USA > New York > New York City > Recollections of persons and events, chiefly in the city of New York; being selections from his journal > Part 5
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As I dwelt on these topics, especially when I spoke of his mother, his agitation became intense. He shook like a leaf, and his breast heaved as though it could not contain his swelling emotions.
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After a pause, perhaps a minute or two, during which I waited for him to speak, he said, with quite a mild tone, "Perhaps you would like to proceed. You know we are to speak without restraint. I take it all well, for I know it is well meant." .
I answered that there was another topic to
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which I wished to allude, and yet I scarcely knew how to name it.
"I wish to hear you," he replied.
I then asked, "Do you not feel that there is some resemblance between yourself and the sin- ning Manassah, who forsook the God of his fa- thers, and as a punishment for his sin lost his former high place, and was scourged with thorns to awake him to a sense of his apostasy ? And has not a judgment lighted upon you to which even Manassah may have been a stranger ? Col. Burr, I have spoken of your parents. Let me allude to your child, your only child, your be- loved daughter. Where is she ?* Is there no voice that speaks to you from the deep, deep sea, warning you, entreating you to turn, and seek forgiveness through that blood which cleans- eth from all sin ? These multiplied judgments have a voice that surely cannot be misunder- stood."
When Colonel Burr arrived in America, his daughter, and only child, Mrs. Ashton, anxious to meet her father, embarked, in Decem- ber, 1812, from South Carolina, in a pilot-boat distinguished for its speed as a sailer, bound to New York. The vessel was never heard of after leaving port. It was supposed that she foundered in a gale which swept the whole coast that winter, and that all on board
. perished.
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When I thus alluded to his daughter and her tragical end, his heart-rending moans and gushing tears so overcame me that I felt little inclined to proceed further at the time. There was a long pause, and he at length observed :
" You are doing nothing more than your duty, and I am the more pleased with you for doing it so fully. This is a new scene for me. You have opened fountains that have long been dry, and that, perhaps, I may have thought were dried up forever.
" It is true, it is true," he added, "judgments have followed me for years-judgments in every form, in the heaviest forms, till I am left alone, alone of all that loved me as father or near relative. There is a desolation here," he added, laying his hand on his heart, " that none but the Searcher of hearts can understand."
"I am aware," I replied, "of the desolate hearthstone that meets your eye. Is there no significance in that aspect of your sorrows which points out a sin for which you should humble yourself before God ?"
As I made the remark his eye suddenly as- sumed a fierce glare, but it soon passed away;
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and he went on, with a saddened expression of look and voice, and asked, "What would you have me do ? How and where would you have me turn ?"
I answered, "Turn to Him who is exalted as a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins, and who gave them even to the men by whose wicked hands He was cru- cified and slain. Take the example of the Pro- digal, who, under a sense of his bereavements and destitution, said, 'I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee.' Seek His favor in the ordinances of His grace, wor- shipping Him in the temples where His Gospel is preached and His spirit given."
As I was here proceeding, he suddenly inter- rupted me, saying, "You don't seem to know how I am viewed by the religious public, or by those who resort to your churches. Where is there a man among all such with whom I would be willing to meet, and who would welcome me into his pew? Of your own congregation, would J. II., or J. S., or H. I. W., give me a seat ? These are our merchant princes-men who give
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tone to Wall street, who fix the standard of. mercantile morals in our city. Would they make Aaron Burr a welcome visitor to your church ? Rather, indeed, I may ask, would you yourself do so ? How would you feel walking up the aisle with me, and opening your pew-door for my entrance ?"
I instantly replied that I wished he would try me, adding that such a thing would give me pleasure.
"Then," he replied, "you would indulge your feelings of kindness at the expense of your use- fulness as the minister of your congregation. Do you believe that such gentlemen as I have named would be pleased, rather that they would not be highly displeased, at seeing you do any thing of the kind ?"
A new train of sentiment seemed to arise in his mind as he was thus dwelling on the sen- tence of exclusion which he considered as having been passed upon him. He arose from his chair, paced the room, and, with a haughty in- dignation and a loud voice, exclaimed :
"There are men who join in this system of : proscription, who ought to be well aware that I 7
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know enough of them and their condition to hurl them into poverty, if I would only undertake the task. I could strip them of the very houses in which they and their families live, and turn them into the street. The title to much of the prop- erty now held by the rich men of our city would not bear to be sifted. I know all about it; and I may be induced some day to show what I am able to do in the matter."
