Politics and pen pictures at home and abroad

Front matter

Book iJ2

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

AT HOME AND ABROAD

Chapter I. Page

National Whig Convention at Harrisburg — General Harrison — Honorable Henry Clay — General Scott — John Tyler — James Barbour — Benjamin Watkins Leigh — Judge Burnet — Horace Greeley . . i

Chapter II

The Canvass of 1840 — Mr. Van Buren's Administration — Financial Policy — Personal Qualities — General William Henry Harrison — John Tyler — The Whig Plan of the Canvass — Great Popular Meetings — Leading Statesmen on the Hustings — Unparalleled Enthusiasm ........... 12

Chapter III

Inauguration of President Harrison — Death — Accession of Mr. Tyler — Mission to Belgium — Washington — New York — The Ocean — The Voyage — Arrival at Liverpool — High-Sheriff's Coach — Judge Maule 23

Chapter IV

London — Edward Everett — Sir Robert Peel — An Evening in the House of Lords — The Duke of Wellington — Lord Lyndhurst — Lord Brougham — Mr. Bates, of Baring Bros. — Mr. Van der Weyer, Belgian Ambassador — Rothschild — Departure . . . -33

Chapter V

Antwerp — Brussels — Honorable Virgil Maxcy — Hotel de France — Great Military Review on the Banks of the Rhine — Cologne — Aix-la-Chapelle Splendid Reception by the King of Prussia — Baron Humboldt — Return to Brussels 40

VI CONTENTS.

Chapter VI. Page

King Leopold and the Queen — Diplomatic Representatives at the Court — Dinner at the Palace at Laeken — My Residence near the Park — Arrangements for Living ........ 47

Chapter VII

The Government of Belgium — The Royal Palace — The Chamber of Representatives, or Palais de la Nation — The Burgundian Library — The Hotel de Ville — The Forest of Soignies — Excursion to Waterloo — The Battle — Napoleon ...... 53

Chapter VIII

A Visit of the French Ambassador, Marquis de Rumigny — Sir Hamilton Seymour, English Minister — Visit to Paris — Louis Philippe — Mr. Ledyard, United States Charge d' Affaires — Chamber of Deputies — M. Guizot — Reception by M. Guizot — Lord Cowley, English Ambassador — Dinner at the Palace — Baron Humboldt . . .64

Chapter IX

Return to Brussels — Leave of Absence to Visit the United States — Interview with the King — Leave for Home via England — Steamship Columbia — Arrival at Boston — Visit to Alabama — Montgomery — Return to Brussels from the United States — Reception — Visits . 73

Chapter X

Visit of the Queen of England and Prince Albert to Brussels — Popular Reception — Dinner at the Palace — Prince Albert — Lord Aberdeen — Lord Liverpool — Interview with Count de Briey, Minister of Foreign Affairs .......... 80

CHAPTER XL

Excursion to the Rhine — Liege — Cologne — On the Rhine — Worms — Luther before the Great Diet — Luther's Elm — Heidelberg — The University — Return to Brussels 85

Chapter XII

Change in the Belgian Ministry — General Goblet d'Alviella — Arrival of Mr. Dangerfield, Minister of the Republic of Texas — Excursion to Holland — Mr. William Norris, of Philadelphia — Honorable Christopher Hughes, of Maryland, Minister to Holland -90

CO AT TENTS. vii

Chapter XIII

Brussels — Mr. Norris — Military Display — Relations of Belgium to the Great Powers of Europe — Visit to Paris — The Tuileries — The King's Fete Day — Splendid Reception — Royal Family — Cabinet Ministers — Guizot — Marshal Soult — Diplomatic Corps — Hotel des Invalides — Notre Dame — Versailles ...... lOO

Chapter XIV

Brussels — Official Duties — Announcement from Washington of the Appointment of Mr. Calhoun as Secretary of State — Dinner at the Palace of Laeken — Dinner at Mr. Waller's, English Secretary of Legation — Evening Reception at the Palace — Letters from Home — Resignation — Departure from Brussels ..... 109

Chapter XV

Arrival at Washington City — Interview with the President — State of the Country — Canvass for the Presidency — Mr. Clay — Mr. Polk — Arrival at Montgomery — Mass-Meeting of the Whigs — Honorable Alexander H. Stephens — Honorable Arthur F. Hopkins — Defeat of Mr. Clay — Nomination for a Seat in Congress — Canvass — Election . 115

