USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Boston notions; being an authentic and concise account of "that village," from 1630 to 1847 > Part 35
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' political course he would receive great personal advantages and make peace " with his King; " Me. Mums listened to the message, and then asked the Cubaelit he would truly deux this reply as it would be given ; after some hastanes he agreed : Mr. Adams required his word of honor, Which was
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assenibly, and on finding the door locked, demanded entrance, and was an- swered, that his desire could not be complied with until some important busi- ness before the house was concluded : finding every method to gain admit- tance ineffectual, he read the order on the stairs, for an immediate dissolunon of the assembly : the order was however disregarded by the house : they continued their deliberations until every measure was accomplished, and they then obeyed the mandate for a dissolution.
Mr. Adams took his seat in the first Commemal Congress at Philadelphia, Sept. 5th, 1774, and continued a member of that body until 17-1 : to trace him in all the important duties which he performed in that long interval, would involve a record of all that was done in that angust body. Mr. Gordon speaks of him in 1771 as having for a long time whispered to his confidential friends, " that the country must be independent."
After Mr. Adams retired from Congress, he continued to receive from his native state new proofs of her sense of his services ; by appointments to offices of the highest trust :- he had been a member of the convention for forming the state constitution and on the committee by which it was drafted ; and ou that which framed the address with which it was presented to the people : he afterwards became successively a member of the senate ; president of that body, and a member of the convention assembled for the ratification of the Federal constitution ; in which duty be prepared several amendments which met the approbation of the Convention, and some of them were afterwards incorporated in the constitution itself: his particular speeches have not been preserved, or we should have had the valuable comments of a strong mind improved by great experience, on questions deeply interesting to society at this date : his letters however, are mostly preserved and are well worthy the attention of the politicians of our own times.
Mr. Adams' private habits were simple, frugal and unostentatious ; this led him to despise the luxury, pomp and parade of the officers of the crown ; his tenets caused him to loathe the church of England, and his detestation of roy- alty and the priviledged classes, no one could feel more keenly : the motives of his action were not the sudden ebullition of temper nor a transient impulse of resentment ; but by a deliberate consideration with an unyielding determi- nation : that there was a tinge of bigotry in his religion and politics, they do aver; and one of his colleagues, who knew him well, and esteemed him highly, described him with good natured exaggeration, as follows. " Sanmel " Adams would have the State of Massachusetts govern the Union : the town " of Boston govern the State, and that he should govern the town of Boston " and then the whole would not be intentionally ill-governed."
Ile died October 3d, 1803. in the $20 year of his age.
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ANDREW JACKSON,
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officers of the United States, the State of Mass. of the City and numerous citizens all on horseback, with a long train of mounted truckinen who made an imposing display; they all passed through the cannon where the scholars of the various schools forioed a line in froid of the Fire Department ; this was a beautiful exhibition of the youth of the city 14 years ago ; all of whoin have changed places for manhood and another interesting group have made their places good with double their youthtul number : the procession passed through various streets to the Tremont House, where President Jackson, Vice President Van Buren, and sun alighted. audidst the acclamations and cheers of an immense throug of gratified citizens.
