other considerations. He vvas asked to accept the place of supreme judge, but conscien tiously refused it, because he knew himself to be in sorae raeasure interaperate. The rejection was raore honorable to hira than any office could have been. His opposition to slaveiy and its influence on the govern raent was firra, consistent, and powerful. Probably 180 Personal Memories. no public writer did raore than he to form a just and reasonable anti-slavery sentiment. In fine, as a writer of great ability, and a mau of large acquirements and singular integrity, Hammond was scarcely equaled by any man of, his time. We shall hear more of him as I proceed. In addition to the pulpit, the bar, and the press, all ably manned, there was, at thia time, aorae germs of a literaiy society. John P. Footb, a native of Connec ticut, had been for several years a book publisher, and took a great interest in literaiy matters. He, in connection with some young men, of vvhom Ben jamin Drake, John H. James, aud Lewis Noble were, I believe, a part, had established a literary paper, which continued for three or four years. In the year 1822, appeared the odes of " Horace in Cincinnati," which, at the time, caused quite a sensa tion ; for they were, in most cases, descriptiA'c of well- known persons and scenes. They were republished in a little volurae, without the author's consent, and were, as he said in a note, on subjects so local aud transitory as to be of little general luterest. Never theless, many of his descriptions were very accurate. The author was not known at their publication, but was soon after found to be Thomas Pierce, educated, I think, a Quaker, and in business a hardware mer chant. He died many years since, and, except iu some library, "Horace in Cincinnati " died with him. At this time also there were the wrecks of several literaiy schools. I have already mentioned that Wil son and Drake vvere the originators of the " Lancas terian School." Lancaster Avas an English educational reformer who was just theu in A'ogue, with a new Personal Memories. 181 fashion in education — for education has its fashions, as all other things. His system was that of mutual instruction araong the pupils. Drake obtained the charter of the Lancasterian Serainary, as he did those of the Medical College of Ohio and the Coraraercial Hospital of Cincinnati. The Lancasterian School vvas iu operation several years, when it gave place to Cin cinnati College. This institution was chartered in 1819, and was part of a systera of institutions Drake had devised. He was in high spirits at this tirae, and wrote to one of his friends, that many thousands of dollars had been subscribed to the seminary ; that the medical college and hospital would soon be in opera tion ; that there was a school of arts proposed ; and that Cincinnati would soon be, what Lexington had been called, the Athens of the West. It was pre cisely, however, the Uterary part which failed. After a brief trial ofthe Lancasterian Seminaiy, Cincinnati College vvas substituted in its place, and for three or four years had classes, under the presidency of the Rev. Elijah Slack. Several young men Avho after ward rose to some distinction, were in this college; but unendowed and dependent ouly on local support, the college soon ceased its regular classes, and its charter vvas kept alive only by a priraary school. In subsequent years, it was again revived, only to die out iu the same manner. The trustees had, however, established a law school, aud recently tvvo lectureships — one of Christian philosophy, and the other of Chris tian jurisprudence. In this vvay the institution is suc cessful, and will, perhaps, iu thia form, do the work Avhich the pioneers of education intended. At the time I returned to Cincinnati all these insti- 182 Personal 3Iemorics. tutions Avere- comparatively wrecks, and it remained for the coming generation to reveal and recreate the raeans of education in the metropolis of the Ohio Valley. Drake, Burnet, Lytle, Spencer, Foote, Wil son, and other pioneers in that liberal enterprise, have long since passed away, and fcAV of this generation remember their Avorth ; yet it was, in proportion to their day aud means, greater than anything done since. Over their graves there is not a single monu raent which gives to the paasing stranger an idea of their vvork, and the future city of Cincinnati, great in arts and population, vvill know Uttle of its founders or or its benefactors. Sorae tirae after this — anticipating a little — I first heard of Hiram Powers. I was passing down Main street, when I noticed some posts at the corner — per haps Third street — which had beeu put, I believe, for lanterns. But, whatever the purpose, I noticed carved heads upon them. These heads vvere so far superior to any of the comraon wood carving that I vvas sur prised, and asked who did thera. I vvas told Hiram Powers. He was then, I think, in the employment of Luman Watson, who was for a long tirae a clock- maker in the city. He Avas soon noticed for his re markable faciUty in that line, and, I may add, in many thinga Avhich required ingenuity. In fact, Powers was a genius, one out of only half a dozen I ever knew. Soon after that — probably about 1830 — he was employed by Dorfieule, Avho kept a museum near the corner of Main aud Pearl streets, to make vvhat was for several years called the " Infernal Re gions." I believe he M'as first engaged to make wax figures. In a construction of the " Infernal Regions " Personal 3Iemorics. 183 he came as near vvhat might be imagined the reality as one could come. He had the fires burning — Rhad amanthus, the Judge — darkness enveloping the Avhole, and an iuA'isible, to the visitor, electrical battery, vvhich nearly knocked down fhe unfortunate visitor Avho happened to touch the railing arouud. This was a popular afi'air, and reraained in vogue several years, when Dorfieule gave up the rauseura and retired. Powers was with him fora considerable time before he engaged in sculpture. How he succeeded iu that the vvorld knoAvs. I have never seen a raeraoir of hira, although a very interesting one might be raade. Some encyclopcedia notices have been made, but fell far short of giving a true view of his life and genius. About this time (frora 1828 to 1835) there were tvvo poets in Cincinnati, vvho, I presurae, are novv entirely forgotten. They are mentioned in Everest's " Poets of Connecticut," for they Avere both natives of that state. Oue Avas Hugh Peters, a young lawyer, and much esteemed. He was a man of talent and rising at the bar. He began writing iov the New England Review when iu college, but vvrote several pieces iu Cincinnati. He was the author of "My Native Laud," a patriotic and pleasing poem. One verse seems to have beeu prophetic : ¦' And I have left thee, home, alone, A pilgrim from thy shore ; The wind goes by with hollow moan, I hear it sigh a warning tone, ' You see your home no more.' I'm cast upon the world's wide sea. Torn like an ocean weed; 1 'm cast away, far, far from thee ; I feel a thing I can not be, A bruised and broken reed." 184 Personal Memories. He was found drowned in the Ohio, in June, I thiuk, 1832. It was supposed he had got up, aa he had done the night previous, in an unconscious state, harassed by care or trouble, and gone into the river. The other name was that of Edward A. McLaugh lin. He was a printer, but led a wild aud adventurous life, being in Cincinnati some ten or fifteen years. In 1841, he published the " Lovers of the Deep," iu four cantos. It was founded on au incident connected with the wreck of the unfortunate steamer Pulaski. Anticipating time, I may say that about the same period, WUliam D. Gallagher began his career as poet, editor, and writer. He is the best known of all the Western poets, and deservedly so. Some of his pro ductions are very supei ior, and ought to live in any collection of American poetry. It has been, perhaps, unfortunate for his literary fame that his life has been so various and so eraployed in business, tbat he has not beeu able to woo the rauses as assiduously as those ladies require. At least, I can imagine that he had the traits and talent to have excelled in poetry. Personal Memories. 185 CHAPTER XII. Society in Cincinnati^ Parties — Theaters — Actors — Prevalent Diseases — Taking the Census — Mechanics — Strange Imposition — General Ross. My introduction to the society of Cincinnati was easy and general. My father went with me, and no body was better known than he. It was just then that his friend aud agent, Martin Baum, had built the fine house on Pike street, I have already mentioned. Baum never gave but one party iu that house, and I Avas there. It vvas in the suraraer of 1825, and was given in the afternoon. We went at four o'clock, and came away before dark. It was, I believe, onfy a re ception for gentlemen, Avho had a pleasant time with the usual refreshments. Several yeara after that, I was present in the same house at one of the largest par ties I ever attended iu Cincinnati, giydu by Mr. Long- worth. Parties are not a test of society, unless compared at very distant { eriods of tirae. A fashionable party is always the same, unless in the diff'erences only, which' diff'erence of means causes. There will be greater or less numbers, greater or less display of dress or orna ments, according to the means of the giver, or the state of the markets, or the fashion of the times. The lapse of half a century has caused Uttle difference in the elementa of a fashionable party. The cynic and the philosopher are very apt to denouncte it; but ac tual observation of society shows that even this has 186 Personal Memories. ita uses. A fashionable party is almost alwaya given to pay aocial debts, to celebrate an occasion, or to honor a stranger. If a person haa the meana to do it, these are coraraendable ends. So it is said, by many, that they are bores, rather than meana of enjoyment. That is just as the guest takes it. A sensible man or woman cau enjoy a large party very much. It is a place where you can seek what mode of passing the time you please, and talk upon what you please. It is said that John Quincy Adams, even when presi dent, would be found at a large party in Washington, sitting iu the corner playing chess. No doubt, in an other corner of the room might be fouud the belle of the season, surrounded with beaux and rattling- awav with light and airy manner; and in another some noted lady, adorned in the splendor of dress and dia monds, talking with a foreign ambassador. Such a party is, therefore, not a place tobe wholly denounced. At the tirae I spoke of, there were not, in Cincinnati, the raeans to make a party as rich and ornamental as there are now. " Modern Improvement" had not reached ua. Even oyaters were not seen at a party until 1827. Nor could the beautiful array of " cut flowers " be exhibited then, as they are now. . Nature produced as much, but there was little" attention paid to raerely artificial products, and fashion had not raade these displays necessary. In fact, Cincinnati parties in 1825-1826 were purely social, not forthe mere pur pose of display, which ia too often the case now. They had an excess of good things to eat and drink ; but with them a large share of good humor and good con versation. There waa uo distinction of old and young, fashionable or unfashionable, married or unmarried; Personal Memories. 187 but while the party, like a family, was raixed in dif ferent proportions, it was always composed of the well- to-do, the respectable, and the intellectual. The dis tinctive raarks of pioneer hospitality had not yet wholly departed. The frank manners, the warm re ception, the bon ami, and the recognition of the pio neer favorites had not gone. I remember one party, which was a fair type of parties iu general at thisi;ime. It was at the house of Col. C, on Third street, near Main street, where many good families then lived, and I attended several parties on Third street. Col. C. had a large square house, the best rooms of which Avere on the second fioor, and the whole suite were thrown open for the reception and supper rooms. Col. C. had been rather profuse in his invitations. I thiuk there were more than two hundred persons present, and the house crowded. In the front room the ladies and gentlemen were engaged in conversation, as usual, the ladies making no attemjjt at magnificent dresses, aud the gentlemen paying no more attention to young than to old ladies, but mingling in general conversa tion, and all making themselves agreeable. There was no regular set supper-table. But, as was customary at that day, there were in the back rooma tablea for gen tlemen, covered with the most solid dishes of meat and game, while the waiters carried to the ladies the best of cakes and confections, with whatever else they de sired. With them remained the young gentlemen, who had then even more gallantry than they have now in commending themselvea to the gracea of the ladies. But with the old, aedate, and unfashionable gentlemen the back room was the charm. There stood the tables, with ham and beef, and venison, turkey. 188 Persjnal 31emories. and quails, with bottles of brandy ancl wine, and there were cards for those who wanted to kill time. Never theless, in those rooms were many a charming woman and many a-n intellectual man. I met at that time, I thiuk, for the first time, Nathan Ware, a gentleman from Georgia, a brother of Senator Ware, and at one time a partner of Calhoun. He was a man of great intelligence and inquiring mind. I mention him here because of an interesting conversation I had with him, about this, on the subject of a bridge over the Ohio, one winter evening, at his room, on the lower part of Broadway. He took out some maps which he had di-awn of a bridge to be erected. The plan was to put it from the foot of Broadway to the mouth of Licking, having one outlet to Covington and the other to New port. It was to be built on piers, with a draw. The idea was rather better than that of the great railroad bridge, made by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which was built on piers, but is confined to the New port side. Dr. Drake, in his '.' Pictures of Cincinnati," published in 1815, saya: "Sonae enthusiastic persons already speak of a bridge across the Ohio, but the period at which this great project can be executed is certainly remote." Not so very remote, for it waa little more than thirty yeara afterward when the beautiful suapension bridge was thrown over to Covington. In the same winter, I think, I attended the wedding of Miss Graham and Dr. Ridgely, at a two-story frame house, on Third street, which now looks likcone of the antiquities, but which saw, in those daya, some of the brighteat scenes of the town. Mr. Graham, the father, • was a paper manufacturer, whose mill was at the foot of John street. His two daughters and aon were Personal Memories. 189 among the first people I waa acquainted with. At that wedding, I think, were a number of the young ladies who theu entered into society. Some of them I will barely mention. One of them was Mary Long- worth, the eldest daughter of Nicholas Longworth, and at that time quite a helle, handsome and interest ing. She soon after married Dr. Stettinius, of the District of Columbia, aud in a few years died. An other was Mary Ann Burnet, who married Mr. Vachel Worthington, and also soon died. Another lady, of whom I saw little, but who is sung by "Horace in Cincinnati," was Elizabeth A. Lytle. Her father, General Lytle, was a noted man in the early history of Cincinnati, and her brother, Robert, was a few years after elected to Congress. Her brother, WilUam, whom I have just before mentioned, was thought to he one of the most promising young men, but died early. Elizabeth Lytle, soon after I came out, was married to Charles Macalester, a merchant, who removed to Phila delphia. Both were persona in high estimation, much esteemed by those who knew them. Just previous to my arrival she had been one of the belles of Cincin nati. Horace, in Cincinnati, addressed her an ode, which though not remarkable for poetry, shows in what esteem she was held : " If virgin purity of mind, With nature's loveliness combined, In life's unclouded morning; If in her fair and comely-face Shine here, politeness, ease, and grace Her character adorning; " If blest with kind parental care. To guard her steps from vice's snare, 190 Personal 31emories. And if religion summon To taste her joys, a maid like this, You must, dear friend, possess of bliss A portion more than common. " Unskill 'd in coquetry's vain wiles, Devoid of art and Syren-smiles, And free from envy's leaven, Still with untiring ardor run The virtuous course you have begun. Beneath the smiles of heaven." From the society of ladies I must turn, in order to give a true picture of the town iu its coarser amuse ments. Cincinnati seems to have had then, as well as since, no small taste for garabling. The police re- p(u-t3 now ahow thatthe city is infested with gamblers. These are of a low and coarse sort ; but when I came out, and for several years, there were many gentle men ofthe bar, raerchants, and others, who habituaUy gambled. Just before then the raarshal and his offi cers had been seized with a sudden spasra of virtue, and arrested nearly an hundred of lawyers, raerchants, bankers, and "gentlemen," vvho (without regard to their gentility) vvere indicted for gambling — much to their astonishment, and the astonishment of the town. Of this proceeding, " Horace" says: " Our citizens had long, Unfearing fortune's evils. With cards, and wine and song. Enjoyed their midnight revels. They grew more free and bold, Nor thought to be molested ; At length a tale was told. And every man arrested." The joke of the tovvn was thi;t the sherift' and the Personal 31emories. 191 prosecuting attorney were among the nuraber arrested. " Horace," vvho was a Quaker, enjoyed it, and his 28th Ode is full of irony. " Blush, jurymen, with shame, For wantonly commanding Some hundred men of fame, Renown, and lofty standing, To quit their fov'rite sport, Kenouuce their gambling errors, And stand before the court, In all its mighty terrors." Facts like these show — what my observation has done — that the grosser vices have diminished iu the higher and more educated classea of society, and de scended to the lower. It is well known that gambling Avas at onetime fashionable iu England, aud at the time I speak of it vvas alraost fashionable iu Cincinnati. There vvere Avealthy gentlemen, and the most eminent members of the bar, who were known to be gamblers. After a time, this was denounced, and the reputation of gambling Avas a bad one. Then it ceased to be openly practiced by respectable men. At least it was hid, and in this, as in other cases, A'ice paid to virtue the tribnte of hypocrisy. At this time there was in Cincinnati a theater, ou Columbia (since called Second) street, between Main aud Sycamore. In the Avinter of 1825-1826, I was a frequent attendant, aud found much amusement, with out anything to regret. It was undoubtedly — if I may judge from Avhat I hear — of a better character than many of the theaters. There, I once heard Booth the elder, iu Richard the Third, in which he was celebrated. But tragedy I never admired, and my de- 192 Personal Memories. light was in the comedy of the then noted Aleck Drake, who with his Avife — a superior Avomau — was famous iu the Avesteru countiy. I had seen "Old Barnes," as he was called, iu New York, and many years after. Burton. Aleck Drake, totally unlike either, was, in the spirit of comedy, equal to them. He was superior to Barnes, but upt equal to Burton, in gentle manly bearing. In the power to make fun^ without coarseness, Drake was unrivaled. His wife vvas su perior to hira — not so much on the stage as in miud and character. I once saw a little incident showing what an energetic, spirited woman she Avas. A fire broke out on Main street, and at that time there were uo fire-engines, and the only mode of car rying water was by fire-buckets, filled at the river, and handed from hand. So a line was forraed from the fire to the river. In that line, among the men, was Mrs. Aleck Drake, handing buckets vigorously. She was a persou of mind and character, and always a great favorite with the public. I saw her once in the character of "Meg Merriles," vvhich she looked and acted as thoroughly as Meg herself must have done iu her wild freaks among the Gypsies, ahd in her character ag prophetess announcing : "And Bertram's right and Bertram's might Shall meet on EUengowan Height." Drake died while she was yet in her prime, and she married Captain Cutter, the poet. He was author of the " Song of Steam," a noted piece iu its day. Cut ter was very intemperate, and great efforts were made by hia friends to save him, but in vain. The raarriage was au unhappy one. They vvere separated, and iu a few yeara both were dead. Personal Mem.ories. 193 My attendance at the Columbia-street Theater was the last of my acquaintance with the acted drama. Except very rarely I have not entered a theater. If I may judge by what othera say, the Cincinnati theater has degenerated since those days. " Stars " aeem to be quite nuraerous, bat the character of the theater itself declined. First comes melo-drama ; then the spectacle, vvhich, under the name of a play, is often mofe than half a menagerie, by introducing animals on the stage. Recently the opera has been intro duced, which is, no doubt, a great improvement on the age of melo-drama and raenagerie; yet it does not seem, from newspaper accounts, that the theater has risen to any great dignity, either in character or rep resentation. When we reflect how universal were theatrical entertainments in Rome, aud are now in France, we must admit that there is something in them well adapted to the taste and amusement of mankind;' but the question remains whether thia kind of amusement ia not abuaed to evil consequence, and whether we can imagine the early Christians to have frequented theaters. Garrick and Mrs. Siddons were, no doubt, well worth anybody's while to see ; but we suspect neither Garrick nor Mrs. Siddons were seen acting in such theaters and accompanied with such circumstances as we have now. In the aummer of 1826, while boarding on Broad way, I had a severe bilious fever. This fact reminds me of the change which has come in the character and fatality of diseases in Cincinnati. From 1825 to 1828 the bilious fever and its kindred diseases were preva lent, and, indeed, alarming. The whole character of disease was different from what it is now. The low 194 Personal Memoirs. types of fever which we see did not exist at all, except as the sequel of inflammatory disorders. When a bilious or other active fever had exhausted its power, the patient immediately began to sink, and he could be kept up only by brandy and other stimulants. These active, inflammatory fevers we seldom see now, but, on the other hand, what is called the "typhoid fever." The introduction of "typhoid" as a general disease was since the introduction of cholera in 1832. Many phyaicians thought that, from some unknown cause, the cholera, or that which produced cholera, had changed the character of diseases. Be that as it may, it is certain that Cincinnati, in 1825, 1826, and 1827, was the victim of bilious fever, almost to the ex tent of an epidemic. Within my own knowledge, many of the best known citizens had the fever, aud some died. Among those who died was a German engineer, who boarded at the Broadway Hotel, and was much distinguished in his line. Another waa my cousin, Mrs. Dr. Drake. A large part of the fever cases oc curred in the south-east part of the town, between Third street and the river. The cause seemed to me very evident : all the bottom part in that quarter had been often overflowed, and in early days had been little else than a marsh ; many of the lots had been filled aud built upon without regard to their former condition. I think there must have beeu malarial poison in this part of the city for several years. However, the bil ious fever pervaded the whole town, chiefly in the bottoms. Being well acquainted with physicians and familiar with atatistics, I am compeUed to believe there has been a great change in the character of dis eases. The diseases now are of a lower type. It is Personal Memories. 195 well known that at the close of last century a,nd the beginning of this,, bleeding was a common resort aud remedy by the ablest physicians. It is equally well known that it is not so now. Somebody Avill say that is owing to a change in medical theories. In part, no doubt, but not altogether so. It is to be presumed that most physicians are honest in their attempts to heal the patient, and that ia the interest of the profea- sion. When, eighty years since, the most eminent physicians resorted to bleeding as an efficient remedy, it is to be presumed that they thought it a good rem edy for the inflammatory diseases then prevalent. When, since the introduction of the cholera (1832- 1850), they seldom bleed, but resort to tonic, as well as external remedies, it is to be presumed that they do it Avith an equally honest conviction that this is the most successful. In other words, the change ia due rather to the resulta of practical observation at the bedside than to merely medical theories. There is, and always will be, two schools of medical philosophy in regard to the treatment of diseases. One affirms it best to kill it by destroying its germ by the anti-phlo gistic system. The other declares it best to strengthen the conatitution to meet and conquer it. My mother, who waa very intelligent, and herself had the yellow fever in 1794, was of the firm opinion that it was bet ter to strengthen the system by tonics than to Aveaken it by any anti-phlogistics. Such is my opinion, and it seems to be the popular opinion of physicians of the present day. Here we come to another change, or reported change in the character of diseases. This is the much greater number of (at least reported) nervous and 196 Personal Memories. heart diseases. That in narae and appearance these have largely increased, is beyond question. -They are attributed by nearly all writers on medical and social science to changes in society. It is said that society is raore active, more excited, more luxurious, and to use the common phase, more high-strung, and, there fore, the brain is overworked, and the nerves over- stimulated. There is, no doubt, some truth in this theory, but it is greatly exaggerated. It is question able vvhether, iu fact, heart diseases have greatly in creased. There are raore reported, but are there more iu fact? A century ago heart diseases were not un derstood and defined accurately. Deaths from this cause vvere called " sudden deaths," or, " apoplexy," or sorae accident." Now they are understood and prop erly named like other diseases. So an " overworked brain " is an exaggerated cause of disease. I have seen hundreds, I may say thousands of students and professional men, and never met with an overworked brain yet. That such a thing exists, I have no doubt, but it is much raore rare than is commonly supposed. Indolence, to the extent of a neglected mind and body, is a much more commou disease than au overworked brain. The celebrated Dr. Cadogan (an English phy sician), came' rauch nearer the causes of gout, dyspep sia, and chronic diseases than they do now-a-days. He said that the causes of thera are intemperence, indo lence, and vexation. By vexation, he raeant, I sup pose, what I raean by " worry," a coustant bother and anxiety about a thousand things, upou which there ought not to be any anxiety, bnt about which thou sands of rainds are constantly vexed. Here we come to what I believe to be the real cause of increased ner- Personal Memories. 197 vous and heart diseases. There have been two great causes actively at work within a few j'cars to stirau late and excite the rainds of intelligent people. The tirst is the immensely increased and diff'used " news," or events, or gossip of the world instantly made kno'-vu and made almost ubi'quitous round the earth. It is impossible that this should not excite some minds beyoud the point of a healthy action. We need not analyze this effect beyond the very evident increase of certain classes of crimes, by the constant repetition of sirailar events continually committed. Then the vastly increased power of locoraotion has caused innumerable casualties, and often crimes, that were unknown before. High living, constant excite ment, perpetual going and coming are the real causes of the nervous diseases, insanities, and suicides which are prevalent at this day. A year or tvvo after the time I have referred to there occurred a social event, which was, at once, strange and arausing. The story, as it carae to me, and waa current in town, and, no doubt, in the main correct, was this. General Lytle, one of the oldest and best kuown citizens, was coming down the Ohio in a steam boat, when a passenger, a civil and intelligent person, introduced himself to Lytle as General Ross, princi pal chief of the Cherokees. Now, it was known that Ross was chief of the Cherokees, and that he was an educated person, having beeu at the school in Corn wall, Connecticut, when I was studying law at the neighboring town of Litchfield. Ross showed Gen eral Lytle letters frora several persons of distinction, and had one, I believe, to Lytle himself. He, there fore, took the Cherokee chief to be Avhat he repre- 198 Personal Memories. sented himself, treated him civilly, and invited him to his home. I did not see the chief, but heard for two or three days of his driving around the city and being treated as a distinguished person. One evening a great party was given at Judge Este's, on Ninth street near Main. Whether the jiarty Avas given to General Ross, I do not knovv; but, he Avas invited and ex pected. I Avas invited, but did uotgo. Next raorn ing I met two or three gentlemen, on the street, Avho Avere talking and laughing over a great joke. It turned out that General Ross Avas not at the party, and Avas only a smart, but comraon mulatto. I Avas boarding with a gentleman vvho had a witty and ira pudent mulatto servant, and felt sure that he knew soraething about it. So I said to hira : " Charley, I hear General Ross was not at Judge Este's party." Giggling frora ear to ear, he said, " No, sir ; he was tired." "Tired! Where did he go ?" "He— he— he! He said he was tired of the Avhite, folks ; and went to a nigger ball !" Such Avas the end of polite attentions to General Ross, of the Cherokees. Such irapositions often happen when people are anxious to ni)tice dis tinguished strangers. In thia case the imposition waa harmless and amusing, but I saw one that made no litrie shame and mortification. When I graduated at Princeton, our class, as was customary, gave a com mencement ball. At that ball was present, by invita tion, the then noted Baron Hoffman, lie drove up in a fine carriage and four horses, making ail the show he could. It was about the last of his appearance as a distinguished stranger ou the American boards. He had come out from Germany as Baron Hoffman, re lated to somo of the most distinguished of German Personal Memories. 199 nobility, and brought the most ample credentials — letters from well-known persons — receipts and certifi cates of business, and, withal, was a polite, intelligent man. His bearing was said to be impressive, and, as a titled gentleman of high standing, made favorable impression on the ladies. He began rather modestly, but made his way in society ; was vvell received ; man aged to borrow a good deal of money, and moved in the very best society', in days when there was a real aristocracy. He was engaged to marry, it was confi dently aaid, Mias L., one of the very elite of New York. It was about this time that he made his ap pearance at our ball, and iu a few days vve heard the finale of this well-played farce — very near a tragedy. There were no swift steamers and telegraph in those days, but, at length, letters were received from Ger many showing that this fellow was the valet of the real Baron Hoffman, aud had stoleu letters aud money frora his master. Theu cnmo a flood of writs and suits from his de luded creditors, and, under the barbarous laAVs of im prisonment for debt, this pseudo Baron Hoff'man Avas throAvn into jail. True to his character, he deter mined that the end of the play should be as complete aa the beginniug. One morning he was fouud nearly faint, with his uncovered arih. dripping blood, with a razor near. He was sadly announcing hia determina tion to leave this cruel world, when it was discovered that he had opened a vein, but taken care not to cut au artery. He was bound up, and his creditors find ing nothing but bones to pick, soon disraissed hira; and Baron IIoff"raan disa|)peared from the American stage. This kind of imposition is common, even now, 200 Personal Memories. and will be, so long as many people prefer emply titles to good character. In the suramer of 1826, Mr. Benjamin Drake and myself undertook to make a little book, descriptive of Cincinnati, as an inducement to immigration. That turned out to be " Cincinnati iu 1826." In order to do thia cheaply and correctly, we took the cen sus and statistic^ of the city ourselves. It was a la borious task ; but we were young, and the weather pleasant. We divided the work by Main street, I tak ing the east side. At that time, there were very few inhabitants beyoud Race street, so that the division was nearly equal. Taking the census and taking sta tistics is and must ever be instructive and amu-sine:. Such work takes you into the very homes of the peo ple, and into the very heart of the work-shops. One thing struck me with surprise, to vvhich the present state of society preaenta an unhappy contrast. I went into hundreds of houses, at all hours of the day, often at meal times, and saw all conditions of pepple. In all this visitation into the recesses of society, I never met a single pauper family, nor one really irapover ished. The great body of people were mechanics, with plenty to do, generall}' owning tbeir own houscs, and, in fact, a well-to-do people. It is such a popula tion which makes the worth and strength of the city, when it grows to great size, filled vvith all sorts of people. There vvill be found many iraproveraents, much wealth and show ; but beside all the art and elegance, stands gaunt poverty, events vvhich make huraanity shudder, and distress which no huraan power can relieve. In the midst of it all, it is only the great raiddle claas, vvhich preserves the social sys- Personal Memories. 