viii TABLE OF CONTENTS 



PART II-POLITICAL LIFE 

 CHAPTER III. FROM JACKSON TO FILLMORE 1832-1851 



PAGB 



Political division in my family ; differences between my father and grand- 

 father; election of Andrew Jackson. First recollections of American poli- 

 tics ; Martin Van Buren. Campaign of 1840 ; campaign songs and follies. 

 Efforts by the Democrats ; General Crary of Michigan ; Corwin's speech. The 

 Ogle gold-spoon speech. The Sub-Treasury Question. Election of General 

 Harrison ; his death. Disappointment in President Tyler. Carelessness of 

 nominating conventions as to the second place upon the ticket. Campaign 

 of 1844. Clay, Birney, and Polk. Growth of anti-slavery feeling. Senator 

 Hale's lecture. Henry Clay's proposal. The campaign of 1848; General 

 Taylor vs. General Cass. My recollections of them both. State Conventions 

 at this period. Governor Bouck ; his civility to Bishop Hughes. Fernando 

 Wood ; his method of breaking up a State Convention. Charles O'Conor 

 and John Van Buren ; boyish adhesion to Martin Van Buren against General 

 Taylor ; Taylor's election ; his death. My recollections of Millard Fillmore. 

 The Fugitive Slave Law 45 



CHAPTER IV. EARLY MANHOOD 1851-1857 



"Jerry"; his sudden fame. Speeches of Daniel Webster and Henry Clay at 

 Syracuse on the Fugitive Slave Law ; their prophecies. The " Jerry Rescue." 

 Trials of the rescuers. My attendance at one of them. Bishop Loguen's 

 prayer and Gerrit Smith's speech. Characteristics of Gerrit Smith. Effects 

 of the rescue trials. Main difficulty of the anti-slavery party. "Fool Re- 

 formers." Nominations of Scott and Pierce; their qualities. Senator 

 Douglas. Abolition of the Missouri Compromise. Growth of ill feeling 

 between North and South. Pro-slavery tendencies at Yale. Stand against 

 these taken by President Woolsey and Leonard Bacon. My candidacy for 

 editorship of the "Yale Literary Magazine." Opposition on account of my 

 anti-slavery ideas. My election. Temptations to palter with my conscience ; 

 victory over them. Professor Hadley's view of duty to the Fugitive Slave 

 Law. Lack of opportunity to present my ideas. My chance on Commence- 

 ment Day. " Modern Oracles." Effect of my speech on Governor Seymour. 

 Invitation to his legation at St. Petersburg after my graduation. Effect 

 upon me of Governor Seymour's ideas regarding Jefferson. Difficulties in 

 discussing the slavery question. My first discovery as to the value of politi- 

 cal criticism in newspapers. Return to America. Presidential campaign of 

 1856. Nomination of Fre*mont. My acquaintance with the Democratic 

 nominee, Mr. Buchanan. My first vote. Argument made for the " American 

 Party." Election of Buchanan. My first visit to Washington. President 

 Pierce at the White House. Inauguration of the new President. Effect upon 

 me of his speech and of a first sight of the United States Senate. Impression 

 made by the Supreme Court. General impression made by Washington. My 

 first public lecture "Civilization in Russia"; its political bearing ; attacks 

 upon it and vindications of it. Its later history 61 



CHAPTER V. THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD 1857-1864. 



My arrival at the University of Michigan. Political side of professorial life. 

 General purpose of my lectures in the university and throughout the State. 



