The American nation : its executive, legislative, political, financial, judicial and industrial history : embracing sketches of the lives of its chief magistrates, its eminent statesmen, financiers, soldiers and jurists, with monographs on subjects of peculiar historical interest
Kennedy, J. H. (James Henry), 1849-1934 | Lossing, Benson John, 1813-1891
j 1r!Zf'*^l-F ^<^ ibfl 3c,-p #t«^:.V. lli' £#f^ THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA GIFT OF Mrs. Douglass Kelly ■4 > )U Ch. (&j4^ (Ld ^0 THE. AMERICAN NATION VOL. n -J.- t * '^ ^ % « *• * ►.'5' * ^' Ol^Ty^^ ^^^2^^-.^^?^ -^ FHE AMERICAN NATION ITS EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, POLITICAL, FINANCIAL, JUDICIAL AND INDUSTRIAL HIS- TORY: EMBRACING SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF ITS CHIEF MAGISTRATES, ITS EMINENT STATESMEN, FINANCIERS, SOLDIERS AND JURISTS, WITH MONOGRAPHS ON SUBJECTS OF PECULIAR HISTORICAL INTEREST. BY BENSON J. TOSSING, LL.D., J. K. UPTON, HON. A. G. RIDDLE, HON. THOMAS M. COOLEY, HON. J. V. CAMPBELL, COL. CHARLES WHITTLESEY. RT. REV. C. F. ROBERTSON, D. D., AND MANY 0TJ5ER DISTINGUISHED WRITERS. EDITED BY J.'ll. KENNEDY. It Cl EVELAND Zbe TRflilliains publtsbing Company Copyright, 1889, By William W. Williams. All Rights Reserved. LOAN STACK GIFT I/, 3- CONTENTS. VOLUME II. ADMINISTRATION OF MARTIN VAN BUREN. PAGE. The End of the Formative Period of Our Government— Martin Van Buren and his Early Preparation for his Life Work— The Hopeful Leader of a Democratic Mi- nority 643 Appointed Surrogate— Elected to the State Senate— Attorney-General of New York —A Member of the Albany Regency— Elected to the United States Senate— Gov- ernor of Nev^ York 647 Appointed Minister to England — Nominated and Elected Vice-President- Nomi- nated and Elected President— The Financial Panic of 1837— Defeated for Reelec- tion— The Candidate of the Free-Soil Democrats— Latter Days and Death 650 ADMINISTRATION OF WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. Harrison's Early Military Career— Commissioned Captain— Secretary of the Northwest Territory— Elected to Congress— Governor of the Territory of Indi- ana—Growing Indian Troubles 65' Harrison and Tecumseh— The Battle of Tippecanoe— Commissioned Brigadier-Gen- eral—In the War of 1812— A Major-General— An Indian Commissioner— Again Sent to Congress 664 Elected to the Senate of Ohio— Promoted to the United States Senate— Minister to Colombia— Defeated for the Presidency in 1836— Again Nominated, and Elected in 1840— His Brief Term of Service and Death 67? ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN TYLER. Descent and Early Days— Elected to the House of Delegates— A Member of the Executive Council— Chosen to the United States Senate— A Supporter of State Rights— His Work for his Native State— Governor of Virginia 677 I 689 n CONTENTS. PAGE Again Elected United States Senator— An Advocate of Nullification—Opposition to the Bank— Nominated to the Vice-Presidency— Called Suddenly' to the Presi- dency by the Death of Harrison 680 The Controversy Over the Bank Question — Veto of the Bill — Loss of the Confidence of his Party— An Address by the Whigs— Signing a Tariff Bill— An Administra- tion Characterized Only by Its Weakness— Life in Retirement and Service in the Confederate Congress 686 ADMINISTRATION OF JAMES K. POLK. Entrance upon Public Life Through Election to the Legislature — To Congress — Speaker of the House — Elected Governor of Tennessee — Elected and Inaugu- rated President 695 Important Measures Demanding Attention — Oregon and the Northwestern Bound- ary—The Texan Difficulties to the South west — War with Mexico — The Wil- mot Proviso — California and the Discovery of Gold— Close Jof Administration and Life '. 699 ADMINISTRATION OF ZACHARY TAYLOR. A Soldier from his Youth— In the War of 1812, and the Black Hawk War— Fight- ing the Indians in Florida — The Texan Difficulty Causes his Removal to the Southwest 714 A Dangerous Position on the Far Frontier — Correspondence with the Mexicans — The Victory of Palo Alto — Resaca de la Palma — Scott Sent to Mexico— Posses- sion of Matamoras— The Capture of Monterey 717 The Battle and Victory of Buena Vista — General Taylor's Modest Review of that Great Event — The Return of Peace — Named for the Presidency — Definition of Political Views 722 Made the Presidential Nominee of the Whigs— Elected— Position in Relation to Slavery— Views as to California— Sudden Illness and Death 729 ADMINISTRATION OF MILLARD FILLMORE. Descent, and Boyhood in the Wilderness — Early Struggles — Elected to the Legisla- ture on the Anti-Masonic Ticket — Sent to Congress — Declarations upon the Question of Slavery 741 Author of the Tariff Law of 1 842— Nominated for Governor of New York— De- feated—Elected Comptroller of the State— Foreshadowing Our National Bank System— Nominated and Elected Vice-President of the United States 746 CONTENTS. m PAGE Accession to the Presidency on Taylor's Death — His Attitude in Relation to Slav- ery— Signing the Compromise Measures — Enforcing the Fugitive Slave Law — Lopez's Expedition— Perry's Expedition to Japan— Nominated for President by the American Party— Last Years and Death 750 ADMINISTRATION OF FRANKLIN PIERCE. Early Days— Elected to Congress— An