201 tem from decay and ruin. Ciucinnati in 1826, waa coraposed alraost wholly of this class, a'nd it was pleasant to see thera, in their plain but independent houses, enjoying the fruit oftheir labor. The contrast between theu and uow is in every aspect great. Cin cinnati in 1826 had 16,200 people. Cincinnati in 1870, had just 200,000 rnore. Cincinnati in 1826 had nei ther gaslights, nor public Avaterworka, nor public schools (although there were schools), for, it Avaa not until 1824, that there waa a atate law authorizing tax ation for achools, and, it Avas not untU 1830, that the law was carried into eft'ect in Cincinnati. The water works had been previously established by Col. Samuel Davis, afterward mayor, but were held by a private corapany, vvho, several years after, sold thera to the city. None of the great institutions for charity, which are now the pride, aa well aa the beneficence of the city, were then erected, except the Cincinnati Cora raercial Hoapital, vvhich waa founded by Dr. .Drake. It is true the town waa then small, but the condition of the people was widely dift'erent. In proportion to the population, there vvas not one iu need of these charities where there are ten to-day. When I look back upon the Cincinnati of 1826, aud theu upon Cin cinnati in 1876, I find it difficult to say that being big, rich, aud showy, has made society better or hap pier. 202 Personal Memories. CHAPTER XIII. The Presidency — Candidates in 1824 — John Quincy Adams — Clay's Vote for Adams — Speech at Mack's 2'avern — Henry Clay and his Character. In 1828, there were six candidates for the presi dency in the canvass, and four in the election. In the suramer of this year Adams, Clinton, Clay, Jackson, Calhoun, and Crawford were all canvassed; but, iu the end, Clinton and Calhoun Avere dropped out. There were then no great or interesting political issues. The administration of Mr. Monroe had been one of perfect calm, except some casual controversies about contracts and offices, which interested the nation scarcely at all. But the cabinet of Mr. Monroe waa like a. powder magazine, which only needed a spark of fire to make an explosion and a conflagration. It was raade up, as was said of an English ministry, of " all the talents ;" and, of course, all the talents must be ambitious. There vvere plans, schemes, and coun ter-schemes which were never fully known uutil twenty years afterward. Johu Quincy Adaras, Williara II. Cra^vford, John C. Calhoun, and John M'Lean were all raerabers of Monroe's cabinet, and were all afterward proposed for the presidency. Henry Clay had just beeu the dis tinguished Speaker of the House of Representatives; De Witt Clinton was niouuted on the Erie canal, and had just triuraphed oyer his political enemies; An- .Personal Memoirs. 203 drev,' Jackaon was at the Ilerraitage, with his laurels, fresh, green, and glorious, from the battlefield of Ncav Orleans — as Counselor Sampson called it, "that death bed of British glory." In fiue, there Avas then upou the political stage a galaxy of talent, genius, aud brilliancy vvhich, I think, raay be fairly said, had not been exceeded in a previous period, and has not been equaled since. The canvass for the presidency was conducted, not upon any general principles, or in reference to any special policy, but With reference to individuals and totheir localities. Mr. Adaras was a favorite iu Nevv England, Mr. Clay in the West, Cal houn and Crawford divided the South, while Jaokson had an under-current of popularity, vvhich pervaded all parts of the country, and was produced by his military exploits, and not a little by the boldness of his character and the audacity of hia conduct. De Witt Clinton was dropped, and confined his'operationa to New York. Calhoun, living near Crawford, waa also dropped; and John M'Lean Avas not proposed until many years after. The others, Adaras, Clay, Crawford, and Jackson were voted for. Neither of the candidates had a raajority, aud the election was made by the house of representatives. Governor Wolcott said : " We do n't need to have brilliant talents. There is old Sitgreaves, of Pennsyl vania, will make as good a president as anj'body. You want a man of business and integrity to take care of the business Of the governmeut." Sitgreaves was a member of congress from Eastern Pennsyl vania, and interested in statistics.* Whether Wol- * See Chapter IX. 204 Personal Memories. cott's theory was right or not, the American people have practically acted upou it. Such men as Mon roe, Van Buren, Polk, Taylor, Pierce, Buchanan, and Grant have been elected, Avhile Clinton, Clay, Web ster, and Calhoun could not be. John Qi'incy Adams, who was elected by the house, in 1825, had much claim to be considered a man of genius and learniug. Except Jeft'ersou, he was the ouly one of all our presidents who Avas really a liter ary man.. He Avas once a professor of belles-lettres in Harvard College, and his public addresses are both able and ornate. He occasionaly wrote poetry, al though that was certainly not his forte. His lines to "A Bereaved Mother" are really good: " Sure, in the mansions of the blest, Wh^n infant innocence ascends, Some angel, brighter than the rest, The spotless spirit's flight attends. " Then dry henceforth the bitter tear; Their part and thine inverted see : Thou wert th^ir guardian angel here. They guardian angels now to thee." Mr. Adams, like his father, was a Federalist, but in consequence of their revolutionary companionship, Jefterson favored the Adamses, and put Johu Quincy iu the way of political promotion. He began iu the diplomatic service and was abroad many years, and at one time Minister to Prussia. At the time of the election iu 1824, he waa, undoubtedly, the beat diplo matist, the best acquainted with our foreign aft'airs, and most experienced statesman in the country. He had been, frora boyhood up, driUed in public aff'airs. He had au educated mind, and was thoroughly quali- Personal Memories. 205 fied for public business. After his term in the presi dency expired, he macle the novel experiraent of a re tired president serving iu the house of representatives, aud it was the raost successful, although not the most practical part ofhis life. He was called b}' the notorious Tom Marshall, the " Old Man Eloquent," and he used his eloquence with a power which few could resist. He took part iu the earliest and greatest discussions upon the right of petition and human freedom. In those days, the slave power was largely predorainant. It aeema wonderful at this day, when the whole tone and teraper of the nation are diff'erent, that such an abject spirit should have been exhibited by a large part of the Northern people, aptly and truly called Dough-fiices. But so it Avas, and not till the discus sions on the right of petition had reached the con science, aa vvell aa the spirit of the North, vvas there any recovery from the abject subraission, which the im perious slave power deraanded of the Northern repre sentatives. Mr. Adaras' speeches from 1833 to 1842, on the subject of slavery and right of petition, and the annexation of Te.xas, were thebest, the ablest, and the raost effective raade in the country. For his course in the anti-slavery movement, for his clear views of the constitution, and hia defeuae of huraan freedom, he will be remembered in after ages. He was never popular with poUticians, nor even regarded as a party leader. No man ever questioned his integrity. No maa ever doubted his patriotisra. Of him, with more truth than of Chatham, it might be said : " The sec retary stood alone. Modern degeneracy had not reached hira." Mr. Adama knew that he stood alone, aud araong his methods of self-defense and asserting 206 Personal Memories. truth was his " Diary," which has become memorable in the history of the country. With it, he demolished Jonathan Russell, a colleague commissioner in mak ing the Treaty of Ghent. RusseU, as well as sorae olher people, was wiUing to insinuate thatMr. Adaras wished to give up the exclusive rights to the Mis sissippi. Mr. Adaras, by the use of his Diary, showed such coraplete detail of dates and circumstances, as put an end to that charge. There was another little historical'incident worth remembering, though history will not record it. Mr. Clay was also a commissiouer at Ghent, and when in the canvas of 1824, the news papers intimated that Adams was inclined to give iip the exclusive right to the Mississippi, Clay came out with a card, saying, he had something to say on that subject in a future tirae. ' Mr. Adams wrote a card of five lines, saying, "wow is the daj', and I defy the test of time, of talent, and of human scrutiny." It is enough to say, that the future time never came, when Mr. Clay was wiUing to utter another word ou the subject. The fate of Jonathan Russell Avas not one he Avished to share. Mr. Adams died in the hall of the house of representatives, the theater of his last and greatest glory. Falling into the arms of a friend his last words were : " This is the last of earth ! " I know not w hether any monument Avas erected to him ; but he needed it not. For, Avhether the agea to come ahall hear of him or not, he could.have aaid vvith Hor ace — " Exegi monumentum £ere perrennius." In the election of 1824, although I did not vote, my sympathies were all with Adams. Perhaps they would not have been had De Witt Clinton continued Personal Memories. 207 a candidate; for, in spite of Governor Wolcotfa opinion, I did admire genius and learning, and De Witt Clinton' was uudoubteLlly araong the raost brill iant of our public raen. When the election of No vember, 1824, came on, I had no vote ; but, ou arriv ing at Cincinnati, in the suramer of 1825, found my friends and the public generally excited over the state of publie affairs. The election which had just taken place was the secoud one iu which the house of rep resentatives had been called upon to take part. The first one Avas the celebrated case of Burr and Jefi'ersou, Avhich caused so much danger and controversy, that an araendraent to the constitution was made, being the twelfth of the additional articles. - In the original constitution it was provided that the electors should vote for two persons, aud the one having the highest nuraber of votes should be president, and the persou having the next highest be vice-president; and, if a tie, the housfe should choose the president. In this no allowance was raade as to whora the people may have iutended for president and vice-president. Thia made no diff'erence in the election of Washington or John Adams, both of whom had the highest vote at the time oftheir respective elections. In the sumraer of 1800, there would have been difficulty if the Federal ticket had been elected, for it was arranged that Charles Colesworth Pinkney (of S. C.) should receive one vote less than Mr. Adams, and he did. But the Re publican ticket had the raajority of electors, and on that Jeff'erson and Burr had the sarae number of votes. Jeff'erson, hoAvever, was intended, and nobody dreamed that Burr would be seriously set up as president. The Federalists hated Jeff'erson, and took the opportunity 208 Personal 3Iemories. of voting in the house of representatives for Burr. There the vote is by states. The Federalists held states enough, vvith two or three equally divided, to prevent the election of Jefferson. The balloting went on for several days, araidst au intense excitement. At length Mr. Bayard, of Delaware, vvith half a dozen others, holding the votes of tvvo states, determined to make an election, but determined also to make an " arrangeraent " wiih Mr. Jefferson for re taining sorae friends in office, vvhich was done, and the ek ction was raade. This transaction caused the almost unanimous adoption of the twelfth addi tional article to the constiiution, Avhicli provides that the electors shall specify the president and vice-presi dent. Under this article the election of 1825 was made. Four candidates had been voted for : Jackaon receiving 99 electoral votes ; Adams, 84 ; Crawford, 41, and Clay, 37. Jackson had a plurality a little over one-third of the whole number; but it was assuraed in the popular raind that, because he had a plurality, he ought to be elected. Such was not the fact. Mr. Adams was elected by the A'otes of thirteen states ; ten having voted in whole or in part for Mr. Adams, ancl three (Kentucky, Ohio, aud Misaouri) which had voted for Mr. Claj'. Mr. Clay's friends had consulted together, and voted in a body for Mr. Adams. This surprised the enthusiastic friends of Jackson, and dis pleased those of Crawford. The result waa that there waa a corabination of the frienda of Jackson and Crawford against Adaras and Clay. The jealousy, which haa ever existed in the South agaiust the Northern raen, broke out with new force. Adams waa aasaikd with a malignity which is scarcely equaled iu Personal Memories. 209 the fierce conflicts of this day. John Randolph, of Virginia, said that John Quincy Adaras was only serving out hia father'a tirae. Mr. Adaras, however, was the last raan to put himself out for the scold ing of Tbersites or tho gossip of Mrs. Grundy. All that can be remembered now of Randolph, so much talked about in his day, is the " Remorse " written on his card when death Avas near. Who Avould live a brilliant wit or a proud aristocrat, only to feel at last " remorse ?" In the formation of his cabinet, Mr. Adams made Mr. Clay secretary of atate. Then the storm burst forth, and from one end of the countiy to the other, "bargain, intrigue, and management," AA'as shouted forth. It was declared that because Clay and his fi'iends voted for Adams in the house, and Mr. Adaras made Clay secretaiy of state, that therefore there Avas a bargain between them. It happened, hoAvever, that Clay had declared to several geutlemen before the election, that if the election in the house should be between Adams and Jackson, that he should A'ote for Adams, on the ground of his superior civil qualifica tions. He said this to my friend Dr. Drake, Avho, as others did, published that fact. Thia ought to havc satiafied anybody; but politicians, like avoIvcs of the prairie, never leave a scent until they destroy their victim. They did not destroy Mr. Clay, but they created that intense party spirit Avhich has divided the countiy ever since. Mr. Clay has long since been acquittecl of anything dishonorable in his vote for Mr. Adams, but never was- a noble bird more liaAvked at by mousing owls, or beset with buzzing insects, thau was this greatest of political Avarricjrs. Fortunately 210 Personal 3Jemories. he was made by nature with all the courage, boldness, and strength, which was necessaiy for a confiict with the corabined array of ambitious rivals, political hyenas, and ignorant raobs, which were arrayed to overthrow his power and blacken his narae. Nevertheless, brave and. strong as he was, it took all his strength, courage, and eloquence to raeet his assailants successfully, even in the West. Here Jacksonism was strong, and took a popular hold on many people not inclined to it, by the plausible argument that Jackson having received the most votes ought, therefore, to have beeu elected by the house. In Cincinnati, in 1825, the popular current was for Jackson, the next, strongest was for Adaras, aud the last Clay. At the tirae I came out there were not more than two hundred and eighty original Clay men in Cincinnati, four times as many for Adaras, and much more than both for Jackson. The Adaras and Clay men, however; fused together after the appointment of Mr. Clay to the cabinet. ¦ The combined forces made a formidable party, which in 1833-1834 made the basis of the great Whig party of the next twenty years. Mr. Clay found it necessary to defend himself against the charge of "bargain, intrigue, ancl management." One of his defenses was a speech made at Cincinnati, in the sum mer of 1825. A large number of the gentlemen of Cincinnati, originaUy friends of either Adama or Clay, gave him a public dinner at the Cincinnati Hotel, then kept by Mack, at the corner of Broadway and Front street. There Avere about two hundred present, and they were the elite of the city. I was fairly startled bythe speech, which Avas the most eloquent one I ever heard, in fiery utterance and energetic action. It was Personal Memories. 211 utterly unlike that of Corwin or Webster, not supe rior, but unlike. Mr. Clay was not like Adams or Webster, able to write a polished or eloquent argu ment, nor like Corwin, able to adorn his speech Avith wit and humor; but he had more real soul than either. The power of personal magnetism, through eloquence, was greater than in any of his great rivals. His speech at the Cincinnati Hotel was not wholly on politics, but when he came to defend his vote in the house for Adama he fired up, his tall person seemed taller, his head and expression assumed a lofty bearing, with his foot advanced, and his arm raised, and his eye fiashing, he seemed to defy, in hia mere presence, the whole pack of hounds, who, under the name of Jackson, had yelped at his heels, and snarled at his fame. He said that he waa compelled to choose between two diatinguished citizens. " On one haud waa a civilian, a statesman, versed iu foreign aff'airs, aud acquainted Avith buaiueas. On the other a mili tary chieftain, practiced in Avar, and acquainted vvith armies. I would not, I could not, and I did not hes itate." I saw Mr. Claj' at other times, and followed his yjolitical fortunes with unflinching fidelity, be cause he was a, I might say the only, leader of the Whig party; but I never thought him equal to Mr. Webster, nor ever liked him personally. This seeras strange to myself, for there is no oue man in public life who attracted so strongly so many personal fol lowers. Horace Greeley stuck to hira with the tenac ity of Jonathan to David. On his defeat, iu 1844, I savv strong, intellectual gentleraen ready to weep; ancl I dare say sorae did. Mr. Calhoun was the only man who in personal following could rival him. Calhouu 212 Personal Memories. was said to have been exceedingly attractive to young men, and he alvvays paid great attention to them. While I admired as much as anyone the splendid bearing of Mr. Clay, aud adopted to its full extent his American policy, I had no personal sympathy with him. He belonged to the Southern school of poli ticians, and had an arbitrary, antagonistic way, Avhich seeraed to look dovvn upon the quiet aud unobstrusive class to vvhich I belonged. Mr. Clay had, however, in that very class raany of his warmest admirers. In after years, I found that Webster had rauch of the sarae sort of bearing, and ray adrairation for hira ceased with his speech on the 7th of March, 1850, vvhen he undertook to prove that the laws of nature Avould keep slavery out of the territories of the West, and it Avas a raatter of indiff'ereiice whether we legis lated upon it or not. Neither Clay nor Webster were men who had the moral courage to take a stand upou huraan rights, and defendit upou tho ground of moral law. The Spirit of Laws (Montesquieu) had been writ ten nearly a hundred and fifty years before, and yet these two great Araerican leaders were behind that great Avork in the perception of raoral justice. Mr.' Clay deserves great credit, however, for beiug in favor of the gradual eraancipation of Kentuck}'. This is part of his early record, aud perhaps his early record is the best. Returning to the dinner at Mack's, his speech was very eff'ective, and, while the unfitness of Jackson for the presidency was raade clear, so also the charge of "bargain, intrigue, and manageraent" was entirely disproved by the facts brought before the public. Nevertheless, neither facts nor arguraent had much eff'ect on the great multitude of people, who are se- Personal 31cmories. 213 duced by the glare of military glory. Jackson was elected in 1828, and the eight years of his administra tion were filled Avith the most extraordinary mixture of folly aud patriotism, of domestic factions, and na tional boasting ; of political wisdora in sorae things, of social scandal in others ; of the most extraordinary financial schemes, and the most extraordinary finan cial disasters.* Mr. Clay resigned from the adminis tration of Mr. Adams, and soon after re-entered congress. He, like Webster and Calhoun, alvvays thought him self the proper man to raake a president — was four times a candidate, and three times voted for in the electoral college. He was voted for in 1824, 1832, aud 1844. In 1840, he was a candidate before the Harris burg Whig Convention, and defeated by Harrison. He thought, and perhaps history will shoAV, that the Whigs made a great blunder in not nominating him. He would havebeen elected, and, unlike Harrison,would in all probability have lived, and presented to the countiy and the world a far different and far better administration thau that of the Aveak and prevaricat ing Tyler. In the election of 1844, Mr. Clay was de feated by the anti-slavery vote given to Birney, which operated directly in favor of Polk, the Deraocratic candidate. Nevv York gave Polk only 5,000 majority, while 15,000 were polled for Birney, the Abolition candidate. It was fatal to Mr. Clay, and fatal to the Whig party, which, although successful in 1848, went to pieces for this very cause. The world can not fail to admit and admire the * See journals of the day. 214 Personal Memories. stern heroisra and the moral courage which induces some raen to leave all forras, parties, and organiza tions, even friends and sound policy, to vote against popular opinion, and maintain for conscience's sake a small and powerless faction. But, Avhether this is wise; whether it ia for that general welfare, Avhich is the object of all good governraent, vvill remain doubt ful until eternity has passed its judgraent. Except to stir up the hostility, and finally the open secession of the slaveholders, it is irapossible to see any good in the defeat of Mr. Clay by a side faction. Birney and his followers were conscientious, upright, and mauy of them able raen; but it is certain they accoraplished nothing until Providence afflicted the South vvith that insanity, described in the proverb — " Whom the gods vvill destroy they first make mad." I fully and always sympathized with the anti-slavery party, but believed that it Avas safer to follow Johu Quincy Adams, who was the foremost, boldest, and ablest op[)Oser of slavery, in a great and poAverful organization, than to follow a sraall, however consci entious faction, which, in itself, could not be success ful. Mr. Clay Avas one of those, both North and South, Avho raade the celebrated coraproraise of 1850. It is useless to say, that in ray opinion, that corapro mise vvas infamous, a thing not to be endured by any raan who believed in human rights or Christian prin ciples. Coraproraises are always false to principle, even iu a constitution of governraent; but when they coraproraise humanity, raorals, and rights, they give just cause for resistance in all forras. Mr. Clay was then in the senate, and survived thia transaction but a short time. Ilia character is easily understood. He Personal Memories. 2I.') was born poor, and brought up with little regular edu cation, and, for that reason, Avas never able to shine as a writer or as a disciple of Cicero, Avith the ore rotundo of a Roman senator. It Avould be as great ari error to compare him to Demosthenes, for the Greek orator was an accomplished scholar. The art of Demosthenes was not the wild utterance of nature, but the skillful art of the student — studious to shine in an audience of scholara. Clay'a eloquence was natural, and the only art he had vvas to adapt it to his audience, and this he did vvith great skill. Whether he spoke to the polite hearer iu the senate, or to the untutored hunters of Kentucky — he knew Avell to Avhom he Avas speaking — and studied the means to convince or to please them. Brought up among slaveholders, where the passions predominate more than the reason, he waa fiery and irapetuoua, but, at the same time, possessed of that strong sense which pointed out the necessity of courteous manners to a public man, and the policy of pleasing the multitude. Upon the Avliole, Henry Clay Avas one Avell calculated to be a leader among men, and to attract the uuraingled admiration of his folloAv- era. If he had been raore of a scholar, and more of what the world calls a raoralist, he aa'ouIcI have had fewer folloAvers and adrairers araong the Western peo ple, Avho loved more the frankness, courage, and gal lantry of their chief, than they did the acquirements of a acholar, or the strict manners of a raoralist. Mr. Adaras had both these, but never, eveu in Ncav Eng land, had half the personal popularity of Clay. This' diff'erence of mind and manners made their political union very surprising to the public, and gave rise to some of the severest political taunts which were ever 216 Personal Memories. uttered in public life. One of these, and perhaps the bitterest ever uttered, Avas that of John Randolph. He said, in the senate, that the union of Adams and Clay was the " union of Black George and Blifil — of the Puritan and the black leg."* On this Clay chal lenged him. A duel was fought, Randolph, I believe, firing in the air, and acknowledging hiraself clearly in the wrong. But few anecdotes of Clay reraain. Two I vvill mention as illustrating a species of wit vvhich Clay had and used ver}' aptly. The first occurred in his well-known speech to the hunters of Kentucky. In 1816, he had beeu one of a majority in congress who repealed the per day compensation of members of congress, and substituted a salary. Young politi cians will be astonished to learn that the salary waa only the humble sura of $1,500 a year, while uow they have raodestly voted themselves |6,000. Small as this sura waa, and innocent as vvas the act, it raised a storm of excitement and indignation. Of the majority which passed that act, I think only two were re-elected. Those tAvo were Williara C. LoAvndes, of South Caro lina, and Henry Clay, of Kentucky. Mr. Lowndes waa a very able and eminent man of his day. He canie to West Point to place a sou there, and I heard him tell my father that the act was right, and he never gave a more conscientious vote iu his life. The aris tocracy of South Carolina made no complaint, and Lowndes was easily re-elected. It came near being very different Avith Mr. Clay. Ilia district ran back frora Lexington, Avhere he lived, into the mountaina, * Black George and Blifi] were two villains in Fielding's novel of Tom Jones. Personal Memories. 217 and among the frontiersmen. This class — called the " hunters of Kentucky " — had been very rauch at tached to Clay, but this act disgusted them. In their simple lives, and limited views of life, they thought such a salary enormous, and especially as its members voted it themselves. Mr. Clay foresaw the storm, and called a meeting. At that meeting many of the " hunters " were present, with loAvering brows. In the course of bis speech Mr. Clay said, fixing his ej'e ou one of his old supporters : " Suppose, my friend, you had an old rifle, which you had borne through the hills many a day, ancl it had never failed you, but now you put it to your shoulder, and it snapped, but hung-fire, would you break the stock and throw it away, or would you try it again ?" " I vvould try it again ; we '11 try you again, Harry Clay," shouted the hunters. On another occasion, toward the close ofhis life, he had a party of friends to dine vvith him at Ashland. While at dinner, a servant called hini out to see a gentleraan. He apologized to the corapany. His caller was an old client. When he returned he told what had occurred. His client had asked him to plead his case before the Bourbon County Court. Mr. Clay said that he had retired from business, and did not like to take any case. But his friend said he really must, for he had alvvays been his attorney. "But," aaid Mr. Clay, " if I come, I muat charge you a fee, which you will perhapa uot be Avilling to pay." " Hoav much, Mr. Clay ?" " Four hundred dollara." " Then," said his cUent, " you are engaged." " Ah !" said Clay to his guests, " when we are old we are like the 218 Personal Memories. tortoise. You must put coals of fire on our backs to make us move." Toward the close of his life, Mr. Clay joined the Episcopal Church, and died iu peace with all man kind. In England he would have been called, what he was — the Great Commoner. Personal Memories. 219 CHAPTER XIV. Thomas Corwin ; his Genius, Career, Eloquence, and Character — Jackson; his Canvass for the Presidency — "Truth's Advocate " — Burr und Jackson. In the summer of 1825, I took a short journey through the Miami couutry on horseback. I Avas riding alone in a piece of woods, between Hamiltou aud Lebanon, Avhen I overtook a young man also ou horseback. There was something in his appearance which struck my attention. He was very dark in complexion and hair, with a sort of swarthy look, more like an Indian than the Avhites. He vvas full- fleshed, vvith a quick, piercing eye, and pleasant ex pression. We made ourselves known, and I found that he was Corwin, afterward known as Tom Cor- Av in, the " wagon-boy." He got this soubriquet from the fact that he had driven Avagons in his youtb. He was now at the bar, and vvas returning from the court at Hamilton to his home at Lebanon. Aa there ia, I believe, no .memoir of him, and aa few men were ao deservedly distinguished, I will here relate what I know of him, and what came to my ears frora authen tic sources. He was born in Kentucky, near Mays ville. Thence his faraily moved, at the close ofthe last century, to or near the present toAvn of Lebanon. They were among the oldest and best pioneer settlers of Warren county. There he greAV up, Avith only the primitive education vvhich was given iu the faniily aud 220 Personal Memories. log school-houses. But, Avhere there is a native vigor, brightness, and quickness of intellect, with an arabitious spirit, it does not take a great deal of classic learning to give education, or make a successful life. Coi-Avin had all the vigor and vivacity of intellect re quired, and the great talent of a taste for reading. Reading gives both fullness and breadth of mind. Coi'Avin, in after years, had both, but the brilliance of his eloquence, his Avit, aud humor were due to other and.even better qualities. He had a most genial disposi tion, kind feelings, and an almost marvelous suscepti bility to the huraorous points of raen, society^ and sit uations. No man better understood the keenness of irony, nor the power of an argument vvhen feathered with wit and made pleasing by humor. In fine, he stood alone araong orators, by the peculiar and re markable character of his mind. Perhaps the best way to give sorae idea of him as an orator will be by practical illustrations. His first public appearance was in the Ohio legislature. That vvas near fifty years ago, when sorae of the primitive lavvs and institutions still reraained in Ohio. Among others, the whipping post still remained, whipping being an old Nevv Eng land punishment lor sraall oft'enders. Sorae member had introduced a bill repealing the whipping law. Upon this, a member from Trurabull county rose and said hp saw no objection to the whipping-post. He ahvays observed that Avhen a man was whipped in his state (Connecticut) that he immediately left the state. Corwin arose and said that " he knew a great many people had corae to Ohio from Connecticut, but he never before knew the reason for their comiug !" A few years after this, Corwin was a member of congresa Personal Memories. 221 from the Warren county district. There was also in the house a General Crary (general in the militia), from Michigan. Crary made a pompous speech ou the boundary question, flaraing Avith the eloquence of war. Corwin answered with a description of the heroisra, victories, experiences, and accoraplishraents of a mili tia general. He represented the gallant railitia as serabling on training-day, some with cornstalks, sorae with canes, and some with umbreUas, flanked on the right with wagons of watermelons, and on the left Avith carts of gingerbread, the whole inspirited Avith the rattling drum and squeaking fife. Then appeared the heroic general heading his troops in a tremendous charge ou the watermelons. His nodding plumes at at the head of the column, while rusty swords and broken firelocks slew and slashed the watermelons ! From scenes like these the illustrious general of Mich igan had returned, fiushed with glory and full of heroic experience, to lead an array against the invaders on the border ! The house was carried away with mirth, and General Crary was heard of no more. Corwin continued in congress, and a short time after appeared as one of the orators of the great Harrison campaign, in 1840. He was known then as " Tora Corwin, the wagon boy." That carapaign was sig nalized, araong other remarkable features, by giving soubriquets to the political chiefs, which signified some alliance with coramon people. Governor Metcalfe, of Kentucky, a strong friend of Harrison, was knowii as " old stone-hararaer," because he had been a stone mason. So Corwin Avas called the "Avagon boy." He appeared at alraost all of the great raeetings iu the state, and was everywhere attended by crowds. He 222 Personal Memories. used to relate with much humor his reception one afternoon at Poland, Mahoning county. The West ern Reserve (at least a large part of it) is laid out with roads at right-angles, ancl on straight lines, meeting in the center of the township, vvhere the town muat be, whether or no. Such was Poland, and Corwin was put at the head of a procession marching on a straight line to Poland. The hour waa late. There had been a delay. They could see the town-greeu filled with people, and the platforra erected. The deacons of the churches vvere the principal raen, and managed the business. When Corwin arrived, one of the deacons arose, and said : " Brethren, thia ia Brother Cor-wine. Let us give Brother Cor-wine three cheers. One — hurra! Two — hurra!- Three — hurra!" All were given ais regularly as the clock strikes, and Brother Gorwine vvas much amused. It would be unsafe to judge from such examples that Corwin was not forcible in argument, for he was. .But he chose, and perhaps rightly, to illustrate hia ar gumenta with those touchea of wit and humor vvhich kept the people in good teraper, and fixed their atten tion. On one occasion, in the heated canvass of 1844, I was present at one of the beat exhibitions of his pe culiar eloquence. It was at Carthage, near Cincin nati. A grove of trees near that village had been a popular place for political gatherings. The nomina tion of Polk and the Texas question had excited the Whigs, and they put forth their full strength to elect Henry Clay, which they confidently expected. The meeting at Carthage was aVery large one. I estimated at the tirae that there vvere near 8,000 people" pres ent. However that may be, it was a large and spirited Personal Memories. 