Public men and events from the commencement of Mr. Monroe's administration, in 1817, to the close of Mr. Filmore's administration, in 1853

Front matter

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M. B| Cornell University

Introduction

It is well known to the people of the United States generally, and to the public men of the country especially, that from 1825 to 1853, ^"d even eight years later, was a period of very exciting political conflicts, during which many great questions of public policy, and important measures involving the vital interests of the nation, came before Congress and underwent searching, able, and not unfrequently acrimonious discussion in the Senate and House of Representatives. And the names of prominent men of that day in whose hands were the destinies of the nation — John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, Martin Van Buren, Thomas H. Benton, Horace Binney, John Sergeant, John Davis, John M. Clayton, Thomas Ewing, Lewis Cass, James Buchanan, Silas Wright, George McDuffie, James K. Polk, William L. Marcy, and a hundred others — are even now familiar as household words to the American people.

But precisely what those great questions and measures were, how they arose, what were the principles involved, and the parts taken by the leaders of the two parties contending against each other, very few now upon the stage of action have any very definite idea.

During the period named, party spirit ran high, and party contests were carried on with great virulence. To read the full debates of that day, on any of the important measures which

8 INTRODUCTION.

were discussed in Congress and the public press, would require more time than any man can afford to give to the past in these "fast" times, when one can hardly keep up with the current events of the day. And yet there are many who may be glad to obtain some just notion of the questions which then agitated the community, how they were disposed of, and the parts acted, respectively, by the leading men whom I have named. Others, too, who were themselves participants in these scenes, will no doubt be gratified to have a brief retrospective view of them presented, whereby they can refresh their memories and retrace the paths they long ago trod in the heat of conflict with companions long since gone to their rest.

My purpose in preparing this work has been to give, in as brief a manner as possible, an account of the sayings and doings of that day, — of the various questions which came before the nation, and the spirit of the debates in Congress, keeping up, at the same time, a continuity of narrative of important events as they occurred, — interspersing the whole with interesting incidents, anecdotes, and descriptions of the appearance and characteristics of the public men, with many of whom it was my lot to be brought in personal association.

During the period to which I have confined myself took place the animated discussion on the Panama question, on which the opposition to Mr. J. Q. Adams's administration first arrayed themselves in solid phalanx ; the celebrated debate between Mr. Webster and Colonel Hayne ; the debate on the tariffs of 1828 and 1832, and on the compromise tariff of 1833 ; on the bill to re-charter the United States Bank, and on the veto of that bill ; on the Force bill, and the bill to distribute the proceeds of the public lands; on the removal of the public deposits from the United States Bank, and on Mr. Clay's resolutions censuring the President for that act, followed by that on the

INTRODUCTION. n

President's protest against these resolutions, and on the proposition of Colonel Benton, finally carried, to " expunge" one of them from the journal of the Senate; on the exposition, by a select committee of the House, of the astourtding defalcations of Federal officers; on the nomination of Martin Van Buren as minister to England ; on the annexation of Texas, the war with Mexico, the acquisition and admission of California, Utah, and New Mexico, and, finally, the long-protracted debates on Mr. Clay's Compromise measures, in 1850, including the Fugitive Slave Law.

It was during this period tfcat " Nullification" first raised its hideous front, and was crushed out by General Jackson's proclamation and energetic measures ; that the presentation of Abolition petitions in the House produced great irritation, and those intensely exciting and tumultuous scenes in that body in which Mr. Adams was ever the champion of the right of petition, and Mr. Wise, Mr. Rhett, Mr. Gilmer, Waddy Thompson, and other Southern gentlemen opposed with much eloquence and fiery zeal the reception of these petitions.

From 1829 to 1837 there was at the head of the government a man of indomitable will and implacable temper, who, impatient of opposition from any quarter, required implicit acquiescence on the part of his friends and partisans. These personal qualities of the President gave character to his party and to the political contests of the day, which, as I have said, were carried on with unusual spirit and acrimony.

From the commencement of Mr. Monroe's administration, in 1 8 17, to the close of the year 1825, tranquillity pervaded the country like the placid calm of an " Indian summer." From 1820 to 1832, excepting the commercial revulsion of 1825, the nation enjoyed, generally, a rare degree of prosperity; but from the commencement of the war upon the United States Bank, the

10 INTRODUCTION.

veto of the bill re-chartering it, the removal of the public deposits to what were termed "pet banks," and other measures of the government more or less affecting the business relations and commercial operations of the country, — measures then styled "experiments upon the currency," — all was changed; and in May, 1837, these "experiments" culminated in a stoppage of specie payments by every bank in the United States, and in a financial panic which paralyzed every industrial interest in the nation.