Advocate of States Rights— In the United States Senate— Enlists on the Declaration of War with Mexico— Commissioned a Brigadier-General— The Advance into Mexico — Attack upon the City ot Mexico 767 Evidences of Personal Bravery— Molino del Rey— Peace, and Return Home— Mem- ber of New Hampshire Constitutional Convention— Nominated and Elected President— Declarations as to Slavery 773 Repeal of the Missouri Compromise and Its Results— The Kansas-Nebraska Ques- tion— Important Events of the Administration — Its Close — Years of Retire- ment, and Death in 1863 779 ADMINISTRATION OF JAMES BUCHANAN. The Clan Buchanan— Elected to the Legislature— Opposed to a Re-charter of the Bank— Chosen to Congress— A Tariff for Revenue, but Not for Protection— Able Opposition to Mr. Clay upon that Ground — Minister to Russia 787 Elected to the Senate— Opposition to the Abolitionists— The Independent Treasury System — Secretary of State Under Polk — Asserting the Monroe Doctrine — Dec- larations as to the Compromise Measures — Sent to the Court of St. James as United States Minister = 792 Nominated for the Presidency— Contest withPremont- Elected— The Walker Expe dition — The Question of Slavery Again — Signs of Trouble, and Foreshadow- ings of War— Kansas the Battle-field— John Brown and Harper's Ferry 796 Determination of the Slave-Holders to Force the Issue— The National Conventions of 1860— A Disruption of the Democratic Party— The Election of Lincoln, and How it was Received in the South— A Signal for Open Rebellion 809 The Trying Position of the President — Weakness and Hesitation — South Carolina Withdraws from the Union — The Wild Unrest and Excitement of a Nation on the Eve of Civil War — The Commissioners from South Carolina — Secession of Other Southern States 812 John A. Dix's Famous Order— A Proposition for a Peace Commission — It Comes to Naught— Steps for the Open Declaration of a Confederacy — It is so Declared —Retirement of Mr. Buchanan from the Presidential Chair — Retirement to Private Life— Conclusion of an Extended Career 822 IV CONTENTS. PAGE ADMINISTRATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. The Lincolns in the Wilderness of Kentuckj' — Abraham's Youth and £arly Priva- tions— Ambition for an Education — Flatboating on the Mississippi — In the Black Hawk War— Entering up'^n the Study of Law — Postmaster— Elected to the Illinois Legislature 831 Early Declarations upon Slavery — Improvements Pushed Before Their Time— Ad- mitted to the Bar — Elected to Congress — Takes a Position in Favor of Aboli- tion of Slaverj' — The Famous Debates with Stephen A. Douglas 851 Named as a Candidate for President — The Cooper Institute Speech— Endorsed by the Republican Convention of Illinois — Nominated for President— Elected — The Journey to Washington — Inaugurated in a Season of Danger and National Gloom 871 Armed and Organized Rebellion Already in the Field — His Efforts to Win the Erring States to their Old Allegiance— The First Shot at Sumter— The North at Last Aroused — Call for Seventy-five Thousand Volunteers — The Patriotic Response of the North— The Era of Actual and Bloody War 881 " On to Richmond "—The Battle of Bull Run— McClellan— The Status of the Negro — Contraband of War — Inaction — A Final Advance on Part of the Army — Fre- mont and his Unwise Proclamation in the West— Stanton— The Emancipation Proclamation 894- The Progress of the War — The Trent Affair — A Period of Darkness and Gloom — A Draft Proposed — The National Finances — The National Banking Law — The Alabama— The French in Mexico— The Battle of Gettysburg 907 The Grand Speech atGettysburg— Grant— Re-nominated to the Presidency— Elected —Sherman's March to the Sea— The Clpuds Lifting— The Fall of Richmond- Appomattox and Peace — The Crime of April 14 — Assassination and the Pres- ident's Death 915 ADMINISTRATION OF ANDREW JOHNSON. The Poverty and Struggles of Youth— The Tailor's Apprentice— Ambition in the Face of Difficulties— An Advocate of the Common People— Mayor of Greenville —Elected to the Legislature— In the State Senate — Elected to Congress- Chosen Governor of Tennessee 925 Promoted to the United States Senate — The Homestead Law— Attitude upon the Slavery Question— A Firm Friend of the Union When the Secession Standard was Raised— His Bold Speeches Against Treason 930 Military Governor of Tennessee— Nominated Vice-President— Called Higher by the Assassination of Lincoln — Reconstruction, and Contest with Congress — The Impeachment Trial— Conclusion of Term— Return to the Senate— Death 935 CONTENTS. T PAGE ADMINISTRATION OF ULYSSES S. GRANT. Early Years— Appointed to West Point— Active Service in the War with Mexico- Garrison Life in Detroit— Service on the Pacific Coast— Resignation— A Season of Farming and Real Estate— Life at Galena 951 His Services Given to his Country at the Outbreak of the War— Helping to Put the Illinois Troops in Readiness for War— Appointed Colonel— A Brigadier-Gen- eral—The Capture of Fort Henry— Operations Against Donelson— Its Fall— Thejoy of the North 956 A Major-General— Trouble with Halleck— Pittsburgh Landing— The Investment of Vicksburg— Its Fall, and the Opening of the Mississippi— Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge— Made Lieutenant-General and Placed