Chapter XVI

Opening of Congress, December, 1845 — The Senate — The House of Representatives — Sketches of Members — President's Message — Texas — Oregon — Debate on the Oregon Question — Negotiation and Settlement ........... 126

Chapter XVII

Relations with Mexico — Measures Adopted by the President — War — Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma — Supplies Voted — Views of the Two Houses of Congress — Archibald Yell — Jefferson Davis — Smithsonian Institution — Honorable Charles J. IngersoU's Attack on Mr. Webster — Honorable William L. Yancey . . 145

Chapter XVIII

Second Session of the Twenty-ninth Congress — President's Message — Vigorous Prosecution of the War Recommended — General Taylor's Victories — Monterey — General Scott, Commander-in-Chief — The Battle of Buena Vista — General Scott's Expedition against Vera Cruz and the Capture of that City — The President Recommends to Congress the Appointment of a Lieutenant-General — Action of the House and of the Senate in Regard to this Recommendation — General Proceedings of Congress ....... 162

Viii CONTENTS.

Chapter XIX. Pack

Re-election to Congress — Opening of the Session — Organization of the House of Representatives — Mr. Winthrop Elected Speaker — Abraham Lincoln Takes his Seat in the House — New Members of the Senate — President's Message — Death of Mr. Adams — Circumstances Attending it — Marks of Respect to his Memory — Treaty of Peace with Mexico — General Taylor's Return Home — Nomination to the Presidency .......... tSi

Chapter XX

Closing Scenes of Mr. Polk's Administration — Meeting of the Southern Members — Visit to Boston — Adjournment of Congress — Inauguration of President Taylor — Members of his Cabinet — Renomination for Congress — Canvass — Election — Triumph of the Whig Party . 198

Chapter XXI

Opening Session of the New Congress — President's Message — Angry Aspect of the Slavery Question in Congress — Mr. Clay — Mr. Webster — Mr. Calhoun's Last Speech — His Last Appearance in the Senate — Mr. Calhoun's Death — President Taylor's Plan of Settlement of the Slavery Question under Discussion — President's Death — Mr. Fillmore's Accession to the Presidency — Interview with Mr. Webster — Success of the Compromise Measures — Scenes in Washington . . . . . . . . .212

Chapter XXII

Interval between the Two Sessions of Congress — Visit to New York — Speech at Castle Garden, October 14, 1850 — Jenny Lind — Great Concert in Philadelphia — Opening of the December Session of Congress — State of the Country — Social Life in Washington — Sir Henry L. Bulwer — Mr. Corcoran — Mr. Benjamin Ogle Tayloe — Adjournment of Congress ........ 235

Chapter XXIII

Return to Montgomery — Decline a Re-election to Congress — Discussions with Hon. William L. Yancey — Democratic Convention at Baltimore, June i, 1852 — Whig Convention at Baltimore, June i6th — Death of Henry Clay, June 2gth — Death of Daniel Webster, October 24th — Presidential Election, November 2d — Administration of President Pierce — New Acquisition of Territory from Mexico — Organization of Two New Territories, Kansas and Nebraska — Repeal of the Missouri Compromise Act ..... 249

CONTENTS. IX

Chapter XXIV. Page

Political Movements in 1856 — American National Convention, February 22d — Democratic National Convention, June 2d — Republican National Convention, June 17th — Canvass for Mr. Fillmore — Reception at Huntsville — Debates vi^ith Hon. L. P. Walker — Speech at Huntsville — Mass-Meeting at Atlanta — Hon. B. H. Hill — Presidential Election — President Buchanan's Administration — Oration at the University of Virginia Commencement, 1859 — Hon. William C. Preston 268

Chapter XXV

Political Events of i860 — Democratic National Convention at Charleston ; at Baltimore — Democratic National Convention at Richmond ; at Baltimore — Constitutional Union Convention at Baltimore — Republican National Convention at Chicago — Canvass — Great Meeting in Cooper Institute, New York — Speech in Faneuil Hall, Boston — Edvv'ard Everett — Speech at Utica — Governor Seymour — Speech at Buffalo — Mr, Fillmore — Presidential Election, November 6th — Abraham Lincoln ........ 285

Chapter XXVI

Effect of Mr. Lincoln's Election upon the Country — Secession of South Carolina — Mississippi — Florida — Alabama — Speech against Secession — Georgia — Speech of Mr. Stephens — Louisiana — Texas — Efforts Made to Arrest the Revolution — Opening of Congress — Mr. Buchanan's Message — Confederate Congress at Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861 — Provisional Government Organized — Jefferson Davis of Mississippi Elected President — Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, Vice-President — Mr. Davis Inaugurated February 1 8th — His Cabinet — Mr. Lincoln Inaugurated March 4th — Mr. Stephens' Speech, March 21st — Fort Sumter — Virginia — Tennessee ........... 306

