The life and public services of Henry Wilson, late vice-president of the United States

Front matter

Class ^t4^^£Il

Book

.9

Chapter I

The Colbaths. — Farmington People In 1812. — Mr. Winthrop Colbath and Wife. — Introduction of Son to Mrs. Guy's School. — School-Books of those Days. — Change of Residence. — Visit to Mrs. Eastman. — Testament. — Hard Times in the Family. — Young Colbath goes to live with Mr. William Knights. — His Labors on the Farm. — Kindnessof Mrs. Eastman. — Young Colbath's Love of Books. — His Reading. — Faithfulness to his Employer. — His Frugality. — Freedom. — Compensation. — Change of Name. — Character. — Search for Labor. — Resolves to go to Natick and become a Shoemaker 13

CHAPTER n.

Journey to Natick. — Visits Bunker Hill and the Office of " The North-American Review." — The Town of Natick. — Shoemaking. — Lets himself to learn the Trade. — Makes Forty-seven Pairs and a Half of Shoes without Sleep. — Forms a Debating Club. — Improves in Speaking. — Deacon Coolidge. — Health impaired. — Visits Washington in 1836. — Opposition to Slavery. — Williams's Slave-Pen, — His Own Account of his Visit. — Attends Academies in New Hampshire. — School-Teaching. — Studies. — Attends an Antislavery Convention at Concord, N.H. — Loss of Funds. — Returns to Natick. — Improvements in the Village. — He begins to manufacture Shoes. — Character as a Business-Man. — Amount of Business done. — His Regard to Principle 22

CHAPTER m.

The Rev. E. D. Moore: his Views, and Regard for Mr. Wilson. — The Rev. Samuel Hunt: his Influence. — Bible-Class.- Presentation of a Watch. — Marriage. — Mrs. Wilson's Character. — Her Influence over her Husband. — Their House and Home. — Birth of a Son. — Mr. Wilson's Regard for Temperance. — Speech. — Candidate for General Court. — Defeated on the Fifteen-gallon Law. —Enters the Harrison Campaign. — General Enthusiasm of the People. — He makes his first Political Speech. — Addresses more than Sixty Audiences. — His Manner. — Elected to General Court. — Story of the Farmer. — His Industry. — His Views of Slavery. — Advocates Repeal of Law against Intermarriage of Blacks and Whites. — Defeated as

O CONTENTS.

Candidate for Senate. — Elected to that Body the Next Year, and for 1845.

— Contends for the Right of Colored Children to a Seat in the Public Schools. — Remarks thereon. — Advance in Public Sentiment. — Mr. Wilson's Mission .......38

CHAPTER IV.

His Military Turn of Mind. —Reading. — Views of War. — Views of the Militia System. — Election as Major, 1843. — Colonel and Brigadier-General, 1846. — Regard for Discipline. —Popularity with Soldiers. — Speech in the Senate. — Peace and War. — Preparations for more Important Duties, — His Regard for Temperance. — Speech at Natick, 1845. — A Citizen at Home.— Appreciated by his Townsmen 61

CHAPTER V.

Southern Efforts to annex Texas to the United States, — Mr. Wilson's Amendment to Resolutions against Annexation in the Senate adopted. — Call for a Convention. — Opposed by Whigs.- Held in Faneuil Hall, Jan. 27. — Address to the People.- The True Reformer. — Meeting at Waltham. — Mr. Wilson's Views. — Convention at Concord, 1845. — Mr. Hunt. — Meeting at Cambridge, Oct. 21, — Address of Mr. Wilson. — Persistent Efforts. — Carries Petitions to Washington. — Refuses to take Wine with Mr. Adams.

— State Representative in 1846. — Introduces Resolution on Slavery. — Eloquent Speech thereon.- Mr. Garrison's View of it. — Regard for the Constitution 60

CHAPTER VI.

Regard of the People. — Delegate to the National Convention. — Withdraws from that Body. — Origin of the Free-soil Party. — " Boston Republican."