in Command of the Armies of the North 961 Face to Face with Lee and Richmond— The Long Series of Struggles, and the Indi- cation of the Final End— The Fal 1 of Petersburg and the Evacuation of Rich- mond—Surrounding Lee— The Surrender at Appomattox~The Joy of the North 969 Made General of the Armies— His Part in the Reconstruction Troubles— Secretary of War — Proposed for President — Nominated by the Republican Convention of 1868— Elected— The Commencement of a New Political Era— The San Domingo Project— The Rights of the Colored People 981 Troubles with Canada— The Suppression of the Ku Klux— Civil Service Reform— The Liberal Republican Movement — Renominated and Reelected— Resumption Measures— Troubles in the South— The Whisky Frauds— The Third Term Ex. citement 994 Keeping the Peace in the Troubled Days of 1877— Retirement from the Presidential Chair — Tour Around the World — His Reception in England, France, Japan, China and Other Foreign Lands— The Leisure Talk of Long Hours of Idleness. .1011 Return Home — A Glorious Welcome— The Presentation of his Name in the Chicago Convention— Devotion of the Old Guard.— The Tour of the Country— A Cloud upon his Life and Fame — Loss of Property — The Love and Admiration of his Countrymen Lift the Cloud — Long Illness and Death 1023 ADMINISTRATION OF RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. Becomes a Lawyer — City Solicitor of Cincinnati — An Early Republican and Oppo- nent of Slavery — Enlists in the Union Cause— A Major — The Battle of South Mountain — A Colonel and Brigadier-General— Elected to Congress 1039 His Attitude During Reconstruction — Nominated Governor of Ohio — The Selection Ratified — His Services in that Position through Three Terms — An Advocate of Honest Money — Nominated to the Presidency 1045 YI CONTENTS. PAGE An Undecided Election— Intense Excitement All Over the Land— The Issue Made in Congress — The Electoral Commission and Its Difficult Work — Hayes Awarded the Seat 1059 The Southern Peace Policy— Its Effect upon the Country and Politics— A Hard Money Advocate— Working for Civil Service Reform— Orders to the Office- Holders— Contest with Congress— Vetoes— Chinese Immigration— Retirement and Subsequent Life. 1069 ADMINISTRATION OF JAMES A. GARFIELD. A Thorough Preparation for the Work of After Years— Aspirations for an Educa- tion—At the Head of Hiram Institute— Sent to the Ohio Senate— Enlists at the Call of his Country — A Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier and Major- General— His Record in the Field 1111 Elected to Congress— His Work There in Behalf of the Soldier— Early Speeches— Vallandigham — Reply to Mr. Long — His Study of Financial History— His Views on the Tariff— A Visit to Europe — Combating Pendleton and Inflation — On Important Committees 1119 Democratic Control of Congress— Debate with the Southern Members— Contest with Lamar — Goes to Louisiana in 1876 at the Request of Grant— The Leader of the House— Defense of the Resumption Act— Elected to the United States Senate 1133 Sent to the Chicago Convention — His Brilliant Work in that Body— Speech in Nomination of Mr. Sherman — The Convention Nominates Garfield — Election and Inauguration 1144 An Official Occupation Far too Short— The Promise of Good Work in the Future— The Nomination of Mr. Robertson— Trouble in New York— Conkling and Piatt Resign— Assassination— Grief of the Country— Death at Elberon by the Sea 1151 ADMINISTRATION OF CHESTER A. ARTHUR. Assuming Office Under Grave Circumstances — Educator and Lawyer — A Friend to the Slave — Early Interest in Politics — Quartermaster-General of New York — A Service of the Most Arduous Labor— Collector of New York— Contest Over Civil Service 1159 Delegate to the Chicago Convention — Supporting Grant — Nominated Vice-Presi- dent— Position on Public Questions — Siding with Conkling — To Albany — News of Garfield's Assassination 1164 Installed in the Presidency — A Season of Peace Inaugurated — Position on the In- dian Question — Veto of the Chinese Bill — A Trip to the South and West — Con- clusion of his Term— Return to the Law— The End of Life 1165 CONTENTS. YH PAGE ADMINISTRATION OF GROYER CLEVELAND. The First Democratic President Since Buchanan— Admitted to the Law — Assistant District Attorney of Erie County, New York — Sheriff — Mayor of Buffalo — A Fine Record in Favor of Municipal Reform 1183 Nominated Governor of New York — Elected— A Modest Inauguration— Business Methods and a Pure Administration — Vetoes — Nominated for President by the Democratic National Convention— A Popular Ratification 1185 Standing by his Civil Service Reform Principles — Disappointed Office-Scekers — Declaration of Views upon Important Questions — Vetoes — Trips to the West and South 1192 ILLUSTRATIONS. VOLUME II, Martin Van Buren Frontispiece. Residence of Martin Van Buren Facing 643 William Henry Harrison " 657 President Harrison's Residence at North Bend John Tyler Residence of John Tyler James Knox Polk , Zachary Taylor Residence of Z. Taylor Millard Fillmore Mrs. Fillmore .. Residence of Millard Fillmore , Franklin Pierce *. Residence of Franklin Pierce , James Buchanan Residence of James Buchanan Lewis Cass Jefferson D^vis Abraham Lincoln Stephen A. Douglas Residence of Lincoln , Winfield