Chapter XXVII

State of the Country — Session of Congress at Montgomery, April 29, 1861 — President Davis' Message — Patriotic Ardor in Support of the Government — North Carolina — Arkansas — Robert E. Lee — Albert Sidney Johnston — Removal of the Seat of Government to Richmond — Visit to Richmond — Battle of Manassas — War — President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation — General Lee's Surrender — General Grant — General Joseph E. Johnston's Surrender — General Sherman — Fall of the Confederate Government — Principles Involved in the Struggle 33i

X CONTENTS.

Chapter XXVIII. Page

Assassination of President Lincoln — A National Calamity — The North and the South both Mourned his Death, and Paid Tributes to his Memory — His Character — His Place in History — Accession of Andrew Johnson to the Presidency — Reconstruction Measures — Mr. Seward — Chief-Justice Chase ....... 343

Chapter XXIX

President Hayes — Honorable Richard W. Thompson — Honorable William M. Evarts — Mission to Brazil — Steamer Rtissia — London — Paris — Stuttgart — Voyage from Bordeaux to Rio de Janeiro — Arrival — First Impressions . . . . . . . . .356

Chapter XXX

Palace of San Cristovao — Emperor and Empress — Col. Richard Cutts Shannon — Imperial Family — Count Koskul, Russian Minister — Season in Rio — Tijuca — Mr. Gillett, Navy Agent — Mr. Midwood — Apartments in Rio — Mr. Wilson ....... 364

Chapter XXXI

Trade-Mark Treaty — Botanical Garden Railroad — Mr. Greenough — Evening at Mr. Wilson's — Madame Durand — Tamagno — Leave of Absence — Visit to Stuttgart — Return to Rio ..... 373

Chapter XXXII

Petropolis — The Emperor — Mr. Ford, English Minister — Mr. Goschen, Secretary of Legation — Baron vSchreiner, Austrian Minister — Mr. Nabuco — Return to Rio — Statesmen of Brazil — The Press . . 379

Chapter XXXIII

Leave of Absence to Visit the United States — Meet Mrs. Hilliard and Daughters in Paris — London — Sunday — Mr. Spurgeon — Evening Service in St. Paul's Cathedral — Liverpool — Voyage — New York — Washington — President Hayes — Georgia ..... 383

Chapter XXXIV

Return to Brazil via England and France — London — House of Lords — — Lord Granville — Paris — Chamber of Deputies — Gambetta — General Grant — Voyage from Bordeaux to Rio — Count Koskul — Arrival at Rio 388

CONTENTS. xi

Chapter XXXV. Page

Aspect of Political Affairs — Slavery Agitation — Mr. Nabuco, President of the Anti-Slavery Society — His Appeal to me to State the Result of Emancipation in the United States — Correspondence on the Subject — Excitement Produced by it — Interview with the Emperor, 393

Chapter XXXVI

Banquet Given to me "by the Anti-Slavery Society — Discussion in the Chamber of Deputies — Interpellation to the Premier, Mr. Sariava — Public Interest as to the Result — Reply of Mr. Saraiva in the Chamber of Deputies — The Scene — Public Sentiment in the Empire — Mr. Ford, English Minister — Lord Granville of the Gladstone Cabinet — " Blue Book" of the British Parliament — Petropolis . 398

Chapter XXXVII

Close of President Hayes' Administration — Accession of General Garfield to the Presidency — Resignation Forwarded — Mr. Blaine, Secretary of State — Interview with the Emperor and Empress — Departure from Rio — Voyage — Beautiful Views — Teneriffe — Madeira — Arrival at Bordeaux — Paris — Anniversary of the Republic — London — Dean Stanley — Westminster Abbey — Canon Farrar — Voyage to New York — Washington — Mr. Blaine . . . 403

Appendix

Mr. HilHard's Participation in the Emancipation Measure in Brazil as

Published in the British Parliamentary " Blue Book " . . -411

Index 437

AT HOME AND ABROAD

Chapter I

National Whig Convention at Harrisburg — General Harrison — Honorable Henry Clay — General Scott — John Tyler — James Barbour — Benjamin Watkins Leigh — Judge Burnet — Horace Greely.

