Casket of reminiscences

Preface

The author of the Reminiscences contained in this volume has little to say in regard to them by way of proem. They were written to amuse a few hours of the summer and autumn of the present year, and appeared almost daily in the columns of the Washington Chronicle precisely as they were originally thrown oil* from his pen. Though very sensible of their deficiencies in point of literary finish, he has not judged it expedient to modify them in any essential particular ; and he will, indeed, be highly gratified if they shall now be read by those into whose hands they may chance to fall with as much interest as they seemed originally to awaken.

He has no apology to make for certain rather unkind strictures indulged in regard to several individuals upon whose character and conduct lie has undertaken to remark. He has chosen to speak the uuvar nished truth, both as to men and things; and he is quite well satisfied that, sooner or later, all considerate and impartial men will come to the conclusion that in doing so he is not justly subject to censure. Should there be those who shall choose to join issue with him as to facts herein narrated they will now have it in their power to do so under circumstances altogether convenient, to them.

REMINISCENCE No. I.

JAMES MONROE — JOHN QUINCY ADAMS — CHIEF JUSTICE MAR- SHALL— HENRY CLAY— ROBERT J. WALKER — MR. WEBSTER- JENNY LIND.

Aii opinion has long prevailed that such as have been blessed with more than ordinary multiplicity of years, and whose opportunities of observing the course of public affairs have been at all favorable — so long, at least, as the mens shim in sano cofpore shall be vouchsafed to them — may he reasonably presumed to hold in the storehouse of memory many facts, the accurate and impartial recital of which ^Pght he expected to prove more or less instructive and entertaining to persons of a more limited experience. It is doubtless upon some such notion as this, whether well or ill founded, that I have been persuaded to enter a held already in part occupied by others, whose diverse merits I have no wish to call in question. Not purposing to write either history or biography in a regular manner, I shall probably not be subjected to anything like acrimonious criticism if I shall in a great measure disregard mere order of time, and describe such scenes as may casually suggest themselves to my recollection, in a very desultory manner, and with something of the unaffected simplicity of oral narrative.

It chanced that I was in the city of Washington during the latter part of the winter of 1824-'5, having been attracted thither, as many thousands besides had been, by the interesting scenes of one kind or another known to be there enacting. The Electoral Colleges in the States having

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failed to give to either of the four Presidential candidates a majority of votes, upon the House of Representatives in Congress was devolved the duty of selecting a President from the three candidates who had been the recipients of the largest number of electoral votes. After an intensely interesting struggle Mr. John Quincy Adams was chosen, and preparations were made for his inauguration. This took place in the hall of the House of Representatives, and I had the honor to witness this ceremony, which to me at the time was full of novelty and interest. Mi-. Adams seemed to me to be then quite a robust man, and of a far more animated and hopeful aspect than he was in after years. When he advanced across the floor of the hall and received the volume containing the oath of office from the hands of the venerable Chief-Justice Marshall, his step was firm, and 1/% manner ^vas marked with a placid dignity very imposing indeed. He e^J^ciated the oath in a clear audjJisjChcHf tone, and ascended the Speaker's chair for the purpose of delivering therefrom his inaugural address. Then it was that he seemed to me to evince some embarrassment, and the [taper from which he read rattled in his tremulous hands to such an extent that the noise from it was distinctly heard by auditors in the gallery of the House, where I was myself located.

When the address was brought to a close, most of those present proceeded to the White House in order to take leave of Mr. Monroe, who was about to set off for his private residence in Virginia. Curiosity led me thither. I was much struck with the very healthy and vigorous appearance of this venerable man. Though I had seen him often before, I had never approached him so nearly as on this occasion. His appearance and manners were full of life and cordiality. His face wore a kindly and genial smile, and he was evidently rejoicing inwardly at being relieved at last from the toils and cares of office. I saw Mr. Adams also in the throng of those who were eagerly pressing forward to shake hands with his predecessor. He seemed to be wholly unnoticed, and to be in a gravely meditative mood. I was anxious to see him more distinctly, and I urged my way to his whereabouts perhaps a little indeli- ________