On Saturday the 22.1, at 9 o'clock, he visited with his suit the Cradle of Liberty, which had been appropriately decorated, and received the personal congratulations of a host of the citizens: his path was every where impeded by the multitude anxious to get a glimpse at the veteran bero of many battles for his country's honor and welfare, and they were ever gratified with the courtesy, cheerfulness and frankness of his responses: at 10 o'clock a splendid and large procession was formed for his escort to the State house, where he was received by Gov. Lincoln and officers of the State, United States and City with great honors and partook of a collation in the Senate Chamber and escorted again to the Tremont : in the afternoon the Boston Brigade made it grand parade with the Sea Fencibles on the common, and was reviewed by the President and suit, after which he rode round the connuon and received one continued round of cheering and shouts of appdance: he visited the Atheneum Gallery : the Mayor's, Hon. Josiah Quincy, and being much fa- tigned with such constant exertion returned early to his apartments at the Tremont House ; on Sunday morning he was indisposed. hun attended divine service at the Obl South and visited Mount Auburn with the Mayor : on Monday his indisposition had so much increased as to alarm his friends, and the proposed visit to Charlestown, where every exertion had been made to give him a noble and elegant reception had to be given up : his health being better and more comfortable, on Wednesday he visited Harvard University where he was received with every token of respect and invested with the collegiate honor of Doctor of Laws : from theme he visited Charlestown with a military escort to Bunker Hill, where the year of carmen and the buzzas of a great multitude re-echoed through space with a joyous thrill to the hearts of all. The President ascended to the top of the monument and expressed a high degree of pleasure at the most extensive views to be seen through those four peep holes : he left Charlestown at 10 delock for Lynn, where he was announced by the cannous mouth and joyous greetings from thousands of his fellow conutrymen : after partaking refreshment there and exchanging kiud civilites with the people he passed on for Marblehead, through a noble arch entwined with flowers and evergreen, on a serull, were the words, " The union must and shall be preserved" in letters of gold. beyond which were 800 pretty children in their best antire who saluted the veteran hero ; he then
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visited Salem which is foremost for every patriotic movement, passing through decorated arches with well chosen mottos to the mansion known as " West's House," so mmoch fatigued as to decline most of the honors intended for him: he appeared on the piazza and for 20 minutes returned the congrat- ulations of the citizens and then retired amidst the cheers and blessings of thousands of cheerfid happy citizens : he left Salem on Thursday about 10 o'clock, A.M. for Andover. Haverhill and Lowell, his health and strength improving and at Lowell a procession of 4.000 girls, uniformly dressed with a grand military escort, was enough to do that city honor : after being regaled with his eyes and cars with the beantitul and grand and his body refreshed with a sumptuous feast, he returned and visited Dedham on Friday, with the Vice President and snit, and returning alighted at the resilence of Mr. S. D. Bradford in Roxbury, and passed an agreeable hour with the hospitalities of that well supplied mansion, with beautiful ladies and first-rate refresh- ments : the President visited Concord, N. H. and was received with every token of pleasure and honor by the Legislature then in session : he returned to Mr. Brolford's in Roxbury, on Monday, July Ist, and left the next day for Providence on his return to Washington, where he arrived on Thursday, July Ith, having travelled 474 miles in three days, his health being recruited aunt improved.
We close this record of the President's reception by a condensed notice of his ancestry, with a few general remarks compiled from Witham's State- man's Manuel. His ancestors were of Senttish origin, and attached to the Presbyterian church; they emigrated to Ireland when it was the policy of the British government to promote the colonization of that country by the English and Scotch; Hugh Jackson, his grandfather, was a liten droper in Ireland, and had four sons who became farmers ; Andrew the youngest mar- ried Elizabeth Hutchinson and had two sons Hugh and Robert ; peditie circumstances induced him to emigrate to this country in 1765 and scale in South Carolina. On the plantation of his father at Warshaw setde ment, our President was born, March 15, 1767 : his father died about the same time, leaving his farm to the widow, and his name to his intant son.
Left with three young sons, and moderate mans, Mrs. Jackson gave her two eldest a common school education and desired to prepare the youngest for the ministry ; and at a suitable age placed him at the Waxhaw academy. where he made considerable progress in las studies including Lamia and Greek, until interrupted by the events of the revolutionary war . it 13 yours . of age Andrew in company with his brother Robert, joined a volunteer corps for the defence of that part of the State, and in list both were taken patent- ers by a party of dragoons: while a prisoner, a British officer of bored Want to clean boots, which being refused, Andrew received a sword waard which was visible through life, and his brother for a similar offence was wounded on the head, from the effects of which he never recovered and he died son after ; the mother the soon after time event, with a fever produced on board
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MARTIN JAN BUREN.
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a prison-ship in Charleston, while on an errand of mercy to some of her relations and friends confined there : thus every member of the family who enigrated to America to avoid British oppression perished at the hands of those oppressors here : The violence of political strife will long confuse the judgment of men concerning the character and abilities of Gen. Jackson, while all will accord to him firmness of purpose, energy, decision and dis- interestedness ; of great military skill, and unquestionable patriotism : on his talents as a statesman his countrymen are divided, and perhaps it is not yet time to speak decisively on this point.