During the period covered by these recollections, namely, from 1 8 17 to 1853, and indeed to a later date, I took a warm interest in politics and public affairs, being for a considerable portion of the time connected with the press, which necessarily brought me in association with many of the leading men of the country. From 1841 to 1846, inclusive, I was the Washington correspondent of the Philadelphia " United States Gazette," writing over the signature of " Oliver Oldschool ;" and on the meeting of the Thirtieth Congress, December, 1847, I was elected Sergeant-at-arms of the House, and held the office during that and a portion of the Thirty-first Congress, and of course had official relations with every member of the House of those two Congresses.

It may be supposed I have had some experience in organizing parties and carrying on political campaigns. I have also held important offices in the Treasury Department, — Register of the Treasury and Commissioner of Customs, — and know from a tolerably long experience something of official life and of public men at Washington.

Manypartial friends, knowing the experience I have had in public affairs, and my associations with many of the leading characters of the past, have, for several years, urged me to write out my recollections of the men and incidents of my time;

but other avocations, a disinclination to undertake so arduous a task, and a distrust of my ability to produce a work that would commend itself to the public, deterred me from complying with their requests ; probably I should never have given way to them but for the fact that on my retirement from the office of Commissioner of Customs, in 1 871, which I had held for ten years, I became restless for want of occupation. My regular habits being broken up, my mind, like the first dove sent out from the ark, could find no resting-place. " To rest is to rust," as Mr. Seward justly said of himself after leaving the office of Secretary of State ; and I must therefore seek new employment, for employment was as necessary to my mind as food for my body. The kindly suggestion of a friend at that moment turned me to the occupation — which I have by no means found irksome, but quite the contrary — the fruit of which is this work. It has occupied me a little over two years, which time I have spent agreeably with the men and in the scenes of by-gone years; though the pleasure I have enjoyed has been deeply tinged with sadness by the reflection that almost to a man they have passed away.

In recording my recollections of these, it will readily be seen that I occupy the stand-point of " an old line Whig," such as I was, and as such I cannot pretend to have related past events with exact impartiality. Time, it is true, softens the asperities, removes many of the prejudices, and corrects some of the errors inseparable from a participation in party strife, and especially does it assuage those rancorous feelings which violent party contests engender. But time does not entirely divest us of the feelings — prejudices, perhaps — which then governed us, nor wholly, if at all, change our views in regard to the characters of the men and the merits of the measures which divided parties. Of these, generally, I have spoken with freedom, and some-

12 INTRODUCTION.

times, perhaps, with a little of the old feeling. Yet I trust I have done no one injustice, having intended to make no statement not warranted by undeniable facts.

I have closed with the end of Mr. Fillmore's administration, 1853 ; not being disposed to enter upon that tempestuous Kansas-Nebraska period which immediately followed and continued during the administrations of General Pierce and Mr. Buchanan, finally ending in the great Rebellion and the utter extinction of slavery.

N. Sargent.

Chapter I. Page

General Remarks. — The Rise of Pai'ties. — Federal and Republican, or Democratic—Opposition to the War of 1812 fatal to the Federal Party. — Mr. Monroe nominated for President by the Democratic Caucus. — His Competitor Wm. H. Crawford. — Rufus King the Federal Candidate. — Monroe elected. — His Cabinet. — His Long Journey East and North. — The Era of " Good Feeling." — Creek and Seminole War. — Jackson enters Florida. — Executes Arbuthnot and Ambrister. — The Subject before Congress. — Florida acquired from Spain.— Mr. Calhoun, — Earnestly in favor of a System of Internal Improvements. — The Various Improvements projected by him. — Duel between Commodore Barron and Commodore Decatur. — William Lowndes, of South Carolina. — William Pinckney. — Candidates for President, 1824. — General Jackson. — Nominated for President by the State Federal Convention of Pennsylvania ; also by the Democratic State Convention. — Mr. Calhoun nominated by the same Convention for Vice-President. — Washington Society. — Intrigues to make General Jackson President. — His Coleman Letter. — His Monroe Letters. — The Presidential Vote of 1824. — The Plot to destroy Mr. Clay. — He is charged with Bargain and Corruption. — Proceedings in the House thereon. — George Kremer assumes the Responsibility, but refuses to appear before the Committee and substantiate his Charge. — Election of Mr. Adams by the House of Representatives. — How this was effected on the First Ballot. — The Scene in the House. — Mr. Adams inaugurated. — Congratulated by Mr, Monroe and General Jackson . . . . . . . . . . .17