cately. When I beheld him nearly I found that he was (xJUw actually weeping. The tear-drops, which were constantly ^J o^ distilling from his eyelids, he ever and anon wiped away £&^w. with a white linen handkerchief. The spectacle which I ^ tur beheld reminded me very forcibly of what I had read °f ik^^v the laughing and the weeping philosopher of the olden ^^ „ time. Here I saw a President of the United States de- ^ (jLx parting from office to all appearance replete with hilarity c^Jhy^ and joyousness, while he who was presently to till his place UaM*+ > ' seemed smitten with unappeasable anguish and melan- <War^> & choly. I did not then know what I soon after learned, ^_^f ^ that the tear-shedding which had so painfully attracted 'f^Li my attention was with Mr. Adams but an "ordinary in- ^ undation," and the result of an optical distemper of very ____,

long standing.

So soon as the leave-taking was over at the White House, a very numerous body of citizens flocked to Mr. Adams' private residence, in order to partake of a sumptuous banquet which had been prepared for their enjoyment. Now, in connection with this same banquet, which I did not attend, there has been buzzing about my cranium ever since a not unpleasant reminiscence. When the banqueters returned from Mr. Adams' house, several of

4 CASKET OF REMIXieCEXCES.

them mentioned to me, in very kind terms, the hospitable attentions of which they had. been recipients, and, among other things, spoke in language of warm commendation of the two sons of Mr. Adams, who had superintended the distribution of creature comforts to the numerous quests assembled around the table, which was literally groaning with all the choicest viands which the Washington market could supply. These young gentlemen were described as each of them holding in his dexter hand a bright silver ladle, with which he lavishly apportioned to the eager visitants the most delicious oyster soup, dipped out of a splendid china bowl of most gigantic proportions, which sat smoking before them. The elder of these scions of a noble stock I had incidentally met at the Bedford Springs, in Pennsylvania, the summer before. I regretted to see his untimely decease reported in the newspapers a few years later. To his younger brother, Charles Francis Adams, now so creditably known on botli sides of the Atlantic, I had the honor of being casually introduced one night at the theater in Washington. I saw him again, in company with his brother John, at the inaugural ball, which took place upon the evening of the 4th of March. Our slight personal acquaintance has never been subsequently renewed, nor do I suppose that he now remembers that wc ever met, I have been, though, for many years, a diligent observer of his course, and while I have not always been aide to concur with him upon the public questions which have been from time to time agitated, his intellectual powers have ever commanded my respect, and I have never at all distrusted either his integrity or his patriotism.

It is well known to all the readers of our national history that the administration of Mr. Adams had to encounter much and tierce opposition in various quarters.

CASKET OF REMINISCENCES. O

He and all the prominent members of his Cabinet were objects of unsparing denunciation, and even sometimes also of ridicule. All sorts of accusations were preferred against himself and Mr. Clay in particular, and they were freely denounced as the upholders of corruption and the enemies of freedom. Nearly a half century has now passed away since that Administration was brought to a close. The prejudices and passions connected with the period in which it had its course are almost absolutely extinct, and now "returning Justice, lifting aloft her scale," attests to all the generations of the future that the Republic has never known a time in which public men of greater virtue and wisdom occupied the high places of civil trust, or when all the concerns of the Government were more successfully and economically administered, than between the 4th of March, 1825, and the 4th of March, 1829.

Of Mr. Clay I shall have a good deal to say hereafter. Mr Adams I never knew intimately. I saw him for the last time at his own house, in Washington, on the 1st day of January, 1848, and had a short conversation with him. He was then very pale and thin, and I left him with the impression that he could not long survive. When lie fell suddenly in the House of Representatives, a few weeks later, while in the act of delivering an eloquent and powerful speech upon a question which involved his feelings very deeply, there was probably not a member of Congress of any party who did not feel the most poignant distress and chagrin.