— Editor of. — Its Principles and Influence. — Chairman of Free-soil State Committee. — Member of the House, 1850. — Mr. Webster's 7th-of-March Speech, — The Coalition. — Election of Mr. Sumner to the United-States Senate, 1851. — Mr. Sumner's Letter. — Mr. Wilson made Chairman of the Senate that Year. — Address on taking the Chair. — A Contrast. — "The Liberator." — Hai-vard University. — Thanks of the Senate, and Closing Address. — Delegate to Pittsburg. — Candidate for Congress, 1852. — Chairman of the Senate, 1852. — His Course in the Senate.— Welcome to Kossuth.- Sympathy between them.— His Punctuality.— Gold Watch . . 88

CHAPTER Vn.

A Friend of his Pastor. — Hard Study. — Temperance. — Books and Authors.

— The Source of Civil Liberty. — No " Back-BIows."- Cheerful Spirit.— Home. — Gift to his Minister. — Revision of the State Constitution. — Elected by Natick and Berlin. — Punctuality. — His Course. — How he looked at a Legal Question. — Chairman pro tern. — Speech in Favor of Colored Troops.

— On the Death of Mr. Gourgas of Concord. — On the Course of Harvard College in Respect to Prof. Bowen. — Address to his Constituents.- Reason

for Defeat of the Amendments.- Cost and Influence of the Convention , 103

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER Vm.

Candidate for Governor. — Defeated. — Not disheartened. — Visit to WashingtoD. — Ilis Grand Idea. — Ready to surrender Party for Principle. — Convention at "Worcester, 1854. — Again nominated for Governor, and defeated. — State goes into tlie American Organization. — His Views. — Southern Domination. — Antislavcry Sentiment increasing. — Sumner. — Mr. Wilson nominated United-States Senator. — His Firmness. — His Election. — United- States Senate-Chamber. — His Fitness for the Place. — His Personal Appearance. — His First Speech. — Letter from Mr. Aahmun. — Extract from Mr. Parker's Sermon, and Letter from the Same .••.•■* 116

CHAPTER IX.

Defection of the American Party. — Southern Influence. — "Wilson's Resolution. Interesting Letter. — Address in New York. — Antislavery Cause in Peril. — Brattleborough, Vt. — Delegate to American National Council, June, 1855.

— Stand for Freedom. — Protest. — Defiant Speech. — Letter from Amasa Walker. — Remarks of " The Tribune." — Activity in forming a New Party.

— Speech at Springfield. — Twenty-one-Years Amendment. — Opposes it. — Friendly to Foreigners. — Letter to Francis Gillette. — Catholic Spirit . 129

CHAPTER X.

Troubles in Kansas. — Slave and Free Labor Antagonistic. — Reply to Mr. Toucey . — Mr. Douglas. — Assault on Mr. Sumner. — Aided by Mr. Wilson.

— Scene in the Senate-Chamber, — Challenge of P. S. Brooks. — Reply. — How received. — Letter of Mr. Harte. — Reply to Mr. Butler of South Carolina. — Letter from Whittier. — Labors in the Senate. — Views on Slavery.— Speech July 9. — Musket-Ball.— Speech against sending Military Supplies to subjugate Freemen in Kansas ........ 149

CHAPTER XI.

Philadelphia Convention, 1856. — Platform. — The Campaign. — Sons of New Hampshire. — South for the Dissolution of the Union. — Kansas and Nebraska Bill. — Speech on the Republican Party. —Opening of the Grand-Trunk Railroad. — Speech at Montreal. — Activity in the United-States Senate. — Measures proposed. — Speech on the Lecompton Constitution. — Letter from the Hon. George T. Bigelow; also from the Hon. G. R. Russell .

CHAPTER Xn.

Character of his Reply to Mr. Hammond. — "Cotton is King." — Southern Institutions. — A Contrast. — Social Condition of the North and South. — Mud-sills. — Free Labor of the North. — Conclusion of his Argument. — Reply to Mr. Gwiu's Challenge. — The Affair amicably adjusted . . •

10 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER Xm.