22-3 meeting. The orator of the day was Corwin. The day was fine, the trees green above us, and the audi ence intelligent. Corwin began with what few orators dare do at tbat time — for the Democrats had made the name of Federalist odious — a splendid eulogy on Al exander Hamilton. In thia he was grave and cour teous, pointing out the great abilities and services of Hamilton, in giving success and stability to the treas ury. From this he proceeded to the Texaa question and all the matters of public policy. At last he came to the nomination of Polk, who waa comparatively an unknown man. He had been selected as a sort of non entity to defeat Van Buren, who ought to have been nominated. It was one of those blunders which the Democratic party frequently makes. The friends of Cass, in the convention of 1844, had defeated Van Buren, and in turn the friends of Van Buren defeated Cass in the election of 1848, when the Whig candi date (Taylor) was elected. When Corwin came to mention Polk (the unknown) it vvas done with a humor which I bave never seen surpassed. " And who have they norainated? Jaraes K. Polk, of Tennessee? (Then he paused, and turning his head slowly from one side of the audience to the other, with the most surprised expression.) After that, •who \% s&iet" He closed his speech with the most rapturous applause. It was about two years after that the war with Mex ico came on, aud Corwin took part against the war. Thia ia always a dangerous thing for a public man ; for in a war with a foreign country alraoat all men sympathize with their own countiy, however wrong it may be iu a moral point of view. Fevv men who examine the question will think we had just cause of 224 Personal Memories. war with Mexico. Yet, looking back over the thirty years which have elapsed, no man cau doubt that we have derived great and iraraense advantage from it. We got California and Nevada, with security for Texas, by the war vvith Mexico. If all moral ideas are to be excluded from the conduct of nations, aud they have by comraon consent a right to aggrandize themselves at the expense of their neighbors, then a war to acquire California is as justifiable as a war for independence. Mr. Corwin did not take that view of it, and made a speech iu the senate, which, in real vigor and excellence, has, perhaps, not been excelled in the American senate. He had been, as I have said, a reader, vvith a good library. The examples of history were before him, and he used them vvith signal eft'ect. He aaid the country vvas large enough, and a war of arabition and conquest could only serve to de- raoralize the people; that the war was unjust, and that if he were a Mexican he would receive the in vaders with "bloody rifes and hospitable graves." The last phrase was unfortunate, for his political op ponents seized upon it as a want of patriotism. He had been talked of for the presidency, but after this he was seldom mentioned iu this connection. Never theless, his speech was one of the best examples of Araerican oratory, and he remained in public office until the close of his life. The following letter from Henry Wilson, late Vice- President ofthe United States, to Joshua Giddings, of Ohio, shows vvhat an extraordinary effect was pro duced on the public mind by Corwin's speech ou the Mexican War, and hoAV the anti-slavery feeling Avas rising against the compromise measures of Webster and his frieuds : Personal Memories. 225 " Natick, February 24, 1847. " Hon. J. R. Giddings: "Dear Sir: — I have received your favor of the 12th inst., and am very much obliged to you for the information communicated. There is a strong feel ing here in Massachusetts in favor of bold action, and the course of yourself and others, especially the Whigs frora your state, meets the approbation of the great mass of our people. We are rauch pleased with the speeches of Hudson and Ashraan, but the people are delighted with the speech of Corwin. He has touched the popular heart, and the question asked in the cars, streets, houses, and everywhere where men assemble, is : Have you read Tora Corwin's speech ? Its boldness and high raoral tone meet the feelings here, and the peopjle of New England will respond to it, and tens of thousands want to hear raore frora him. Tell him to come out, though, in favor of the Wilmot proviso. We all hope and expect it of him. We can give him every state in New England, if he will take the right ground against slavery. How I should like to vote for him and some good non-slaveholder for vice-president in 1848. * * * I suppose that Webster, Clayton, Mangum, aud Crittenden will be against hira, for his speech was a terrible rebuke to them, and I am rauch raistaken if sorae of thera very readily forget or forgive hira. Their position is a most disgraceful one, and I do not see how they are to get out of it. I hope you will continue to use every effort to bring our friends right. * * * "Yours, truly, " Henry Wilson." 226 Personal Memories. Horace Greeley wrote at the same time to Giddings, saying that Corwin was his first choice for the presi dency, and Seward for vice-president ! Reversing the order in which the distinguished New Yorker was held, and anticipating exactly vvhat Greeley did when he defeated the nomination of Seward in the Chicago Convention of 1860. For twenty years after this, Corwin continued iu public office. He was embassador to Mexico, and raeraber of congress frora his old district, and finally a raeraber of the Peace Convention. Just before his death, sitting in a large party, he said, with some bitterness, that he would be remembered only as a jester or a humorist. In this he did hiraself injus tice. He did use wit and huraor to illustrate his points and conciliate the people ; but behind these al ways lay great principles of truth and juatice. We can not place Corwin on the same level with Hamilton, Adaras, or Clinton ; but vve can say that no man among them was animated with a better spirit, or saw truth in a clearer light, or more steadily advocated the best interests of his countiy. He was a fine specimen of that sort of a man who sprung up iu the pioneer age. With no great education, Avith no society of the great, he was the peer of those who had, and lived in a republican country with just ideas of what a repub lic should be. On the accession of Fillmore to the presidency, in 1850, Corwin was appointed secretary of the treasuiy, and remained until the accession of Pierce, in March, 1853. In the sumraer of 1852, Mr. W- D. Gallagher and myself were appointed by Mr. Cor win, under a resolution of the senate, to report Personal Memories. 227 the statistics of our steam marine. In the course of that time, and 'while Corwin was secretary, I got a striking evidence of what is called " red tape," and tbe necessity of what I would call a business, rather than a civil, reform. I wanted the steara statistics of New Orleans, and went to one of the bureaus of the treasury departraent, where they should be, because it was tbe duty of the collectors of the ports to report them quarterly. There I found the head of the bu reau talking with a friend ou the price and virtues of partridges, evidently thinking the partridge question of more import uice than any public business. I asked bim for the last report of the steam navigation of New Orleans, and he pointed rae to a pigeon-hole in a bu reau. I got hold of the collector's report, and, after an exaraination, found that it was wholly wrong. There were raany raore stearaboats reported at New Orleans than existed there, or.had been there for years. What was the raatter, I could not see, until, after com paring several reports, I found that the collector, or his clerk, had regularly copied into the last report all that was in the former one; so that in his report of what should be the then ateam marine of New Or leans, he had put fifty or a hundred' steamboats de stroyed or lost years before. In the same office I found another error of the same description. I wanted the shipments of vessels owned on the Atlantic. It was a part ofthe same inquiry. Tbe collectors of the ports were to report tbem. It could be done, because all vessels of the United States are registered, and, if they were lost, it would, after a time, be known. I turned in the same office to a book containing these reports. I took up that of Portland, Maine, and 228 Personal Memories. found at one glance that it Avas totally deficient, and was obliged at last to resort to the shipping lists and insurance companies of New York. Here, it is very evident, is a want of reform in the very business of the department. It was the duty of the bureau officer to have these returns corrected. But what did he know about it? He was rauch raore interested in partridges. The difficulty iu these cases is the want of a super vising officer. It is impossible for the secretaiy to supervise these bureaus ; for his whole time is taken up with merabers of congress and the general business of the treasuiy. It took me hours to get iuto Cor win's office, and years after it took a long time to see Mr. Chase. Whether this evil has been corrected, I know not ; but it is certain if ever civil reform is un dertaken, it must consist in a great deal raore thau iu the mode of appointment. Thaf is the least part of the evil. Appoint the minor officers as you raay, who is to supervise the detached bureaus and see the whole machineiy of work kept up to its whole duty. The canvass for the presidency in 1828 was con ducted vvith great bitterness. Other elections since have excited more national feeling, but none have brought out more bitter personal assaults, defamations, and controversy. The reason for this is found in the personal characters of Jackson and Clay, who were the real opponents, although Adams was the candi date against Jackson. Both these men had been brought up among slaves, and irabibed all the spirit of Southern aristocracy. They were both courteous raen in society, and sometiraes kind aud generous, but impetuous in controversy, and despotic in bearing. They lived iu the age of dueling, and both had fought Personal Memories. 229 duels. Jackson was called by his enemies, with al most literal truth, " the hero of two wars and forty frays." He and Benton had fought in the streets of Nashville, and he had killed two or three men in duels. He had coraraanded in Florida, when two raen (Arbuthnot ancl Arabrister) were taken, as he clairaed, as spies, and he hung them both up without any authority. On another occasion, he had tried and shot six militia-men. With raany good qualities, especially courage, boldness, and enterprise, he Avas arbitrary and despotic. Jeft'erson was alive Avhen Jackson was first mentioned for the presidenc}', iu 1824, ancl said he was just as fit for the presidency as a cock for a sailor. In fact, the Battle of New Orleans, which Counselor Sampson called " that deathbed of British glory," was his single, and, as it proved, his most successful claim to be president. He was first nominated somewhere in Western "Pennsylvania, by sorae men 'who were, as politicians always are, hunting for an available man, and afterward carae forward claiming the merit of having discovered Jackson. In Pennsylvania, aird two or three other states, his nom ination took like wild-fife^ Avhile the Southern states were carried for hira by the friends of Crawford. Mr. Clay was unable to carry for Adaras any one of the states which had voted for hiraself. Mr. Adaras held aud carried all his owu strength, while he derived none frora Mr. Clay. The causes of this Avere very obvious. The Western states, which had voted for Clay, were composed of exactly those people who are most susceptible to the idea of military glory. In fine, they were carried by the Battle of New Orleans. In the meanwhile, the canvass of 1828 was cou- 230 Personal Memories. ducted, as I have said, with extreme bitterness. The bitter taunt of Randolph, iu the senate, upon Clay, aud the duel which foUoAved, were typical of the" continued assaults upou Clay for the next four years. The attack upon Jackson was equally bitter, with a good deal more material to support it. This was be fore the formation of the Whig party proper, and we who opposed Jackson were merely called anti-Jack son meu. The basis of this organization was the com bination of the supporters of Adams and Clay in 1827. We were abused as a " coalition " formed to keep office, while the people, it was said, Avere for Jackson. Before this, Charles Hammond had come to Cincinnati, from Belmont county, where he had practiced laAv, and was a strong friend of Clay. This reminds me of the first time I saw Haramond, and the disgust I had for his manners, although in fact no man could be better behaved than Hammond. He was sitting on a dry-goods box, at the corner of Main and Third streets. A young man vvas sitting beside with his arra around Hamiuond's neck — cheek-by- jowl. To see a young raan thus treating a corapara tively old man of high standing Avas a scene to which I was utterly unaccustoraed, and Avas contrary to all my ideas of good breeding. This was not the only case, by any means, in vvhich I found that the venera tion for age and station, which was taught in Ncav Eng land, was not felt in the West. The young man who was thus hugging Hamraond was Williara H. Harrison, Jr., the eldest son of Gen. Harrison, who soon after died. Hammond, as I have said, had come to Cincinnati politically the friend of Clay. In point of law, iufor- Personal Memories. 231 mation, aud skill in writing, he was the superior of Clay. He and a few Adams meu devised a monthly publication against Jackson, called " Truth's Advo cate," and it was terribly severe on Jackson, chiefly because it was truth that it stated and proved. But of what value is truth when opposed to human pas sions ? The irapression left upon rae is that in politics raen neither want to hear truth nor care for it when it is told. In this case it raay be saifl that the force of •¦ Truth's Advocate" was broken by an apparent attack on Mrs. Jackson, whicli reacted. But iu fact it was not an attack on Mrs. Jackson, but on Jack son's marriage Avith her. The facts were these : Mrs. Jackson, Avhen young, was married to a raan iu East Tennessee, who used her ill. At that tirae Jackson became acquainted with ber. Soon after she com menced a suit for divorce from her husband. The country was very thinly settled. The courts sat at great distances from the parties. It was known that the divorce suit was commenced, and it was confl dently reported the decree of divorce had been granted. On that, Jackson was married to the di vorced lady. It turned out that the decree had been delayed, and that at the tirae of the marriage. Mrs. Jackson had not been legally divorced. The raarriage was innocent in intention, but illegal in fact. The decree of divorce was made a few days after. This transaction was set forth iu Truth's Advocate, not cer tainly to injure Mrs. Jackson, but to show the char acter of Jackson, as regardless of law, when inter fering with his purpose. Mrs. Jackson was always esteeraed a kind. Christian woman, and at her death Jackson lamented her with deep grief. 232 Personal Memories. Another transaction, described accurately in Truth's Advocate, was Jackson's connection with Burr. It was known that Burr had boats built on the Cumber land fbr his expedition, and that Burr visited Jackson at Nashville, and that Jackson had something to do with the boats. But it was not proved that Jackson knew anything of the object of the boats- beyond an emigration to Western Louisiana ; nor has it ever been proved that Burr's expedition had anything more treasonable in it than afterward took place in the emigration to Texas and the seizure of a Mexican territory. It is true, however, that those who knew Burr iu the West, believed the object was the separa tion of the Western States frora the Union. It is one of the mysteries of history that Burr should be able to organize a great expedition ; should have talked to hundreds, if uot thousands of people on the subject; should have enlisted able, publie men in its favor, and yet that it should never be revealed what was the man's object. Nothing can better illustrate the artful ness of Burr's character. No man of his times has been more talked about than Aaron Burr. No raan has had more eneraies, or left the world in rauch AVorse odor. And yet Burr had come of a very re ligious. Christian family ; waa a man of ahining tal enta ; had served reputably in the war of the Revolu tion ; had been in the family of Washington ; was an able lawyer, and among his last public performances presided over the Senate with great dignity. The licentiousness which was so strongly charged upon him, was shared with raany officers of the Revolu tionary army. In fine, up) to his duel with Hamilton, his career seems to have been approved by the public. .Personal Memories. 233 and his vices covered with the raantle of adrairation for his ability. Here we come to another historical enigma. Why should his duel be charged upon him as so rauch greater crirae and disgrace than upon Harailton? As a duel, it was shared equally between thera. If Burr was kuown to be vicious, Hamilton was by no means spotless. But if Ave were to judge by the splendid serraon of Dr. Nott iu his eulogy, we should think the world had lost an unequaled apostle of virtue. Hamilton was, in the common phase ofthe world, a great man, and corapared with Burr, was an example of honor and morality. But the main cause of the public judgraent iu this case vvas political and social. Harailton had raarried Miss Schuyler, asso ciated with the best and proudest aristocracy of New York. He was the friend and associate of Washing ton. He was really great in his manageraent ofthe treasury departraent, and more than that, he was the bright, particular star ofthe Federal party, its apostle and leader. He had quarreled with John Adams, and if anyone wants to see an account of Hamilton quite dift'erent from Dr. Nott's, he need ouly read a letter from Adaras to Jeff'erson, contained in the life and correspondence of Adaras. In that, he says, among other things, that it is only necessary in,the future to have two such adventurers as Harailton and Burr, with their talents ancl arabition, to rise at the head of factions, in order to destroy the governraent aud Union. How nea,r this came to be fulfilled iu the war of the Rebellion, is well known. Adams hated Harailton, and Jefferson hated both Hamiltou and Burr. When the snows of eighty years had passed 234 Personal Memories. over their heads, their meraories were yet heated with the fires of political rivalry. But I raust return from this episode to my subject. Burr did visit Jackson on the Cumberiand, and, in sorae respects, they were not unlike, but, iu all that regards patriotisra and profound interest in his country and countrymen, Jackson was far the superior, and also in that broader view of policy which discarded all artifice, and openly and boldly pursues its objects. It is reported that Burr afterward said that he had found in Jackson, on the Cumberland, a mau who was fit to be a leader and commander. Truth's Advocate published all that was kuown of Jackson "and Burr in this boat-building business, but there Avas nothing in the aft'air vvhich really indicated any want of patriotism or duty ou the part of Jack- sou. These, and raany other matters were published in Truth's Advocate, but whether it did more good or harra is doubtful. The world does not seera very anx ious to learn truth, and still less to be judged bj' it. It rnay, however, be safely said that the publication of truth, in regard to Jackson, greatly dirainished the popularity vvith which he came into office, and his ar bitrary acts in office made it irapossible for his suc cessor (Van Buren) to be either popular or successful. The canvass of 1828 was, as I said, conducted vvith great personal bitterness, but far more honestly than elections are now, and with far more truih in the statements made. It is true that the charges agaiust Mr. Clay, of " bargain, intrigue, and management," had no just grounds, and that the illegality of Jack son's marriage made no moral crime, but, after all, there were no charges made whieh had not some ap- Personal Memories. 235 pearance of fact, and there was no attempt to corrupt the pubUc mind, or to make the offices of the countiy the spoils of party. That vvas reserved for the second administration of Jackson, when the corrupt New York politicians, of the Tamraany class, had got his ear and confidence, through what was called the "Kitchen Cabinet." The scenes which then occurred are the most remarkable in our history, and, in some respects, the Avorst. Private scandal and public cor ruption then began that influence in public affairs which have pervaded politics ever since. Apparently Mr. Adaras was defeated by a very large majority of the electoral vote, but really the majority was comf)aratively sraall. Jackson had received a popu lar raajority over Adaras, in 1824, of 50,000, in a vote of 350,000. In 1828 he received a raajority of 138,000, in a vote of 1,156,000, not so large, in proportion, as before. In 1824, five states chose electors by the legis latures. Anyone can see, by exaraining the votes of 1828, how little the strength of parties has changed since. The truth is, that politics, like reUgiou, de scend from father to son, with little variation. In two hundred years of English history, we see only alter nation betvveen the great Whig aud Tory parties. 236 Personal Memories. CHAPTER .XV. Nullification — Calhoun's Theory — Hamilton's Speech — South Carolina Volunteers — Curious Incidents in South Carolina — Webster's Speech — Jackson's Position — The Proclamation — The Tariff — The Compromise — Failure of Oratory — Success of the Republic. The presidential election of 1828 was scarcely over, when there arose another controversy of Avider and deeper significance. In 1828, was passed a new tariff" act, which adopted and enforced the principle of pro tection to certain interests, especially vvith a view to encourage and support Araerican raanufactures. Wool and woolens were particularly protected. This act gave great off'ense to the cotton states, which now adopted, under the lead of Mr. Calhoun, the doctrine that to diminish the imports vvas to diminish the ex ports, and, consequently, to diminish the value of the cotton crops. They claimed to raise the cheapest and best cotton in the world, and yet asserted that they could not export it in proportion if we did not import freely. I do uot argue this point. It was quite plausi ble. But I wish to recall some of the consequences. The tariff, of 1824, vvas pretty high, and the tariff of 1828 higher. Then the orators of South Carolina came forth to proclaira the ruin aud destruction vvhich must follow iu the South. General James Hamilton, a most eloquent man, proclaimed in public meetings tlie ruin, devastation, and foreshadowed doom which at- Personal Memories. 237 tended this terrible tariff', in South Carolina. Accord ing to him the homes were desolate, the beautiful vil las and gardens of the planters Avere going into ruin. Whether true or not, this alarming picture startled the iraagination of the people. The politicians fanned the flarae, and loudly asked, what is the remedy? It Avas then that the genius of Mr. Calhoun formed a theory to suit the case. He said that the constitution Avas made by the states, not the people. It was a com pact, to which the states vvere the only parties, aud that, therefore, they were the only judges of whether there had been an infraction of the constitution, and if there had been, so the state could interpose its powers and authority to arrest the supposed uncon stitutional lavvs of tho general governraent. This is what was popularly known and correctly defined as nullification — a practical nullification of the na tional government. Had it been possible to have car ried this theory into eff'ect, there vvould be no national government at this time. The most singular idea of Calhoun, and it is still stranger that it prevailed in the beginning of secession, vvas that this proceeding, by vvhich the authority of the national government Avas to be overthrown, would be a peaceable raeasure ! How could it be peaceable, if there Avere any people, even a rainority, who Avere willing and able to support their governraent? It is probable that this very idea of a peaceful nullification, or secession, had great in fluence in favoring secession until the war actually carae on. But the people of South Carolina, in 1828- 1832, when there Avas great excitement on the subject, did not quite believe the doctrine of peace when re beUion vvas attempted. So, vvhen they found the gOv- 238 Personal Memories. ernment would collect its revenue, through its officers, unless sorae resistance vvas made, the legislature of South Carolina pasaed an act to raise a body of 12,000 volunteers, armed and equipped. Here carae in a part of unwritten history, which I knew myself, and al ways seemed to rae supremely ridiculous. The nulli fiers were foaming with rage, especially against Ameri can manufactures and ship owners, who, according to their theory, were defrauding the cotton-growers, by a tax ou iraports. They declared they would buy no Araerican cloths or goods, but would go to England for everything. When, however, they must clothe the 12,000 volunteers, they determined to have the best. So they raade a contract for blue uniforras and brass buttons. It happened that I was then traA'eling in New England, and, araong other places, stopped at Waterbury, Connecticut, vvhere my friend, Mr. Sco viUe, had then just began one of that series of facto ries which have made Waterbury a city. It was a button factory, and he showed rae the vvorks and the very ingenious machinery employed. Then, taking down sorae packages of finished brass buttons, very fine oftheir kind, he, with a laugh on his face, shovved me the very buttons which were to be used by the volunteers of South Carolina. To me nothing could seem more ridiculous. There Avere the embleras of South Carolina, with its motto — Nemo me impune laces- sit — on buttons made in Connecticut, to uniform the troops with Avhich that little state was to defy the-gov- ernuient, and boast that it Avould use no Yankee manu factures ! In the many years which elapsed from nulli fication to the war of the Rebellion, many things of this kind occurred. The Southern people seem to Personal Memories. 239 have been really unconscious how largely they were dependent on others, not indeed for the bare necessa ries of life, but for nearly all that made life cora fortable. The debate, the exciteraent, the threatenings, and the fears on the subject of nullification coutinued three years — indeed through all the first administra tion of Jackson. In the meanwhile there were several memorable occurrences. I have mentioned the picture of desolation in South Carolina (attributed to tarift') drawn by Major James Hamilton, who had been a member of congress. It was really eloquent ancl beautiful, but terminated with the idea Avhich afterward culrainated in secession aud rebellion. Speaking at Walterborough, South Caro lina, he said : " Where are now those beautiful homesteads and venerable chateaus Avhich once adorned the land of our fathers, the abodes of hospitality and Avealth, from which the raost generous benefactions were dispensed to contented labor — by which slavery itself lost half the burden of its chains, iu the kiudness Avith Avhich they were imposed? Gone; fallen into irreversible decay. On the very hearthstone Avhere hospitality kindled the most genial fires that ever blazed on her altars, the fox may lay down in security and peace; andfrom the casement of the very window frora which the notes of virtuous revelry vvere once heard, the owl sends forth to the listening solitude of the surround ing waste her raelancholy descant, to mark the spot where desolation has come." Was this picture true, or was it only fiction? I suspect the orator, like the Fourth of July orator, had 240 Personal Memories. something to go on, but colored it with the visions of fancy. Such Avere the strains by which South Carolina was called to believe herself deeply injured, her feelings outraged, and her rights violated. " But how," says the orator, " are we to interfere for the purpose of ar resting the progress of the evil ?" To this he replies : " A nullification, then, of the unauthorized act is the rightful reraedy." This doctrine Avas professedly founded on the Vir ginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798, and it was defended as a peaceful measure. Those resolutions of 1798 were generallv' embodied in the jDroceedings of Democratic conventions, from 1828 to 1840. They were a part of the regular stock-in-trade ofthe party. How they carae to be so, since they were never adopted but by two states, is a political enigraa. The truth is, however, that all the original leaders of the Republican,* as it vvas first called, and afterward the Democratic, party, were Anti-Constitutionalists ; op posed to the adoption ofthe constitution, fearing that it might lead to the foundation of a national or su preme government, in opposition to the rights of the states. There is no doubt the founders of the consti tution intended it to be a national government ; and no doubt it has become so in fact. But to this the Anti-Federalists were opposed, and so, for half a cen tury, they continued to indoctrinate the Democratic party with thera, and to infuse them, as far as possible, into the Deraocratic conventions. In the raeanwhile, however, there vvas a counteracting force, which ulti- *¦ See Proceedings of Democratic Caucuses in 1808, 1812, 1816, and 1824. Personal Memories. 241 mately proved politically omnipotent. This was no thing more or less than the patriotic feeling ofthe people. Men profess to be governed by reason ; in fact, they are governed by feeling aud interest. This feeling of nationality grew up at first under the insults and in juries of European powers. France brushed vvith us in 1798 ; the British fired upon the Chesapeake in 1809 ; Napoleon confiscated our ships in the port of Antwerp, under the Berlin and Milan decrees; the British seized our ships, uuder orders iu council — they impressed our seamen iu our owu ships, with a sub lime indifference to our rights aud feelings, which iu these days would seera incredible and impossible. The Avar of 1812-1815 begau with the celebrated motto, " Free Trade and SaUors' Rights," and ended Avith that famous battle of New Orleans, vvhich Coun selor Sampson, not inaptly, called "the death-bed of British glory." It was certainly the death-bed of British pretension toward us. In the meanwhile, English travelers, reviewers, and writers were abusing and sneering at the American people. Sorae tirae after this, Robert Walsh wrote his "Appeal." At this time it is difficult for an American to realize this state of things, and the opposition and contumely, and even huraUiation, under Avhich this country grew up into a real and solid nationality. It was in this way nationality was cultivated, aud the people began to feel there was a nationality, long before the gentle men who Avere asserting state rights realized that fact. Against such a feeling all the arguments and casuistry of political philosophers are in vain. The resolutions of 1798 are uo longer heard of. The war of the Rebellion buried them. Thirty-eight states and 242 Personal Memories. fifty millions of people can not be controlled by an abstract philosophy, or paper resolutions. The gov ernment is, and must henceforth remain, what the practical necessities of the countiy make it. But let us return to nullification. At the sarae tirae that Hamilton Avas rousing South Carolina with fiery speeches, public meetings, both in Carolina and Georgia, were passing contra-resolutions against the supposed oft'enders. Kentucky and Ohio Avere strong tariff states, under the lead of Henry Clay. In Laurens and Edgefield counties, South Carolina, and in Baldwin aud Montgomery counties, Georgia, it was resolved not to consume or buy the hogs, cattle, mules, bacon, etc., of the Western States.* When the legis lature of South Carolina met, in December, this feel ing was strongly developed. Preston, Thompson, Holmes, and other raerabers oft'ered resolutions, the substance of which was that the tariff' acts were p)al- pable and dangerous infractions of the constitution, and that the state had a right to interpose and arrest thera. How a tariff act, which is passed under the raost direct and explicit power conferred by the coii- stitutionf on congress, can possibly be an infraction of the constitution was not explained then, and has never been explained since. Araong tbe proceedings of the legislature of South Carolina was an act re- cpiiring citizens of South Carolina to take a test oath of exclusive allegiance to the state.| This test oath was the very essence of rebellion, although en acted thirty-two j'cars before actual rebellion begun. * See Niles' Register, G3. f Constitution, article 1, section 8. } South Carolina Ordinance, November, 1832. Personal Memories. 243 The Court of Appeals in South Carolina, to their honor be it said, with great personal disinterestedness and moral independence declared the ordinance ofthe state on this point unconstitutional.* In the meantime, James Madison, ex-president of the United States, had Avritten two letters, published by a friend, declaring the tariff' constitutional. These had a sedative effect, and the public mind was soon after turned to another subject. Practical nuUifica- tion was not attempted until four years after. Let us, however, follow it to the end. In May, 1832, congreaa again rcA'ised the tariff, not for the purpose of increasing duties, but that of reraodifying them and rendering them more agreea ble to the Southern States. That this waa a fact Avas declared by Col. Drayton in au address to the people of South Carolina exhorting thera to sustain the Union.f The very fact that such exhortation was jnade, and that nullification of the laAvs of the United States was considered a just and constitutional rem edy for supposed evUs is positive proof that the seeds of the Rebellion of 1831 were sown and alive twenty- eight years before. The modification of the tariff proved unsatisfactory. The excitement was again re- ncAved. The iraaginations of the people were inflaraed with the idea that they were iraposed upon by the raa jority iu the Union. Inflararaatory toasts vvere drunk, and the most distinguished public raeu supported measures, the sole object of vvhich Avas to resist the laws of the Union. Mr. John C. Calhoun, in a letter, dated "Fort HUl, * Decisions of South Carolina Court of Appeals. -[45 Niles' Register. 241 Personal Memories. 30th of July, 1832," declared that nullification was a peaceful reraedy, and necessary to the preservation of others.