Mr. Adams Avas, upon the whole, one of the most remarkable men that our country has produced. Bonest3 warm-hearted, and fearless, he disdained to conceal his opinions upon any subject involving the welfare of his country or the happiness of his kind. His mind was by nature active, vigorous, and capable of the highest culture. His early education, under the direction of his venerable father, had been most judicious and complete, and he had devoted almost his whole life to the acquisition of knowledge of every kind, both theoretic and practical. He was a ripe scholar, and was thoroughly versed in eveiy department of modern literature. His pen, as a political controversial writer, was one oi the most potential that the country has known. He does not seem to have gained much reputation as a speaker in the earlier stages of his public career. When in the national Senate, before he had yet attained middle age, he is not known to have dis jguished himself as a debater on any noted occasion. But on his becoming a member of the House of Representatives, several years subsequent to his defeat for re-election to the Presidency, he discovered powers of discussion for which no one had ever before that period given him credit. I very much doubt whether a more accomplished and effective speaker was ever heard in that bodjr. His command of language was unlimited ; his knowledge of public affairs was such as perhaps no other American statesman has ever possessed, which gave him a great advantage over those with whom he had from time to time to conflict; his memory of past transactions was never at fault ; and when he felt himself to be in the right, he feared not the weapons of any adversary. His powers of sarcasm and denunciation were positively terrific, and no man ever dared to awakeii'Jiis ire whom he did not speedily compel to regret his temerity. His superiority to all the flimsy and tinseled declaimers of the period, who, with a vain and silly ambition, sought to draw him into conflict, was so conspicuous that even those who disliked him most were constrained to recognize him as a victor in every such conflict. Mr. Adams seemed to belong to a class of persons of whom only a few have made their appear-

CASKET OF REMINISCENCES. I

ance either in ancient or modern times, in whom imagination, conjoined with retentive memory and fervid sensibilities, grew more and more vigorous and luxuriant up even to the end of their mortal career. Thus was it with the venerable author of the Apocalypse, with Plato, with Sophocles, and with Edmund Burke. On the day of Mr: Adams' lamented decease, I do not at all doubt that he was the most splendid and picturesque rhetorician then living ; and he is known to have often indulged in poetical effusions, both of a grave and sportive character, which would have done credit to an Ovid or a Tibullus. A day or so before his death he wrote a beautiful little sonnet to a charming young lady of his acquaintance, which was shown to me by Caleb Lyon, of Lyondale— a copy of it having been given to him by Mr. Adams himselfwith the sweetness and beauty of which I was much impressed.

Robert J. Walker told me more than once that Mr. Adams, several years anterior to 1844, predicted in his hearing and in a manner exceedingly solemn and earnest, that in less than twenty years African slavery would be extinguished in the United States— adding that he expected himself to witness its overthrow.

A few days subsequent to the decease of Mr. Adams, on a convivial occasion, when all present were lamenting that event, and commending his social and domestic virtues, as well as his extraordinary ability, I recollect Mr. Webster to have said: "Well, gentlemen, all you say is doubtless true; Mr. Adams was a very remarkable man; no one can doubt his talents or his moral worth; but you will permit me to say that I do not recollect that tins gentleman ever gave utterance to a truly national sentiment after he took his seat in the House of Representatives/' 'This was almost the only time that I ever knew this liberal-spirited and wonderfully gifted man to express himself, in private converse, in terms of decided decrial of any cotemporary statesman dead or living.

The incidental mention of Mr. Webster's name brings up in my memory a rather curious and interesting scene which I witnessed in the summer of 1850. The Compromise struggle, which had been in progress for some months, had just terminated. The dangers which were supposed to menace the destruction of the Federal Union established by our. lathers, it was hoped, had been effectually obviated by a wise and salutary " plan of adjustment,*' as I remember George M. Dallas to have called it, and the extremists of either section, it was believed, had been defeated in their respective schemes of mischief. All Washington was rejoicing over this noble result, and patriotic men of all parties were reveling in a sort of fraternizing jubilee. Next to Mr. Clay himself, Mr. Webster was supposed to have signalized himself in this evermemorable conflict, and from, the day when he had delivered his celebrated 7th of March speech he had been receiving every hour, in one form or another, the tokens of public gratitude. This was perhaps the most happy moment of his life. He had efficiently contributed to save the Union from ruin and his native land from bloodsbed and devastation, by aiding in the bringing of men of genuine national sentiment into manly and heroic combination for the overthrow of sectional factionists, alike of the South and of the "North. He had risked his own beloved popularity in that contest, perhaps more seriously than any other man ; but the Republic was safe, and his own great soul was full of gladness and gratitude.