Re-elected by a Large Majority. — Reasons for it. — His Industry. — Patronage. — Advocates Central Route for the Pacific Railroad. — Extract from his Speech. — A Radical Southern Party. — A Personal Interview. — His Course. — Temperance Meeting. — Printers' Banquet. — Paul Morphy. — Fourth of July at Lawrence. — His Address. — His Course in respect to the Raid of John Brown. — Meeting at Natick. — Reply to Mr. Iverson. — Vote of Thanks by the General Court. — Speech on the Slave-Trade . , ,

CHAPTER XIV.

Mr. Lincoln nominated. — Mr. "Wilson's Energy in his Support. — Speech a. Myrick's. — East Boston.- Free and Slave Labor. — Letter of Mr. Packard. — Secession of the Southern States. — Mr. Wilson Fearless, — Speech in the Senate. — Labors in the Military Committee with Mr. Davis. — He fore- Bees a tremendous Contest. — His Position. — Great Speech on Mr. Crittenden's Compromise. — Letters from Mr. Whittier, Mr.s. L. M. Child, Gerrit Smith, Amasa Walker. — Vote of Thanks

CH.APTER XV.

The Beginning of Hostilities. — His Advice to the President. — Activity.— Labors as Chairman of Military Committee. — Bills introduced by him. — Letter from Gen. Scott. — The Soldier's Friend. — Battle of Bull Run, July 21. — He raises nearly Twenty-three Hundred Men. — Made Colonel of the Twenty-second Regiment. — Goes with it to Washington. — Character of this Regiment. — Aide-de-camp to Gen. McClellan. — Letter of Gen. Williams. — Receives no Compensation for Service. — Unfounded Charge of Mr. Russell. — Mr. Wilson's Letter. — His Record. — Rebellion strengthens. — Character of the Republican Leaders. — Measures introduced and carried through Congress by Mr. Wilson. — Letter of Mr. Cameron. — Emancipation in the District of Columbia. —An Early Aspiration realized. — Letters from Lewis Tappan and John Jay . ,

CHAPTER XVI.

The Conflicting Powers. — The Army and Congress. — Position of Mr. Wilson.

— Bill for Sutlers. — Signal Service. — Pay to Officers. — Medical Department. — Volunteers. — Seniority of Commanders. — Storekeepers. — District of Columbia. — Medals. — Pay in Advance. — Abolition in District of Columbia. — The Confederates. — Militia Bill. — President's Proclamation. — Rosecrans. — Bureau of Emancipation. — Enrolment Bill. — Remarks. — Colored Youth. — Wounded Soldiers. — Corps of Engineers. — Letter of Dr. Silas Reed. — Fall of Vicksburg. — Conference with the Cabinet. — Battle of Gettysburg. — Gen. Grant. — Address before the Antislavery Society. — Thanks to the Army. — Bounties. — Ambulances. — Colored Soldiers Free.

— Thirteenth Amendment. — Speech. — Appropriation Bill. — Wives and Children of Colored Soldiers Free. — Fourth of July at Washington.- Gen. Grant. — "New-Bedford Mercury." — A Letter

CONTENTS. 11

CHAPTER XVn.

Mr. Wilson returned to the United-States Senate. — Notice of Election by "The Boston Journal.'' — Freedmen's Bureau. — Military Appointments. — Visit to Fort Sumter. — Death of Mr. Lincoln. — Mr. Wilson's View of him. — Speech at Washington July 4. — Mayor Wallach. — Advice to the Colored People. — The Course of the Executive. — Silver Wedding. — Description of. —Articles presented. — Respect of his Townsmen. — Record of Antislavery Measures in Congress. — Character of the Work. — Opinion of " The Atlantic Monthly." — Summary of the Work. — Slaves used for Military Purposes made Free. — Fugitives. — District of Columbia. — '• Black Code."

— Witnesses. — Schools. — Railroads. — Territories Free. — Emancipation.

— Captives of War. — Rebel Claimants of Slaves. — Hayti and Liberia. — Slaves in Military Service. — Fugitive-slave Acts. — Slave-Trade. — Courts, Testimony in. — Reconstruction. — United-States Mail. — Wives and Children of Slaves. — Bureau of Freedmen. — Amendment of the Constitution.