* He said, that he had entire confidence that ¦the time would come when this principle Avould be re garded as "the great conservative principle of our adrairable system of government," and those who maintain it among "the great benefactors of the countiy." If Mr. Calhoun believed this, the history of the next thirty years proves him to have been among the most deluded and mistaken of riien. It is true, that a casuist maj' say, that nullification and secession were not the same. Butthey both had the sarae root. If a state nullified or resisted the laws of the United States, theu the revenue could uot be col lected vvithout force ; and, if a state seceded, then the revenue could not be collected without force. It came practically, and, iu the vievv of common sense, to the same thing. It vvas resistance to the suprerae laws of the Union, which could only end in a final conflict. The doctrines of Calhoun, McDuffie, Major Harailton, and others were not destined, however, to be accepted even in the South, without a stern opposition. Judge Smith, vvho had been United States Senator, iu an ad dress to the people of Spartanburg (S. C.),thus wrote: " To say that you can resist the general government and remain in the Union at peace is a perfect delusion, calculated only to hoodwink an honest coraraunity, until they shall have advanced too far to retrace their steps, Avhich they raust do, and do with disgrace aud humiliation, or enter upon a bloody conflict with the general government. The general governmeut can * 43 Niles' Eegister, 56. Personal Memories. 245 not bow its sovereignty to the mandates of South Carolina while the Union is worth preserving."* Was there ever prophecy raore perfectly fulfilled? The delusicn continued, the people of the South were hoodvviidced, the governraent was resisted, the bloody conflict came on, and the South ended it in disgrace and hurailiation. But all this did not happen just then. The usual debates, controversies, and compro mises took place through nearly thirty years, in which nothing Avas settled, and nothing could be settled while itAvas considereddebatable whether the national government Avas suprerae. This was the state of things, when in October, 1832, the legislature of South Carolina passed an act " call ing a convention of the people " of the state. The convention elected under this act assembled at Col umbia, the 19th of November, 1832, and there passed an act for nuUifyingf certain acts of Congress, called the tariff acts. It is unnecessary to say more ofthe ordi nance, than that it pronounced the tariff" acts of 1828 and 1832, " null and void," and not binding upon the state, its officers, or citizens; that it Avas unlawful for any constituted authorities to enforce payment of said duties ; that if the general governraent should em ploy force to carry into eff'ect its laws, or attempt to coerce the state by shutting up its ports, that South Carolina Avould consider the union dissolved. This was a frank, open resistance to the laws ofthe Union. But it met with no help or great syrapathy from the other anti-tariff states. Governor Gayle, of Ala bama, condemned nullilicatiou. The legislature of *43 Niles' Register, 219. 143 Niles' Register, 219. 246 Personal Memories. Tennessee paased resolutions unaniraously conderaning it. The legislature of Georgia, a strong anti-tariff" state, also conderaned it. Nevertheless, South Caro lina persevered ; called out a great nuraber of volun teers, aud the whole state was a great carap, tilled vvith fire and fury. Such was the state of things vvhen, on the 10th of December, 1832, General Jackson issued hia now fa mous proclamation, one of the ablest and most im portant docuraents iu our history. Its coraposition vvas attributed, and, no doubt correctly, to Edward Livingstone, theu secretaiy of state. The sentiments Avere, doubtless, those of Jackson. It was filled with that LOVE of union which, in all tiraes aud circurastances, has been a leading eleraent of the Araerican char acter, and it Avas received alraost universally with ap proval and applause. One paragraph only is necessaiy to show the constitutional ground taken : " I consider theu," says the President, " the power to annul a law of the United States, assuraed by one state, incorapatible Avith the existence of the Union ; contradicted expressly by the letter of the constitu tion; unauthorized by its spirit; inconsistent Avith every principle on which it was founded, and. de structive of the great object for whicli it Avas forraed. " No act of violent opposition to the laws has yet been coramitted, but sueh a state of things is hourly apprehended, and it is the intent of this instrument to PROCLAIM, not only the duty iraposed on rae by the constitution, ' to take care that the lavvs be faithfully executed,' shall be perforraed to the extent of the powers already vested iu rae by law, or such other as the wisdom of congress shall devise and iutrust to me Personal Memories. 247 for that purpose; bnt, to warn the citizens of Sonth Carolina, who have been deluded into an opposition to the laws, of the danger they vvill incur by obedience to the illegal and disorganizing ordinance of the con vention." This proclaraation had a raost extraordinary effect on the public raind. That which was wanting iu 1860 was present in 1832 — the manifest determination of the government to put forth all its poAver to suppress insurrection and punish traitors. Jackson Avas a man of iron will, of keen inlellect, and burning patriotisra, whom no sophistries could deceive and no demagogues could intimidate. The heart of the nation responded to him. Happily the war of the Rebellion was put off' for thirty 3'ears, when it could be more decisive, and vindicate the justice of Providence raore clearly to the intelligence of mankind. In connection with this proclamation must be taken another document, not less striking or effective. This was the speech of Daniel Werster, delivered in the senate, January, 1830, ou the doctriue of nullification. In the discussion on Foote's resolutious. Colonel Hayne, of South Carolina, advanced the Avhole doctrine of nullification, as created (I may say) by John C. Calhoun, and held by South Caro lina. The repl}' of Daniel Webster, ou the 26th and 27th of January, 1830, was the most celebrated speech ever delivered in congress, aud more than equal to the great speeches of Chatham and Burke. Of course the subject of constitutional law and political theories did not adrait the fieiy eloquence of Chathara or the splendid d'lctiou of Burke, but it was far supe rior to them iu the closeness of logic, the dignity of 248 Personal Memories. the subject, and the iraposing strength with which he carried a nation Avith hira.. The precise meaning and power of that speech was not so apparent then, eveu with all its popular success, as it vvas in the war of the Rebellion. The young raen Avho Avere then coming upon the stage of action, got their idea of constitu tional laAV from Webster, and they were just of the age to become the actors and leaders when secession began. The attempt at nullification and the arguraent of Webster, kindled thousands of niinds iuto the ar dor of patriotism and the study of constitutional law. I waa one of them, and ray little work, the "Political Grararaar,"* published in 1834, was one of the conse quences. It was one of the few things Avhich have satisfied rae that I had not lived wholly in vain. When Webster's apeech was delivered, I was cross ing the mountains (as the phrase then vvas), on the death of my father at New Haven (Conn.), and I re ceived the speech in the National Intelligencer,! thmls., at Somerset (Penn.), aud I was corapletely startled and surprised. It seeraed to rae to embody all that grand idea of the American Republic, with its glory and strength surviving, as I believed, and do believe it vvill do until the sunset of history ; giving to the nations light, freedom, and righteousness. No speech before or since, has produced such an eff'ect on me. I asked my friend. Judge Burnet, then senator from Ohio, how it was delivered and vvitb Avhat eff'ect on the senate ; for, when I beard Webster he was rather a cold speaker. Judge Burnet said, it was deliA'ered with a warmth and energy Avorthy of the subject, and * Published by the Harpers, in 1834, and still in circulation. Personal Memories. 249 the eff'ect Avas most striking. Such a speech had al ready prepared the public mind for the proclamation of 1832. Both have gone to the. world and remain to-day among the greater docuraents in political his tory ; aud of them, tbeir authors might have said vvith Horace and with Tacitus, that they would stirvive to other ages, when brass and stone had decayed. Here let me reraark on the decline of American oratory. At least, that decUne seems very evident to me, and the causes equally evident. We hear to day of imraense audiences gathered to hear Moody and Beecher, John Hall, aud raany others; but tak-. ing the evidence of what they said, aud how they ap pear in print, would auy one compare them with Dwight, and Mason, and Nott ? The actors, it is said, went to hear Dr. Mason preach in order to learn his gestures. The sermon of Dr. Nott on the death of Hamilton has never been equaled by any of the Beechers, Halls, or McCloskys of the day, and I could pick ont twenty of Dwight's serraons which are not equaled by any of the popular preachers of the pres ent time. We need not cite Whitfield, for he was a prodigy. It is exactly the sarae thiug with political oratory. What raan iu public life of any sort equals Webster or Clay ? You will say Corwin, but Corwin is not of this generation. He is dead. Besides he never did rise to the level of Webster and Clay. But justice to hira requires rae to say that his oratory Avas peculiar; it Avas his own; not borrowed from either ancient or modern- school. Itis beyond all doubt or question that we have uo orators of this day equal to those of the last generation. But the question arises, why? This is a boasting generation; why should 250 Personal 3Iemories. there not be orators as well as machinists, telegraphs, or railroads ? The answer is very simple and the rea son plain, though not a sufficient one to account for a lack of arabition on the part of men to win the fame of an orator. The reason is this, that a public speaker riow is not ambitious of farae from posterity, but how he shall appear before his present and temporary audience. The facts and the reasoning are made plain to the voters, but the oratory is wanting. He is talking for the nevvspapers. It may not be a raistake, but it is a fact. The newspaper has killed the great orator. How killed hira ? Because, he is anxious to appear in the newspaper and be popular before the people, aud vvhat is required to make a man popular in the newspaper is a very diff'erent thing frora what is required for a great orator. What do the ordinary readers of news papers care for classic language, splendid figures, pro found learning, or deep sentiraent ? Nothing^ Hence, the pulpit orator and the political orator, perceiving this, fall, at once, into that coUoquialisin which is the ruin of all oratory, of all eloquence, and of all future farae. But worse thaii this, when he who should have been the great orator of the pulpit, the bar, or the senate coraes into the newspapers, he is beaten by-the newspaper writer. He thinks he is teUing the world a good deal iu raost splendid language, but finds that the newspaper writer is ahead of hira. The public Avriter of the newspaper is a Avell-informed raan, vvho knows the people well, and vvho knows how to speak to the people iu old English — the Anglo-Saxon tongue. Now, what is the result? The orator of the pulpit and the sen ate, after sacrificing all true oratory, the classical aud Personal Memories. 251 the poetic, the fervent and the grand, for the sake of newspaper notoriety, finds that it is not he, but his newspaper friend, who appears before the public as the great man of the occasion ! But let us return to the (thread of history. The speech of Webster and the proclamation of -Jackson silenced the conspirators. South Carolina was a camp, and the beautiful uniform of the volunteers shone with the buttons macle by Mr. ScoviUe, at Waterbury, Connecticut. In this condition of affairs, congress passed what was called the " force bill," the meaning and object of which was to enforce the collection of and the execution of the laws iu any state or states attempting to nullify the laws of tho United States. At thia time of great emergency, to saA'e the uuUifiera, if possible, frora the effects of- their wild and insane proceedings, Mr. Clay proposed his compromise bill — a compromise which caused the loss of fortunes to thousands of persons, aud which ulti mately threw the countiy into the worst commercial convulsion it has ever known, and did not abate one whit the causes of that political antagonism Avhich existed and must exist betAveen slavery and freedom, and Avhich at last Providence settled by the Avar of se cession. Mr. Clay was not at that time ou speaking- terms Avith Mr. Calhouu, but his friends proposecl the plan to the latter, and it was accepted. The plan Avas that the tariff' should be reduced a certain per cent. each year until it fell • to twenty per cent. This com promise was adopted. South Carolina suspended her aggressive operations, and the country returned to an apparent peace — apparent only. Hoav delusive, Iioav uncertain, and how utterly inefficient, we shall see when we examine the subsequent debates on the right 252 Personal 31e'm.ories. of petition, the after coraproraise of 1850, and the se cession war of 1861. Why were the people of that day so deluded ? In fact, they were not. The real statesmen of that day knew well that the political vol cano might burst forth at any moment. In another chapter* I have noticed the Missouri ques tion, the compromise of 1820. From that time on for forty years, statesmen of all parties were engaged in constant, cautious, fearful attempts to coraproraise the great crime of the country. They were trying to use the language of an exorcist, " to lay the ghost ! " But the ghost was impracticable. There was no human power capable of laying it. The more the southern slave states grew in numbers, in cotton products, in wealth and political influence, the more they felt the necessity — an honest necessity — of protecting slavery and extending its domain ; the more grew the necessity of the non-slave states, the more the church was excited to inquire into it, and the more northern deraagogues found a fruitful field iu which to play upon the passions and the- prejudices of the people. The conflict was inevitable. We see it now ; but thinking people saw it long years before it came to pass. In 1828, however, the disease was not called by its right name. As we have seen, they called it the wrong of the tariff; but behind the tariff' lay cotton, and behind cotton lay slavery. We shall see later hoAv it at last took its proper name. I have here traced one chapter in the history of political slavery, and have done it not so much for the curious interest of the reader as to put ou record what I know to be — brief * Chapter VI. Personal Memories. 253 as it is — an accurate view of one of the most interest ing periods of the social progress and political revolu tions through which our countiy passed. The time was four years, but it was a complete microcosm of what followed iu the war of secession. I may remark here that I know of uo more signal example of the interposition, wisdora, and mercy of the divine Providence than that by which the rebellion was averted in 1832, and by which it was brought on and conquered in 1861. If there had been actual re bellion in 1832, it would have beeu called a tariff war. South Carolina, or any state which joined her, would have been easily conquered, but slavery Avould have remained uutouched, and the South would still have believed itself the dominant power. Thirty years aft erward, however, the real cause was slaA'ery, and the whole poAver of the South was arrayed in its defense, and slavery and secession were both destroyed. God justified His ways to men. The great republic, after one hundred years of struggle, stands literally regen erated aud disenthralled. Storms and darkness have fled from her horizon, and nothing but the wrath of God upon disobedience can ever again cross her splen did career. 254 Personal Memories. CHAPTER XVI. The Cholera — Its Advent, Progress, and Mortality — Dr. Drake's Literary Parties — General King — Mrs. King {Mrs. Peters) — Catharine Beecher — Harriet Beecher {Mrs. Stowe) — Professor Stowe — Judge Hall — Mrs. Caroline Hentze-^ College of Teachers — Albert Pickett — Joshua Wilson — Alexander Kinmont — James Per kins — Dr. Beecher — Alexander Campbell — Thomas L. Grimke. In 1832 the Asiatic cholera visited the United States. No great epidemic or general disease has before or since prevailed in North America. The yellow fever had appeared locally in New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston. In 1699* the yellow fever appeared in Philadelphia, and swept off a great number of people. In 1728 it broke out in Charleston, aud swept off many inhabitants. The planters would suffer no persons to carry supplies into the toAvn, and the numbers of the sick were so great that white persons were scarcely to be fouud sufficient to bury the dead. The yellow fever again appeared in New York and Philadelphia in 1793, 1797, 1798, and 1823. These visitations were, however, local, and did not extend to other places. In 1832 the Asiatic cholera became general through out the United States, and for this reason, and because I was preaent where it prevailed in every aeason, it may be interesting to give some of the leading facts * Holmes' Annals. Personal 31emories. 255 of those times. The cholera arrived at Quebec iu an emigrant ship, and immediately proceeded by the Champlain canal and Hudson river to Ncav York city. On the other hand, it ascended the St. Lawrence, en tered the basin of the lakes, and swept around the upper Mississippi, whence it entered the valley of the Ohio. From Buffalo it was carried by Scott's troops, then on their way to engage in the Black Hawk war, to other places. Among these troops, it broke out on the bosom of the lakes, and, by the time they reached Chicago, they had already been decimated by death, and a large number of those left were imraediately consigned to hospitals. General Scott, his staff", and about two hundred and twenty men, embarked in the steamboat Sheldon Thompson, in which, on the 8th of July, the cholera broke out. The boat arrived on the 10th inst. at Chicago. In these two or three days, out of two hundred men, one officer and fifty-one men died, and eighty were left sick at Chicago. The fate of those iu the other boats was even worse than that of those on the Sheldon. Ou landing the troops, many of the soldiers deserted, and their fate Avas terrible. Mr. Norvell, of Detroit, wrote to the Philadelphia Enquirer: "Of the deserters scattered all over the couutry, some have died in the woods, and others have been devoured by the wolves. Their straggling sur vivors are occasionaUy seen marching, some of them know not whither, with their knapsacks ou their backs, shunned by the terrified inhabitants as the source of mortal pestilence." Such were the scenes and horrors which attended the cholera in its fu'st progress through the northwest. At its first appear ance from Quebec to New York, I was at West Point, 256 Personal 31emorirs. on the Hudson. From Albany to New York, in the small villages, and especially at West Point, it ap peared only in the premonitory symptoms, and was not violent ; but in the city of New York it was violent and fatal. The newspapers published the cases and deaths daily, and they were looked for and read with the deepest interest. In New York, as in nearly all cities and towns, the disease appeared in low places and in neighborhoods where filth prevailed. The same fact was noted in the city of London, and a parlia mentary inquiiy showed that it appeared in the same localities with the typhoid fever. These localities were where there were filthy sewers, cess-pools, and drains ; but it ia remarkable that neither in London nor in New York was this pestilence as fatal in proportion to their inhabitants as in many smaller places. It was also noted that no appearance of anything vmusual in the weather or atmosphere was apparent. In the month of June, when the cholera descended the Hudson, the weather was most beautiful, the temperature mild, and the air calm. While this pestilence was terrifying hu manity, nature reraained the same. In the mouth of October, 1832, when the cholera had -apparently left New York, I determined, after nearly four years' of absence, to return to Cincinnati, and resurae ray profession. We returned by Avay of Buff'alo and Erie to Pittsburg. At Erie, Pennsylvania, we took the stage to Pittsburg, and at Pittsburg took a stearaboat down the Ohio. When we arrived at Pittsburg, we were surprised to find that the Ohio river was covered Avith the cholera, alraost every steamboat having it on board. It had arrived at Cin cinnati about the 20th of September, but we had sup- Personal Memories. 257 posed that by this tirae (October) it had abated, and we took a stearaboat for Cincinnati. At Wheeling we found boats with the cholera on board, but deter mined to go on. On the Avay doAvn, my wife had a slight attack of cholera, but soon recovered. At Ma rietta island, a singular iucident occurred. We reached there about dark, and the captain dropped anchor, in tending to remaiu for the night. Just then a steam boat came up the river, and stopped at the island near our boat. Ou asking for the news, the captain said they had four or five cases of cholera ou board, and were about to bury one of their dead on the islaud. This at once gave the alarni. Captain, crew, and pas- aensfers of our boat were all excited ; ladies were using caraphor bottles ; ancl the captain and crew appeared the raost alarraed. The anchor vvas iraraediately lifted, steam started, Tind we went down the river. The fright soon subsided, and the next morning the sun rose bright and beautiful on one ofthe loveliest of October days. Here I raay again remark that never was the weather brighter or better than during the pre'valence of the cholera. We proceeded on our journey, but many of the passengers, including myself, decided that it was dangerous and unwise to go to Cincinnati. My main motive for going there had ceased to exist, for I found by a letter at Wheeling that ray raother, who had been left alraost alone at Cincinnati, had left there and gone to Oxford. I decided, therefore, to land at Gallipolis, and go to Oxford. Among the ladies on our boat was Mrs. Jonathan Bates,. vvho still survives, almost the only one of that period who can remember and relate the facts I have here stated. She is now past eighty years of age, aud has lived the nearly half cen- 258 Personal Memories. tury since, to be a raost useful and respected mem ber of society, honored in the church, and admired by her friends. She, myself, and others proceeded across the country by stage to Chillicothe. At Chillicothe, we took a carriage to Oxford. At Oxford I found my mother, and remained 'a month in that pleasant vil lage. Then and at several subsequent visits, I became interested iu Miami University. In 1835, I delivered a literaiy address before the societies there. 'Here I may say that no western institution ofthe same raeans and age has done raore for the cause of education, or sent forth raore able and intelligent raen, than Miami University. It is to be regretted that its means have been crippled by the early lease of its lands at a com paratively nominal rate. There is now a prospect of its revival, with increased strength, and it is hoped that it will yet become one of the raost valuable of our institutions. Our visit at Oxford passed pleasantly and speedily away, and about the first of Deceraber we returned to Cincinnati. A snow had fallen, the streets were icy, and. the gaslights diraly burning, presenting to our iraagination the ghostly appearance of the departed cholera. The city Avas then healthy, and ren>ained so until the following May, vvhen the cholera again broke out araong the Gerraans in the northern part of the city. It returned again iu 1834, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, and 1865 (or 1866). In one of these seasons ("1849) it vvas far raore severe than in 1832, and, in all times of its appearing, alarraing. That I raay not re turn to this subject, I will here give a suraraary of sorae of its causes and effects. In Septeraber, 1840, the board of health in Cincinnati returned the follow- Personal 3Iemorics. 259 ing number of deaths between the first of May and the first of September, four mouths : Deaths by Cholera 4,114 " " other Diseases 2,345 Aggregate,.... 6,4.')9 If Ave add to this the nuraber of deaths in the last two weeks in April, and from the first of September to the fifteenth of October, duriug Avhich the nuniber of deaths exceeded the average, vve shall have, for six raonths, at least 7,000, of which 4,600 Avere fron cholera. The raortality of the other six months, at the average rate, was only 1,500. We have, then, for 1849, a total mortahty of 8,500, which (the popula tion of the city being 116,000), made a ratio of one in fourteen. If we exaraine this raortality socially, Ave shall arrive at sorae extraordinary results. The divi sion of the cemeteries of Cincinnati by nationalities and religions, is so complete, that we cau easily deter mine how mauy Araericans and how raany foreign born died of cholera. Taking the number giveu abovp, of those who died betvveen the first of May and the first of September, we have this result : Germans, Irish, and Hebrews, 2,896 Americans, English, Scotch, and Welch, 1,218 Total, , 4,114 The ascertained proportion of Gerraans, Irish, and Hebrews, at that tirae, vvas 40 per cent, of the vvhole population. The residue of the population (Araeri cans, English, Welsh, etc.), was 60 per cent. Now, making the comparison, according to these propor tions, vve find that : 260 Personal Memories. Died of Cholera — Gtermans and Irish, _ 1 in 16 " " Hebrews, 1 in 64 " " Americans, English, etc. 1 in 56 " " the whole population...... 1 in 29 We thus see that the deaths araong the Gerraan and Irish was vvithin a fraction of being fourfold that of the Araericans, and double those of the entire popu lation, in proportion. Investigations like these, into the results of dift'erent raodes and habits of life, would contribute something to the progress of social science, that science vvhich will be of the greatest ira portance to the future. The causes of these results are probably various; but raust, uudoubtedlyj be found in the dift'erent conditious of the people and diff'erent raodes of living. During the prevalence of this pestilence, a deep gloora and soleran fear pervaded the city. Many plans and suggestions vvere made to mitigate the dis ease. The greatest raortality was in the hot raonth of July, yet great fires were made in some streets, with the idea of driving off the poison^ but the dis ease went ou Avith its fearful fatality, and the " long funerals blackened all the way." At this tirae my brother-in-law. Dr. Worthington, died at our honse, not of cholera, but of typhus fever, taken from expo sure and fatigue frora attending upon his patients. In consequence of this, and the deep gloom which pervaded the city and ourselves, we went for a fevv weeks to Xenia. Arrived there, we found that the cholera had broken out at about the same time. Our friends were alarmed and excited, and exposed through the sarae scenes, only on a sraaller scale, as those seen in Ciucinnati. Thus, Ave had passed through Personal Memories. 261 all the terrors and afflictions of the year 1849, fatal to Cincinnati. It was oue of the saddest and least profit able years of my life. I have described it here, for the purpose of exhibiting, briefly, what seems un known to this generation — one of the greatest calara ities that can afflict mankind. I Avill now return to the period in time when I left my personal narrative. January, 1833, found rae in a small law-office, on Fourth street, near Main, Cincin nati. I had deterrained to resurae ray profession at any rate, for the-purpo-ie of doing soraething, however little. It turned out to be little; but the attempt vvas most valuable to me, for it raade the reraainder of my life useful aud honorable, if not reraarkable. It was in this office I formed the idea of Avriting " The Politi cal Grammar," a practical work on the constitution, mui;h needed by young men, and which, for forty years, has been more or less in circulation. It is a brief compendium of the comraentaries, legislation, and decisions of the supreme court in regard to the constitution. It Avas adapted to students, and has been studied in many of the acaderaies and institutions of the couutry. It vvas really not published until two years after it was planned. In the raeanwhile, and connected vvith this idea, I acquired a bent toward literary pursuits, which have occupied my mind and attention from that day to this. Circurastances, which I will uow relate, encouraged that taste, and corapleted my transfer from the life of a lawyer to that of a public writer. It was in that year, 1833, my friend and relative. Dr. Daniel Drake, instituted a social and literary reunion at his house, which, to those who frequented it, possessed all the charms of infor- 262 Personal 3Iemories. mation, wit, and kindness. These meetings were reaUy formed for the benefit of his daughters, then just growing into womanhood. Those meetings are indelibly irapressed upon my raemory, and though others of similar character have been made -memora ble by literary fame, I am well persuaded that they Avere neither more instructive nor raore pleasing than those of Dr. Drake, at his Vine-street horae. The reunions vvere sraall enough to meet in the parlor, and the entertainment and instruction of a conversational character, so as to avoid the rigidity and awkwardness of a raere literary party. Thus, the conversation never degenerated into mere gossip, nor was it ever forced into an unpleasant or an unwilling gravity. We used to asserable early — about half past seven — and, when fully collected, the doctor, who was the acknowledged chairraan, rang his little bell for general attention. This caused no constraint; but siraply brought us to the topic of the evening. Soraetiraes this was appointed beforehand. Soraetiraes it arose out of vvhat was said or proposed on the occasion. Some evenings essays were read ou selected topics. On other evenings nothing vvas read, and the time, was passed in the discussion of sorae interesting question. Occasionally a piece of poetry or a story carae in to relieve the conversation. These, however, were rather interludes than parts of the general plan, vvhose main object was the discussion of interesting questions be longing to society, literature, and religions. The sub jects Avere ahvays of a suggestive aud problematical kind ; so that the ideas vvere fresh, the debates ani mated, aud. the utterance of opinion frank and spon taneous. There, iu that little circle of ladies aud gen- Personal Memories. 263 tiemen, I have heard many of the questions Avhich have since occupied the public mind, talked over Avith an ability and fullness of information Avhich is seldora possessed by larger and raore authoritative bodies. Nor Avere these meetings unimportant; for nothiug can be uniraportant Avhich directs minds — vvhose in fluence spreads over a Avhole countiy — and such Avere these. I do uot say vvhat impressions they received ; but I knovv that persons were assembled there, of such character aud talent as seldom raeet in one place, and who, going out into tJie world, have signalized their naraes in the annals of letters, science, aud benevo lence. Dr. Daniel Drake was hiraself the head of the circle, whose suggestive mind furnished topics for others, and was ever ready to revive a flagging conversation. He was a raan of real genius, Avhose mind Avas fresh, ac tive, ambitious, and intellectually enterprising. lie studied medicine vvith Dr. Goforth, the pioneer physi cian of Cincinnati, and for thirty years was a leader in medical science aud education. He founded the Medical College of Ohio, the Cincinnati Hospital, and was a professor in medical colleges, and a teacher, dur ing the largest part of his active life. He closed his career with a great Avork on the diseases of the Mis sissippi Valley, a work of great value, embodying an imraense amount of research, inforraation, and science. General Edward King was another member of the society, who, in spirit, manners, and elocution, was a superior man, haA'ing the dignity of the old school, Avith the life of the ucav. He Avas a son of Rufus Kirig, one of the early and able statesmen of our 264 • Personal Memories. country who did much to form our constitutions, and whose narae avUI live in the annals of history. Gen. King Avas bred a lawyer, and carae out to Ohio, as many aspiring young men did, to fouud his fortunes in what was then the New West. He married a daughter of Governor Worthington, practiced law- at Chillicothe, and becarae speaker of the Ohio Legisla ture. Reraoving to Cincinnati, he became a meraber of our literary circle — both Avitty and entertaining. His wife, since knOwn as Mrs. Peter, has become raore Avidely known than her husband, for her great and active benevolence, and as the founder of institutions, and a leader in society. She had read a great deal, had a strong raeraoiy, and was remarkable for the fullness ofher iuformation. She wrote several essays for our circle, and Avas a most instructive member. The activity, energy, and benevolence of her mind accoraplished iu the next forty years probably more of real vvork for the benefit of society, thau any one person, and that work has made her widely known both at home and abroad. Another member of our circle Avas Judge James y^ALL, then editor of the Western Monthly Magazine whose name is known both in Europe and America, He also, iu the long time that elapsed before his death accomplished much and good work as a writer, citizen aud raan of business. The Western Monthly Magazine which he then edited, was an exceUent periodical, to which many of the literaiy young men of Cincinnati contributed. But literary periodicals there have never been profitable. Many have been published, but soon perished. Judge Hall left the magazine to become cashier aud presideut of the Coraraercial Bank, a Personal Memories. 