I observed that I was not competent to judge of such questions, and that, besides, they were far removed from the object of my visit. He instantly resumed his seat, and with that su- avity of manner peculiarly his own, he apologized for the course his thoughts had taken, adding that his spirit felt so chafed at times, by the circumstances in which he found himself, that he was not always as self-possessed as he could de- sire. "I once," he added, "had the credit of such self-possession that nothing could disturb or overthrow it. I have less of it now. Age and sorrow combined wear away the strength of the strongest."
I replied that there is but one balm for a lacerated and sore heart, but one physician that
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can heal it; and I went on at considerable length, endeavoring to set before him the fulness of the redemption that is by Jesus Christ; the free invi- tation which the Gospel addresses to all sinners, to the chief of sinners; and how utterly without excuse all are left who reject so free an offer of so precious a salvation."
He seemed to hear me patiently and attentive- ly, and observed, in reply: "This is all true, and how strongly it reminds me of my early days ! It seems as if I heard good Dr. Bellamy again speak- ing to me. But I fear such appeals will have as little effect upon the old man as they had on the wayward youth. If there is any such good yet before me, as you, sir, seem to desire, it must reach me at last in virtue of my birth from religious parentage, which you justly observed it has been my lot to have, as a birthright."
It had now become late in the evening, and I arose to bid him good-by. He looked at me very steadfastly, and observed: "I am far from being wearied of this conversation. On the contrary, 1 will preserve a grateful recollection of it. I sin- cerely thank you for this visit, and, if it does me no good, I am anxious it should do you no harm.
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I hope that you will not mistake my motive in what I am about to say. I know who some of the men are to whom you sustain intimate relations. They entertain the most unfavorable opinion of me in every respect, and would not fail to mark it against every one who would treat me with any open avowal of good-will or civility. It would be to your detriment if such men should see you accost me in the public street, with the expression of regard that your kindness might prompt. When we meet in any of our great thoroughfares, it is best that we should not see each other. Do you understand me ?" he asked.
I replied that I fully appreciated his motives, though I could not see the necessity for the re- quest; but that, of course, I should regulate my conduct in the matter by his wishes.
" Excuse me," he said, "I am the best judge."
He accompanied me to the door, and, as we bade good-night, he offered me his hand; it was cold, as though he had been a corpse. I left
him with my heart heavy and sad. What may have been the state of his own, the Searcher of all hearts best knows.
After an interview like this, I was not likely
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soon to forget Col. Burr, though I saw him but seldom. He continued for several years to re- side in New York, with more or less practice in his profession ; but was finally struck with pa- ralysis while walking in the street, and, after a brief interval, was taken to Staten Island, where he died in obscurity, few, if any, to drop a tear over his remains. He was visited, on his death- bed, by a minister of the Gospel, who placed be- fore him the great truth that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." With what effect, is a question which must be left to the Judge of all, whose "judgments are true and righteous altogether."
Such reverses as overtook Col. Burr are very marked and unusual. He had been once a leading man among the leading men of our State He had reached the Vice-Presidency of the Uni- ted States, and in that honorable office had pre- sided over the Senate, when it comprised many of the first men of the nation. And yet, from this high eminence in public esteem, how low did he sink ! During his sojourn in foreign countries, it is said, he was often in such poverty as to be on the eve of begging his bread. When he
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ventured back to his native land, the scene of his former greatness and honors, his return was considered as a public grievance, and he was shunned by many as a culprit, whose presence contaminated the very air around him.
What a lesson ! The crime which was most habitually predominant in the life of Col. Burr is so well known that there can be no occasion to mention it, and his example may well be quoted "to point a moral," if not to " adorn a tale."
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CHAPTER VII.
COL. HENRY RUTGERS-HIS CHARACTER .-- HIS DEVOTION TO THE CAUSE OF THE COUNTRY IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION .- HIS LIBERALITY TO THE CAUSE OF RELIGION .- STRIKING INCIDENT SHOWING HIS WISE JUDGMENT IN DEEDS OF BENEVOLENCE .--- DUTY OF OUR MERCHANTS AND OTHERS TO YOUNG MEN IN THEIR EMPLOY.