Scott Bombardment of Sumter W. H. Halleck George B. McClellan Joseph E. Hooker W. S. Hancock George B. Meade Andrew Johnson 673 677 f 681 695 713 721 7-tl 744 753 767 768 787 793 816 ' 824 831 864 872 880 888 928 896 904 913 920 925 ILLUSTRATIONS. Dt George H. Thomas 936 Ulysses S. Grant 951 W. T. Sherman Faeing 969 Roloert E. Lee " 976 Horatio Seymour " 984 Rutherford B. Hayes " 1039 Allen G. Thurman " 1065 Residence of Hayes " 1073 James A. Garfield " 1111 Mrs. Lucretia Garfield " 1113 Benjamin F. Wade " 1128 Zachar>' Chandler " 1137 George F. Edmunds " 1144 Stonewall Jackson 1152 Chester Alan Arthur " 1159 David G. Farragut 1161 Grover Cleveland 1183 Thomas A. Hendricks " 1193 Mrs. Cleveland " 1201 Note. — Of the above list of illustrations, the following are by permission and through the courtesy of the pub- lishers of the Magazine of American History: Jefferson Davis, Stephen A. Douglas, Winfield Scott, George B. McClellan, Bombardment of Sumter. MARTIN VAN BUREN. T'^HE Presidents of the United States whose terms antedated the year 1837, may be said to have belonged to the formative period of Amer- ican history. The testing of the new and entirely original machinery of gov- ernment was daily going on ; here a wheel and there a joint was found to need alteration, and the necessary changes were the work of some of the greatest minds of the century, from Washington to Jackson. Every Pres- ident of this period had been in personal contact with the men and events of revolutionary days, though the nature of their association with that epoch widely varied. The attainment of a position in relation to foreign powers was largely predominant among the public duties of the day, and it required a vast amount of diplomatic effort and the fighting of one bloody war to convince the powers of the world that the uniting of the American states under a republican form of government was anything else than an experiment, which could not be more than temporary. It is not surprising that such a period — which was wonderfully short for the framing and setting in operation of so complicated and nicely ad- justed a system as that of the United States government, should have left as a legacy to future years many errors and that organic weaknesses should have been overlooked. Before Jackson's retirement there had been a hint that the bands which bound the states together, were not universally re- garded as indissoluble. The nullifiers of South Carolina had given this hint and had been brought speedily into subjection by the iron hand of the Spartan President. Some few persons — John Quincy Adams among the rest — saw the inherent weakness of a system by which a national sin, practiced only within a limited and definite portion of the United States, and contrary to the fundamental germs of our institutions, received a con- stitutional guaranty of perpetuation. They saw,, and freely asserted, that the time would come when, as new states were carved from the vast un- 643 644 MARTIN VAN BURZN. organized areas of the west, contests, fatal to a national spirit and menac- ing national unity, must certainly arise, and the freesoil spirit was strong among the best class of northern men. There had, however, been but few and slight encounters upon the subject as yet ; slavery had not taken alarm and the free sentiment lacked form and directness of motive, so that when Van Buren succeeded Jackson, in 1837, the slavery question was a perplexity, but not yet an issue. Most men had theories upon the sub- ject, but, among the majority, these theories could be calmly discussed as matters very unlikely to take practical form. There was, however, in the financial condition of the United States, a problem immediately pressing and apparently of more permanent import- ance than any other. The account of the circumstances leading up to the year of Van Buren's induction to office* is before the reader of this vol ume, and he can scarcely fail to appreciate that the nev^ President was heir to difficulties under which he was foreordained to sink. There is a very large class of people who revenge the misfortunes of the hour by the political death of those who are in power at the time of their culmination, not considering that they arise from causes for which the blame belongs to other men of earlier years. Martin Van Buren, to whom came the fatal task of reaping Jackson's financial whirlwind, was born at Kinderhook, Columbia county, New York, December 5, 1782, and was the first of the new school of Presidents of the second period, Buchanan being the last. His parents were of the old Dutch stock, which then, as now, held so high a place in the society of the Empire state, and were descended from ancestors whose settlement in New Amsterdam was made at a very early day. Abraham Van Buren, his father, was a farmer at Kinderhook, a man of moderate means, but of the highest character for intelligence and honesty. His mother's maiden name was Hoes, and she was connected by ties of blood with the family of her husband. She was an exemplary woman, amiable, intelligent and pious, and her education was such as to enable her to exert an active and valuable influence over her son, which had no little share in fitting him for the high duties to which he was called. It was under her tutelage that Martin Van Buren obtained his rudi- mentary education, and from her hands he passed to the Kinderhook academy, where he remained until the year 1796. The school was an ex- cellent one in point of thoroughness of instruction, if not very ambitious in its scope, and the boy was enabled to acquire a very exact knowledge of the ordinary English branches, a considerable familiarity with Latin, and quite generous instruction in the field of English literature. He is said to have shown, in his school days, great aptitude in all his studies, with a special talent for English composition and for the impromptu de- *Vide, ante, Life of Andrew Jackson. MARTIN VAN BUREN. 