The personal appearance and private character of Gen. Jackson are this described by his friend and biographer, Mr. Eaton ; previous to his election to the presidency: " In the person of Gen. Jackson is perceived nothing of the robust and elegant : he is six feet and an inch high, remarkably straight and spare and weighs not more than 145 pounds : his conformation appears to disqualify him for hardship: yet, necustomed to it from early life, few are capable of enduring finigne to the same extent or with less injury : his dark blue eyes, with brows arched and slightly projecting, possess & marke. expression, but when from any cause excited, they sparkle with peculiar lustre and penetration : In his manners he is pleasing : in his address comt- manding : while his countenance marked with firmness and decision, bemas with strength and intelligence that strikes at first sight. In his department there is nothing repulsive : easy, atable and familiar, he is open and accessi- ble to all. Influenced by the belief that merit should constitute the only die- ference in men, his attention is equally bestowed on honest poverty as en titled consequence : his moral character is without reproach ; and by those who know him most intimately, he is most esteemed : benevolence in him is a prominent virtue : he was never known to pass distress without seeking to assist and relieve it." Gen. Jackson died June 8, 1-15, aged is years.
MARTIN VAN BUREN, EIGHTH PRESIDENT OF THE U. STATES. WITH A MINIATURE LIKENESS.
Mr. Van Buren while Vice President of the United States visited Boston in company with President Andrew Jackson, June 21st, 1-33. and the high honors extended to the President on that occasion, were shared by the Vice- President : a comprehensive account of which being on page 394. a siert notice of his rise and progress in life may be interesting and acceptable, par- ticularly to the ming generation, as he only enjoyed a comma school educa- tion an I became eminent by study and by his own exertions.
The ancestors of Mr. Van Buren were to an Holland, among the carly em- igrants to the now State of New York ! the family has ever since then. resided on the banks of the Hudson. in the town of Kinderhook, Columna county: Abraham Van Buren. father to the President was a farmer of med- crate circumstances ; an upright. mtelligent; common-eur man. of paris
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disposition : the maiden name of his wife was Hoes, of Dutch descent : she was distinguished by an amiable disposition, for sagacity and eminent piety. She died in 1-1-, four years after the death of her partner.
Mr. Van Buren was the oldest sin by these parents; he was born Dec. 5th, 17-2; at an early age he estared a strong mind and superior understand- ing : his advantages for an education were confined to the common Eighth school and those of an academy in his native village : he made every progress in his studies and essayed some in Latin: much more could not be afforded him, as there were two bio hers and two sisters besides, to be provided for. His innate energies alone, led him on to fortune : leing early enamored with of-hand oratory, he cherished it as a ruling passion : and very soon gave evidence of a surprising deney and friendly for extempore compositions and political dispositions :- when 11 years of age be commenced the study of Law with Francis Sylvester, Egg. a lawyer in Kinderhook : the term for that study, for students without a liberal education, was seven years, and the management of cases before Justices of the Peace often devolved on the stil- dents, and the aldility he displayed as a reasoner and debater occasioned an almost incessant business in that quarter.
Mr. Van Buren's father was a whig in the Revolution, and a democrat in the days of the first Adams: and the son was educated in the same princi- ples : the democratic party was small in his vicinity and he became an ar dent and active politician: in 1:00, when 15 years of age and yet a student, he was deported to attend a convention to nominate a candidate for the Legisla- ture: the last year of his student's life, was spent in the office of Wm. P. Van Ness, Lisq., a conspicuous leader of the democratic party ; and with the great advantages here, Mr. Vau Baren made extraordinary advances in the great duties of a lawyer and as a politician : in 1-03, he la ing then in the 21st year of his age. was admitted as an Attorney in the Supreme Court of New York, and forme la copartership in Kinderhook wah the Hon. James I. Van Aleu, a half brother on his mother's si le: many were the bright char- auters figuring largely in the circle of the bar at that time, with whom Mx. Van Buren was etten brought in contact with opposing kiets; and party spirit was at a portentons height and the federal party had long held the power in Columbia county : Strong exertions were made by Mr. Van Buren's federal friends, to turn him from his wayward course, with proffers at greater advancement than he could possible expert from the democratic party; but all temptations to swerve from his marked ont path of duty were of no avail.