Chapter II

Mr. Adams forms his Cabinet; Mr. Clay Secretary of State. — General Jackson; his Journey Home ; charges Corruption against Mr. Adams and Mr. Clay. — Arrival of Lafayette, the " Nation's Guest." — His Tour through the United States. — Is feted at Washington by the House of Representatives. — He is sent Home in the Frigate Brandywine. — The Beginning of a Storm in Georgia. — Completion of the Erie Canal. — Celebration of the Event. — De Witt Clinton. — A Political Calm. — General Jackson resigns his Seat in the Senate. — His Letter to the Legislature of Tennessee. — Governor Troup

14 CONTENTS.

PAGE

and the Legislature of Georgia terribly excited ; they " stand by their Arms." — The Opposition Party formed. — Scene between Colonel R. M. Johnson and Colonel Seaton. — The " Telegraph" Paper established. — Violent and Calumnious Character of the Opposition. — The War opened upon the Administration upon the Panama Question. — Mr. McDuffie's Resolutions to amend the Constitution. ^Fierce and Vindictive Debate thereon. — He endeavors to provoke a Challenge from General Vance.— Duel between Mr. Randolph and Mr. Clay. — John Randolph. — How Mr. Clay came to be elected Speaker on the First Day he entered the House as a Member. — Death of Adams and Jefferson. — The Cry of " Retrenchment and Reform" clamorously raised. — The famous East Room Letter. — " The gorgeously furnished East Room." — Georgia and the Creek Controversy. — Sharp Epistolary Skirmish between General Gaines and Governor Troup. — The Jackson Party gain the Ascendency in the House of Representatives. — Mr. McDufEe challenges Governor Metcalf, but will not fight with Riiles. — No Duel. — Abduction of William Morgan. — Formation of the Anti-Masonic Party. — General Jackson charges Mr. Adams and Mr. Clay with " Bargain and Corruption" at his Own Table. — Carter Beverly's Letter. — Mr. Clay's Denial. — Demands the Name of the Witness. — General Jackson replies, and gives the Name of James Buchanan as his Author. — Mr. Buchanan's Letter in Response. — Mr. Adams's Solemn Denial of the Truth of the Charge. — Agitation of the Protective Policy. — Meetings and Conventions North and South. — Language of the South. — General Convention at Harrisburg. — Nullification first heard of. — Suggested by Colonel Hamilton, of South Carolina. — His Inflammatory Language. — Election of Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of New York. — Mr. Van Buren elected Governor by the aid of the Anti-Masons. — Presidential Election in 1828. — General Jackson elected. — A Winter in Washington, 1828-9. — Mrs. Eaton. — "Bellona." — Tempest in a Teapot. — Mrs. General Porter. — General Jackson arrives at Washington. — Declines to pay the Customary Visit of Respect to the President. — A Great Multitude of Office-Seekers rush to Washington. — Editors by the Score. — Calhoun Heir-Apparent. — A Spicy Debate in the House. — Proclamation, Braggadocio Smythe. — Mr. Adams's Last Levee. — General Anxiety of Heads of Bureaus and Clerks on account of Threats of Sweeping Removals gg

Chapter III

General Jackson inaugurated. — His Inaugural Address.; — The Multitude enter the White House with Him. — A Terrible Jam. — A Disorderly Rabble fill the House and scramble for the Refreshments designed for the Drawing- Room. — They damage the Chairs and Sofas with their Hob-Nailed Shoes and Mud from the Canal. — General Jackson's First Cabinet. — " Retrenchment

and Reform." — "Rewarding Friends and Punishing Enemies." Reign of

Terror.— Why and how Judge McLean became a Justice of the Supreme Court.— Excitement at the South on the Subject of the Tariff, and at the North on account of Morgan's Abduction.— The Case of Tobias Watkins.