645 bate which was an occasional exercise in the school. There are no stories extant of marvelous precocity — such as are apt to be discovered after a man has made a political reputation — and the boy seems in this case to have been the legitimate progenitor of the man : intelligent, painstaking and honest, but falling far short of genius. Upon leaving school, at the age of fourteen years, the boy began the study of the law, in the office of Francis Sylvester, of Kinderhook. The rules of the courts at that time required that aspirants to the bar should pursue a course of seven years' study, unless they were graduates of a college, and this fact accounts for the placing of a mere child at so grave a task as the study of Coke and Blackstone. It is highly probable that his early occupation in Mr. Sylvester's office was not unlike that of Sir Joseph Porter, when in a similar position, and that his serious study did not begin for two or three years after his articles were filed. After a time, however, he began to share with his fellow-students the duty of conducting the trial of justice court litigation, which his preceptor did not think worthy of his own personal attention, and thus received an invaluable experience, which aiiyone who has passed through a like apprenticeship will appreciate. He showed in this a notable quickness of apprehension and readiness of speech — qualities which the technical resorts commonly met in a pettifog- ging practice tended greatly to heighten. While pursuing his legal studies, Van Buren was very attentive to polit- ical events, and showed an acute interest in the relations of parties. He became at the time a strong supporter of the Jeffersonian political theories as opposed to those of the Federalists. This persuasion was strengthened by a change in his business association made in 1801, when he entered the office of William Van Ness, of New York City, under whom he completed his legal studies. Mr. Van Ness was a strong Democrat and was person- ally associated with the leaders of hjs party, among whom Aaron Burr at that time stood very high. To Burr and to other leaders Van Buren was introduced, and his promise and enthusiasm for knowledge soon earned a recognition which gained him admission to their society upon terms very nearly approaching equality. Thus his opportunities for the study of law and the study of politics were alike exceptional, and he did not fail to make the most of them. During the month of November, 1803, in the twenty-first year of his age. Van Buren was admitted to practice as an attorney in the supreme court of the state of New York, and at once returned to Kinderhook to begin his life work. This was a wise decision, both as regards his legal and political future. Even in 1803 New York was a large city in comparison with others of the United States, and it was easy for even a bright young man to fail of winning recognition in the law, which recognition is one of the most important stepping stones to political success. In a rural community, 646 MARTIN VAN BUREN. on the contrary, then, even more than now, the young practitioner was watched with the greatest interest ; his victories and his failures discussed and his methods criticised by all. When he tried a case, he had for an auditory nearly the entire community in which he lived, either at first or second hand, for those who were prevented from being present in court, received at second hand a full report of each day's occurrences. Such a practice was a vast stimulus to a young man. The certainty that his errors would be known made him careful, and the equal certainty that his success would be recognized rendered him aspiring. At Kinderhook Van Buren founded a law partnership with the Honora- ble James T. Van Allen. The bar of Columbia county at that time was one of unusual brilliancy, including some persons whose names have come down in the legal annals of the state as among the greatest lawyers in its history. With these men, the novice — scarcely more than a boy — at once engaged in a struggle for his share of practice, and in a succession of legal contests that could not fail to be most salutary. From the outset he won recognition and was not long in building up a practice sufficient for his support. Party feeling ran very high in those days and especially in that county. The Democratic party was making a desperate fight for ascendency in the Nation. In New York state it commanded a majority, but in some coun- ties, among which was Columbia, the Federalists held control. The latter was eminently an