— The Negro a Citizen. — Colored People indebted to the Labors of Mr. Wilson J38

CHAPTER XVin.

Course of the President. — Reconstruction Difficult. — Mr. Wilson's View. — No Desire to degrade the South. — Bill to maintain the Rights of the Freedmen. — Supports Mr. Trumbull's Bill to enlarge the Freedmen's Bureau. — What he means by Equality. — Honorable Sentiments. — Joint Resolution for disbanding Military Organizations. — Speech on the Resolution of Mr. Stevens against the Admission of Southern Representation. — The Nature of the Struggle. — Condition of Freedmen. — Mistake of the President. — Gen. Grant. — Legislative Labors. — Speech in Boston. — Natick. — Defection of the President. — Massachusetts. — Congress a Co-ordinate Branch of the Government. — Tour through the West. — Speech at Chicago. — Elective Franchise in the District of Columbia. — Corporal Punishment. — Buying and selling Votes. — Address on Religion. — Testimony of Statesmen to Christianity. — An Admonition. — Death of his Son. — Monument. — Address at Quincy. — Good Advice. — His Work on Military Legislation in Congress. — Its Character 353

CHAPTER XIX.

Peonage. — Wliipping. — Colored Persons in the Militia. — Bill to facilitate Restoration — Speech thereon. — Feelings toward the Rebels. — Temperance in Congress. — Hon. Richard Yates. — Reception at Tremont Temple. — Remarks of W. B. Spooner. — Mr. Wilson's Address. — Mr. Yates's. — Liquors banished from the Capitol. — Enforcement of the Law. — Visit to the South.

— At Richmond, Va. — Petersburg. — Animosity of Goldsborough, N.C. — Reception at Wilmington. — Mr. Robinson. — At Charleston May 2. — Now Orleans. — Gen. Longstreet's Opinion. — Declines going to Europe. — Bill vacating Offices. — Appointing Civilians incorporated in Mr. Trumbull's Bill. — Remarks on its Passage. — President of Convention at Wcrcester. — Speech. — Gen. Slioridan. — Hopeful View of the Republic — Speech at Marlborough. — EflFects of Intemperance. — Who are Weak? — Strong Ap-

12 CONTENTS.

peal.— Speech at Bangor.— Gen. Grant. — Speech in FaneuU Hall.— Friend of Working-Men.— Reconstruction Measures. — Style and Subject-Matter.

— A Wedding 374

CHAPTER XX.

Mrs. "Wilson's Death and Character. —Mrs. Ames's Opinion. —Visit to Europe. —American Missionary Society. —Rise and Fall of the Slave-Power.— Extract. — Nomination as Vice-President. — Letter of Acceptance. — Address at Boston. — Regard for the Memory of Mrs. Wilson. — Visit to North Carolina and Virginia. — Regret for One Expression. —American Party and Credit Mobilier. — Mr. Sumner's Course regretted. — Election as Vice-President. — His Poverty ......•••••• 386

CHAPTER XXI.

Mr. Wilson presiding over the Senate. — His Industry. — Declension of his Health. — His Retirement from Labor. — Visit to New Hampshire. — Letter to "The Springfield Republican." — The Bounty Bill. — Death of Charles Sumner. — Health Improving.— The Second Volume of " The Rise and Fall of the Slave-Power in America." — His Back Pay as Senator. — His Ophiion of President Grant. — His Tour to the South-west. — Summer at Saratoga,

— The Republican Convention at Worcester. — His Last Sickness and Death.

— The Autopsy 417

CHAPTER XXII.

The National Grief at the Death of Mr. WUson. — President Grant's Order.