CONTENTS. 1 5

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— The Twenty-first Congress meets December 7, 1829. — General Jackson sounds the First Blast of War against the United States Bank in his Message. — The Great Debate between Mr. Webster and Colonel Hayne. — Colonel Hayne. — Coolness between General Jackson and Mr. Calhoun. — General Jackson fires a Shot into Nullification. — His Celebrated Toast, " Our Federal Union: it must be preserved." — Georgia and the Cherokees. — Rupture between General Jackson and Mr. Calhoun. — The Breaking-up of General Jackson's First Cabinet. — Mr. Van Buren appointed Minister to England. — A New Cabinet appointed. — Mr. Livingston. — Mr. McLane. — The Kitchen Cabinet. — Anti-Masonic Nomination for President, October, i83i.^Mr. Wirt nominated. — National Republican Convention nominates Mr. Clay for President. — First Session of the Twenty-second Congress. — Mr. Clay in the Senate. — Brings in a Bill to reduce Revenue Duties. — Makes an Able Speech. — Colonel Hayne replies. — A Brutal Assault upon a Member of the House. — Hot Discussion in the House on the Occasion. — The President charged with inciting his Myrmidons to attack Members to silence Opposition. — General Houston, the Assailant, reprimanded by the Speaker, by Order of the House. — Attempt of Heard to assassinate Mr. Arnold, a Member of the House. — Young Men's National Convention at Washington. — Incidents. — Rejection of the Nomination of Mr. Van Buren as Minister to England. — In the Debate, Senator Marcy proclaims the Dogma that " to the Victors belong the Spoils of Office." — How the Nomination of General Jackson for a Second Term was procured. — William B. Lewis's Letters. — Baltimore Jackson Convention. — Nomination of Mr. Van Buren as Vice-President. — Mr. William C. Braddley, of Vermont, nails the Charge of Bargain and Corruption to the Counter in thfs Convention. — Distribution of the Proceeds of the Public Lands. — Tariff Bill of 1832. — The Case of the Cherokees. — General Jackson assumes the Right to support the Constitution as he understands it, independent of the Supreme Court. — Application of the Bank of the United States for a Re-Charter. — Mr. Adams's Report. — The New Hampshire Intrigue to obtain Control of the Bank. — The Veto .of the Bank Bill. — Passage of the " Force" or " Bloody Bill."— Verplanck's Tariff Bill.— Mr. Clay's Compromise Bill.— Mr. Webster opposed to it. — It is passed. — Anecdote of Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Simmons. — Mr. Clay's Land or Distribution Bill.— An Episode. — Mr. Webster and Mr. Poindexter. — Presidential Election, 1832. — General Jackson re-elected by an Overwhelming Majority ....... 161

Chapter IV

The President makes a Tour to the Eastern States. — Great Attention and Respect paid him. — Black Hawk. — The Cherokee Missionaries. — An Exciting Scene in the Senate between Mr. Clay and Colonel Benton. — The Past raked up. — The Bank Bill vetoed.^Effect upon Parties. — Nullification in South Carolina. — President's Proclamation. — Governor Hayne in Reply. — South Carolina in an Attitude of Resistance. — Movements of the Government against South Carolina. — Removal of the Public Deposits from the

1 5 CONTENTS.

Bank of the United States. — First Session of the Twenty-third Congress. — The " Panic Session." — Mr. Clay's Resolutions condemning the Removal of the Deposits. — Proceedings thereon in the Senate. — The National Republican takes the Name of the Whig Party. — Great Numbers of Memorials and Delegations sent to Congress and the President. — The Country greatly excited. — Mr. Binney. — The President's Protest against Clay's Resolutions, passed by the Senate, censuring him. — The Virginia Resolutions. — Great Commotion from a Small Cause : the Figure-Head of Jackson on " Old Ironsides" sawed off. — A Change in the Cabinet : Taney succeeds Duane in the Treasury Department.— The " Pet Banks." — A Gold Currency promised. — The Death of Five Distinguished Men. — The Muse of History recording the Doings of the House of Representatives. — Unfriendly Relations witlT France. — Attempted Assassination of the President. — Mr. Calhoun's Report on Executive Patronage, and Debate thereon. — A Pleasant Interpellation: Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Clay. — Mismanagement of the Post-Office Department. — William Cost Johnson backs down the Hot-headed Champions of the Postmaster-General. — Presidential Candidates nominated. — The National Convention of the Jackson Party held at Baltimore ; nominates Mr. Van Buren for President, and Colonel R. M. Johnson for Vice- President. — Delegates "fresh from the People," self-appointed. — Mob to put down Abolitionism in Boston. — Expunging Resolution. — Death of Chief-Justice John Marshall. — Distribution of the Surplus Revenue. — The Mania of Speculation. — The Moon Hoax. — First Session of the Twenty-fourth Congress. — Abolition Petitions. — Stirring Scenes in the House of Representatives. — Mr. Adams's Extraordinary Speech. — Mr. Wise's ditto. — Scathing Replies to Mr. Adams by Mr. Hardin and Mr. George Evans. -^United States Bank chartered by the Pennsylvania Legislature. — Rebellion and Revolution in Texas. — The Massacre of Colonels Fannin and Ward, and their Men, at Goliad. — The Massacre of Colonel Crockett at the Alamo. — The Bloody Battle of San Jacinto : Santa Anna defeated and taken Prisoner. — Seminole War. — The Specie Circular. — Its Effect on the Country.- — A Protracted and veiy Exciting Scene in the House. — A Gloomy Day in the Senate. — The Expunging Resolution passed.— Chancellor Kent's Letter to Mr. Clay. — The Expungers have a Royal Feast at the White House. — General Jackson's Administration closes, and he returns to the Hermitage. — A Sketch of him. — His Death 244