aristocratic party, and wherever "the old families" and the men of landed wealth controlled the local political movements, it was quite sure of a majority. In Kinderhook and the surrounding country, it was not a popular thing to support the Jefifersonian ideas, and Van Buren was no sooner actually engaged in practice at that place, than the greatest pressure was brought to bear upon him from different directions and with different motives, to induce him to change his party allegiance. His friends feared that his political future and his professional success would be endangered by per- sistent adherence to the unpopular side, while the local Federalist leaders, recognizing his unusual ability and his promise of usefulness, were deter- mined to detach him from the enemy and engage him upon their own side. Among the most strenuous in these efforts was Mr. Van Allen, his part- ner, who thought himself working as well for Van Buren's interest as for that of the Federalist party. The young man had, however, the courage of his convictions. He considered that the Democratic party embodied the essential principles for which the colonies had fought in the Revolution ; his father had been a Democrat since parties existed in the United States, as had he since old enough to hold views upon political subjects. Hence he refused to be persuaded and his refusal placed him at once in a position of more prom- MARTIN VAN BUREN. 647 inence and influence than he could otherwise have hoped to attain. In stead of being in the ranks of a decaying party, his conscientious adherence to his principles soon made him a local leader of the vigorous and growing Democracy. All history shows that there is no political training more valuable than the service of an honorable opposition, and no man is more probably in the path of ultimate personal success than he who well and unselfishly leads a minority to present failure. The effect of Van Buren's determined stand upon his professional life was advantageous, in spite of all predictions to the contrary. Had he changed his colors, for the sake of business profit, he would have been but one of many lawyers, each eager for a share of practice, and many more advantageously situated than he. As it was, he was almost alone as a competent Democratic lawyer, and he naturally became the defender not only of the political faith but of the legal rights of the minority. The conflicts in which he was thus called upon to engage were many of them important— far more important than so young a practitioner would naturally have been retained in, and the exercise they gave his mind tended greatly to enlarge and ripen his powers as a lawyer, while the success he attained added constantly to his reputation. In those days a long practice as at- torney was a condition precedent to admission as a counselor at law, and this completion of his legal position did not come to Mr. Van Buren until 1807. VVith it, every court in the state was open to him ; his practice speedily extended to matters of appeal and his professional associates in- cluded all the ablest members of the bar. . In 1808 he received appointment as surrogate of Columbia county and removed to Hudson, where he resided for seven years, discharging the duties of this, his first public office, to the satisfaction of all. His duties as surrogate did not prevent his continuing his practice, which grew con- stantly larger and more lucrative, while his own reputation rapidly ex- tended throughout the state. His legal career was of twenty-five years' duration, extending from 1803 to 1828, from which time until his retire- ment from the Presidency, he devoted himself almost exclusively to poli- tics. Throughout these years his practice was one of constant growth and gave him a handsome competency. His professional career may be summed up and dismissed with the statement that he was universally recognized as a lawyer of learning, ability and industry, and one whose honesty was beyond the assault of the most disappointed of his defeated opponents. Perhaps it would be too much to say that he was a great lawyer, but his work at the bar vindicated his right to be considered a very skilful one. In 1806 Mr. Van Buren married Miss Hannah Hoes, a relative of both his father and his mother, and for whom he had from a very early age en- tertained a strong affection. Unhappily shs had inherited consumption, 64B MARTIN VAN BUREN. which disease caused her death in 1818. She left four sons and her husband, who felt his loss very severely, never remarried. Thus the private and professional life of the subject of this biography may be dis- missed. Mr. Van Buren began his political studies, as has been seen, very early and his practical connection with politics began at the age of eighteen years, when the Democrats of Kinderhook named him a delegate to a convention for the nomination of a candidate for the legislature. Young as he was, he was appointed to prepare an address to the electors of the district in which he resided, and the paper which he then produced was the first of an immense volume of political and state documents which came from his pen. In this department as in everything pertaining to the man- agement of party politics, he stood easily first among