A FEW days since we committed to the grave the remains of Col. Henry Rutgers. He had lived to a good old age, and was not only venerable in years, but universally respected and beloved for his active philanthropy, his pure pa- triotism, and his devoted piety. He left a high record in both Church and State. In his early days, he and his family devoted themselves to the cause of the country in the Revolutionary War; and he often referred to the circumstance, though with much tenderness, yet with a feeling of exultation, that his brother Herman was the first American that fell at the battle of Long Island. The family property was a farm in the . eastern section of the city, including the greater
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part of what is now known as the Seventh ward; and I remember his telling me, that when flying from his home, at the approach of the British to take possession of the city, as he reached a hill overlooking his estate, he turned and took what he thought might be a last survey of it, and said to himself, " If all must go, and my life with it, as the price of freedom to my country, I will make the sacrifice freely and without hesitation."
Happily, the sacrifice was not required. After having served as an officer during the war. he returned to his estate, and enjoyed it through a long and useful life.
His religion was as conspicuous as his patriot- ism. He devoted much of his time and of his large means to promote the cause of Christiani- ty, and he may well be acknowledged as the founder of two churches in our city, that were long known for their great strength and useful- ness.
Much that he did, however, he loved to ac- complish without show or the knowledge of the public. Indeed, it was one of his leading aims ยท "to do his alms in secret, not letting his left
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hand know what his right hand did." His pas- tor, Rev. Dr. McMurray, has just related to me a very striking incident, showing how much good he accomplished , during his long life, of which none knew but himself, his Master, and the receivers of his bounty.
It appears that many years ago, in the middle of a severely cold winter night, Colonel Rutgers was awaked by a violent rapping at the door, which startled the whole household. A servant went down stairs to see what could be wanted at so unseasonable an hour, when he found on the steps a stranger, who said that he had call- ed to see Colonel Rutgers. When told that he could not see the Colonel at that time of night, and the servant was about shutting the door in his face, he pressed forward, and declared that he would not leave the house alive unless he could see him; that he must and would see him, if he had to force his way into his bed- chamber; that it was a matter of life and death, and that no denial in the case would or could be taken. The door being partly open, Colonel Rutgers heard the excited language of the man, and, judging from the tones of the '
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speaker, that he was not intoxicated, or some idle ruffian who intended mischief, he told the servant to let the man come into the house, and that he would come down to see him. When they entered the room together, the Colonel saw before him a young man of prepossessing ap- pearance, trembling with an agitation that beto- kened great distress of mind, and with a wild expression of eye that seemed bordering on insanity. He asked to be alone with the Colonel for a few minutes, which the Colonel was much more willing to grant than the alarmed servant was willing to leave the room. He obeyed his master's direction, however, and retired into the entry, not without keeping an anxious eye upon the door, when the young man began, saying :
"I have a short but melancholy story to tell you, Colonel Rutgers. I am the only son of my mother, and she a widow, now living in - county, with my sister, nearly grown to womanhood, but in feeble health. When I came to this city, about six years ago, I was employed as a clerk in a small retail store, where I became acquainted with your friend Mr. M., who, as you know, is an importing
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merchant. He formed so favorable an opinion of my business talents that he took me into his employment; and for some time past I have been his confidential clerk, and have received from him what is usually considered a good salary. Though my earnings were small when I first came to New York, I have always been careful to divide them with my mother; and it has been a constant source of happiness to me, that, as my income increased, I could make the greater addition to her comfort and that of my sister. It is now about two years since, in an evil hour, I was first tempted to spend some money in going to the theatre, and I soon became extravagantly fond of the amusement. At the theatre I was led into bad company, and have often sat late at the card-table, where I was frequently the loser beyond my means of paying. This led me to put my hand into the drawer of my employer, and to embezzle sums of no great amount in the beginning, but still growing larger, with the hope that the tide of fortune would turn, and I could soon : replace what I had taken. As ought to have been ex- . pected, things went on from bad to worse, until
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in the end I had purloined nearly two thousand dollars. By various contrivances, I have made out, so far, to conceal my dishonesty; but matters have now reached a point where ex- posure becomes inevitable to-morrow, unless I can replace the money. I feel that I cannot brook the shamc. I cannot look Mr. M. in the face, who has trusted me so far, and be con- strained to confess that I have stolen his prop- erty; and, to escape from the dilemma, I had deliberately resolved to take my own life. I had to-night written a letter to my poor mother, telling her it was the last she would ever receive from me, confessing my sin against her and against God, and asking her to forgive the son who had brought dishonor on her name, and taken his life with his own hand. Having finished the letter, I sat down in my chair, and had actually placed the muzzle of this pistol [showing it as he took it from his pocket] against my temple, to shoot myself through the head; when, as if with the suddenness of light- ning, your name, Colonel Rutgers, came into my mind. I had often heard Mr. M. speak of you as a man of great kindness and benevolence ;
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and whether the suggestion came from an evil spirit or a good spirit, I at once determined that, before I committed the fatal deed against my own life, I would somehow find my way to you, and make you acquainted with my unhap- py story.