PUBLIC MEN AND EVENTS.

Chapter I

General Remarks. — The Rise of Parties. — Federal and Republican, or Democratic. — Opposition to the War of 1812 fatal to the Federal Party. — Mr. Monroe nominated for President by the Democratic Caucus. — His Competitor Wm. H. Crawford. — Rufus King the Federal Candidate. — Monroe elected. — His Cabinet. — His Long Journey East and North. — The Era of " Good Feeling." — Creek and Seminole War. — Jackson enters Florida. — Executes Arbuthnot and Ambrister. — The Subject before Congress. — Florida acquired from Spain. — Duel between Commodore Barron and Commodore Decatur. — William Lowndes, of South Carolina. — William Pinckney. — Candidates for President, 1824. — General Jackson. — Nominated for President by the State Federal Convention of Pennsylvania ; also by the Democratic State Convention. — Mr. Calhoun nominated by the same Convention for Vice-President. — Washington Society. — Intrigues to make General Jackson President. — His Coleman Letter. — His Monroe Letters. —The Presidential Vote of 1824.— The Plot to destroy Mr. Clay.— He is charged with Bargain and Corruption. — Proceedings in the House thereon. — George Kremer assumes the Responsibility, but refuses to appear before the Committee and substantiate his Charge. — Election of Mr. Adams by the House of Representatives. — How this was effected on the First Ballot. — The Scene in the House. — Mr. Adams inaugurated. — Congratulated by Mr. Monroe and General Jackson.

Political parties are the natural product of free government. Wherever there is freedom of speech and freedom of the press, discussions and conflicts will arise ; and where the people rule or elect their rulers, there will be clashing of opinions in regard to public affairs, the fitness of candidates for office, and a rivalry growing out of personal interests. Thus parties spring up and sometimes run to such extremes and become so infuriated as to set all law and authority at defiance, ending in bloody, savage, and remorseless massacres.

Our own country has never been entirely free from parties :

2 17 before the Revolution they existed in the different colonies, based on local questions and interests, and in some of them were characterized by great heat and asperity. But the great controversy between the colonies and the mother country, which culminated in our independence, absorbed and overrode all minor and local questions, dividing the people into new parties, denominated Whig and Tory.

The formation of the Constitution gave rise to conflicts of opinions as to the powers that should be conferred on the national government or reserved by the several States ; and these adverse opinions soon originated new parties, which divided the nation for many years after. These were at first designated Federal and anti-Federal, afterwards Federal and Republican, ox Democratic. Though not regularly organized during General Washington's administration, they were, nevertheless, exceedingly hostile to and abusive of each other. The vituperation poured out upon General Washington, who was known to be a Federalist, can scarcely be conceived by those in whose minds he is the canonized patriot and father of his country. The political history of that period is painfully interesting.

It was hot until the Presidential contest between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, in 1800, that the two parties came into the field arrayed against each other; but from that time down to 1 8 17, when Mr. Monroe was elected President, party animosity raged with great fury, — far beyond anything since witnessed, except, perhaps, during the two terms of General Jackson's administration.

Opposition to the War of 1812 proved fatal to the Federalparty, which ceased to exist as a national party with the close of Mr. Madison's administration. Not only did the odium of opposing the war tend to annihilate that party, but the questions upon which the two parties differed were, in a great measure, settled or disposed of by the war; others, relating to the general interests of the country, such as a tariff, internal improvements, the chartering of a national bank, erecting fortifications, etc., taking their place, and finding advocates and opponents in both the old parties.