— Honors paid to the Remains at Washington. — Dr. Rankin's Address.— The Baltimore Fifth Regiment. —Honors at Philadelphia; New York.— Announcement of Gov. Gaston. — Remarks of Mr. Stebbins; of Judge Clark. — Reception of the News at Natick. — Meeting in Faneuil Hall. — Address of Gen. Banks. —The Remains in Doric HaU. — Memorial Services in the House of Representatives.— Dr. Manning's Eulogy. — Services at Natick.— Address of the Revs. E. Dowse and F. N. Peloubet. — The Burial

at Dell Park Cemetery. — Mr. WUson's WiU. — His Character . . .427

LIFE OF HENRY WILSON.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION. MR. WILSON's FAMILY, BIRTH, BOYHOOD,

APPRENTICESHIP, AND EDUCATION.

The Colbaths. -— Farmington People in 1812. —Mr. Winthrop Colbalh and Wife. — Introduction of Son to Mrs. Guy's School. — School-Books of those Days. — Change of Residence. — Visit to Mrs. Eastman. — Testament. — ■ Hard Times in the Family, — Young Colbath goes to live with Mr. William Knights. — His Labors on the Farm. — Kindness of Mrs. Eastman. — Young Colbath's Love of Books. — His Reading. — Faithfuhiess to his Employer. — His Frugality. — Freedom. — Compensation. — Change of Name. — Character. — Search for Labor. — Resolves to go to Natick and become a Shoemaker.

ONE of the essential benefits of liberal institutions is the opportunity afforded by tliera for developing the mental energies of the masses of the population. Freedom is the fosterincf mother of the intellect and intellio-ence of the entire people.

The voice of civil liberty, like that of Christianity, is, " Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters ; and he that hath no money; and whosoever will, let him come." Hence America is the best country in the world for men to make themselves.

" Sometimes," remarked an intelligent Japanese, " we express our feelings in Japan : opinions we have none."

2 13

Here we entertain opinions ; we express tliem freely ; and, through the clashing of opinions, make advancement. Our destiny is placed in our own hands ; and every man is rated, as he ought to be, according to his worth. There is the goal, the prize : the track is clear, and the best champion wins.

Thus from the bosom of the people came up Washington, Jackson, Clay, and Lincoln ; and thus arose the legislator whose career we now attempt to trace.

Henry Wilson is the son of Winthrop and Abigail Colbath ; and was born in Farmington, N.H., on the sixteenth day of February, 1812. His father was the son of Winthrop Colbath ; and was born in that town on the seventh day of April, 1787; and died in Natick, Mass., on the tenth day of February, 1860. His mother was born on the twenty-first day of March, 1785 ; and died on the eighth day of August, 1866. They rest side by side in the cemetery at Natick, where the son has erected marble headstones to their memory.

The Colbath family, originally, as supposed, from Argyleshire in Scotland, emigrated to the north of Ireland in the troublesome times of James the First ; thence to Ameiica, and settled at Newington, N.H., early in the eighteenth century.

At the time of Mr. Wilson's birth, his parents were livlncr in a small cottao;e on the rio;ht bank of the Cocheco River, about one mile south of the " Dock," as the village of Farmincrton was then called. The site of the cottacre is on a gentle eminence commanding a pleasant prospect of the river and surrounding country.

Farmington, which is In Strafford County, and about thirty-five miles north-east from Concord, and seventeen north-west from Dover, contained, at this period, about

INTEODUCTION. 15

twelve hundred inhabitants ; and thej were mostly enoao-ed in agricultural pursuits. They earned their livelihood by the sweat of the brow. They had but slender educational advantages ; and their style of speech, of dress, of building, and of life in general, was plain and unpretending. They generally spun and wove their own garments from wool of their own raising. They stored their barns with hay in summer, their cellars with apples and cider in the autumn. They spent the long winter evenings around the ample fireplace in shelling corn, making brooms, cracking nuts, singing songs, and telling stories of the times gone

Mr. Winthrop Colbath was a poor daj^-laborer, engaged for many years in running a saw-mill on the river below his house. He was rather tall, good-looking, agile, brave, and quick at repartee. His wife Avas handsome, fond of reading, sensible, and industrious. Her eyes were very keen and piercing. For his father and mother Mr. Wilson ever entertained and cherished the most affectionate and kind regard.