Just about this time the Russian Minister of that period, the well-known Mr. Bodisco, summoned the august Secretary of State under President Fillmore and the members of the two Committees on Foreign Affairs of Congress to a dinner at his mansion in Georgetown, to do appropriate honor to the birthday of the Emperor Nicholas, which was then at hand. Several of the new Cabinet of Mr. Fillmore I recollect also to have been present on this oc_ casion, and, among others, Mr. Stuart, of Virginia, then Secretary of the Interior. Seldom has a more splendid banquet been spread, and greatly was it enjoyed by all who had been invited to partake of it. Mr. Webster offered the toast in honor of his Imperial Majesty, and accompanied it with one of the most dignified, conciliatory, and truly statesmanlike speeches I ever listened to. Neither Pericles nor Tacitus, in their most inspired moments, could have given a more noble and felicitous expression to stately and elevated thoughts and sentiments concerning the happiness and true glory of governments and of peoples. V hen the dinner was over, Mr. Webster, in his most bland and courteous manner, approaching Mr. Stuart and myself, invited us to accompany him in his carriage back to Washington, suggesting that he would he pleased if we Would go with him also to the opera, where 'Jenny Lind was to regale, for the last time, a Washington audience with her charming; minstrelsy. There was, of course, no refusing such an invitation, so we hurried forward with glowing anticipations of enjoyment to the appointed scene of entertainment.

On arriving at the door of the opera-house Mr. Webster entered in his grandest manner, and slowly ]>;issed down the central aisle of the building. It chanced that Jenny Lind was then on the platform, and was about to commence singing our inspiring national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." So soon as Mr. Webster's approach was perceived the assemblage spontaneously broke forth with tempestuous applause, evidently recognizing it as a remarkable coincidence that the renowned defender of the Constitution should have happened to come in at the very moment that the sacred emblem of the nation's liberty and union was on the eve of being rapturously apostrophized in song. So soon as the audience settled down into quietude the inspiring tones of Jenny Lind's marvelous voice were heard. Never, either before or since, have I been made so overwhelmingly sensible as I was on that occasion of the commingled power of music and sentiment. The whole concourse really appeared to be electrified. Mr. Webster was so transported with delight that lie actually seemed almost to become unconscious of the presence of others, and hummed very distinctly in unison with the varying tones of the songstress. All the enthusiasm of his soul had evidently been kindled into flame; all his patriotic pride had been awakened, and his whole moral nature appeared to have been "touched and inspired" by the seraphic sounds to which he was an enraptured listener. When the song was over, Mr. Webster— as if impelled by a sense of official duty to offer, in the name of the great nation which he felt himself entitled in some degree to represent on this occasion, the formal tribute of its respect — rose from his seat, and, stepping forward to a central position between the audience and the platform upon which Jenny Lind was standing, made her one of the most honoring and majestic bows I ever beheld. The amiable and accomplished recipient of a homage as unexpected as it must have been gratifying, manifested something of a g'racefnl and blushing embarrassment, but conrtesied notwithstanding most profoundly in response, upon which the assembled multitude gave vent to their delight in most vociferous applause. A second bow was administered, with precisely similar accompaniments. A third one was tendered, when the charming "Swedish Nightingale," as she was called, incontinently took wing and became invisible to our fond and admiring eyes, perchance forever! The newspapers next morning duly noted this interesting incident, and, much to their credit be it spoken, made none but the, kindest comments thereupon. Certainly, all who had the happiness to be present that night withdrew to their homes both loving and honoring more highly than they had ever done before the high-souled and grandly-endowed statesman of Massachusetts, after this wondrous politicohistrionic performance of his.