his contemporaries. He gave to Jefferson's administration his warmest support, and for many years sacrificed his friendships and what seemed to be his personal interest to the unswerving support of the candidates of his party, in many cases even whom he did not and could not altogether approve. He held the principles of his party as higher than any personal consideration or the temporary questions as to the fitness of any candidate. Thus he went on with almost dogged persistency for several years, looking to the future for his reward. This came in 1812, when he was nominated as candidate for state sena- tor in the central district. This district included a number of counties where party strength was very equally divided. His opponent was Ed- ward L. Livingstone, a man of great wealth, powerful family connections, and strong position in the Federal party. The contest was a close and exceedingly bitter one, calling out the utmost resources of the contestants and of the parties which they represented. The total poll was more than twenty thousand votes and Van Buren received a majority of two hundred, and thus at the age of thirty years became a member of the upper house of the state legislature. The session was one of great importance, covering the period of the War of 1812, and at every point Van Buren gave to the war measures of President Madison the warm support of which the administration stood surely in need. In 181 5 Mr. Van Buren was appointed attorney-general of the state of New York and also a regent of the university. In the spring of the next year he was reelected to the state senate for the term of four years. As senator all his zeal and ability were given to forwarding the great system of internal improvement advocated by De Witt Clinton, and his services did much to accomplish the speedy building of the Erie canal. His place in state politics was very speedily won, and before the close of the War of 18 12 he had attained a position of so great influence and importance that we find his name and that of Governor Tompkins MAKTIN VAN BUKEN. O49 mentioned as those of the leaders of the New York state Democracy. In 18 18 Van Buren became dissatisfied with the administration of Clinton as governor and began the organization of that famous opposition, familiar to every student of political history as the Albany regency. This body is truly said to have swayed the political destinies of New York state for twenty-five years, and, whether avowedly or otherwise. Van Buren was always its head. It was the first organization within a party for the con- trol of that party's action, and finds its legitimate descendant in the "Tam- manies," the " Irving Halls" and smaller bodies of to-day. As a polit- ical expedient the movement was very shrewd, but it introduced into our politics a very vicious and unrepublican practice, which had much better never have been established. The "regency" was the constant object of vituperation among the friends of Clinton, and the internal dissensions in the party soon resulted in a district rupture, with Clinton at the head of one wing and Van Buren of the other. The latter faction carried the majority of the Democrats with it, but was not reduced at once to entire efficiency. The council of appointment, being devoted to the views of the governor, in July, 1819, removed Van Buren from his position as attorney-general. This action only served to render more bitter the feeling between the sections and to cause a war to the knife. However, Clinton was reelected governor, in spite of the most strenuous efforts of his opponents. An attempt at re- conciliation was made, the office of attorney-general being again offered to Van Buren, but he declined it. In February, 1821, Van Buren was elected by the legislature of the state of New York to the United States senate, in place of Nathan Sand- ford, a Democrat, whose term expired in March, 1821. In August of the same year, he took a seat in the convention to revise the constitution of the state of New York. In this convention Mr. Van Buren proposed and advocated such amendments as he thought would secure just privileges to citizens of all grades and colors, while they would not prevent the adop- tion of the constitution by the people. His course was satisfactory to men of all parties and highly honorable to his talents as a statesman. Mr. Van Buren took his seat in the senate of the United States in De- cember, 1 82 1, and soon became distinguished as an active and influential legislator. He advocated, with zeal and force of reason, the abolition of imprisonment for debt, on actions in the United States courts, amend- ments to the judiciary system, a bankrupt law, to include corporations as well as persons, and the investment of the proceeds of the sale of public lands, in the states where the lands sold are situated, on some just and equitable terms. When Mr. Crawford became a candidate for the succes- sion to President Monroe, Mr. Van Buren labored to effect his election, but was unsuccessful. He opposed the administration of John Quincy 650 MARTIN VAN BUREN. Adams and lent all his influence to strengthen the party which sought to raise Andrew Jackson to the Presidency. In February, 1827, Van Buren was reelected to the United