265 much more profitable business. In the meanwhile, he published several stories, novels, aud essays on the West, which made him Avidely kuoAvn, and deserved the success they received, by their very pleasant style and pictures of Western life. Professor Stowe, theu a coraparatiA'ely young raan, was also present, and contributed his share to the con versation. He is the best Biblical scholar I ever kncAv. In recent years he has published his " History of the Books of the Bible," a work of great learning and of great utility. His first Avife, a Ncav England lady, quite handsome and interesting, also attended the reunions. His present wife, theu Miss Harriet Beecher, was just beginning to be knoAvn for her lit erary abilities. Two or three years after this time, I published in the Cincinnati Chronicle what, I believe, Avas her first printed story. I had heard her read at Miss Pierce's school, in Litchfield, Connecticut, her first public composition. It surprised everyone so much that it was attributed to her father, but Avas iu fact only the first exhibition of her remarkable talents. In the reunion I speak of, she Avas not distinguished for conversation, but Avhen she did speak, shovved sorae thing of the peculiar strength and huraor of her raind. Her first little story, published iu the Chronicle, im mediately attracted attention, and her writings have alvvays been popular. Notwithstanding the world wide renown of " Uncle Tom's Cabin," her real genius and characteristics were as much exhibited iu her short stories as in her larger books. Her sister, Miss Catharine Beecher, Avas a far more easy aud fluent conversationalist. Indeed, few people had more tal ent to entertain a company, or keep the ball of conver- 266 Personal Memories. sation going than Miss Beecher, and she was as will ing as able for the task. For many years she was dis tinguished as an educator, and haa published works on domestic economy, metaphyaica, and religion. Her narae ia widely known, and ahe is distinguished as an author and a philanthropist. Conspicuous in our circle, both in person and man ners, was Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentze, whom none saw without admiring. She was what the world called charming. And, though since better known as an authoress, was personally quite remarkable. Her hus band, Mr. Hentze, was a Frenchman, born in the French Revolution. A man of such sensitive and re tiring habits, as hid him from the public view. Yet, he was a man of science, fond of entomology and natural history. At the time I speak of, they were keeping a popular female seminaiy on Third street, and were among the most active and interesting of our coterie. Soon after this, they movedto the South, and established a feraale serainary there, and Mrs. Hentze contributed several novels to the press. I might name other persons whose wit or information contributed to the charms of our intercourse, but I should want the apology which public fame has given to the mention of these. We had more than one whose memory does not linger on the fame-covered hill, but whose bright minds flowed in the vale below, and sparkled as it flowed. It is enough that I have mentioned out of a small circle gatliered in a parlor names which have been re nowned both in Europe and America, and whose pub lic reputation has contributed to the fame of our coun try. I have dwelt more particularly on these meetings Personal 31emories. 267 to illustrate what I think I 've seen in other cases, and to which people in general seldom give due weight. I mean the influence of social sympathy in forming and developing individual minds. Several years since, I heard one of the oldest and most experienced teachers in the United States enume rate a number of distinguished' pu.blic men in Nevv York, who had all been at the same time pupils of one school. Among thera were the raost eminent literary men of that state. I can not doubt that they greatly influenced one another in their tastes and studies, for I have seen that in other schools and societies. About the year 1833, was founded what was called " The College of Teachers," which continued ten years, and was an institution of great utility and wide influ ence. Its object was both professional and popular ; to unite and improve teachers, and, at the same tirae, to commend the cause of education to the public mind. The former object might have been obtained by the meeting of practical teachers only, as is now done, but to popularize education required that gentlemen of science and general reputation, who had weight with the community, should also be connected with it. At that time, public education was just beginning, aud almost all in the Ohio educational system, as I shall hereafter show, was created and developed after that period. To do this was the object in view, and, accordingly, a large array of distinguished persous took part in these proceedings. I doubt whether in any one association to promote the cause of education, there was ever in an equal space of time concentrated In this countiy a larger measure of talent, informa tion, and zeal. Among those who either spoke or 268 Personal Memories. wrote for it, were Alrert Pickett, the president, and for half a century an able teacher ; Dr. Daniel Drake, the Hon. Thomas Smith Grimke, the Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, Alexander Kinmont, and James H. Perkins, Prof. Stowe, Dr. Beecher, Dr. Alex. Campbell, Bishop Purcell, President McGuffey, Dr. Ayde lotte, E. D. Mansfield, Mrs. Lydia Sigourney, and Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentze. With these were nuraerous professors, practical teachers, and citizens, zealous for the cause of edu cation, most of whom contributed more or less to the transactions of the college. These transactions were for several years embodied in annual voluraes, which can no doubt be found iu piublic libraries, and which contain able and eloquent treatises ou various sub jects. The duty of organization and publication — in fact, that of practically sustaining the association — fell mainly on the working teachers of Cincinnati, and for this reason, probably, it ultimately died away, and lost its popular character. It had, however, accomplished its object, in exciting popular interest in education, and impelling raany persons to its support; who had the ability and influence, to found the present system of public schools in Ohio. Since that tirae, associa tions of practical teachers have taken its place, and are beyond doubt useful and instructive to teachers. Yet there is wanting some popular means of connect ing teachers with the great public ; and I am convinced that the College of Teachers, coraposed of both practi cal aud literary raen, was the best reunion ofthat sort yet devised, and for which no substitute has been found. The human spirit, like a plant, needs a genial soil, and Personal Memories. 269 draws nutriment not only from the earth, but from the atmosphere. In this place it ia proper to mention some of thoae who took an active part in the CoUege of Teachera, and nearly all of whom are dead. Albert Pickett, president of the College of Teach ers, was a venerable, gray-haired man, who had been for nearly fifty years a practical te'acher. He had for many years kept a select academy, in New York. He removed to Cincinnati a few years before the period of which I speak, and established a select school for young ladies. He was a thorough teacher, a man of clear head, aud filled with zeal for his profession. He presided over the coUege with great dignity, and I never knew a man of raore pure, disinterested zeal in the cause df education. Dr. Joshua L. Wilson was a pioneer in the church as well as iu the settlement of Cincinnati. He was not the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church, but Avas the longest iu service — I think about forty years. In the College of Teachers he was an earnest and zealous advocate of public education ; but demanded that education should be founded on religion, and the Bible should be a priraary element in all public education. In 1836, Dr. Wilson delivered an address, in oue paragraph of which he suras up his reasoning on this subject (vvhich is also au example of his style and sentiments) : " But, to sum up what I have said, ' God haa raade of one blood all nationa of raen.' Theae natures of ours, vvhich cliraate, custom, lan guage, and religion have made appear so opposite, are forraed after the same image, Is the rude Ilotentot superior to the ape ? It is because he is a raan, and not a brute. Is the civilized man superior to the 270 Personal Memories. Hottentot ? It is because he is instructed aud edu cated. Is the Christian superior to the pagan ? It is because he knows the Bible, and its Divine Author." Alexander Kinmont might be called an apostle of classical learning. If others considered the classics necessaiy to an education, he thought them the oue thing needful — the ].)illarand foundation of solid learn ing. For this he contended with the zeal of a martyr for his creed ; and if ever the classics received aid from the raanner in which they were handled, they re ceived it frora hira. Kinraont was a Scotchman, born near Montrose, Angusshire. Having accidentally lost oue arra, he was left to pursue the hent of his tastes toward learning. In school and college he bore oft' the first prizes, and advanced with rapid steps in the career of knovvledge. At the University of Edin burgh, which he entered while yet young, he becarae tainted with the scepticisra then very prevalent. Re moving to America, he became principal of the Bed ford Academy, vvhere he shone as a sup)erior teacher. There he eraerged from the gloom and darkness of scepticism, to the faith of the " New Church," as the . church founded on the principles of Swedeuborg is called. His vivid iraagination was well adapted to re ceive these doctrines, and he advocated thera Avith all the fervor of his nature. In 1827, he reraoved to Cincinnati, and established a select academy for the instruction of boys in matheraatical and classical learn ing. The raotto adopted was: "Sii gloria Dei, et utilitate hominum," a raotto which does honor to both his head and heart. In 1835, before the College of Teachers, he was specially opposed to the doctrines of Mr. Grimke, which were iu favor of what he termed Personal Memories. 271 an " American education," aud in opposition to ma theraatics and the classics. On this he rose to the highest style of oratory, and seeraed like one of those classical heroes whom he admired so much. Kin mont made a profound impression on those who knew hira, and to me he had the air and character of a man of superior genius, and, what is very rare, of oue whose learning was equal to his genius. James H. Perkins took little part in the college, but was one of the literary circle of which it waa mainly constituted. He was a New England man, highly educated ; came out to Cincinnati as a lawyer ; was a year or two editor of the Chronicle; and finally a minister ofthe Unitarian Church in th'rs city, Avhere he made a strong impression. He died young, and was most profoundly laraented by a large circle of friends, and held in honorable remembrance by the community iu which he had lived. As a writer, Mr. Perkins was remarkably graceful and easy, and sorae of his short articles were as popular as any written in the countiy. When editor of the Chronicle, I pub lished one of Mr. Perkins' articles, called " The Hole in my Pocket." That article, I think, raust have been published in nearly all the newspapers in the country. Years after it was first published, I saw it in our ex change papers, floating about. He- edited a work en titled " Western Annals," or " Annals of the West," the materials for which were mainly furni-shed by James Albach. It is the only complete book of its kind I know t)f, aud the ouly monument Avhich Mr. Perkins left to his literaiy labors. Dr. Lyman Beecher was one of the speakers in the College of Teachers, but contributed little to its pro- 272 Personal Memories. ceedings. On one occasion he entered into the dis cussion of the question, vvhether excitement to emula tion vvas an admissible raeans of education. On this subject there are various opinions. Dr. Beecher, and a majority of the coramittee, made a report against the admission of emulation in any form. The other inerabers ofthe committee, being Mr. Pickett, Dr. Drake, and President McGuffey, made a counter-report. The .college did not adopt either report, but simply passcd a resolution, that rewards to merit were a right and proper means of education. Bishop Purcell was present in several meetings, but took no active part in the proceedings. Among others present, was Dr. Alexander Camp bell — a most remarkable raan. He became, perhaps unintentionally, the founder of a large religious sect, called, iu his time, Campbellite Baptists, but novv known as The Disciples of Christ. I have heard Dr. CarapbeU preach, for the very purpose of ascertaining his doctrines. I can not be mistaken in two of his peculiar principles — the tirst, that the Bible alone ia the only creed, and that no human creed is right ; secondly, that regeneration is coincident Avith baptism that is, baptismal regeneration. On this account, he waa at first excluded from the Baptist Church, but the opinions he held were in some degree popular, and the sect he founded has continued to increase. Camp bell was a raan of learning, keen inteUect, and an in structive speaker. He was interesting in discussion and conversation. His narae will probably live longer as the founder of a sect than that of many men of genius. Oue of the most remarkable men who appeared in Personal Memories. 273 the College of teachers was Thomas Smith Grimke of South Carolina — a most devoted Christian, and a thorough Araerican. He had formed some very pe culiar theories of education, flowing frora the ultraisra of his ideaa.~ The classics, he held, should not be taught as a means of education, because they were the literature of heathenism, and inculcated false prin ciples. The study of Homer-, he said, had giveu the heroic character to the leading men of South Caro lina, so that they dwelt iu the ideality of a false heroism, rather than in the plain, practical, Christian sentiment of America. Hence, he said, sprang the duel, dissatisfaction with the Union, and the outbreak of nullification — to which may since be added the Rebellion. Against mathematics he protested almost equally strongly. He thought it unnecessary to give so rauch time to the study of abstract science, when it could be employed on the Bible, literature, aud po litical institutions. In advocating these_ ideas he delivered a fine address before the College of Teachers. On the subject of the classics he was answered by Professor Post, in a very elegant discourse. On the subject of mathe matics he was answered by myself, in a discourse en titled " The Utility of Matheraatics." Parts of this address have for forty years been published in school readers. The peculiarities of Mr. Grimke did not diminish the high regard in Avhich his character was held. He was an earnest Christian, a man of pro found thought, of excellent learning, and of noble conduct. He carried us back to the days of primi tive Christianity, and his discourses ou science, litera ture, and religion were filled with the spirit of piety. 274 Personal Memories. The Charleston Teraperance Society declared emphat ically that he vvas the father of the temperance raove raent in South Carolina. He was a meraber of the Episcopal Church, and adorned by his life and con versation the doctrines he professed. He held sorae peculiar opinions. He believed it the duty of every Christian, ecclesiastic or layraau, to preach the gospel to every creature, and authorized to administer the ordinances of religion. He worked to raake the world altogether righteous by means which supposed it already such. "Of those That build their monuments where virtue builds, Art thou ; and gathered to thy rest, we deem That thou wast lent us just to show how blest And lovely is the life that lives for all." Among the first subjects of interest which came before the College of Teachers was the inefficiency of the school system and the ignorance of teachers. These points were fully discussed until the principles necessary for improvement were determined. Look ing to an efficient school law, the College of Teachers passed a resolution that it would greatly advance the interests of education in the West for teachers and friends of education to hold periodical conven tions at the seats of government in the diff'erent states, duriug the session of the general asserablies. In pursuance of this resolution, a convention of teachers and friends of education vvas held in Colura bus, assembling on the 13th of January, 1836. Of this convention Governor Lucas was president; Dr. Hogue, vice-president, aud Milo J. Williaras, secre tary. Prior to this tirae Governor Vance had ap- Personal Memories. 275 pointed Professor Calvin E. Stowe an agent of fhe state to visit Prussia, aud obtain information ou the Prussian system of instruction. Ho had just returned, ancl was a meraber of the convention. The Prussian school system was discussed, lectures delivered, and debates held. The subject of comraon schools vvas referred to a coraraittee, and on the 16th of January the coraraittee reported, by E. D. Mansfield, point ing out the defects of the school law, and recommend ing amendments in relation to the appointment of a superintendent, the requisition of higher qualifica tions on the part of teachers, the greater responsibil ity and additional duties of exarainers, the establish ment of school libraries, and the, collection of school statistics. This report was adopted iu the forra of a meraorial to the h'gislature, and all its recoraraenda tions have since been erabodied in the school lavvs. The convention of the friends of education met -again in the winter of 1836-1837, and recoraraended the substance of the act of March, 1838, vvhich was adopited by the legislature, and made one of the most important school epochs of the state. In fine, the College of Teachers was the raoving cause of that magnificent school system Avhich has placed Ohio in the front rank of states who regard education as the defense of republican freedcmi. In the proceedings of the College of Teachers I took au active part, as I did iu all moA'ements for education. Besides the discourse on " The Utilit}' of Mathematics," I made several reports, and entered into nearly all the public discussions. Subsequently I de livered several lectures, aud published a volume oii 276 Personal Memories. various topics connected vvith popular education. On looking back upon this part of my life, I find nothing to regret, but feel grateful that I was permitted to do something for the promotion of the intelligence aud elevation of the people. Personal Memories. 277 CHAPTER XVII. Ormsby Mitchell — The Political Grammar — Dr. Lyman Beecher — John Quincy Adams — Abolition — Right of Petition — Bank of the United States — Removal of the Deposits — Storer and Lytle — Cincinnati College — Dr. McG-affey — Charles Telford — Cincinnati Chronicle — Benjamin Drake — Myself. In the year 1834 I had ray office on Third street, near Main. My partner in our professed law business was Ormsby McNight Mitchell, a raan so noted and so briUiant that I must mention him here. Mitchell was noted at West Point for his quickness and in genuity. My father, who was professor of philos ophy there, used to say of hira: "Little Mitchell is very ingenious." He was more than that, for he was what you seldom see, a man of real genius. A great many people are spoken of as men of genius, but I never saw more thau half a dozen in my life, and Ormsby Mitchell waa one of them. Many of thoae who read theae pagea will remember him aa the founder of theCincinnatiObservatory, as an eloquent lecturer on astronomy, and as a patriotic general in the war. I ahall apeak of him hereafter in each of theae capacities. It is enough now to say that he Avas my partner in a profession for which I think neither of us Avas well adapted. We were really literaiy men, and our thoughts wandered off" to other sub jects. The scene iu our office was often a remarka- 278 Personal 3Iemories. ble one, though observed by no eyes but our own. Mitchell was fond of the classics, and instinctively fond of eloquence, which iu his after lectures on as- trono,ray he so brilliantly exhibited. _ The scene I re fer to was this: Mitchell sat in one corner reading Quintilian, a Latin author on oratory. He was enam ored of the book, and would turn to me and read passages from it. I, on the other hand, sat at my desk in another corner, writing my Political Gram mar (now the Political Manual). Thus we were two students, each occupied with his OAvn literaiy pursuits, and neither thinking of vvhat both professed, the prac tice of the law. The consequence was, what raight have been expected, Mitchell resorted to teaching classes, and I becarae a public writer. We both found our vocations, though, very different frora what either had anticipated. This was oue of the cholera seasons, in which I fin ished ray Political Grammar, and found relief frora the anxieties of the season in my literary work. Lit erary work has been the theme of my existence, and I can say with Cicero, at however great a distance, tbat it has been with me, in the city and in the coun try, at horae and abroad, a pleasure iu prosperity and a solace in adversity. It has never been a labor to me, as some think, but a pleasant employraent. In sorae forra, whether of newspaper, book, or statistical work, it has corapensated rae as well as most profes sional eraployraent. I can not complain of it, Avhile I am thankful that it has done sorae good, and been of no little service to the public interests. There were many things of interest in the year 1834, and to us as individuals, uot the least was, that Personal Memories. 279 both Mitchell and I joined the Second Presbyterian Church. The pastor of that church was Dr. Lyman Beecher, one of the raost remarkable clergymen in the United States ; remarkable for great abilities, great virtues, great power as a speaker, and no little eccen tricity. I have known and heard many of the most able, noted, and eloquent preachers iu the United Sta.tea ; but, taken all in all, I never knew the equal of Dr. Beecher in the Christian ministry. The pulpits and the places he occupied before the public will, iu some measure, testify to his eminence. He was pas tor of the church in Litchfield, Connecticut, when I was a law student. The students all attended hia church, and it waa there he delivered hia six lectures on temperance, which were the origin of the first great temperance movement. Thence, he went to Boston as the pastor of the Park Street Church, where he was engaged in the Unitarian controversy ; from there he was called to the leading professorship in Lane Seminaiy, a theo logical institution just founded in Cincinnati. He was now also pastor of the Second Presbyterian Churcb ; his miud vvas so active aud industrious that he filled both offices with unrivaled success. At this time, 1834, there was a quiet but extensive revival iu the Second Presbyterian Church ; it was then that Mitchell, I, and perhaps forty others united Avith the church, of which I was a raember during the whole of my residence in Cincinnati. My Political Gramraar, by Harper & Brothers, New York, subsequently published by Truraan &, Sraith, was transferred to A. S. Barnes & Co., New York, who now publish it as the Political Manual. It was 280 Personal Memories. begun when the nullification question, the real origin of the RebeUion had just been discussed, and I was filled with the absurdity of nullification and with love of the Union. Under these circurastances the book contained very positive ideas on that subject, and was charged with being onesided ; however that may be, it has reraained before the public for forty yeara and met with the approbation of intelligent men and pa triotic people. Thia year alao aaw the beginning of a controversy ou the subject of slavery, which lasted until slavery was destroyed in the civil war. Perhaps, this is the proper place to raention how that contro versy begau. I have already in a forraer chapter mentioned the Missouri Corapromise and the excite ment which it caused ; that had died away until the tariff' of 1828 caused a uew agitation in the South, which I have also described ; this caused nullification, and the claira then strongly put forth, that a state had the right to interpose and nullify the laws of the United States. All these transactions had undoubt edly increased the feeling of thoughtful and religious people iu the North, that alavery was the real cause of these agitations, and that unless sorae reraedy for it could be found, either the Union would be destroyed or slavery becorae dorainant in the whole countiy. Hence, arose abolition societies. The idea of an abolition society was not a new thing. The Society of Friends, Franklin, Rush, aud nurabers of enlight ened and benevolent people had presented petitions against slavery iu the early stage of the government; they were then treated vvith respect, but caused no public agitation ; now, however, the abolition societies were regarded as political agitators, diaunioniats, and Personal Memories. 281 assailants of constitutional rights. In the North as well as the South, they were regarded as the ene mies of the Union, of coraraerce, and of the constitu tion. At least, such was the coloring put upon thera by all leading politicians, and alraost all the press. They established papers to sustain their opinions, and in the controversy which ensued the leaders became martyrs to their defense of freedom. Garrison was imprisoned in Baltimore, Owen Lovejoy, in Illinois, was killed by a raob, aud hundreds, of others less noted were iraprisoned, or exiled, or killed, or raur dered. At this tirae, 1834, they had excited little in terest, but had begun to present petitions to Congress. The right of petition was an undoubted constitutional right of every man, woman, or child, black or white, bond or free. It was so described and maintained by John Quincy Adams in his bold and vigorous speeches upon this questiou. Here it was that the South committed a great blunder, unless their leaders looked forward not only to civil war, but to success in it. They assumed that the abolition societies were the cause of a dangerous agitation, and, therefore, must be suppressed by negative if not positive law ; that is, the right of petition raust be denied altogether. This, they undertook to do. The controversy on the right of petition, for the next half a dozen years, ex hibits clearly the purpose of the South to suppress all discussion on the subject of slavery. A few historical facts will show this clearly. In December, 1835, Mr. Fairfield, of Maine, presented the petition of one hundred aud seventy-two women, praying the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia; it was laid on the table, yeas, 180 ; nays, 31 ; the nays 282 Personal Memories. all from the North, and mainly Whigs. A few days after, Mr. Jackson, of Massachusetts, presented a sira ilar petition, and it was laid on the table, yeas, 140; nays, 76. In the foUowing year, Mr. Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, presented a similar petition in the sen ate, from the meeting of Friends, and he moved that the meraorial be read aud the prayer of the petitioners be rejected. In Deceraber, 1837, finding that the agitation was not quieted, it was resolved by the house of represen tatives : " That all petitions, raeraorials, and papers touching the abolition of slavery, or the relations of slaves in any state or territory of the United States, be laid upon the table, without being debated, printed, read, or referred." This resolution was passed by yeas, 122 : naj'S, 74; the nays being raainly, if not-en- tirely, the Whig members frora the free states. In Deceraber, 1838, Mr. Atherton, a Democrat from New Hampshire, introduced a set of resolutions, which caused great excitement and discussion at the time. The last clause was the one most important and most discussed ; it was this : " That every petition, memo rial, resolution, proposition, or paper, touching or re lating in any vvay, or to any extent vvhatever, to slav ery, as aforesaid, or the abolition thereof, shall, on the presentation thereof, be laid on the table without being debated, printed, or referred." This was called the Gag law ; its object was to sUence all discussion whatever ; it passed by yeas, 127 ; nays, 78. It would seem that the house had now done all that was possible to silence the agitation of the slavery question. But in January, 1840, William Cost John- Personal Memories. 283 son, of Maryland, Whig, introduced resolutions, the last of which Avas : " Resolved, that no petition, memorial, resolution, or other paper praj'ing for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, or any state or territory, or the slave trade belweeu the states or territories of the United States in which it now exists, shaUbe received by the house or entertained in any Avay whatever." It Avill be seen that in these five years the house had step by step arrived at the conclusion, not merely to reject, but uot even to receive any petitions on the subject of slavery. This was so directly contrary to the received opinions of the United States, on the subject of constitutional freedora, that even sorae Southern raerabers voted against it. The resolution was, however, carried by a 114 to 108 ; the raajority being made by Northern dough-faces, who had neither the couxage to resist, nor the sense to understand this vio lent abrogation of constitutional rights. Of the twenty-eight Northern merabers who voted for it, six came from Ohio ; they soon passed into oblivion and their naraes are now unknown, except in the political record of the day. The controversy on the right of petition was now ended until these usurpations were all blotted out in the blood of the Rebellion. Even the historian will scarcely notice thera, since slavery and all its attendant criraes are, we trust, destroyed forever. We must now return to the year 1834, in Avhich Avere many subjects of political interest. One of these Avas the removal of the deposits by Jackson. The Bank of the United States then existed, ancl had been char tered for the very purpose of transacting the financial business of the United States. The public deposits 284 Personal Mem.ories. were by law made in that bank, which also transferred the government moneys, and in fact performed its financial business. Jackson was opposed to the bank, and greatly irritated by the conduct of Nicholas Bid dle, president of the bank, who A'ery uuAvisely under took to oppose and resist the influence of the presi dent. In consequence of his own irritation and hos tUity, he undertook to remove the deposits. Finding the secretary of the treasuiy opposed to his views, he appointed Mr. Duane, of Philadelphia, secretaiy of. the treasuiy, but Duane was also opposed to his mode- of proceeding. In a brief tirae, Duane was renioved frora office, and Roger B. Taney, of Maryland, after ward chief justice, was appointed secretary, and the deposits were removed. This whole procedure shocked the public mind, and was the real origin of the Whig party. Itis possible the terra had been used before this tirae, but it wa's first used as the coUective narae of the great party opposed to Jackson. I was at a meeting in the court-house of Cincinnati in the year 1834, and spoke and introduced resolutions in which the term Whig was employed. It was the first meet ing iu which I ever heard it employed. The objects of the Whig party were, opposition to arbitrary power, as exhibited by Jackson, and in favor of legislation for the " general welfare," embracing subjects of finance, industiy, and coramerce. The terrn " general welfare " is expressly used in the constitution to denote the gen eral legislation of congress. The right thus to legislate on these subjects, Avithout a special grant in the con stitution, was denied by the present Deraocratic party, which began at tho same time with the Whigs, and Personal Memories. 285 which professed an adherence to state rights and strict construction of the coustitution. I say the present Democratic party, because the old Democratic party, in the. time of Jefferson, did not call itself Democratic. It was a nickname, given it by its opponents from the Democratic clubs of France and the Deraocratic clubs forraed in this country by Genet, the French arabassador, who Avas sent home by Washing ton for interference in politics. The party of Jefferson, now caUed the old Democratic party, called itself Re publican, and all the official records of that party, down to the last caucus in 1816, shoAV this fact. The present Republican party has the name of the old Deraocratic party, and it has proved its narae to be quite as popu lar as that of Democratic. Thus we see that in 1834 the parties, or rather great factions, which had been formed under personal leaders, such as Clay, Jackson, Adams, and Crawford, were now consolidated into the great national parties called Whig and Democratic, which for the time being were separated by real prin ciples. The opponents of the United States Bank, aa'Iio, after the removal of the deposits by Jackson, became hostile to paper money, proposed the doctrine of hard money, and Colonel Benton, then in the senate, said that gold would flow up the Mississippi. This was laughed at by the Whigs, and gold has not yet flowed up the Mississippi. But this idea gave rise to a curi ous incident in Cincinnati politics. Robert T. Lytle (son of General William Lytle, a pioneer in this sec tion, and a warm friend of Jackson's) represented Cin cinnati in congress. He was a lawyer, and quite a brilliant man, ambitious of political honora, and a 286 Personal 3Iemories. proteg6 of Jackson's. In fact, I was told that Jack son treated him almost as a son. Of course, when Jackson renqoved the deposits, Lytle sustained him by his vote ; but in the meanwhile the business men of Cincinnati considered themselves injured and endan gered by the attack on the United States Bank. In consequence of this feeling, Lytle was defeated at the next election,- and was succeeded by Bellamy Storer. At the end of Storer's term, he declined a renomina tion, and the Deraocrats nominated Lytle, but the Whigs were exasperated by Jackson's conduct toward the bank, and determined, if they could not elect t/ieir candidate, they would put a slight upon Lytle. There was a wild, good-natured young man, called Wash. Mason, whora they nominated for congress against Lytle, and called the contest " Gildibus against Gold- ibus." Strange as it may seem, " Gildibus " came within about flfty votes of being elected, a result which ac complished what the Whigs intended as a slight, but not a success. Lytle did not reraain in Congress, and in a few years died. His son. General Wm. H. Lytle, was also a brilliant man, who was killed on the Union side in the war. Perhaps this is the proper place to mention the final result of Jackson's war on the bank. The bank was not rechartered by congress, but was chartered by the State of Pennsylvania. It undertook to sustain the State of Pennsylvania in its great internal im proveraents aud developraents, and supply national currency. In one Avord, it undertook to do the business of a national bank, without its power. The result was, the bank failed, and caused a good deal of coraraercial disaster. About this time, great num- Personal 3Iemories. 