Like other indigent and hard-working people of New England, Mr. Wilson's parents saw the value of the public school, and early introduced their bright-eyed son to the tuition of Mistress Guy, who quickly taught him how to read and spell, from Perry's " Spelllng-Book " and " The Primer," in the old wooden schoolhouse.

He was a studious and obedient pupil, improvinor well the opportunities he had for learning in his boyhood.

The school-books at that time in Farmington were Welch's and Adams's " Arithmetics," " The English Reader," "The American Precc'ptor," and ''The Columbian Orator." Over these this boy spent many an hour in the long seats of the unpainted district schoolhouse ;

and whatever entered his retentive memory remained as in a vice, — fixed and unchangeable.

When he was about seven years old, his father built a small house in front of an old grove of pines, just where the Cocheco River makes a beautiful bend to the right, and to this place removed his little family. Nothing now remains to indicate the spot except the cellar, and some peach and cherry trees growing in the enclosure.

When he was eight years old (1820), a little incident took place which had some influence upon his future course of life. Mrs. Anstress (Woodbury) Eastman, wife of the Hon. Nehemiah Eastman, and sister of the Hon. Levi Woodbury, seeing him pass her house, called him to her, gave him some clothes of which he was in need, and inquired if he knew how to read. " Yes, pretty well," he answered her. " Come, then, and see me at my house to-morrow," she replied with kindness. Early the next morning he presented himself before the lady ; when she said to him, ''I had intended to give a Testament to some good boy that would be likely to make a proper use of it. You tell me you can read : now take this book, and let me hear you." He read a chapter in the Testament. " Now carry the book home with you," said she, "read it entirely through, and you shall have it."

Gladly he accepted the condition ; for a book he had never owned, and to him it was a golden treasure. He hurried home to read it. After seven days he called again at Mrs. Eastman's house, and said to her that he had read the book from bemnnino- to end.

" It cannot be ! " said Mrs. Eastman with surprise. " But let me try you." So, calling him to her side, she carefully examined him till she was fully satisfied that he had read tlie Testament entirely through, and fairly won the prize he coveted.

INTEODUCTIOK. 17

Mr. Wilson has publicly declared that the reading of this Testament, which he still keeps, together w^ith the subsequent examination, was the starting-point in his intellectual life.

The times, especially for the working-men, were very gloomy at this period. The war wdth England had impoverished the country. Money was scarce ; wages were low. Want and sickness entered the Colbath family. Three of the little children died, and were buried in the field opposite the house. In reference to these days of trial, Mr. Wilson once, in public, said, " I was born in poverty : Want sat by my cradle. I know what it is to ask a mother for bread when she has none to cjive."

So, in his reply to ^Ir. Hammond, who had characterized working-men as " the mud-sills of society," he thus touch ingly alluded to these early days of trial : —

" Poverty cast her dark and chilling shadow over the home of my childhood, and Want was fhere sometimes an unbidden guest. At the age of ten years, to aid him who gave me being in keeping the gaunt spectre from the hearth of the mother who bore me, I left the home of my boyhood, and went to earn my bread by * daily labor.' "

This active boy, nurtured in adversity, had a vigorous constitution : above all, he had an inspiration ; and a boy with an inspiration is far better than a boy with a great fortune.

In the summer of 1822 he was bound by indenture to a hard-workincp farmer of the neicrhborhood to serve him on his farm until the age of twentj^-one. By the terms of the indenture, he was to have one month's schooling in the winter, food and raiment, with six sheep and a .yoke of oxen to be delivered to him at the expiration of his time of service. He went to live with Mr. Knight upon the

2*

18 LIFE OF HEKKY WILSON.

seventh day of August, being then a little more than ten years old, and began at once the hard work of the farm. As he increased in age, his toil became more steady and severe. In summer he swung the scythe, or handled the sickle, till the evening stars appeared : in winter he cut timber in the forest.

But while thus laboring uncomplainingly, and developing by incessant toil his physical system, he was also turning every moment he could save from house and iarm work to the improvement of his mind. He read with intense avidity whatever books came in his way ; and he remembered what he read.