When the National Whig Convention assembled at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, December 4, 1839, it ^^'^ before it three eminent aspirants to the presidency — General William Henry Harrison, Henry Clay, and General Winfield Scott. Twenty-two States were represented, and many of the delegates were men of distinction. Virginia was represented by several of her most eminent men— John Tyler, Governor James Barbour, and Benjamin Watkins Leigh, who would have been recognized as illustrious in any assembly.

The venerable Judge Burnet led the delegation from Ohio. Among the conspicuous men from New York was Horace Greeley. I was one of the youngest men in the Convention, taking my seat as a delegate from Alabama.

Leaving Montgomery in mid-winter, I travelled to Harrisburg with the ardor of youth to take part, for the first time, in national politics. Taking Washington in my way, I made a brief stay there, and saw for the first time Congress in session. Honorable William C. Preston, a senator from South Carolina, received me with marked kindness and consideration. I had read law in his office in Columbia, after graduating at the renowned College of South Carolina, and I enjoyed a life-long, personal friendship with him. Mrs. Preston, the lovely and accomplished Miss Penelope Davis, was with the distinguished senator, giving an indescribable charm to their home in Washington. I met for the first time many of the public men of the country. Mr. Preston asked if I had ever seen Mr. Webster, and learning that I had not, said : " You must see Webster ; he looks the great man more than any of us." Entering the gallery of the Senate-chamber, next day, I looked down upon that assemblage of illustrious men. Mr. Webster was in his seat, and his appearance justified Mr. Preston's remark. He recalled to me the idea of classic grandeur; there was in him a blended dignity and power, most impressive; his head was magnificent, the arch of imagination rising above the brows, surmounted by a development of veneration resembling that of the bust of Plato ; and as he sat in his place, surrounded by his peers, it seemed as if the whole weight of the government might rest securely on his broad shoulders. His large, dark eyes were full of expression, even in repose ; the cheeks were square and strong ; his dark hair and swarthy complexion heightened the impression of strength which his whole person made upon me as I saw him for the first time, an impression that was deepened when he rose to his feet, and walked the floor of the Senate-chamber. There was in his appearance something leonine. He was in full dress ; he never neglected this. When he delivered his great speech in reply to Hayne, it is known that he wore a dress-coat of dark blue cloth with gilt buttons, buS^ vest, and white cravat, so that, some one has said, he displayed the colors of the Revolution.

CLA y AND CALHOUN. 3

I saw Mr. Clay for the first time, and his commanding and striking person attracted and impressed me. He was unlike Mr. Webster ; his light complexion, blue eyes, and animated manner displayed an ardent nature — I at once recognized a leader among men. His appearance was not less intellectual than that of the other great statesman ; his forehead was high and finely proportioned, and his features expressed intellect, ardor, and courage ; his nose and mouth were large, and of the Roman cast. If Mr. Webster reminded one of the majestic aspect of the lion, Mr. Clay's face suggested that of the eagle — his eyes were brilliant and attractive. When he rose to speak, standing over six feet in height, spare and vigorous, his appearance was most commanding ; and certainly with his singularly clear, sonorous, and musical voice, that rose and fell with perfect cadence, one felt that never in ancient or modern assemblies had a greater master of popular thought and passion stood in the midst of men. He was a man of heroic mould, grand in every way, of vast energy, bold plans, comprehensive views, full of decision, and swaying men by the qualities of a great, generous, fearless nature. He was attentive to dress, and when I saw him for the first time he wore a dress-coat of brown broadcloth, a heavy black cravat, and the collar of his shirt was of the largest style, touching his ears.

There, too, seated in the midst of his peers, was Mr. Calhoun. I had seen him some years previously ; when he was Vice-President he made a visit to the South Carolina College at Columbia, while I was a student in that renowned institution. I had observed him with youthful ardor, regarding him as the impersonation of statesmanship of the highest order. His appearance was not less impressive than that of the two eminent men just described : all were recognized as giants in that body where they contended for the mastery. He stood quite six feet in height, spare, but vigorous and erect, the impersonation of intellectual grandeur; his face was Grecian, the brow square, and the forehead finely developed, from which the thick hair was brushed upward ; the mouth resolute ; and the chin, in its shape and firmness giving an expression of purpose and determination, recalled the bust of Caesar ; his eyes, dark gray, were full of fire, and when he was animated blazed with the ardor of his great soul. The whole aspect of the man was that of regnant power. A sculptor, seeking a model for a statue representing dignity, intellectual power, and high purpose, would, without doubt, have chosen Mr. Calhoun. Mr. Calhoun was habitually dressed in black, and in the Senate-chamber, at all times, wore a morning costume.