Candidates for President and Vice-President were then se-

MONROE'S CABINET. ig

lected by the respective parties by what was termed a Congressional caucus. Mr. Monroe was placed in nomination for President by a caucus of the Republican members of Congress, Daniel D. Tompkins, of New York, being nominated by the same caucus for Vice-President. Mr. Crawford, of "Georgia, was Mr. Monroe's competitor, and fell but few votes behind him in the caucus.

Rufus King was the candidate of the Federal party, or what there was left of it, against Mr. Monroe. The latter received one hundred and eighty-three electoral votes, the former thirty-four.

No President ever encountered less opposition during his four or eight years' service than Mr. Monroe. Parties and the country seemed to be tired of contention, and desirous to enjoy repose. A most able cabinet was selected, consisting of Mr. J. Q. Adams as Secretary of State ; William H. Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury; John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War; Smith Thompson, Secretary of the Navy ; and William Wirt, Attorney- General. For long and eminent public services, great and tried abilities, and patriotic devotion to the free institutions of the country, this cabinet might proudly challenge a comparison with any one whose members have since filled their places.

Before the cabinet was formed. General Jackson addressed a letter to Mr. Monroe, which was brought out and made public during the Presidential contest in 1824, when Jackson himself was a candidate, urging him in selecting his cabinet to disregard party. "In every instance," General Jackson says, "party and party feelings should be avoided. Now is the time to exterminate that monster called party spirit. By selecting characters most conspicuous for probity, virtue, capacity, and firmness, without regard to party, you will go far to, if not entirely, eradicate those feelings which, on former occasions, threw so many obstacles in the way of government, and perhaps have the pleasure and honor of uniting a people heretofore politically divided. The chief magistrate of a great and powerful nation should never indulge in party feelings." . . . Patriotic sentiments, truly. But who would have then supposed that entering upon the duties of President twelve years later, he would cast these sentiments to the winds, and adopt the most proscriptive, thoroughly party system of making removals and appointments ever known in the government ?

Soon after Mr. Monroe entered upon the duties of his high office he started on a tour to the East, North, and West, accompanied only by his private secretary, Mr. Mason, and General Swift, Chief of the Corps of Engineers ; the latter for the purpose of making observations for works of defense along the seaboard.

In all the cities, towns, and villages through which the President passed he was received with great demonstrations of respect, the people striving to do him all the honor due to the chief magistrate of the nation, — all uniting in these demonstrations without distinction of party. In Boston, especially, the head-quarters of Federalism, the Federalists vied with their political opponents in their demonstrations and in the honors shown him. Addresses poured in upon him, not orilyTrom the citizens, corporations, etc., of the cities and towns through which he passed and sojourned, but from distant cities, towns, and counties. Such was the exuberance of good feeling manifested towards the President by all classes of the people on and near the route he traveled, — in every part of New England and New York, indeed, — that it was termed " the era of good feeling," and this was applied to the whole eight years of his administration. His journey seemed to have annihilated or " exterminated that monster called party spirit."

The President proceeded as far east as Portland, Me., which he reached on the 15th of July, six weeks after leaving Washington ! Thence he went to Burlington, Vt, and from thence to Plattsburg. From Plattsburg to Sackett's Harbor his route was through a wilderness called the Chateaugay Woods. From Sackett's Harbor the President proceeded by the lake to the mouth of the Niagara River, visited the Falls and some of the principal scenes of military operations on that frontier during the war, went to Buffalo, from thence to Detroit, thence through Ohio to Pittsburg, where he arrived on the Sth of September, and at Washington on the i8th, having been absent from the seat of government three and a half months, performing a tour

CREEK AND SEMINOLE WAR. 2 1

which could now be traveled in, possibly, a little more than a week, including the necessary stoppages to hear and answer congratulatory addresses. The appearance of the President of the United States among the people far distant from the seat of government was a novel, and therefore great, occasion, and made a great sensation. Nobody had ever seen a President, and all who could must see him. The road was lined with people as he passed, and he found every village and hamlet in his way, or where he rested overnight, crowded with the eager inhabitants of the surrounding country, who had left the plow in the furrow, the cream in the churn, and the clothes in the tub, to see what had never before been seen there, the President of the United States.