States sen- ate by the legislature of his native state, but circumstances soon caused his resignation. Governor Clinton died in February, 1828, and Van Buren was chosen to succeed him in the gubernatorial office. Entering upon his duties on the first of January, 1828, Mr. Van Buren first devoted himself to financial matters. The famous safety fund system, combining the monied interest of the state, which he proposed to the legislature, was adopted ; but the experiences of a few years proved that it could not equal public expectation. In forming his first cabinet. President Jackson offered the post of sec- retary of state to Mr. Van Buren. The general said he made the offer as a tribute to acknowledged talents and services, and in accordance with the wishes of the Democratic party throughout the Union. On the twelfth day of March, 1829, Van Buren resigned the office of governor of the state of New York, and soon after entered upon the discharge of his new duties in connection with the general government. Van Buren's management of the foreign affairs of the United States did not give general satisfaction. In particular, his instructions to Mr. Mc- Lane, minister to England, concerning the opening of the West Indian ports to American vessels, were severely censured. The treaty upon this subject was ultimately beneficial to the United States, but the principles and conditions insisted upon by England were suffered to prevail and it was contended that the honor of the country had been sacrificed. On the seventh of April, 1831, Mr. Van Buren resigned the office of secretary of state, assigning as a reason that circumstances beyond his control had placed him before the country as a candidate for the succession to the Presidency and that the imperious effects necessarily resulting from a cab- inet minister's holding that relation to the country, had left him only the alternative of retiring from the administration or of submitting to a self- disfranchisement hardly reconciliable with propriety and self-respect. Soon after. General Jackson's cabinet was entirely changed. Mr. Van Buren was now appointed by the President minister to the court of St. James. Upon his arrival in London in September, 183 1, he was received with distinguished favor, but his diplomatic career was des- tined to be very short. Soon after the meeting of congress in December, the President submitted the nomination of Van Buren to the senate and it was rejected by that body, probably on account of the feeling aroused against him by the matter already mentioned, in relation to the West India trade. The Democratic party condemned the rejection as an act of political persecution. Jackson took to himself all the responsibility of Van Buren's acts, as secretarv of state, which he said were the result of MARTIN VAN BUREN. 65 I his own deliberate reflection and investigation and still appeared to him to be entirely proper and consonant with his public duty. In spite of this generous endorsement, however, the minister necessarily returned. On the twenty-second of May, 1832, Van Buren was nominated as a candidate for the vice-presidency, upon the ticket with General Jackson. The result was the triumphant election of both to the offices for which they had been respectively nominated. Van Buren received one hundred and eighty-nine electoral votes to ninety-seven for all other vice-presidential candidates. He thus returned from England to enjoy a decisive triumph over his political enemies. On the fourth of March, 1833, he was inaug- urated and presided over the senate for four years, giving general satisfac- tion. Van Buren 's vice-presidential term had greatly strengthened him, and when, on the twentieth of May, 1836, the Democratic national convention met at Baltimore, the result was almost a foregone conclusion. Van Buren was unanimously nominated for President of the United States, with Colonel Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, as the candidate for vice- president. After a stirring canvass came the national election, and when the electoral college met, Van Buren received one hundred and seventy votes, including three from Michigan thrown out as informal, against one hundred and twenty-four for all other candidates. Johnson did not receive a majority of the electoral votes, but was subsequently elected by the senate, in accordance with the constitutional provision in such cases. Van Buren was duly inaugurated as President of the United States on the fourth of March, 1837. From the assurances of the inaugural address, the people expected that the policy of the government would remain un- changed, and thus Van Buren became, in a way, distinctly responsible for the work of his predecessor. The new President named the following cabinet: John Forsyth, of Georgia, for secretary of state; Levi Wood- bury, of New Hampshire, for secretary of the treasury; Joel R. Poinsett, of South Carolina, for secretary of war; Mahlan Dickerman, of New Jer- sey, for secretary of the navy; Amos Kendall, of Kentucky, for post- master general ; and Benjamin F. Butler, of New York, for attorney-gen- eral. All these gentlemen, except Poinsett, were members of Jackson's cabinet, in the positions named, and were simply retained in office by Van Buren. 