287 bers of state banks were chartered, ancl, instead of a national currency, we had a state bank paper. Jack son, to avoid, as he thought, the eflects of destroying the United States Bank, advised the state banks to issue currency and aid the merchants. This they did, and within three years the banks failed, aud the great est commercial disaster the countiy had ever knowii took place, and for six or seven years the comraercial distress was greater than it ever has been before or since. Such was the result of what may fairly be termed ignorance and presumption. Cincinnati College, which had been founded in 1818- 1819, Avas revived in 1835, with an academic and med ical department. The principal founder of Cincinnati CoUege was General William Lytle, who projiosed to some of the citizens that they should finish the build ing which had been begun for the Lancaster Seminaiy, endow it, ancl procure a college charter. Leading the way with a subscription of $11,500 (eleven thousand five hundred doUars), he was followed by as many as forty respectable citizens, whose contributions made a large amount. A charter was obtained which gave ample power to appoint professors, organize a faculty, and confer all the degrees which are usually conferred in any college or university in the United States. Under this charter classes were subsequently formed, and many of the prominent young men of Cincinnati Avere taught and graduated in that institu tion. A few years afterward the college waa aban doned, and only a primary department retained. In the rcA-ival of the Cincinnati College there waa insti tuted a medical department, a law department, and a faculty of arts. The medical department had in it 288 Personal Memories. three of the most eminent medical men in the United States, Dr. Drake, of whom I have spoken, Dr. Gross, and Dr. Willard Parker. The last two are still alive; Dr. Gross, the most eminent surgeon in Phila delphia, and Dr. Parker, certainly one of the juost eminent physicians in New York. The law school had been founded as a private institution, by two gen tlemen of the bar, Edward King, Esquire, and Timothy Walker, Esquire. At this time, 1836, General King was dead, and the law school was coraposed of pro fessors -John C. Wright, Joseph S. Benham, and Timo thy Walker. In these departraents, however, I had less interest than iu the literaiy faculty, of which I Avas a member. Of that I will relate some facts of interest at the time, but which may not now be reraerabered. The literaiy departraent of Cincinnati College ceased to exist after three or four years, for want of any en dowment to sustain it. In that time, however, it ex cited great interest in Cincinnati, and was the center of all literary activity there. The faculty were com posed as follows : W. H. McGuffey, president, and professor of moral and intellectual philosophy; Ormsby M. Mitchell, professor of mathematics and astronomy ; Asa Drury, professor of ancient languages; Charles L. Telford, professor of rhetoric and belles-lettres; Edward D. Mansfield, professor of constitutional law and his tory; Lyman Harding, principal of the preparatory department; Joseph Hbrron, principal of the primary department. The president, Rev. W. H. McGuffey, had been several years a professor of Miami University, Oxford, where he had acquired a high reputation, and after he Personal Memories. 289 left Cincinnati became president of Ohio University, at Athens, and subsequently professor of intellectual philosophy in the University of Virginia. In all this career his reputation was constantly increasing, his usefulness was great, aud his ability in his peculiar departraent unsurpassed by auy raan- in the United States. Mr. McGuffey entered Cincinnati College with the full knowledge that it was an experimental career, but he came with an energy and a zeal in the cause of education, and the pursuit of high and noble duties, which are rarely raet with and are sure to command success. His mind was more analytical ancl logical than that of any one I have known or whose works I have read. In his discourses and lectures before members of the college he disentangled difficulties, made mysteries plain, and brought the abstruse and the profound within the reach of common intellects. Hence his Sunday morning discourses in the college chapel were ahvays numerously attended, ancl hia manner of treating metaphysics was universally popu lar. I thought theu, aud think now, he was the only sound aud clear-headed metaphysician of whom, it has beeu my lot to knoAv anything. Oue reason of this was that he was a practical teacher of great ability. In fine, he was naturally formed for the department of philosophy, and in Cincinnati College put forth with zeal and fervor those talents which were peculiarly his own. Ormsby M. Mitchell, professor of mathematics, has since acquired so broad a reputation as to refiect honor upon rather than have derived it from the chair he then held. He was a graduate of West Point, always distinguished for his love of mathematics and 290 Personal Memories. astronomy. In Cincinnati he had been several years a teacher, and no one ever taught more successfully. In the college he took almost the sole charge of the department of phyaical acience, aud for aeveral years taught large classes zealously and laboriously. Lie re mained in the college while it was possible to hold it together. Soon after the dissolution of Cincinnati College, he coramenced that career, both civil aud military, which has since made his narae so distin guished and widely known. Of this I shall speak again. The Rev. Asa Drury, profesaor of languages, had both the knowledge and the tact of an excellent teacher, and both his pupils and colleagues gave tes timony to his worth. He was afterward professor in the Baptist Seminary, Covington, for several years. Charles L. Telford was not a comraon man. A graduate of Miami University, he was a partner of Mr. Groesbeck in the practice of the law, when he was elected professor of rhetoric and belles-lettres. Tall, erect, dignified, and of grave manners, he was of manly carriage and comraanding presence. Of him it might be said, he was " without fear and without reproach." He was a fine writer and a graceful orator, but died young, soon after the dissolution of the college. With such a faculty, I thought, as Dr. Gross did, of the medical department, "we s/io«M have succeeded," and practically we did, for the college had at one tirae as raany as one hundred and sixty pupils, and certainly received the encourageraent of the coramunity. But it was entirely without endowment, and without any revenue save that received from tuition. Experience proved, after many trials, that a literaiy institution Personal Memories. 291 can not be sustained without some endowment for its apparatus, library, and incidental expenses ; the college, therefore, as a college, was dissolved. But having a very valuable lot, it still does a good work in the law school it has established, aud in courses of lectures by able men. My oavu part in the practical teaching of the college was small, having no share in its class in struction. In one season, however, I delivered lectures on the Law of Equity and the Constitution, to the law class. And of that class several have since been dis tinguished in public life. I also delivered a series of popular lectures on the history of civilization. Aside from these I had taken part in the labors of the iusti- tuion. Meeting my colleagues in faculty meetings, and in social intercourse, we became intimate, and some of the pleasantest and most iustructive hours I - ever passed were spent in the intellectual and briUiant society of the professors of the Cincinnati College. We were all in the early prime of life, labor seemed light, care made no irapression, and sorrow Avas less ened by the hopes of the future; we gathered knowl edge from every passing event and pleasure from CA'ery opening scene. Such periods corae but once, they raake the golden thread of Ufe, they give brightness to its days, aud linger on through the years of memory. We never met without pleasure, nor ever parted without regretting the shortness of the hours. To have such meetings I regarded as no small blessing, and to have them no longer is among my deepest regrets. Con nected in sorae measure with Cincinnati College was the estabhshment of the Cincinnati Chronicle, of which I waa editor. Aa thia jiaper had much connec tion with the public intereata, and did more than any 292 Personal Memories. other to promote the literary taate and talent of Cin cinnati, I shall take some notice of its history and character. The Chronicle was founded in the year 1826. The Chronicle was published by the Messrs. Buxton, and edited at that time by Benjamin Drake, Esq. Mr. Drake was a gentleman of ability and liter ary taste. As a Avriter Mr. Drake did much for the public advantage and something for his oavu permanent reputation. In connection with myself he compiled Cincinnati iu 1826. He wrote articles for the Western Monthly Magazine, the Southern Literary Messenger, and other periodicals. Besides these he wrote the " Tales of the Queen City," "Life of Black Hawk," and the " Life of Tecumseh." He was thus one of the earliest pioneer authors in Cincinnati. The Chronicle, in the next twenty years, paased through mauy transmuta tions, having at oue time ceased to exist in name, though not in substance. In 1834, it ceased as The Chronicle, and was amalgamated with a literary peri odical called The Cincinnati Mirror. In 1836, Drs. Drake and Rives, of the medical department of Ciucinnati College purchased the "Mirror" of "Flash and Ryder," and re-established Ihe Chronicle ou its subscription list. They got a journeyraan printer vvho knew nothing about publishing to print, and I, vvho was professor of history and law, to edit it. Both of us vvere equally iguoraut ofthe modern art of getting up newspapers, and especially of the notable plan of printing the paper to puff ourselves. I doubt whether we ever mentioned ourselves, and we were in great fear vvhen we mentioned the coUege, lest vve should have the appearance of self-conceit. Hapipily, editors and publishers nowadays have got rid of this very Personal Memories. 293 imprudent modesty, and the generation of to-day is wiser than the generation Avhicli preceded it. The result of such a newspaper speculation, undertaken without any knovvledge of the business, was the same as that of all similar undertakings. The Mirror had nominally two thousand subscribers, bnt at the end of six raonths, not one-fourth of thera vvas left, and not one-half paid thljir subscri[>tions. The medical gentle men became heartily tired, and sold the paper to Messrs. Pugh and Dodd — the former a meraber of the Society of Friends, and the latter a printer, who afterAvard becarae a Avell-knovvn hatter. I remained editor, as sisted by Mr. Drake, who vvas novv a practicing raera ber of the bar. In this nevv era of the Chronicle, v\ e found ourselves vvith a new and unexpected erabar rassment. It was the era of Abolition mobs. Just jirior to this tirae. Dr. Bailey, afterward editor of the National Era at Washington, published an Abolition ]iaper, of which Mr. Pugh vvas the printer. An anti- Abolition mob, composed chiefly of the raost respect able young raen, had torn down Bailey's press, thrown it into the Ohio river, and deraolished the raaterials. The press was owned ly Mr. Pugh, the printer, and now that the Chronicle had passed into his hands, the populace looked up)on us with suspicion, and vvere disposed to visit us Avith a portion of their wrath. This made uo diff'erence with our course, but retarded the support and growth of the paper. It looks very strange now, iu the great change vvhich the public mind and nation have undergone, but it is true that the freedom of the press vvas in actual danger from the overawing influence of mobs. These mobs were instigated by 'men Avho believed that society was 294 Personal Memories. founded only upon trade, ancl like Deraetrius, the sil- A'crsraith, thought their craft Avas in danger, when the worship of the goddess Diana was abridged. The Diana of that day vvas slavery. The Cincinnati Chronicle was thoroughly anti-slavery, but not Abo litionist, so called. It was a Whig paper throughout its whole career, having the confidence and support ofthe most influential people in the city. It never hesitated to criticise and expose the conduct of the slaveholders or the political laws vAvhich maintained thera, but did not think it necessaiy to establish a separate party for that purpose. In the raeautirae the Chronicle grew slowly, and raanaged by hard work to raaintain 'itself. In Deceraber, 1839, it became a daily paper, having obtained the subscription list of the Whig, founded by Major Conover, and then edited by Henry E. Spencer, Esq. The subscription list of both papers was small. The newspaper publishers of this day who inform the public (which the public very courteously believe) that they comraeueed with thou sands and progressed with tens of thousands of sub scribers,- will doubtless be astonished to learn that we coraraenced the Daily Chronicle vvith two hundred and fifty aud terrainated the year Avith six hundred of what the Avorld calls patrons. Mr. Pugh, the pro prietor, aud rayself had a hard contest wilh the world against two prevalent ideas. One Avas slavery, and the other was liquor. We Avere utterly opposed to slavery in the day vvhen two-thirds of the coraraunity vvere for it, and two-thirds of the remainder compro mised with it. We both lived to see its entire de struction iu this land of the free, as it is called, free in fact, standing out before the world the only successful republic. We both ut:erly opposed the Personal Memories. 295 liquor trade and the dram-shops. Pugh would not allow a singl'i advertisemeut of auy place where liquor waa sold or drank. The consequence Avas a great loss of business from the liquor sellers and their friends. But in all other respects the Chronicle vvas popular aud prosperous. We Avere warra Whigs — the frieuds and advocates of raorals, religion, science, and liter ature. I think the first "Price Current" in Cincin nati was published in our office by Mr. Peabody, and Mr. Richard Sraith begau his loug and honorable ca reer as a newspapier raan in our office. He soon after published the Price Current of the Merchants' Ex change, and became superintendent of that institution. This was a good practical education for the part he has so long held in the Gazette. At the same time Mr. Boardman, who has so long conducted the High land News, was a printer in the office, and several other publishers of newspapers graduated frora it. The Chronicle had an able and brilliant corps of con tributors, as the reader vvill readily seo vvhen I men tion their names. Mrs. Stows, then Miss Harriet Beecher, published her first stories in it ; Mr. (novv Dr ) Blackwell wrote for it ; so did James II. Per kins, Mrs. Sigourney, Mrs. Douglas, of Chillicothe, Mary De Forest, Lewis J. Cist, and several others who have since been well known. As a paper, the Chronicle was a success, but it became involved in pe cuniary troubles, and was at length merged in the Atlas, a paper begun hy Nathan Guilford, and, after three or four years' existence, died. To edit the Chronicle was to me a pleasant business. It continued about fifteen years, and I look back upou my part in that paper as alike useful to the public and honorable to myself. 296 Personal Memories. CHAPTER XVIII. Southern Railroad — 3Iy Article and Speech — Publie Meeting in Cincinnati — Drake — J. S. Williams — Judge Hall — General Harrison — Knoxville Conven tion — Ohio Delegates — Scenery on the Tennessee River — Cincinnati Mob — Court-house 3Ieeting — Commer cial Crisis of 1837 — First Observatory at Ludlow Sta tion — Mitchell's Observatory. The history of the Southern Railroad — a work which has recently excited much attention, and is still engaging the public mind — is curious aud instructive. It is now more than forty years since the idea of such a work Avas formed and advocated, and yet while other AA;orka of far less importance have been con structed iu various parts of the countiy, this great Avork reraained unfinished. It is now tirae to give its histor}', that whatever of merit or demerit tbere may be in it may be traced to the originators. Up to the year 1825, the only idea of great internal improvement in tbe West Avaa that of canals. In that year, however (1825), the Liverpool and Manchester Railroad was completed, and a new and extraordinary era in locomotion began, vvhich has revolutionized the modes of carriage, and giveu a new impulse to all the raodes of comraerce. In America, the new idea Avas taken up Avith zeal, and the construction of railroads began. Among the earliest of these vvere those .at tempting to pierce the Alleghany Mountains, and Personal Memories. " 297 connect the cities of the Atlantic Avith those of the valley of the Ohio. Their progress, however, waa slow. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which was commenced in 1828, vvas only completed in 1853 — a period of twenty-tive years. The Nevv York and Erie Railroad was begun in 1835, but ouly completed in 1852 — seventeen years. In 1832-1833, the legislatures of Ohio aud Indiana granted several charters for rail roads, many of vvhich have since beeu made. I be came interested in this new mode of commercial enter prise, and in Au.gust, 1836, published in the Western Monthly Magazine, then edited by Judge Hall, an article advocating a railroad from Cincinnati to the South. My idea was to take the route to Knoxville, Tennessee, and thence by a road through Tennessee and Alabama to Mobile. That article was vvritten before, but not published until after the first raeeting held in Cincinnati on that subject. A meeting had been held at Paris, Kentucky, to take steps toward constructing a .railroad from Cincinnati to that fertile region ; but the plan of a raUroad to the South At lantic was first puplicly proposed at a meeting held in Cincinnati, ancl suggested by Dr. Daniel Drake. This meeting Av'as held at the Commercial Exchange, Front street, in the summer of 1835, for the purpose of pro moting the raUroad to Paris, Kentucky. When the proceedings relative to that subject were concluded. Dr. Drake offered a resolution, Avhich was unanimously adopted, fo inquire into the advantage and practicabU ity of a railroad to South Carolina. A committee of three was appointed, to report at a subsequent meet ing. This committee consisted of Dr. Daniel Drake, Thomas W. Bakewbll, and John S.Williams. This 298 Personal Memories. meeting, and the resolutions, were the initial steps in the plan of constructing the great raihvay between Cincinnati and Charleston, which is now being com pleted. The adjourned meeting of citizens was held at the Exchange, on the 15th of August, 1835, when Dr. Drake read an elaborate and argumentative report, placing the whole subject in a clear and conclusive light. His report was followed by sjieeches from Mr. John S. WiUiams aud myself. I traced more in de tail the route through Knoxville to Charleston. The proceedings, report, and speechea were ordered to be published, and I prepared a pamphlet, accompanied by a map entitled " RaUroad from the banks of the Ohio river to the tide waters of the Carolinas and Georgia." A standing committee of inquiiy and correspondence was apppointed by the nieeting. That committee consisted of Gen. William Henry Harrison, Judge James Hall, Dr. Daniel Drake, Edward D. Mansfield, Esq., Gen. Jambs Taylor, of Newport, Kentucky, Dr. John W. King, of Covington, Kentucky, and George A. Dunn, Esq., of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. I mention this com mittee particularly, because they did much to excite a zeal in this cause, both North and South, ancl diffused information concerning both sections through these wide and far separated regions of countiy. Being ap pointed secretaiy of the committee, 1 know that an extensive correspondence passed through their hands, and that they did no small amount of service in devel oping the knowledge of our resources, and awaking that zeal for public works which has ever since ^Dre- vailed. It is well known with how much zeal aud earnestness the citizens of Charleston, Savannah, and Augusta, and the states of South Carolina and Georgia Personal Memories. 299 adopted this scheme, and with what energy they car ried it out. The great system of railways Avhich now exists in those states had chiefly for its basis the con struction of that great work, which should connect them with the great Valley of the Ohio. It is uoav forty -three years since this plan was conceived, and the public mind interested in the subject, and yet the South ern road is only now draAving toward completion. I was repeatedly asked if I thought this work was jjossible, and when it might be done. I uniformly replied that it was not only possible, but certain, and a necessity to the country. In 1863, a great Southwestern conven tion was called and held at Knoxville on this subject, in which were delegates from nine states, to wit : Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Caro lina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. There was intense excitement in the country on this subject, and the convention was a numerous and, able body. The delegates Avho attended from this region were Gov. Vance, Dr. Drake, Alexander McGreav, Crafts J. Wright", and myself, frora Ohio ; Gen. James Tay lor, M. M. Benton, and J. G. Arnold, from NcAvport and Covington. The debates and proceedings of the convention at Knoxville were quite exciting and very interesting. The only serious controversy at that time was in regard to the termini at the South and at the Ohio river. The South Carolina ancl Georgia delega tions each claimed, with great pertinacity, that they had the best route. But time has settled all these things. Each of these states, as well as Alabama and Tennessee, have completed their lines of railroad, so that they all concentrate at Chattanooga, on the Ten nessee. Hence, when the city of Cincinnati deter- 300 Personal Memories. mined the terminus of the Southern Railroad in the South, Chattanooga was preferred to KnoxAdlle. I must UOAV return to my interesting journey through the South, with the condition aud appearance of things in the South at that time. Six of us, including Gov. Vance and Gen. Taylor, left Cincinnati in a stage, passing through Lexington, Lancaster, and Crab Orchard,- on what was called the Ridge road. We crossed the Cumberland river at Cumberland Ford, and Cumberland Mountain at Cumberland Gap. Nearly the Avhole of the country, except in the Blue Grass Region around Lexington, was thinly settled, and showed no signs of improvement. At Cumberland Ford I was struck by seeing coal banks of great thick- neaa, but I soon found that this was nothing uncom mon, for we were uoav in that great coal district whicll extends southeasterly from Trumbull county, Ohio, to Central Alabama, on the western slope of the Appala chian Mountains. We passed through Cumberland Gap, and then over Clinch Mountain ; crossing the Clinch and PoAvell rivers, aud arri ving at Bean's Station , forty miles east of Knoxville. This was quite a noted place, be ing the night stopping place for the great stage hue which passed through the valley of Virginia to the South. The change Avhich has since takau place will be seen, in the simple fact that this very route is now takeii by the Great Southwestern Railroad Line which runs from Richraond, Virginia, to Mobile, Alabama. At Bean's Station, Avhere we lodged at night, we found ourselves in a quandary. The stages on the Virginia line arrived, crowded with passengers, and could not take us to Knoxville. What was to be done ? Some enterprising person in the party found that we could Personal 31emories. 301 hire a six-horse Avagon to take us into Knoxville, so, next morning, Ave embarked in the wagon with our trunks and valises on the floor with plenty of straAv. We had fine horses, with a Tennessee driver more than six feet tall, Avith a red shirt. We talked and sang, told anecdotes, and looked with surprise on what has been called " The Switzerland of the South." Arrived at Knoxville, Dr. Drake, two or three others, and my self, were received into the house of a private gentle man, and hospitably entertained. That night Ave had a splendid exhibition of natural phenomena, in a vio lent thunder-storm. The vivid lightning lit up the hills and valley of the Holston, whicli were again plunged iu utter darkness. After the convention, the party separated. Dr. Drake and myself took the stage to Kingston, on the Tennessee, about forty miles be- loAV Knoxville, where we found a small, ucav steamer ready to descend the river. We took passage in her, with two or three other passengers, and had a novel and delightful trip to Alabama. I seldom see any notices of this region and its scenery, although the war has revealed to the country the immediate section round Chattanooga. I avUI, therefore, describe the Tennessee from Kingston to Triana, where we landed. What is uoav Chattanooga was then Ross' Landing of the Cherokees, who then occupied Northern Georgia. Ross was a chief of the tribe, as, I beUeve, his son is noAV. The Tennessee, for a hundred miles below Knoxville, passed through a mountain countiy, and in some places has forced its way through the mountains. BeloAV Chattanooga, is Lookout Mountain, where Hooker fought his battle above the clouds. The river winds its way round the 302 Personal Memories. base of Lookout. On the opposite side, and below, are Walden and Raccoon Mountains. After jiassing the base of Lookout, about ten miles below the Ten nessee seems to break through Raccoon Mountain, not unlike the Shenandoah at Harper's Ferry, or the Hudson at West Point. The stream here is rapidly compressed to seventy yards in width, and whirlpools are formed over the rocks below. This passage is called " The Suck of the Tennessee," and has always been regarded as a remarkable place. It seemed as though there were no room for our little steamer to pass, but by skillful pilotage we glided through. Marvelous stories were told of " the suck " iu early times. It was said that the water was so compressed that it would bear an ax. A few miles be low this we passed out of the mountain scenery. Jef ferson said that it was worth a voyage from Europe to see the passage of the Shenandoah, and if so, it is worth a great deal more to see the " Suck of the Ten nessee." I have visited the raost celebrated scenes in our country, and I think that the mountain scenery of Tennessee is fully equal to any other. Below "the suck " the river broadens and passes into a more level country. The horizontal limestone stratum begins to appear and is worn away at the base by the river, leaving little caverns, while the bank above is sur mounted by foliage and flowers. This formation con tinues for a great distance, but when we reached Ala bama, rock cliffs began to appear, which in some cases were colored red by the drippings of iron ore and pre sented a variegated appearance. Soon after this we got into the cotton countiy, and landed at Triana, whence we proceeded to Huntsville. It was then a Personal 31emorics. 303 small place, but in a very beautiful country, inhabited by pleasant and hospitable people. Here we reraained two or three days, and the season being July, we visited the suraraer resort of the HuntsviUe gentle men, MoNTESANO. This is a high ridge, with a bluff" termination, being apparently the southern terminus - of the Alleghany Mountains. I had passed the AUe ghanies in many places of their eastern range, and now stood on the southern end, where the mountains seemed to say : " I Avill go no farther, but rest in the conteraplation of this beautiful countiy." Here the gentleraen of HuntsviUe had built on the summit log houses, and enjoyed, in the midst of sum mer, cool air. From HuntsviUe, we went by stage through Nash ville and Lexington to Cincinnati. Arrived there, I was astonished to find a new form of modern civilization, and a new way to please the southern people. While we were at Knoxville, trying to secure the Union by links of iron, some of the young men of Cincinnati had made a mob, ancl, as I have before stated, tore doAvii the abolition press of Dr. Bailey ancl thrown it into the Ohio. On this, the leading people of Cincinnati found themselves in a predicament. A mob was certainly not a way to recommend the community, and yet to tolerate abolition was not the way to please the South. So a great public meeting was held at Lower Market, just before we returned. The result of the meeting, however, was really nothing, the party of order not being able fully to denounce the mob, and the mob uot being wilUng to defend themselves, so nothing was done. Soon after my return, Mr. Haramond, Mr. Chase, a few others, and myself, determined to hold a 304 Personal Memories. public meeting to vindicate our own opinions. We therefore called an afternoon meeting at the court house. The aft"air was a curious one. We did not expect to announce opinions for the whole city, but to give our own vicAv of the subject. We did not, therefore, expect any interruption or opposition. What, therefore, was our surprise to find the court-house crowded, and among the crowd, the leading men of the city. We saw at once, that we were checkmated, and that like the market-house meeting, the result would be a neutral compound. A large committee waa appointed to propoae resolutions. I waa upon that committee, and as I was almost alone in my views, I agreed to bring in a single resolution, condemning mobs in general terms, and the meeting pasaed oft" in an amiable mood. Since then I have thought that I wanted moral courage in that meeting. After the experience of forty years, I think the true plan would have been to have made a minority report, expressing fully my opposition to the pro-slavery moveraents of the day. This would have raised a storm, but it would have made discussion, and brought people to a full consideration ofthe subject. After events showed that there waa no poaaibility of compromiae, and we had at laat to do what we ahould have done at first — to take au uncompromising stand against slav ery ; but Providence vindicated its own ways, as the history of subsequent events has shown. For the free states could not and would not conquer slavery in 1836 aa they did in 1860-1865. In the following year, 1S37, Jackaon'a achemea of finance reached their climax, in the worat and moat complete commercial convulsion which has ever been Personal Memories. 305 experienced in this countiy. We have already noticed his attack upon aud overthrow of the United States Bank, but since the business of the government must be conducted through financial agents of some kind, he was obliged to find a substitute for the national banks. This he did in the state banks. He encouraged them to increase their loans ; the natural consequence foUowed — state banks and corporate banks were mul tiplied ; they had the government deposits, and they were on the high tide of prosperity, apparently. Specu lation was rife in all departments of business. Soon after this, Jackson issued his specie circular, whicli required the receivers of land offices, at a time when the sales of public lands were great, to receive pay ment only in specie or its equivalent. The banks were then inflated to their utmost extent, and the effect of this circular was to alarm and endanger them. In the meantime there came another danger. In 1832, Clay and Calhoun, to avert the effects of nullification, made the compromise tariff. The tariff was to be gradually reduced until it reached an average of twenty per' cent. The process of reduction was going on from 1832 to 1837. The immediate result of this was to increase our imports of foreign goods, so that by 1837 the balance of trade had become greatly against us. Thus, the reader can see that the reduction of the tariff on one hand, and Jackson's experiment in finance on the other, had, brought to the countiy such a crisis that it was impos sible to avoid commercial disaster. It came and brought ruin to thousands. It was of the same nature and brought on by alraost the sarae causes as the great commercial convulsion of 1819-1822. At that time, 306 Personal Memories. 1819, Cincinnati waa alraoat sold out to ita creditors, but now, although hundreds were bankrupt, the city was in a better condition to bear it, and after a short time coutinued to prosper. The effect of the convul sion of 1837 continued untU 1842, whan a protective tariff rcAdved the industry of the country, and placed its commercial interests upon a more solid foundation. The commercial convulsion of 1837 and 1839 operated upon the country like violent medicine upon the indi vidual. It gave pain and suffering, but it cleansed and purified the commercial system, so that when its revi val came it was restored to greater strength and ac tivity. The tariff being reduced to its minimum, foreign goods had overflowed the country, and the in debtedness to Europe caused a suspension of the banks, and almost a suspension of commercial credit. In this situation, necessity compelled the nation to adopt, as we have said, a protective tariff. All theories had to give way to practical experience. Under the new tar iff, the business of the country rapidly revived. Not withstanding the Democrats, in 1846, remodeled the tariff, they never reduced it to anything like its former low point. The tariff of 1846 was a horizontal tariff; that is, specific duties were abolished, almost all arti cles were placed in three or four great classes. The duties on nearly all articles which came in competition with American raanufacturers, were respectively 25, 30, and 35 per cent. These were apparently sufficient, but, nevertheless, foreign manufactures, especially English, continued to be imported in large quantities. For the next twenty years, until the close of the late war, the contest between foreign and American manu factures, continued with doubtful resulta. The war Personal 31emories. 