Mr. Van Buren without patronage; comparatively poor; a plekcian by birth ; without superior education, refused to worship at the shrine of wealth of power ; and followed the dictates of his own judgment :- In 1-07 he was admitted as a counselor in the Supreme Court ;- Le 1-09 he was appointed Surrogate of his own country :- I then removed to the city of Hudson Where he tarried seven years :- in 1-15 appointed Attorney General of the Swan and closed his law career in 1999, after a service of 25 years.
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In 1906 Mr. Van Buren married Miss Hannah Hors, who was a distant relation before marriage : his ardent attachment to her was evinced upon all occasions till her decrease in 1-19: they had four sons : Mr. Van Buren las never been married since had for.
In 1912 he was nominated las States matter from the countries. conprising the middle district ; las opponent was Fine.' I' Livingston of the same po. btical principles ; the contest was violent and resulted in the election of Mir. Van Baren by 259 votes in an aggregate of 20,500 :- in 1515 he was appointed by the Legislature a regent in the University :- in Iste related to the Senate of his native State for four years: in Feb. 1-21 les was elected by the Legislature a Senator to Congress ; and while a Senator elect, Was Chosen a member of a convention to revise the constitution of the State of New York :- in Dec. 1set, he took his seat in the Senate, his colleague from Now York being Hon. Rutas King :- on his first appearance he was placed on the committee of finance and on that of the judiciary ;- in Feb. 1-97 he was re-elected to the Senate of the U. States for six years :- the Gov. of New York dying suddenly (Gov. De Witt Clinton) in Feb. 1-25; Mr. Van Buren was elected his successor in November : on the 13th of March, 1-29, he was appointed Secretary of State by President Jackson :- in Jan. 1-31 he resigned that office, for that of Minister to Great Britain : but which appointment not bing confirmed by the Senate he was recalled .- May; 1-52 he was nom- Bated as a candidate for Vice President on a ticket with Jackson for Mas see- and term of the Presidency and both were elected : he presided over the Senate four years :- May 20, 1535, the Baltimore convention consisting of 600 members gave him a unanimous vote for the Presidency, and on the lit of March, 1537, he occupied the chair as President of the United States of America. Great efforts were made in 1-10 for his re-election as President ; but after a long canvass in the democratic convention, his name was with :- drawn and that of James K. Polk substituted in his place.
Mr. Van Burenis about a middle size : of creet form : incoming to corp :- knee ; light eyes and hair : features expressive and animated ; a for he's with marks of intellectual power : the private character of Mr. Van Buren is above all censure or suspicion : in the relations of father and son, of hishand, brother and friend, he has always displayed these excellences of character and feeling, which adorn human nature and evince the purity of lus motives ; his integrity of character and steadiness of attachments have always related for him the warm affection of many, even among his political opponents.
I WM. HENRY HARRISON, NINTH PRESIDENT OF THE U. STATES. WITH AN ENGRAVED FINTNESS,
The death of this good man and American Patriot, who died on the 4th April, 1-11, having been Chief Magistrate of the nation last one month, called forth the grief of the whole people : but few mien since the death of Washington have been more generally regretted as a national loss . Is that
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words betokened an indwelling predominant feeling of love for his country, le 0
sail, " Sir I wish you to mederstand the true principles of the government; I wish them carried out ; Last nothing more," and soon after expired.
The funeral obsequie- in token of respect for the character of the deceased took place in Boston, April 23d. At an early hour the various troops assem- bled oa the Common ant the numerous societies of the cny took their places, and aboat ten o'clock the Lancers and other military companies began to move through Beacon and School Streets and soon after the whole procession was moving with every token of solemnity and sorrow for the nation's loss : business was suspended ; the warehouse's and shops were closed : the sounds of the minute guns ; the deep tolling of the bells : the solemn music ; and the saddened faces of the multitude; the windows thronged with " beauty in trans, " all proclaimed the heartfelt bereavement they sufered in this loss; the procession comprise I about 12,033 persons, all of them anxious to hear from the lips of the Hon. Rufus Choate, the consolatory words it was his part to meter in an eulogy on the life and death of our beloved chici, in I'an- enil Hall; where not one quarter of the procession could find room, and as uniny more of the citizens were deniel that priviledge for want of a more capacions building : the Hall was hung in black and the portraits of our Statement there, were festoone I with a sable mantle, and our Eagle seemed to bear a part in the mourni'll doings of the day.