His colleague, Mr. Preston, had barely touched the Hne of mature manhood ; his ruddy complexion, blue eyes, and auburn hair gave him the appearance of an English gentleman. His face beamed with animation, and there was an unusual grace in his attitudes ; his voice and diction were surpassingly fine ; and, surrounded as he was in that body with so many men of culture and power, he was without a peer as an orator. His orations, like those of Pericles, were so brilliant that they deserved to be called Olympian. A fine portrait of Mr. Preston, by Healey, is in the Corcoran Gallery, in Washington.

There were other senators whose appearance attracted my attention, as I was seated in the chamber. I give here only the sketch of some of the great leaders, but I wish in these pages to describe many of them as I became personally acquainted with them in later years. In conversation with Mr. Preston, I found that he was quite as ardent in support of Mr. Clay's claims for the presidency as myself.

It so happened that I travelled to Harrisburg in company with Mr. Tyler, and I was honored by his attentions to me. There was an indescribable charm in his manners, and his conversation was fascinating. He seemed to think

THE NATIONAL WHIG CONVENTION. 5

that the call of the Convention was premature ; that it should have awaited the action of the session of Congress that had just opened, before selecting a candidate for the presidency. Mr. Tyler was confident that Mr. Calhoun might be induced to act with the Whigs, his hostility to Mr. Van Buren being well known. The task of unseating Mr. Van Buren and expelling his partisans from their intrenched position was a formidable one — but, said Mr. Tyler, " We must give no audience to our fears." The journey from York, where we took the railroad train to Harrisburg, was interesting ; the scenery along the banks of the Susquehanna was beautiful, and a bright winter day imparted a charm to the varied landscape. I found a large number of delegates assembled upon my arrival at Harrisburg. The morning of the next day, Wednesday, opened auspiciously, and the Convention assembled at noon in a large Presbyterian church, which had been tendered for the use of the body. The Convention organized by electing as its permanent president, Governor James Barbour, of Virginia, with several gentlemen from other States as vice-presidents. The choice of Governor Barbour as president was felicitous in every way, personally, geographically, and politically. As a presiding officer he was transcendently fine. In the whole course of a long public service I have never seen a man who could rival him as a presiding officer of a public assembly. His person was commanding, his presence distinguished, his bearing dignified and stately ; and his sonorous voice controlled the large body, representing such a vast and varied constituency, with resistless effect. He had filled great places, having been Governor of his State, Secretary of War in the Cabinet of John Quincy Adams, a senator from Virginia, and Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to England. The plan adopted by the Convention for the choice of a candidate for President and for Vice-President was original, and has been the sub-

6 POLITICS AMD PEN PICTURES.

ject of criticism by so eminent a statesman as Honorable Thomas H. Benton. But it seemed to me to possess great advantages, and in my judgment it might well be adopted for the guidance of national conventions in our day. Instead of proceeding to ballot in open convention, it was decided to refer the selection of candidates to a committee composed of delegates from the States represented, not to exceed three from each State. It was the duty of the committee to withdraw to another hall, and sit as an independent body, to consider the claims of the several candidates, and when a satisfactory result was reached, to rise and report their action to the Convention for approval. A majority of all the delegations from the several States was required to secure a nomination. The following order was adopted by the Convention :

" Ordered, that the delegates from each State be required to assemble as a delegation and appoint a committee, not exceeding three in number, to receive the views and opinions of such delegation, and communicate the same to the assembled committees of all the delegations, to be by them respectively reported to their principals ; and thereupon the delegates from each State be required to assemble as a delegation and ballot for candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President, and having done so, to commit the ballot, designating the votes of each candidate, and by whom given, to its committee, and thereupon all the committees shall assemble and compare the several ballots, and report the result of the same to their several delegations, together with such facts as may bear upon the nomination ; and said delegation shall forthwith reassemble and ballot again for candidates for the above offices, and again commit the result to the above committees ; and if it shall appear that a majority of the ballots are for any one man, for candidate for President, said committee shall report the result to the Convention for its consideration ; but if there shall be no such majority, then the delegates shall repeat the balloting until such a majority shall be obtained, and then

NOMINEES FOR THE PRESIDENCY. J

report the same to the Convention for its consideration. The vote of a majority of each delegation shall be reported as the vote of that State ; and each State represented here shall vote its full electoral vote by said delegation in the Convention."