307 tariff of 1862 gave a final blow to foreign competition, and now the industry of Araerica is triumphant at home, and promises to gain an ascendency throughout the world. I In the meantirae, just after the convulsion of 1837, say up to 1848, the growth of Cincinnati continued with great rapidity. Strange as it may seem, the cora mercial depression, and the want of money did not impede building, on the contrary, it aided Cincinnati. Mauy emigrants from Nevv York and Eastern cit ies carae to Ciucinnati to begin a new career, where they could live on less nieans and have an equal chance in the future. The prices of provisions and all articles for housekeeping had fallen very rauch, and it seemed like a return to priraitive times. In this conditiou of things,- the new emigrants required many houaes, and the mechanics and lot-holders man aged to build thousands of houses in three or four years, alraost without raoney. Much of it was actu ally done by barter, the land-owners, the hardware men, the lumber men, mechanics, and grocers inter- trading with each other, so that much less raoney Avas required. For several years the city grew rapidly. But when the general prosperity of the country seemed to be greater, the growth of Cincinnati Avas actuaUy less, as the reader may verify by referring to the census returns. Although not exactly in the order of time, I avUI here relate the history ofthe Ciucinnati Observatory, because connected Avith something Avliich occurred many years before, and also with the progress of sci ence in this country. I have already related the ap pointment of my father as Surveyor-General of the 308 Personal Memories. United States, and the object of that appointraent, which vvas. to establish meridian lines as the basis of public services. This could not be done except by a man of science, vvith suitable astronoraical instru ments. Thus it happened that the first real observa tory in the United States was established in my father's house at Ludlow Station. The history of it was this : My father informed Mr. Jefferson that the meridian line could not be run vvithout certain astronomical in struraents, and that these instruraents could not be had in the United States. Mr. Jeff'erson said that congress had raade no appropriation for that object, but that he (the President) had a contingent fund out ofwhich he would procure these instruments. Mr. Gallatin, then secretary of the treasury, wrote to Troughton, mathematical instrument maker, London, for the fol- lowiugly instruments : First, a three-foot long reflect ing telescope, mounted in the best raanner, with lever motion; secondly, a thirty-inch portable transit in strument, which answered the purpose of an equal altitude instrument and theodolite ; thirdly, an astro noraical pendulum clock ; fourthly, several astronom ical books. These instruments and books cost $1,054, but would cost four times that now, for they were very excellent of their kind. They were ordered as early as 1803, but did not arrive until the autumn of 1806, and were set up at Ludlow Station in the spring of 1806.' They were used in making a great number of astronomical observations and calculations not within the duties of the present surveyor-general, but then desired and ordered by the government. Araong other things, he observed and calculated the orbit of the great comet iu 1807. This calculation Personal Memories. 309 was published in the meraoirs of the Connecticut Acaderay of Arts and Sciences. He Avas directed by the governraent to ascertain the latitude and longitude of various places; and thus the United States sur veys becarae the raeans of advancing astronoraical science in this country. The instruraents used have since been deposited in the philosophical departraent of the United States Military Acaderay at West Poiut, where they remain as memorials of the first observatory in the United States. In connection Avith this, I must mention the erection of the first Cincin nati Observatory. This Avas solely the creation of Ormsby M. Mitchell, aa'Uo, having been a professor of raatheraatics and astronoray, and an active teacher, formed the idea of erecting an observatory on Mount Adams. He had a A'ery superior raind, and was fre quently thinking of A'arious projects. He became en thusiastic about an observatory, and vvithout any means save his ovvn exertions, proceeded to work up that project. He talked and lectured until he got many people interested in it. He got the late Nich olas Longworth to grant him a site for a building on Mount Adams, and then got subscriptions for the building. The shares were at first |25 each, but the project was popular, aud he finaUy obtained the means to buy the great telescope and erect the build ing. He went over to Europe to -purchase the tele scope. When there he found that the best makers of astronoraical instruments were at the Franenhofer In stitute, Munich. It was made by Messrs. Mertz & Mayer, and co.st nearly $10,000. It was at that time the largest telescope in America — its focal length be ing 17i feet, and the diameter of the object-classes 12 310 Personal Memories. inches. In the meanwhile Mitchell had the observa tory building erected on the site given by Mr. Long- worth. This whole work, of which Mitchell was the director and originator, was probably the first and only purely scientific enterprise literally carried out by the people. When it Avas finished Mitchell determined to have a popular inauguration. To do this, he invited John Quincy Adaras to pronounce an oration. He accepted the invitation, carae to Cincinnati, and delivered a splendid discourse, of which only such a man Avas capable. Au immense crowd and procession attended the inauguration, aud it is, perhaps, the only instance in the Avorld in which au observatory or any merely scientific work was made the occasion of a popular celebration. When the work was completed Mitchell resided there with his family, and for several years continued to make astronomical observations. In the meantime he invented two instruments to record the observations of right ascension and the diff'erence in declination. They were very ingenious, and furnished observations of accuracy never attainable from any previous instruments. Alas for Mitchell ! He Avas one of those whora I have never ceased to regret. He was a man of genius aud a man of AVorth. He was one of the earliest volun teers for the Union, and araong the most successful officers, until he fell a victim to disease, at Beaufort, South Carolina. He was killed by that civil war, Avhose real authors have never been hanged, although, in all the records of time, there vvas never a criminal who more deserved to be. Personal Memories. 311 CHAPTER XIX. Political Campaign of 1840 — Van Buren — Washington Scandal — Break between Calhoun and Jackson — Van Buren's Success — IS omin ation of Harrison — Log Cab ins and Hard Cider — Glee Songs — Defeat of Van Buren — Salt River — Lamentations. I shall now give my raemories of the political campaign of 1840. Its results have entered into his tory ; but not so the thousand incidents and singular scenes in that reraarkable confiict. As a pjurely civil and political raoveraent, it has no parallel in ray raeraoiy, aud was characteristic of Avhat a free people, governed by law, can do without imperiling lavv or comraitting violence. It Avas at once arausing and serious, trifling and iraportant. It was a whole nation enacting Avhat was a coraedy, but raight have beeu a tragedy. It Avas not a conflict of great principles, such as resulted iu the Missouri Corapromise, nullification, secession, or a foreign war. It was really a confiict about the ma terial interests of the people — in fact, about their pockets. The causes of this contest I have partly re lated in the account of the overthrow of the United States Bank, and the ultimate suspension of the state banks. But they can not be fully understood without going a little raore into detail. I have narrated the overthrow ofthe United States Bank by Jackson ; the encouragement given to the states banks to loan freely ; the reduction of the tariff to a miniraura of twenty 312 Personal Memories. per cent. ; the issuing of the specie circular, and the final suspension of all the banks, and the ruin of thousands of raerchants. Such was the state of things when, in March, 1837, Martin Van Buren becarae President of the United States. How he carae to be so, and what he did, are iraportant eleraents in the history of thoae timea. Van Buren was, in brief", a sequel of Jacksonism, without the power to direct the storm which Jackson had raised. Jackson had sown to the wind, and Van Buren reaped the whirlwind. He vvas a New York politician, bred in the most corrupt school of politics which this country has ever known — a school which still continues its corrupt practices in that state, and whose last disciple and leader is Sarauel J. Tilden, Esq. Mr. Van Buren was a raan of respectability, of decided talents, and of good character. Yet his po litical career had neither dignity, respectabilitj', nor virtue — I mean public virtue, for he had no private vices, and vvas deeraed an estiraable raan. Let us, then, observe hira frora a publie point of view. He was one of Jackaon's chief supporters, and founders of the present Democratic party. In the conflicts of that day there was a social as well as a poliiical conflict. It arose about Mrs. Eaton, wife of Secretary Eaton, Jackson's intiraate friend, for reasons unnecessary to mention, and of no public interest at the ptesent day. Mrs. Eaton Avas ostracised by the leading ladies of Washington, among Avhora were the wives of the Southern raembers of the cabinet. Mrs. Calhoun, Mrs. Berrien, and Mrs. Branch refused to call upon Mrs. Eaton. Eaton, of course, felt injured, and Jack son took his part. Van Buren sided with Jackson, Personal Memories. 313 partly, no doubt, because he was then a widower, and had no troubles of that sort. Jackson made it a per sonal matter with all of Eaton's opponents, and the result was a break up of the cabinet, the alienation of Calhoun, and the acceptance of Van Buren as the leader of the Jackson (then calling itself the Demo cratic) party. In the meantime, there was a little political episode which ought to go into history. The reader, no doubt, remembers when Jackson, in the administration of Monroe, marched into Florida, and captured two men, named Arbuthnot and Arabrister, who, for sorae rea son, either as spies or traitors, he executed. ThisAvas, doubtless, contrary to law, and hia conduct waa in quired into by congreaa. The adrainistration, how ever, wished to defend its own coraraander, and in some way Jackson escaped punishment or reproach. The consultations which led to this result were held by the cabinet, of which Adams, Crawford, and Cal houn were members. In some way, probably by false information from the enemies of Adaras, Jackson was firmly impressed Avith the idea that Calhoun was his friend and supporter in the cabinet, and that Adaras and Crawford were opposed to him. In the end, and about the time of the Eaton trouble, it turned out, through some letter from Crawford, that Jackson's. impressions were all wrong — that Adams had been his firm supporter, and Calhoun his opponent. Jack son became indignant, and looked upon Calhoun as a political intriguer and his oavu enemy. I state this to show the atate of feeling among the public men in Washington at that time. It shoAva how completely Jackson had made the government a personal matter. 314 Personal Memories. He put men out and in, quarreled with or aupported thera, for causes measured by his owu feelings and intereata. The government waa aa completely per sonal at that time as was the government of George the Third. So devoted were his friends, and so anxious the great body of politicians who formed the ncAV Democratic party, to obtain poAver and patrou- age, that he waa upheld in all hia personal measures, and his adrainistration maintained. But his successor, without his courage and daring, fell under the weight of popular indignation. The Eaton afi'air soon blew over. It was only a " tempest in a tea-pot." Berrien and Branch resigned; new followers of Jackson were appointed to their places ; and the star of Van Buren became ascendant. Of course, Calhoun and his friends were opponents of Van Buren, but their eft'orts to stem the tide were unavailing. Abont this time, Van Buren was appointed minister to England. When the question of confirmation carae up, the Whigs and the followers of Calhoun held a majority of the senate, and the appointraent of Van Buren was rejected. There is no doubt but that this action was unwise and indiscreet, for Van Buren was entirely fit for the ap pointraent — being a gentleraan, and rich enough to perforra the duties vvith dignity. This false action, turning wholly on personal feelings, led to conse quences which, perhaps, would not otherwise have occurred. Van Buren was made president, and his party afterward signally defeated. Two months after the inauguration of Van Buren as president, every bank in the country had suspended, thousands of mer chants failed, and the country was in a state of unex ampled commercial distress. When congress assem- Personal Memories, 815 bled, this was the sole topic of public consideralion. The president, of course, had to make it the subject of his message. He stated the causes of this distress very fairly — that it was overtrading (whicli I have hitherto stated was caused by the reduction of the tarifi'and the over-loaning ofthe banks), the inflation of the banks, and the demand of specie for the gov ernment deposits. His remedy for this was an inde pendent treasuiy. To understand this the reader will remember that the government deposits, which aro always large, had been put in the United States Bank, until Jackson destroyed that bank by his Avar upon it ; and that then he directed the deposits to beplaced in the state incorporate banks; and that at the same tirae he recoramended those bankers to accomraodate the people Avith loans. This coraraercial catastrophe occurred, as we have seen, at the beginning of Van Buren's adrainistration. To avoid the evils dependent upou the public deposits being placed in banks. Van Buren recoraraended the indejiendent treasury, or as his opponents called it, the sub-treasury. The reader will observe that, in theory, all the moneys of the United States are supposed to be iu the hands of the United States Treasurer, but, as I have said, they were really deposited in banks. The independent treasury, as proposed by Van Buren, was to consist in keeping the moneys by the treasurer, assistant-treasurer, and certain public officers, who, for this purpose, were provided with safes and other conveniences necessary for keeping money. In other words, the independent treasury meant to sever the treasury of the United States from all banks or other moneyed institutions, and put the United States m-aney literally in its own 316 Personal Memories. \ ¦ — — treasury. This acherae was at first violently opposed, not only by the Whig party, but by many Democrats. The consequence was that when first proposed to con gress it was rejected, but at a subsequent congress was passed. In the meanwhile it became evident that the power of the Democratic party was broken. The votes in congr.ess on the sub-treasury, and the local elections throughout the country, showed this con clusively. The great State of New York, under the^ able and shrewd raanagement of William H. Seward and Thurlow Weed, aided by the Anti-Masonic ex citeraent, had been carried by the Whigs, and politi cally revolutionized. For nearly thirty years it had been controled by Martin Van Bui'eu and his able col leagues, who were called the Albany Regency. Se ward had become governor, and the star of Van Buren had set for ever. The State of Tennessee, also, which seemed to belong to Jackson, had broken from its moorings, and throughout the country there was a state of excitement and indiguation which augured the defeat of the Democratic party. Such was the real state of the nation in the administration of Van Buren, and the preparation for the political campaign of 1840. The Democrats, of course, renominated Mr. Van JBuren. The Whigs had before them three candidatea for nomination. These Avere Mr. Clay, General Har rison, aud General Scott. Under ordinary circum- atancea Mr. Clay would have been nominated, but be fore'the Whig Convention met it became manifest that General Harrison had great popularity. In the previous election of 1836 he carried some states, such as Indiana, which Mr. Clay could not carry. There Personal Memories. 317 _ waa among many people the aanie fervor and enthu siasm for his military character which had been man ifested for Jackson. Among politicians Mr. Clay was far the strongest, for he waa, in fact, the leader ofthe Whig party, and supported by many friends with great ardor. General Scott had also a good many friends. .But when the convention raet the popular feeling for General Harrison was so strong that he was nominated, to the great regret, and almost grief, of Mr. Clay's ardent supporters. It afterward turned out that Mr. Clay could have been elected as easily as General Harrison, for the country Avas in such condi tiou that it required and must have a change. Among the then Whig party of the South were many states rights men, who had adopted, more or less, the ideas of Mr. Calhouu. To conciliate these, and gain sup port in the South, John Tyler, of Virginia, was nora inated aa Vice-Preaident. Thia proved to be a great blunder; perhaps no greater mistake has occurred in the history of the countiy. Mr. Tyler's doctrines were those of the strict state rights school, and were well known. Between those doctrines and those of the Whig party there was an absolute antagoniara. The Whigs were for a National Bank, a strong tariff', and internal improvements for the Avelfare of the country. Mr. Tyler was opposed to all of these, and the fact was well kuown at the convention. Yet, in spite of this, the convention nominated Tyler, in the vain hope, as it afterward proved, of conciliating the faction which he represented. This blunder not only defeated the Whig party several years after, but had a most mischievous eff'ect upon the w'hole country. After the nominations were made, the " war-cry " of the cam- 318 Personal Memories. paign becarae " Tippecanoe and Tyler, too !" General Harrison had fought and won the victory over the In dians at Tippecanoe, on the Wabash. The " Tyler, too," exactly expressed the fact that Tyler was a sort of af fix — addendum — to the hero of Tippecanoe; nothing in hiraself, but a good deal when added to Harrison. " Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," became the chorus of every glee song, and Avas shouted through the hills and dales of this Avide land. Among other incidents of this election, Avas a great paper ball, perhaps ten feet in diaraeter, on which vvas inscribed the names of states which, in the local elections of that year, had gone for the Whigs and Harrison. It was set going in sorae Eastern city, and is said to have been rolled through all the states of the Union. At all CA'ents, I saw that or a sirailar one iu Broadway, Cincinnati, rolled through the city streets and ou to the West. But the chief raeans of piopular excitement were fhe glee clubs, which never before or since have been so eft'ectually used. Songs Avere Avritten specially for thera of the most patriotic and exciting character. I recollect the first one I heard was ffom Chillicothe, led by a young mau named Duffield, wdio, Avith a fine voice, a good club of singers, and new songs aud airs, made the air thrill with popular excitement. The first song I heard had this verse : " What has caused, this great commotion-motion-motion All the country through ? Jt is the ball a rolling on For Tippecanoe and Tyler, tool And with them we'll beat little Van — Van. Van's a used up man." This was sune; iu the afternoon of a warm August Personal 3Jemories. 319 day, and I never knew anything of that sort so en rage our political opponents, for they felt it was true. Harrison being a pioneer and a farmer at North. Bend, was represented to the people as living in a log cabin — liAdng on corn-meal, pork, and hard cider. The political processions were interlined with log cabins, coons, and hard cider, while the glee clubs ac companying them shouted " Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." I seldom Avent to these political meetings ; but iu September, 1840, I attended the great convention at Dayton — ^probably the greatest held in this coun try. I aud my friend set out from Cincinnati in a buggy, on one of the brightest of autumnal days. As we ascended Walnut Hills, on or way to Dayton, omnibussea, wagons, and buggies were hefore and be hind us, while bands of music were playing. The convention was to be held the next day, and at every cross-road we met ucav companies swelling the great throng to Daj'ton. I remember that at the present Adllage of Mason, in Warren county, we met a long procession from Clermont county, with wagons, and canvas, and people on horseback. At Centerville, Montgomery county, we arrived at sunset, and, with many other people, accepted the hospitalities of the village. We found ourselves comfortably lodged in the house of a friend, and next morning at daylight proceeded to Dayton. The scene, just after aunriae, entering Dayton, was very beautiful. Our road was a descent from the east into the valley of the Miami, and the city of Dayton and ita surroundings lay below us. Among other of the Whig devices, was to hang out the flag at their great conventions, and, as we looked down upon the city below in the bright sun- 320 _ Personal Memories. light, Dayton waa literaUy covered with flags. Every house seemed to have a flag, which waved in the breeze, Avhile the bright sun shone upon it. It was a beautiful and an aniraated scene. When we had reached the city, breakfasted, and arrived at the convention grounds, we were still raore surprised. On the road frora Urbana an iraraense procession was coraing in. It was nearly all composed of wagons and men on horseback. It was said the procession numbered six thousand people, but that was probably exaggerated. In the midst of it was a great log cabin on wheels. On the top of the log cabin was a rac coon, and at the door was General Charles W. An thony, of Springfield, representing the Western pio neer. Bands of music were playing. And thus procession after procession^ entered the convention grounds. The particular cause of this gfeat assembly was that General Harrison was himself to speak. He did speak, but I, and I suppose thousands of others, could not hear him. While he waa speaking I and Mr. Sam'l Forfer, who was a civil engineer, under took to estimate the number of people on the ground. We were both competent to do it, and did not mean to exaggerate. As nearly as we could estiraate, there were full fifty thousand people in the field where General Harrison spoke. When we returned to Day ton we found there were thousands of others in the streets Avho had not gone to the convention grounds at all. On the whole, I think there were sixty thou sand people at the great raeeting at Dayton, proba bly the largest political asserably held in the United States. For two months longer the campaign, at [east in the West, went on in the same style and with Personal Memories. 321 the same exciteraent. Large processions, log cabins, hard cide^V^"*! Tippecanoe songs seemed to fill the country. With all this popular excitement for Har rison, and the active means .employed, the Democratic party stood firm, and manifested an obstinacy as re markable as it was creditable to the discipline oftheir organization. Few Democrats really changed their political opiuions, but an immense vote was called out, which really deterrained the result. The vote at the presidential election was nearly a million of votes greater than that at the previous election. This showed the popular exciteraent, but did not show any great change of parties. For ex araple, the State of Ohio, with all this effort, gave only twenty-three thousand majority for Harrison, who had received nine thousand at the previous elec tion. The increase of majority was fourteen thou sand, and half of that, seven thousand, were all the votes actually gained from the Democrats. At tiraes I was really doubtful of the result, though sanguine in feeling. It is the custom of political parties to have a grand rally just previous to the election. These meetings are generaUy very large and interest ing. I remember that two or three nights before the October election of 1840 (for the October elections de terrained the presidency), both parties were to have a grand rally, one — the Deraocrats — at the court-house, and the other — Whigs — at the Fifth street raarket place. The Democrats rallied their forces at the pub lic landing at the river, and marched from there to the court-house. I was sitting in my mother's, on Third street, near Broadway, when I heard huzzas and the heavy tramp of feet going up Broadway. 322 Personal Memories. Not remembering the Democratic procession, I rushed out to see what was the matter. It was the Demo cratic ftrocession, marching by platoons to the court house. The vvhole street seeraed to be dark with them. Each man seemed to carry a club, which he struck against the ground, and hurraed for Van Buren. Many were Gerraans and raany others Irish. "Hurra for Van Buren!" vvas constanily heard in deep gut tural voices, vvhich seemed to be earnest and deter mined. I had never before seen so large a proces sion moving in that way, and felt alarmed for the result. Going immediately to Fifth street market space I Avas undeceived; there I saw that large space filled with thousands of people. Four or five dift'er ent speaker's stands were erected, and the most popu lar orators of the day were speaking to the multitude iu animated terms. I returned home, satisfied that the Whigs Avould carry the day. Nevertheless, vvith all these hard eft'orts, Hamilton county was only car ried by a bare majority. The day of the election pre sented other and different scenes. There had been not ouly great exciteraent, but a great many threats made. The Democrata, as I have said, carried clubs in their procession, and raany of the Whigs, alarmed, carried pistols. The prudent men of the parties de terrained to keep the peace, and took all proper pre cautions. The grog-shops were all closed, the police were all armed and ready, and the polls so prepared that if possible there should be no trouble or difficulty. The polls opened at, I thiuk, six o'clock in the morn ing. Long before that time people began to crowd around the voting places. The executive committees had taken the precaution to place a board walk from Personal Memories. 3 '23 the window vvhere the votes were received nearly across the street, so that the voters could proceed in order vvithout collision. On each sido of this board walk, and next th-e window, the challenging commit tees took their places, and challenged all voters who seeraed to be doubtful. When I went to vote the line of voters extended entirely across the street, and it took considerable time to vote. Nearly the entire vote of the city vvas polled. The city of Cincinnati gave fifteen hundred majority, vvhich, iu a city of forty-six thousand inhabitants, Avas a large raajority. The countiy toAvnships were nearly all Deraocratic, so that the county of Harailton only gave about one hun dred Whig majority. I have given these details only to show the reader a picture of one of the raost re- -' markable elections ever held in this countiy, and which made a profound impression upon all those Avho took part iu it. The general election terminated, as history has recorded it, jn the victory of General Harrison. He received the electoral votes of all the states but six. This, however, did not represent the true proportion of parties ; for, while he^ received this great electoral vote, he received only one hundred and forty-seven thousand majority iu two and a half miUion votes. Maine, Pennsylvania, and one or two other states had only given him three or four hundred majority. The general result, therefore, Avas, that while the triuraph was complete, the real strength of parties Avas not materially changed. Let us now turn to those minor and amusing scenes Avhich may inter est the reader more than the hhstorical result. Hun dreds of these occurred, but a half dozen will show their nature. Among others was the celebrated slang 324 Personal Memories. expression of 0. K., which tigured iu every news paper. It came about in this way : We received re turns of local elections from many quarters, and some of them from very illiterate persons. Most of them were in favor of the Whigs, and the sender of news would be often very exultant; one of them gave a return of a Whig victory, and added " 01 1 Korect," and iraraediately the Whig editflrs adopted this sign for their victory, 0. K., and so it went through all the country. Another term used then, and for several years after, was " Loco-fo90 " and " Loco-focoism." Nobody would know from' these terms what they meant, but if originated in this way: The Democratic party in the city of New York, whose headquarters was in Tammany Hall, and of whicli the Tammany Society vvas the controlling element, never vvas, and is not to-day, entirely united; there vvas a faction vvithin a faction. The dift"erences arose from difterences iu aocial condition. The working meu could uot then, and can not novv be altogether controlled. They are always inclined to think that the evils of society are owing to the rich and higher classes of society, and to their influence in the government. The wealthy and intelligent part of Tammany Society were undoubt edly conservative ; but the working men were much less so, and inclined to some new policy within the Democratic party favorable to themselves. About this time, or a little before, there had beeu an out break in the working man's class of the Deraocratic party, and they ran au independent ticket of their ovvn. They got about ten thousand votes in the city of New York, and this is about the proportion of votes they get nowaday in the citiea. During the Personal 3Iemories. 325 disturbed state of the business of the country a great nieeting waa held in Taramany Hall, the object of which I do not reraberaber, but in which theae oppo site factiona appeared in force and occasioned a re markable scene. One faction, I do not remember which, not finding matters go to suit them, had pre pared for this event by at once extinguishing the lighta aud leaving the hall in darkness. The other fac tion had anticipated something of the kind, and brought with them the lucifer, or as sorae called them, the loco-foco matches. With these they immediately relighted the hall, aud carried out their proceedings. The Whigs, who delighted in ridicule and nick-uames, iraraediately called the Deraocrats the "Loco-foco party," and this narae was attached to them for several years. " 0. K. and " Loco-foco " figured iu all the Whig papers of the country. The "Loco-focos did so and so," and Whig victory was " 0. K." I have, by these incidents, given some idea of that remarkable political campaign, iu which log cabins and hard cider figured in processions, and " Loco-focos" and " 0. K." in the newspapers, and the whole was raade musical by the glee clubs, with " Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." I may close this account with two or three squibs, which appeared after the election. Among the types of vic tory or defeat was the rooster, either fallen on the battle-field or crowing for victory. In one cut was seen, on the left the log cabin, and on the right a no ble rooster crowing, with his foot on his fallen an tagonist, and underneath was this verse : " Bave you heard from all the Union, Union, Union, Good news and true ; 326 Personal Memories. Hundreds of thousands is the tune For Tippecanoe and Tyler too, Tippecanoe and Tyler too. And with them we 've beat Little Van I Van, Van 's a used-up man C Among others was a new version of " Cock Robin," published in the New York American by a young lady: "Who .killed small Matty ? We, says Tippecanoe, I, and Tyler, too, We killed small Matty. " Who saw him' die, oh ? I, says 0-h-i-o, With my big Buckeye, oh! I saw him die. " Who dug his grave 1 I, says sturdy Maine, And would do it, too, again, I dug his grave f And other verses of the sarae kind. Another cut represented a monument with a willow tree hanging over it, and a woman Aveeping. The monuraent was inscribed, "In m.emory'of Loco-focoism." Several plates represented the departure of a steam boat and passengers for Salt river. Salt river was a stream in Kentucky, and it was a coraraon saying Avhen a person had been defeated or had raet with a misfortune, that he " was rowed up Salt river." Sev eral wood-cuts in the nevvspapers represented Van Buren and his cabinet as going up Salt river. One of them was in the form of a newspaper advertise ment. There was a cut of a stearaboat and an an nouncement that: "The steamboat Van Buren, only Personal Memories. 827 four years old, coraraander Araos Kendall, vvill leave 4th of March next for Salt river, via Kinderhook. For freight or passage, apiply at the White House, Washington City, or at the captain's office." No less a poet than Dr. Percival wrote a jubilee song, entitled " Success to Tippecanoe." The last stanza was: " Then letus all stand by the honest old man, Who has rescued the country, and beat little Van. The spirit of evil has gotten its due; It is laid by the strong arm of Tippecanoe. In the front rank our nation shall now take its stand; Peace, order, prosperity, brighten the land. Then loud swell the voice of each good man and true. Success to the gallant Qld Tippecanoe." But notwithstanding all this exciteraent, this show and parade, and this popular victory, the end vvas sad, if not unfortunate, both to thousands of individuals aud to the entire nation. Harrison was inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1841 ; his cabinet vvas an excel lent- one, and the country seeraed on the verge of great prosperity. As if to overturn tbis huraan vanity, Harrison died in thirty days after his inauguration. The nation was again agitated with new alarras. The people began to see, though they did not then com prehend, the disastrous results of an adrainisfration by a man whose principles were opposed to those of the presideut elected and the party vvho elected him. The thing to be remedied was the financial condition of the countiy, and that could only be done by a na tional bank and a national currency, or, in other words, the governraent taking control of the currency. But to all this Tyler was opposed, and nothing could be done. In consequence of this there was a violent 828 Personal Memories. . quarrel between Mr. Clay and Tyler. Clay was the leader of the Whig party, and the party followed him. The consequence was that the president (Tyler) was left with only five representatives iu congress to sup port him. The Democrats could not support him, for they had opposed his election and had nothing in common with him. The Whigs could carry no meas ure on the currency, for Tyler was utterly opposed to their views. One thing favorable to the country was done. This was the passage of the tariff act of 1842- 1843. This act, by encouraging American manufac tures and supporting the industries of the country, really did good, and gradually the country in the next five or six years was reduced to its norraal condition. I raay here close this singular chapter of Araerican history. The nomination of Tyler and the death of Harrison, both taught serious lessons. It taught, first, that no man should be nominated for vice-president who was not entirely fit to be president, and who was not in harmony with the party who elected him. And, again. Divine Providence taught, in the death of Harrison, the vanity of human hopes and the in stabiUty of human government. Personal Memories. 