" I believe," says Walter Scott, " one reason why such numerous instances of erudition occur among the lower ranks is, that, with the same powers of mind, the poor student Is limited to a narrow circle for indulging his passion for books, and must necessarily make himself master of the few he possesses ere he can acquire more."

This poor boy had, at first, no books except his Testament and the text-books of the district school. He read them over and over again, committed many parts of them to memory, and longed for more. Mrs. Eastman, as a kind of guardian angel, still watched over him. She noticed his regard for books : she kindly made selections ^or him from her husband's library, and lent him volume after volume. This was a godsend to him. Every moment he could now steal from toil was spent in reading. This was his pastime and his recreation. Some of the happiest moments of his lite were spent in running, when work was over, to the dwelling of his benefactress for another book. By the light of tlie kitchen-fire — for he had no money to purchase oil — he went through volume after volume ; sometimes reading on, unconscious of the

INTRODUCTION. 19

flight of time, until the morning broke. In this way he perused the leading works of the British and American statesmen and historians, the fascinating pages of Irving, Cooper, and Scott, all the then published numbers of *' The North-American Review," and many other current pubhcations of the day.

Judge Whitehouse of Farmington also lent him many books, and directed him in his course of reading. It was fortunate that he met with such intelligent guides, and that the best works in English and American literature thus fell into his hands ; for it is the quality rather than the quantity of the material received into the mind that yields valuable increase.

So industriously had this hard-working boy availed himself of these means of culture, that, at the expiration of his time of service (February, 1833), he had read, and then held in mind, nearly a thousand volumes of history, biography, philosophy, and general literature. Thus he bore away from that hard farm more sohd information, and a heart better prepared to toil and to achieve, than many bear away with the diploma from the university.

To the interests of his employer he was ever faithful. His eye was quick, his judgment clear ; his health was good ; his habits were correct ; and hence his services were valuable.

On closing them he received the promised compensation, — six sheep and a yoke of oxen, all of which he sold immediately for the sum of eighty-four dollars cash. So poor had he been up to this period, that he had never possessed two dollars ; and a single dollar would cover every penny he had ever spent.

Having now arrived at the age of twenty-one, he, by an act of the legislature, had his name changed from Jeremiah

Jones Colbath to Henry Wilson. This was done by the advice of the family he had lived with, and with the approval of his parents.

The question now before Mr. Wilson was, *' Hew shall I obtain a livelihood, and assist my father and his family?" He set himself at once to seek employment ; and the struggles which it cost him to obtain it will forever keep alive his sympathies for the working-people.

He hired himself for several months in Farmington ; but the compensation was so. trivial, that he soon resolved to leave his native town, and find work elsewhere; He packed up his clothes and visited several places, seeking for it, but in vain. He himself shall tell the story. Addressing the citizens of Great Falls last February, he said, —

" I know what it is to travel weary miles, and ask my fellow-men to give me leave to toil. I remember, that, in 1833, I walked into your village from my native town, and went through your mills, seeking employment. If anybody had offered me eight or nine dollars a month, I should have accepted it gladly. I went down to Salmon Falls, I went to Dover, I went to Newmarket, and tried to get work, without success ; and I returned home weary, but not discouraged, and put my pack on my back, walked to the town where I now live, and learned a mechanic's trade. I know the hard lot that toiling men have to endure in this world ; and every pulsation of my heart, every conviction of my judgment, puts me on the side of the toiling men of my country, — ay, of all countries. I am glad the working-men in Europe are getting discontented and want better wages. I thank God that a man in the United States to-day can earn from three to four dollars in ten hours' work easier than he could, forty

INTEODXJCTION-. 21

years ago, earn one dollar, working from tv^elve to fifteen hours. The first month I worked after I was twenty-one years of age, I went into the woods, drove team, cut milllogs, rose in the morning before daylight, and worked hard until after dark at night ; and I received for it the magnificent sum of six dollars ! — and, when I got the money, those dollars looked as large to me as the moon looks to-nio-jit."