REMINISCENCE No. II.

MR. BERRIEN — FRANCES S. KEY CHARLES J. INGERSOLL MR.

WIRT MRS. LEE GENERAL LEE WILLIAM H. FITZHUGH — ■

GENERAL GRANT.

I do not remember to have at any time witnessed a more interesting forensic discussion than one to which I had the pleasure of listening in the chamher of the Supreme Court of the United States in the beginning of the month of March, 1825. A vessel engaged in the African slave trade had been a month or two before seized by a revenue cutter of the Government upon the coast of Florida, and had been regularly libeled for confiscation under the act of Congress declaring this species of traffic to be piracy. .This case involved pecuniary interests of much magnitude, and certain moral considerations, also? of much delicacy and dignity. The argument attracted a large assemblage of refined and intelligent persons of either sex. The discussion was opened by the celebrated Francis S. Key, so honorably known then and now as the author of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Mr. Key had been employed to aid the Attorney General, (Mr. Wirt,) while Charles J. Ingersoll, of Philadelphia, and John M. Berrien, of Georgia, were enlisted in the defense. I was very much entertained with the whole argument, but I was particularly charmed with the speech of Mr. Key and that of Mr. Berrien, both of which I now propose to notice very briefly. Mr. Key was tall, erect, and of admirable physical proportions. There dwelt usually upon his handsome and winning features a soft and touching pensiveness of expression almost bordering on sadness, but which, in moments of special excitement, or when anythins; occurred to awaken the dormant heroism of his nature, or to call into action the higher powers of his vigorous and well-cultivated intellect, gave place to a bright ethereality of aspect and a noble audacity of tone and gesture which pleased while it dazzled the beholder- His voice was capable of being in the highest degree touching and persuasive. His whole gesticulation was natural, graceful, and impressive, and he was as completely free from every thing like affectation or rhetorical grimace as any public speaker I have known. He had a singular flow of choice and pointed phraseology, such as could not fail to be pleasing to persons of taste and discernment ; and I am sure that no orfe ever heard him exhibit his extraordinary powers of discussion, to whom the ideas to which he essayed to give expression seemed at all cloudy or perplexed, or his elocution clogged and torpid, even lor the shortest possible period of time. On this occasion, he greatly surpassed the expectations of his most admiring friends. The subject was particularly suited to his habits of thought, and was one which had long enlisted, in a special manner, the generous sensibilities of his soul. It seemed to me that he said all that the case demanded, and yet no more than was needful to be said ; and he closeWith a thrilling and even electrifying picture of the horrors connected with the African slave trade, which would have done honor either to a Pitt or a Wilberforce in their palmiest days.

Mr. Berrien (with whom I afterward had the honor of enjoying much familiar intercourse) was now making his first public appearance in Washington. His fame, both as a jurist and advocate, had preceded him. His early affiliation with the Federal party had heretofore operated as an insuperable impediment to his political advancement in Georgia, but being now in full unison with the political sentiment then prevailing, the Legislature of that State had recently elected him to a seat in the national Senate, a special session of which body was expected to commence on the 4th of March.