329 CHAPTER XX. The Newspaper Press — Its Origin, Character, and Pur poses — The English Press — Public Writers — The " Morning Chronicle " — Fox and Sheridan — " Public Advertiser" — Junius — The American Press — Freneau) — Duane— Ritchie — Robert Walsh — "Evening Post" —Coleman — "National Intelligencer" — Gales — " New York Times" — Henry J. Raymond. — Horace Greeley and SocialismT^What should be the Tone and Char acter of a Newspaper f It will be seen from what I have related of my per sonal meraories, that much of my life has been spent in writing for the public. My first newspaper article was published in 1824, at Litchfield, Connecticnt. In the more than half a century which has elapsed, there has been no year in which I have not Avritten for the press. In that time I became acquainted Avith many newspaper men and the nevvspapers in which they were engaged. Perhaps for this reason it is not out of place to give my views of the history and charac ter of the press in this country. It is now about two hundred years since the newspaper press becarae es tablished as one of the great features of society. It has becorae so great and important an element that it is quite as great as that of steam and locomotion. In one word, the neAvspaper press and steam comprehend all the great advance which society has made in mod ern days. Prior to newspapers, literature was wholly 330 Personal Memories. comprised in books, and these books could only be known to few persons. Novv, the newspaper not only circulates its own news and information, but circulates the knoAvledge of books, so that the whole quantity, as well as value of literature, is much increased. Again, a writer for the daily press reaches a hundred readers where the bookmaker, pulpit orator, or pub lic speaker cau reach one. The public writer iu the newspaper, therefore, if he has any information,^ thought, or idea that is valuable, cau give it a weight or influence which no public speaker or other writer is able to do. This is the real power of the preaa. It ia the power to give any thought or iuformation a far gi'eater range than any public writer or speaker cau. Is there anything valuable in the way of new ideas, inventions, or discoveries, the newspaper gives them ubiquity and makes thera the common property of the people. Is there anything good in a book, a news paper takes it up and gives it universal circulation. In oue word the newspaper is the great forum in which all news, information, and discoveries are discussed and published. It is the great school-room in which more is taught than in all the school-rooms of the world. Such is the power of the press, which sends its sheets through the world, "thick as the leaves in Vallam- brosa's vale." The history of the newspaper press has had three periods, each distinct in character from the others. The first period comprehended more than half of the whole of newspaper existence. There was then no real freedom of the press, and, as a consequence, the neAvspaper was little more than a diary of the most ordinary events. The news given rehited chiefly to Personal Memories. 331 foreign affairs, with such accounts of murders and calamities as were publicly known. Domestic poli tics were not discussed, literary criticism was un known, and there vvere no pains taken to produce news for the papers. In one word, a newspaper re corded mauy thinga which the public wanted, but waa totally unintereating aa to any discussion on religion, politics, or literature. The first advertisement Avas in serted in 1648, and the first newspaper devoted to ad vertising and commercial intelligence was established in 1657. This period of the press continued for more than one hundred years. About the tirae of the American revolution, the newspaper assumed a new character, the restraints upon the freedom of the press in Europe and America were taken off". The newspaper then began to discuss reUgious, poUtical, and literary questions with a boldness which has scarcely been exceeded since. In 1762, appeared " The North Briton," edited by Wilkes, in England, who played a conspicuous part in consolidating the liberty of the press. Every reader of political his tory knows how Wilkes vvas prosecuted iu libel suits ; what celebrated trials took place ; how he was perse cuted ; how the people sustained hira, and how, at last, the liberty of the press was established. In 1766, appeared the Englishman, chiefly known as contain ing contributions from Edmund Burke. In 1767, the Public Advertiser published the first letter of Junius. Perhaps, no articles, before or since, in any newspaper, have attracted so much public attention. It Avas not merely the ability of the writer, but the peculiar state of English politics at that time, which gave these Jun ius letters imiportance. Parties had degenerated into 332 Personal Memories. personal factions. The machinery of governraent Avas raade personal and often corrupt. In the midst of these factions, George the III set up his own per sonal government. Ilis adherents vvere called the King's party. He undertook to rule by virtue of his own prerogative; in point of fact, the royal preroga tive was abridged by the death of Charles the I, and abolished, substantially, at least, by the Revolution of 1689. William the III, though personally despotic, paid great regard to his ministry and to parliament. Ann, George the First, and George the Second, made no ]3retensions to personal government. If, in their time, there was any personal governrnent, it was ac coraplished raore through Caroline, wife of George the Secoud, than any other person. She governed through Sir Robert Walpole, who was prime minister. George the Third, probably because he found parties degenerated into personal factions, set up a King's party, and in this he vvas as obstinate and injudicious as he afterward was in the American Revolution. It was in this state of things that Junius appeared in the col umns of the Advertiser. If his own account be correct, and his writings any indication of his true feelings, he seems to have been a man of much real patriotism, though probably with personal objects in view. He, certainly, in the case of General Warrants, and the special case of Wilkes, advocated what we should now call the unquestionable rights of the people. He de- feuded public justice and attacked public corruption. He used the weapons of sarcasm, of invective, rhetoric, and even of law and of facts with unsparing ferocity. He had mercy on no party and no man, when within the line of his attack. He attacked the king, the noble, and Personal. Memories. ^ 333 commoner with a caustic scA^erity which has had no paraUel in the j)ress. In doing this, he spared neither pains nor labor with his compositions. He, himseif, states this in oue of his letters^ aud thought that the labor of his writing was a great task. This fact is well worth remembering by one who would write for the public. The most effective writers we have knowii have been painstaking and laborious in their early, if not in thoir later writings. Writing for the public is in itself an education, and the first person to be educated _is the writer himself. It is only after years of habitual composition that a writer can aftbrd to write with such facility as to make little or no correction. This ease and address is acquired only by habitual experi ence. It may be thus acquired, but is, like education itself, the result of time and labor. Junius used both these means, and, as a consequence, his writings rank among the finest compositions in the English language. I 've heard it said, that Junius was only remarkable for invective and abuse. This is not true. He is re markable for the best use of the English language, for strong sentiment, uttered in strong Anglo-Saxon. He had a good cause in asserting the rights of the people against royalty and corruption, and he used it with great effect. It ia now one hundred yeara aince he wrote his letters in the Advertiser, and there is prob ably no writer of his day better known than Junius. The letters of Junius were among the many con tributions to newspapers which mark personal infiuence in the press. For the next seventy or eighty years newspapers were influential according to the personal character and ability of their editors and contributors. In that period many remarkable men were connected 334 Personal Memories. with the press of both Europe and America, of whom I shall speak again. But within half a century after the appearance of the letters of Junius, there began to appear a class of papers, best described by the literal term 7?eiy.spapers. The first and greatest of these was The London Times, which appeared under the title of The Universal Register; it was a daily paper, and its circulation only a thousand copies, while other papers were far more numerous. Among them were The Morning Chronicle, and 3Iorning Post, which had great literary and political importance, especiaUy on account of their celebrated contributors. Mr. Stuart was editor of the Morning Post, to which Coleridge, Southey, Lamb, Wordsworth, and Macin tosh contributed. Mr. J. Perry was editor of the Morning Chronicle. Fox aud Sheridan were his personal friends, and contributed to the ability and influence of the Chronicle. In the meanwhile The Times, which was published by John Walter, was steadily gaining ground. Its remarkable success since then is due to several causes. It was free from party ties. It was conducted with great business care, and used steam power for its printing press. On the morning of November 29, 1814, the readers of The Times were informed that "the journal of this day presents to the public the practical result ofthe greatest iraproveraent connected with printing since the dis covery of the art itself." This was the application of steam to the printing press ; but, after all, the greatest improvement, aud the greatest succesa of the Times was iu the coUection of news. The Times was, I believe, the first newspaper which employed special couriers aud private expresses to get the news in ad- Personal Memories. 335 vance of the mails. In this they were successful, and the public became accustomed to looking to the Times for the earliest intelligence of any important matter. This increased its circulation, but The Times, and other newspapers, continued to add to their facilities. On January 29, 1829, The Tim.es came out with a double sheet, composed of eight pages of forty-eight columns. At the sarae time it increased its domestic inteUigence, ancl gave minute accounts of trials, crimes, accidents, etc. Reporting, as hoav under stood, especiaUy parliamentary proceedings, began at a very early day, but was so imperfect and unreliable as to be unimportant. The speeches Avere never re ported as spoken, and could not as reported be relied on as correct. Even as late as Dr. Johnson's time, he was said to have written himself the speeches in par liament, some of which have become famous. Every boy in college remembers the attack of Walpole upon Pitt, and Pitt's famous reply : " I am charged with the atrocious crime of being a young man !" But it is said they were both written hy Johnson. The business of reporting for newspapers has now arrived at a perfec tion which was not then dreamed of. The speech of the orator now is not only reported accurately, but literally, word for word, and the portrait of the orator in thought and speech is now laid before the public. This brings us to the last of the newspaper epochs. In one word a newspaper is now strictly and literally a newspaper. It is no longer a mere record of foreign and commercial intelligence. It is no longer a mere personal representative, dependent on the ability of its writers. Ability of the highest order it must have, and it would soon sink without it ; but its great character- 336 Personal Memories. istic is the diffusion of universal intelligence; in this there is nothing too high or too low for its observation. We hear of the march of great armies, but also of the thief at midnight. We hear of the great orator, but also of the petty atreet wrangler. We hear of the earthquake that shakes half the globe, and alao of the falling of a small house. We hear of the death of a' renowned captain, and also of the suicide of a poor girl. In one word, we hear of both the great and the minute, of the social and the solitary, the good and the bad ; in fact, the eye of a great newspaper is now upon the whole world. There is nothing hidden that is not brought to light, and nothing so obscure that it is not made lucid. Every art, science, and talent of the modern world have been brought to the aid of the ncAVspaper. From the steam press which throws off its tens of thousands of sheets, to the locomotive which carries its express messenger; frora the steam ship which carries its reporter to the remotest regions, to the telegraph which fiashes its news, all arts and in ventions aid the newspaper. Thus aided by modern- inventions, the newspaper is making the human mind ubiquitous. Nations correspond aud discuss affairs, as individuals did in times, past. Thus nations are brought together, and the world is'fiUed with universal intelligence. This progress of the newspaper has been the AA'ork of the last half century, aud is certainly not the least of those evidences of progress which char acterize the present age. I shall not stop now to de scribe it further, but shall return to notice some of the most distinguished editors and writers who marked what I have termed the personal period of the news paper. I have already mentioned some of the great Personal Memories. 337 names which have distinguished the English press. I will now proceed to notice the personclle of the United Statea preaa. Philip Freneau waa one of the first journalists who attracted attention in this countiy. He waa more of a poet than a journalist. He graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, and was the room-mate and per sonal friend of Jamea Madison. He begaii his literaiy career by writing a poetical history of the Prophet Jonah. He waa the author of the Indian ballad, be ginning : " The sun sets at night and the stars shun the day, But glory remains when their light fades away. Begin, ye tormentors! Your threats are in vain. For the son of Alknomack shall never complain! " The firat couplet ought to give fame to any Avriter. It containa one of the moat beautiful imagea iu nature. Thia ballad waa attributed to an English lady, but it has been satisfactorUy ascertained to be Freneau'a. Upon the establishment of the Federal government at Philadelphia, he was appointed French translator in the department of state under Mr. Jeft'erson, and at the same time became editor of the National Gazette. That paper was made the vehicle of bitter attacks on the administration of Washington ; but it was said Freneau was not responsible for them. He himself said that the most severe of them were dictated by Jefferson. That paper was discontinued iu October, 1793, and two years after Freneau started a paper at Middletown, New Jersey, which continued but a short time. Freneau is now little known, but he was a true poet and an able writer. Several editions of his poems were published in his lifetime. Scott and Campbell 338 Personal Memories. borrowed whole lines frora hira, and Jeff'rey predicted that his poems would be as well known as Hudibras. William Duane was one of the most noted editors in the United States. He was born in New York ; learned the art of printing, and went to India to seek his fortune. There he edited a paper caUed the World. Having offended the government, he was seized, sent to England, and his property confiscated. There he edited a paper called The General Advertiser, and sided with a faction headed by Horne Tooke. In 1795 he returned to America, and became editorof the ^wrora, published at .Philadelphia. This paper became the most influential organ of the Democratic party. Jef ferson attributed his election to its influence. At that time party spirit was higher than it had CA'er previously been in America. Philadelphia was a Federal town, and the Federalists distinguished themselves by a black cockade. The office of the Aurora was mobbed, and my father (then teaching in Philadelphia) was one of a party of Democrats who defended it. When the seat of governraent Avas moved from Philadelphia to Washington, the A urora declined, but Duane continued to edit it until 1822. He was not a flne writer, but a powerful political advocate. One of the most noted political editors in this country was Thomas Ritchie. He was born in Virginia, and edited the Richmond Enquirer frora 1804-1845. He was the leading, and perhaps most influential. Democratic editor at that time. There were in these days two political cen ters, Albany and Richraond, Va. The managers of the Democratic party in those places were called the Albany and Richmond " Juntos." At Albany the chief manager was Martin Van Buren, and at Rich- Personal Memories. 339 mond, Ritchie, Madison, and others of the Virginia clique held sway. In the forty years in which Mr. Ritchie was editor, these juntos held supreme control in the Democratic party, and through that over the countiy. When Ritchie left the Enquirer to edit the Union, in Wash ington, Polk was elected president, the western influ ence began to assert itself, and the juntos of Albany and Richraond ceased to be supreme. In 1849 Ritchie retired, after a long and successful editorial career. He was a strong writer, a distinguished man, and, through the Virginia dynasty, exercised a great influ ence on the politics of the country. William Coleman was for nearly thirty years a lead ing editor in the Federal jiarty of New York. He was born and educated in Massachusetts. He was .bred to the bar, and was for a short time a partner with Aaron Burr in the practice of the law. But, in 1801, Hamilton and other leading Federalists set up a daily paper in the city of New York, and selected Coleman, who was a warm Federalist, to conduct it. This paper was the now well-known Evening Post, and, in the nearly eighty years of its existence, has been conducted for most of that time by Coleman and Biyant. When Coleman flrst began his career, party contests were very hot, and Coleman was involved in several per sonal conflicts. Nevertheless, he and the Post main tained their ground. The Evening Post has survived hundreds of papers which have flourished and died since it was established. Soon after Coleman left it, Bryant became editor, and for more than forty years maintained and increased the reputation of the paper. The next editor I shall mention was perhaps more sue- 340 Personal Memories. cessful than any I have noted. This was. Joseph Gales, editor of the National Intelligencer. His father was an Englishman, who had edited a paper in England- came to the United States, and edited the Raleigh Reg ister, of North Carolina. Joseph Gales was himself boru in England, but in 1800 came to Washington, and began his career in the National Intelligencer. This was a Republican paper ; for the reader will observe that the old Democratic party never called itself Demo cratic, but was officially known as the Republican party. The reader who will refer to the old files of the National Intelligencer will find that every caucus held by congress was called the RepubUcan caucus. In fact, it was not until Van Buren's time, as we have learned, that the Democratic party called itself Democratic. The Intelligencer survived fifty years, and died during the war of the RebeUion. The ouly other editor of the last generation I shall raention is Robert Walsh. He was, in every respect, a noteworthy person ; he was born in Baltimore, aud died iu Paris. He Avas, during his life, both a polit ical and literaiy character. He was a Roman Cath olic ; studied law Avith the celebrated Robert Goodloe Harper, aud traveled in Europe. Naturally inclined to literature, he did little at the law, but began Avrit ing for the " Portfolio," edited monthly by Joseph Dennie. From this tirae forth, he was nearly half a century a public writer. He had, from his travels in France, formed his own opinions and opposed the pol icy of Napoleon, and pubUshed strictures upon it which met vvith great public favor in England. He made two strong but unsuccessful atterapts to estab lish an Araerican Quarterly. In 1819, he published Personal Memories. 341 "An Appeal from tbe Judgments of Great Britain," respecting the United States of Araerica. The occa sion of this was a continual abuse and criticisra upon the American action of all kinds, by the press of Great Britain. To look back upon it uow, it seeras a surprising exaraple of the weakness of human nature, manifested in the jealousy of a great nation. I have alreaily, perhaps, mentioned that while we AVere liv ing at Mill creek, a man called on raj' father, Avho gave his narae as D'Arville, but Avhose real narae Avas Thomas Ash, an Englishman. He cheated Dr. Go- forth out of the skeleton of a mammoth, and pub lished a book in England abusing America. The book was profitable, and frora that tirae, to Mrs. Trol lope and her successors, abuse of America continued to be popular in England. Walsh took the matter up and his "Appeal" was a useful aud able work. One of the British quarterlies had sneeringly asked : " Who reads an American book ? " To put that question in contrast with the present re-publication in England of all noted Araerican books, is decidedly arausing. More than forty years ago. Dr. Dwight published his " Theology," a work which Scotch and English critics pronounced the best modern work upon that subject in the English language. In 1821, Walsh became ed itor of the Philadelphia National Gazette, oue of the ablest and best papers in the United States. It was strongly conservative, sustained the Whig party, and probably had more literary readers than any paper in the couutry. After some fifteen years' existence, the paper de clined, ahd Walsh was appointed consul to Paris. There he was the Paris correspondent ofthe National 342 Personal Memories. Intelligencer and Journal of Commerce. Of Thurlow Weed, in Albany, Benjamin Russell, of Boston, Wil liam L. Stone and Nathaniel Carter, of New York, it is unnecessary to speak ; they are Avell known. Of Charlea Hammond, I have fully apoken iu my notice of Cincinnati. Of Horace Greeley also, I make no spe cial notice, because he is well known to all readers of newapapera. To Henry J. Raymond notice ia due, because he was one of my friends and one of my ear liest newspaper acquaintances. He was born in Western New York, graduated at the University of Vermont, and began the study of the lavv, but both his tastes and his necessities obliged him to resort to something else. He began his con tributions to the New Yorker in 1840, and the next year, vvhen Greeley established the Tribune, he becarae the assistant editor. In 1843, he entered the staff' of the New York Courier, then edited by Jaraes Watson Webb, where he reraained the next seven years. In the meantime he had become noted as a reporter; he had reraarkable ability for work of this kind, which has, since then, become very important. During his connection with the Courier, he had a controversy with Horace Greeley on the subject of so cialism, as advocated by Fourier. Greeley vvas alvvays eccentric, and in nothing more than his attachment to socialism. He vvas always making schemes to reform aociety, by law or organization. The aocialistic schemes of Fourier were attempted in this countiy by aeveral associations, and vvere all failures. In my day, I have seen this socialistic idea attenipted in several diff'erent ways, frora the Society of Rapp, in Pennsyl vania, to that of Nevv Harmony, in Indiana. From Personal 3Iemories. 343 that of Robert Owen to Fourier and Shakerism. Some times they have succeeded iu niaking a peaceful, quiet coraraunity, aa that of the Shakers, but have never succeeded in being either useful or profitable to the same extent as the same number of persous in general society. It is not iu accordance Avith the principles of Christianity.. Christianity does not propose to re form society by law or organization, but to bring forth the peaceful fruits of righteousness by reforming the heart. Raymond was said to be a born editor, and he was one. He was one to Avhom editing and managing a newspaper was as farailiar as the elements around him. In 1841-1842, when I Avas editing the Chronicle, he was, for a short time, a correspondent of the paper. In 1850, having had a chsagreement with Webb, he left the Courier, and, in 1851, founded the New York Times. This was an important cA'ent in journalism, for the New York Times has become one of the most important newspapers in this country. Raymond was attached to the Whig party, and naturally a radical, hut he kept the Times in fact conservative, for he Avell knew that a great paper ,m New York city must de rive its chief support from the conservative element in society. He knew what a newspaper should be, and gradually brought up the Times to his ideal standard. On the formation of the Republican party, he took an active part, and made speeches for Fremont, and at a subsequent period he was elected meniber of congress, and lieutgnant-governor of New York. In all this, however, he took less interest than the Times. Before his death, he ceased to hold office or political aspira tion. He told me, himself, that he thought holding 344 Personal Memories. office was injurious to his paper. He died too young, not merely for himself, but for the public interest. I will mention here some of the characteristics of editors and newspapers. It is somewhat remarkable that, ex cepting Mr. Raymond and Mr. Walsh, who was con sul, hardly any of the noted editors of the United States have held office. It was not for want of ample opportunity. Ritchie, Gales, Hammond, and probably others, refused office. Nearly all editors of leading newspapers have realized, what is certainly the fact, that their position had more infiuence than any office could confer. Besides this, all public writers acquire a strong taste for that pursuit, and there are few in stances of anyone being diverted from it. I now corae to the question of what is the proper tone and character of a newspaper. I am asked : What should a newspaper be ? I answer, first of all, it should be a newspaper. But this includes many things, positive and negative ; and, as far as observation and experience enable me, I will give my views upon that subject. First of all, a newspaper should be imper sonal. We have noticed three periods of newspaper existence. The first was barren of anything but com mercial and foreign intelligence ; the second was noted for the ability and infiuence of its Avriters ; and the third, in which we now are, is that of the real news paper, in which news is the main poiut, but iu which great ability iu all departraents must be mauifested in the discussion of all questions — for this fresh discussion is in part news, being later and much more fresh than any books or dogmatic learning. When I say that the main business of a newspaper is news, I do not forget that the ablest articles on all topics of the day Personal Memories. do and ought to appear in newspapers, but the editor ship of a newspapier, that departraent vvhich assumes to say " we," should be impersonal. Nothing is more coramon, or generally more disgusting to the reader, than the personal controversies of John Robinson aud Joe Thompson, as newspaper editors. Contributors to the French press generally sign their naraes, but they do not enter into personal controversies. The practice of signing names to articles by contributors, is commendable, when the AA'riter is known, and no special object in concealment. On the other hand, there is no objection to the " anonymous." Some most absurd things have been written upon this subject. It is clairaed that every writer should sign his narae to his articles. This is absurd ; for, it may be, the things written may be important and useful to be knoAvn, and jet the writer become obnoxious by stating thera. The things he has said are true, and ought to be stated, but there is no reason Avhy he should expose hiraself to obloquy by signing his name. His narae, however, should be known to the editor, and then the paper will stand between him and the public. A most re markable instance of this was in the case of Junius. Woodfall, the publisher ofthe "Public Advertiser," ac knowledged that he had seen Junius, and knevA' hira, but his name was never disclosed, and probably never will be. From this something raay be inferred about Junius. That is, that Junius was a man of wealth and influence, or Woodfall would never have accepted his guarranty against the dangers he encountered. The anonyraous has its uses, but whether it shaU be permitted or not must be left to the discretion of the editor. The next, and, iu oue respect, the most im- 346 Personal Memories. portant part of the paper, is to eraploy able contribu tors, who can discuss any particular question in the fullest and most complete manner. This is done by all the large city papers, and must be done by all pa pers which expect to attain reputation and influence. We have seen that this has beeu done by the great English papers. Burke, Sheridan, Johnson, Coleridge, and raany others of like rank, were, as we have al ready said, contributors to London papers. In the United States, John Quincy Adaras contributed to the National Intelligencer ; Harailton and Madison con tributed to other papers. There cau be no good reason why a newspaper should not employ the ablest pens in literature, politics, or science, iu the sarae raan ner as publishers of books. They have a great ad vantage in this, as their publications can be, at the sarae tirae, fresh, instant, and popular. In one word, a newspaper should be in advance of all publications, ou the greatest as Avell as sniallest subjects of thought, discussion, or fact. In this department, also, the newspaper should be absolutely free. It should al low contributors to discuss all sides of any subject, provided it be done in a decent and temperate manner. In this respect most religious and politica,! papers have raade a mistake. They usuaUy adopt the side of a particular party or sect, and allow no other opinions to be expressed in their colurans. Thia diniiniahes the general interest of a papei-, and certainly ita fair- ness. Of course there are liraits to free discussion. Treaaon ahould not be permitted to be published^ neither treason to faith or to governraent. A Christian paper should not perrait infidel attacks upon Chris tianity to appear in its columns. A political paper Personal Memories. 347 should not publish attacks on the foundation of a Repub lican government, for such attacks are, iu reality, trea son. Within these limits, however, a great newspaper has a wide and useful range of discussion. Absolute freedom of the press is an essential element of a great newspaper. Novv I come to a point on which there has been much difference of opinion between readers of newspapers and their publishers. This is relative to the duty of a newspaper to advocate, at all hazards, certain great principles of morals, religion, or politics. The individual reader, let us say — whom we raay sup pose to be a just and good man — insists that his pa per should advocate certain good measures, just as he sees thera. In this he raistakes the office and pur pose of a newspaper. Unless a paper is established for the express purpose of advocating a particular cause, that advocacy is not its business or necessarily its duty. Its office, as I have described it, is to diffuse inteUigence, to seU to the people inforraation and in telligence on all subjects vvhich they need information upon or are interested in. In doing this its material support depends upon that sale, and not upon the per sonal integrity of its editors and publishers. Un doubtedly, as upright men, they could not publish what is against a good cause, but, on the other hand, unless they are required to be martyrs, they can not sacrifice to any abstract opinions either their paper or their usefulness. On thia subject, however, I may boldly claira for the newspaper press, that it has done and suff'ered as much for a good cause, as any other business or class in the community. There is another poiut — so much can not be said for newspapers. This is the publication of improper or 348 Personal Memories. immoral advertiseinents. This is done to a great ex tent by publishing medical advertisements, and those of saloons and public places of resort, which are known to have an immoral tendency. The excuse for this is that advertiaing ia a business, and a profitable one to the paper, and that a newspaper is a public forum. This is a good excuse as far as it goes, but it goes no farther than is allovved to conduct iu the public streets. It is well known that public opinion, and even the law itself, docs not permit certain con duct in the streets. Why should a newspaper be more privileged ? Yet we often find iu the colurans of nevvspapers advertisements, especiaUy medical ad- vertiseraeuts, containing words and ideas Avhich vvould not be pierraitted expression on the public forura. Hapfiily this jiractice is being abandoned, and I bave seen sevQral first-class papers which do not contain thera. We raay now see, frora what I have said, in what the real power aud infiuence of a newspaper consists. Taken in its collective character, it is the only organ of general intelligence. Books fail in this, because they are partial and read by few. Schools fail iu this raatter, because, except in universities, they never reach the high thought and discussion on ira portant questions, especially practical and coraraercial, which is found in the great newspapers ofthe [iresent time. In fine, the newspaper dift'uses universal in formation. It has given ubiquity to inteUigence, free dom to discussion, power to thought, by impressing it upon the minds of millions. The newspaper is to mind what ateam is to m.atter — gives locoraotion to ideas, as steam does to persous. Both are character istic of the present age — monuments to the progress of invention, of learning, and of freedom.