The Committee of States raised by the above order was chosen, and immediately repaired to a large apartment prepared for their accommodation. They met in the afternoon of Wednesday and organized, adopting such rules as would enable the body to conform to the plan adopted by the Convention. I was chosen as one of the three to represent the State of Alabama. Soon after organizing, the Convention adjourned to meet at an early hour the next morning. I was an ardent supporter of Mr. Clay, and with his other friends anticipated his early nomination. But the friends of General Harrison, led by Judge Burnet, of Ohio, urged his claims with great earnestness. The delegates from the great State of New York advocated a nomination of General Scott. After a free interchange of views, we proceeded to ballot for a candidate for the presidency, and found ourselves unable to reach a result. When the hour of adjournment arrived in the evening neither candidate had received a majority of the whole number of votes cast.

Upon reassembling the next morning, it was seen that the several delegations adhered to their first choice. Neither the friends of Mr. Clay, of General Harrison, nor of General Scott would yield anything. Each successive ballot disclosed the unswerving loyalty of the delegates to their favorite candidate. Toward the evening of the second day, it was plain that we should not be able to agree upon any candidate without some concession on the part of the friends of Mr. Clay. General Harrison developed great strength. Then the delegates from the State of New York came to the friends of Mr. Clay, and said to us that the nomination of that eentleman was hopeless, that he was supported mainly by the Southern representatives, who were not strong enough to achieve a triumph over the combined North and West ; and they invited us to join them in the support of General Scott. We declined to abandon Mr. Clay, whose qualities, we insisted, entitled him to the nomination. Finally, they said to us : " Well, we now give you Southern gentlemen notice that after the next ballot, if you still adhere to Mr. Clay, we shall give our entire vote to General Harrison, and end this contest." The next ballot disclosed the purpose of the Southern delegates to stand firmly by Mr. Clay. Another ballot was ordered, and it resulted in the choice of General Harrison, the New York delegation having gone over to him in a body. The result was : for General Scott, i6 votes; for Mr. Clay, 90 votes; for General Harrison, 148 votes. We immediately proceeded to ballot for a candidate for Vice-President. Some votes had been cast for a candidate while the previous ballotings were going on ; but the interest in the choice of a candidate for President had been so intense, as to leave the delegates largely uncommitted to any one for the second ofifice. I had, from the first, cast a vote for candidates for both offices, and had voted uniformly for Mr. Clay, and for Mr. Tyler, respectively. From time to time others had joined me in indicating our preference for Mr. Tyler, so that when the committee came to ballot for a candidate for the vice-presidency, after the choice of General Harrison for the presidency had been made, that gentleman had developed considerable strength. On the second ballot for Vice-President, Mr. Tyler was chosen by a large majority, to my great gratification, for I had given him his first vote.

Some of the delegations had expressed a wish to give the nomination for Vice-President to Benjamin Watkins Leigh, who was one of the three gentlemen representing Virginia in our Committee, but he promptly declined

GENERAL HARRISON NOMINATED. 9

to be considered an aspirant, in a speech of so much beauty and earnestness that it charmed us all. He was a splendid representative of that class of Virginia gentlemen, who illustrated the grand commonwealth at that period ; a statesman of rich culture, of large attainments, of exalted character, of winning eloquence, and fascinating manners.

The committee rose, and proceeding to the hall, where the Convention was in session, reported the result ; naming as candidate for President, William Henry Harrison, of Ohio ; for Vice-President, John Tyler, of Virginia. There was an outburst of applause ; the sonorous voice of Governor Barbour, as he uttered the word " Order," instantly stilled the assemblage. A motion was immediately made to adjourn until 9 o'clock the next morning, which was carried unanimously, and the Convention rose with enthusiastic cheers.

The adjournment was timely ; it enabled us to consider, outside of the body, the report of the Committee of States, before a single remark in regard to it had been made in the Convention. The greatest excitement prevailed ; the delegates from the Southern States were not only disappointed at the defeat of Mr. Clay, but they believed that the nomination of General Harrison would result in the rout of the Whig party ; that not a single Southern State would give its support to the ticket. General Harrison's sentiments were understood to be hostile to slavery ; he had not taken an active part in public affairs for some years ; but while his eminent services as a soldier were well known, and the greatest respect was felt for his character throughout the country, it was supposed that he had sympathized with those who favored emancipation in Virginia, his native State, some years previously. Of illustrious revolutionary lineage, he belonged to a .school of statesmen who, while loyal to the South, entertained views of the government that were called National, lO POLITICS AND PEN PICTURES.