The advent of Mr. Berrien had naturally awakened much curiosity, and when he rose to address the court he found himself encircled by a vast and eager assemblage. From the beginning of his grave and impressive exordium, up even to the close of his splendid peroration, he was listened to with unbroken attention, and never was speech more deserving of this quiet but expressive homage. Mr. Berrien appeared to be at this time about forty-five years of age, but it was whispered in certain circles that he was at least ten years older. He was of a medium height? exceedingly compact in his frame, agile in all his movements, of a fresh and healthy complexion, neat and even elegant in his attire, and as stately and dignified in his general demeanor as would at all have comported with that cordial courtesy and flowing affability for which he was ever distinguished. His visage betokened much of intellectual power. His forehead, though not unusually high, was broad and well developed ; his eyes large, lustrous, and penetrating; his voice, which I suspect to have been assidulously cultivated, was deficient neither in compass nor melody ; it was distinct, sonorous, and impressive. He evinced on this occasion the most complete self-possession, and seemed to hold under easy and effective control all the faculties of his mind and all the passions of his soul. He wandered not for a moment from the main points in controversy ; he indulged in no extravagant flights of fancy ; dwelt not over long upon any of the topics discussed by him; attempted no tinseled rhetoric; essayed no pompous declamation ; put in use no trivial strokes of humor: uttered no florid panegyric, and fulminated no tempestuous, overstrained denunciation. The clear and copious stream of his methodical and well-digested logic flowed on in steady and unruffled grandeur like some smooth, majestic river, fed by exhaustless foi tains, ever moving forward evenly within its banks, never spreading out its waters in unnavigable shallows, nor breaking forth beyond its assigned boundaries and carrying desolation and terror to regions far remote. This first speech of Mr. Berrien in Washington was perhaps as brilliant a debut as this country has yet known ; and I would willingly travel many miles to hear one at all approaching to it in felicity of conception or effectiveness of delivery.

When it was brought to. a close, I looked round upon that quiet and refined assemblage, and saw unmistakable tokens of approval upon all faces. A goodly number of those present were then known to me. Among the audi tors I well remember a bevy of fair ladies and handsome, well-dressed gentlemen, who occupied a sofa to the left of the bench upon which the judges sat. I will mention one or two of them, beginning with William H. Fitzhugh, of Kavensworth, in Virginia. This gentleman possessed a noble and prepossessing exterior. His face was marked alike with benevolenee and intellect. He was reputed to be wealthy, and doubtless was so. He was generally looked upon as decidedly the most rising young states, man in the Old Dominion, now that Armistead C. Mason was in the grave. He had for some years honorably occupied a seat in the Senate of Virginia, and stood high both as a speaker and as a sound, practical legislator. He was born and reared to manhood, as I have learned, in a noble mansion, yet standing upon the bank of the Rappahannock, just opposite Fredericksburg, and in sight of the neat and comely dwelling in which the childhood and youth of the great Washington received that training and nurture which fitted him for the glorious part he was to take in his country's history. Mr. Fitzhughwas himself possessed of as much of the true Washingtonian spirit as any man then living. He died very suddenly a year or two after the scene which I have been describing, leaving behind him a wife, who, T rejoice to learn, is still living. This lady was also present during the speech of Mr. Berrien, as was also Mrs. Custis, the wife of George Washington Parke Custis, formerly so well known in Washington, and so much beloved and venerated.

Seated near these ladies was one whom I am tempted more particularly to describe. I allude to the only daughter of Mrs. Custis, the present Mrs. Lee.~::' She was then about sixteen years of age, and was indeed " the observed of all observers." Her personal charms were such as must inevitably have commanded admiration and sympathy, independent of the adscititious advantages which so richly clustered about her. Ko one, I am confident, has ever beheld a more placid and winning face than that which was now presented to my gaze. She was richly but plainly attired, as was her mother, and there was a modest and reserved dignity about both of them that signiticantly bespoke their rank and bringing up. Miss Custis was described to me by those who knew her best as a young lady of sound and vigorous intellect, in which judgment and discrimination decidedly predominated. Her education had been in all respects such as was best calculated to make heralike happy herself and the source of abundant utility and happiness to others. Those who had beheld her venerated ancestress, the wife of Washington, often pointed out the striking resemblance which they supposed themselves to have discerned between this

*This amiable and accomplished lady died a month or two after this notice of her.

noblest of American women and the youthful representative of her virtues and her blood. Miss Custis was the heiress expectant of two of the largest estates that Virginia could then boast, and it is rather a curious and interesting fact that her uncle, William H. Fitzhugh, already spoken of, was one of the first large owners of slaves in Virginia who provided for their emancipation by will, and provided liberally also for their future education and support.