The orator gave some important views of the services of the deceased ; his conduct with the Indians, when the Prophet and his brother Termmisch, were striving for an Indian confederation, which threatened desolation to the set- thers on the western frontiers ; his glorious victory at Tippecanoe, which gave peace and tranquillity to the borders ; and his agency in Congress in 1740, in establishing a male for the sale of the public lands to the milostrious tillers of the soil, in place of bennet managed by a host of speculators: the orator dwelt on the useful points in the life of President Harrison ; of his practical usefulness ; his republican principles; flowing from incorruptible honesty of purpose; of his discretion, wisdom, his love of country and its generons provisions for the encouragement of mind, and to advance the state of human happiness, and the glory of God's creation; and impressed on the mind of his audience, the greatest and best part of his whole purpose, was; TO BECOME A GOOD PRESIDENT : he had not been selected for that office for being a warrior ; for his towering gumus; for skill as a politician, but be- cause he was a good and a just mios, who feared God and dearly loved his country : the orator portrayed the virtues of the deceased President in such pathetic views. be pictured voron in her most en baring embellishments, ac- compania with most pie but exalted sentiments, that every heart responded to its beauty and truthfulness, and animated them with feelings of love and bonor for their country and its institutions.
The family of Wm. H. Harrison is one of the most ancient and respectable in the history of Virgima : among the early settlers was a lineal descendant
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of that Gen. Harrison, who bore a distinguished part during the civil wars of England, in the army of the Commonwealth.
Benjamin Harrison (of the same stock) father of our President was one of the signers of the Declaration of budependence and one of the most industrious men of his eventful day : he was member of the House of Burgesses in Vir- | ginia and of the continental Congress and Governor of the State of Virginia anel repeatedly chosen speaker of the Virginia house; he died in 1791. clos- ug an uncommon useful Ine and having expended an ample fortune in the service of his country.
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Win I. I. the third and youngest son, was born Feb. 9, 1773, at Berkley, on James river, in Charles city county, Virginia : on the death of his father he was placed under the guardianship of his kind friend Robert Morris, the great financier of the revolution : and educated at Hampden Sidney College, and subsequently to the study of medicine; but before he had finished his course the barbaries of the Indians exerted a deep feeling of indignation and he resolved to join the army for the defence of the Olo frontier . in- guar- dian attempted to dissua le him from that purpose, but on communicating with Gien. Washington, that revered patriot approved of his reso, and sent him a commission as ensign when 19 years of age, in 1791 .- In 1992, for a brave exploit he was advanced to a lacutenancy .- In 1795 to a Capiam and ut 21 years of age was married to a daughter of John Cleaves Syuanes, the founder of the Miami settlement .- in ligt was appointed Ment. Governor of the northwestern territory ;- in 1799 elected their first delegate to Congress: -in 1-03 sole commissioner for treating with the Ilians :- m 1-01 he nego- ciated a treaty with them, by which they ceeded 50 millions of acres of the valuable region between the rivers Ilmois and Mississippi :- he was ap- pointeJ Gov. of Indiana, which office he held for thirteen years with increased watistaction to his fellow citizens and received the appointment under the administrations of the elder Adams, Jefferson and Madison :- m 1-12 he was appointed Brigadier General, and soon after that Major general :- in the hat- te of the Thames, President Malison said the result was signally humorable jo tien. Harrison, by whose talents it was prepared and directed : and Mr. Cheeves in Congress asserted that " that victory of Harrison was such as would have reared to a Roman General in the best days of the republic the donors of a triumph." Gen. Il. from a fortaitous crein the resigned his alice as Major General -in 1-16 he was elected representative to Congress from the district of Olo, and re-elected the two toll wie. jekes .- in 1:19 he was elected to the Senate ;- in Je21 was Presidencial chcel; the same year Senator to Congress ; - m l' Inter to the republic of Colonna and from that mission was recalled by President Jackson in 1-29 :- 1-35 was first brought forward as a candidate for the Presidency ?- or 1-800 he was again dominated and elected by a majority of Til votes of the electoral college over Mr. Van Buren, in 1510.
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