" You have heard it, Colonel Rutgers; I can- not blame you if you do not believe a word of it. It may appear to you as a fiction, devised to get money from you, perhaps to be spent in the same guilty way in which I have lost money belonging to my employer. In one thing I am determined-never to face Mr. M. again, unless I have the means of restoring what I have taken from him. Whether you will come to the relief of a guilty prodigal like myself, I must leave to your own heart to de- termine. My fate is in your hands; I can appeal to'no one else."
During the time the young man was speak- ing, Colonel Rutgers, as he said, watched his countenance with great care, and became con- vinced that he was telling the truth. Before giving a direct reply, he asked him if he had considered the great sin of appearing at the bar
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of God with his blood upon his own hands. He answered that he was not ignorant of the sin of self-murder, but that the dread of ex- posure would still drive him to it, adding, " Time presses, Colonel Rutgers, please let me know your decision. Will you relieve me ?"
The Colonel waited some moments, during which they stood facing each other, and at length replied: "I will relieve you, on one con- dition ; but I must have full assurance that you will comply with it."
"Name it, name it, dear sir," the young man answered. "Should it be the cutting off my hand, I will not hesitate an instant. You may tell me of any thing in which I can please you. Save me, save my poor mother, and I will serve you during life, in any way or any work you , can point out to me."
"The condition," said Colonel Rutgers, "is simply this-that you will attend church with me, regularly, during the space of one year, and inform me every Sunday evening what you can recollect of the sermons you have heard."
"Surely you would not mock me,' Colonel . Rutgers !" the young man replied; "but is that
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all-is that all?" And, as he uttered these words, he fainted and dropped on the floor.
After a time he revived, and, before leaving the house, Colonel Rutgers appointed an early hour the next morning to place the requisite amount in his hands, and thus make his account good. From that day onward the young man was a regular and devout worshipper in the Rutgers Street Church; and, before the end of the year, he became a sincere convert to the truth, and took his place by the side of his benefactor at the Lord's table. His subsequent life was not long, but in all respects such as his friends could desire. He was soon admitted as a junior partner in the house which he had served as confidential clerk; and afterwards, when performing a journey on business to the South, he was taken with fever and died. His life, however, was spared and prospered until he was enabled to leave a handsome competency to his mother and sister-his first earnings having been applied to repay Colonel Rutgers the sum lent to him in his extremity.
How many such deeds will rise up in the records of eternity to illustrate the piety of
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this excellent man, the all-seeing . God alone
knows. One thing appears certain, that the most of what he did in this way he saw fit to keep to himself. His delicacy, too, was as great as his modesty. To the last he never disclosed the name of this young man to his friends; and when he gave the narra- tive to Dr. McMurray, he pleasantly added, " You have the story, but you must not ask the name. The one illustrates the sove- reign grace of God, and there is no need of the other to make the lesson the more in- structive or impressive." .
The result of this kindness to an erring young man was the "saving a soul from death, and hiding a multitude of sins;" and I have often thought, that if like compassion and relief were extended to our young men when first led astray, many, many of them would be saved from the perdition that now overtakes them. Our city is a vast mael- strom, that is continually swallowing up thou- sands and thousands of our youth who come from the country seeking employment. With- out parental watchfulness over them, they are
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often ensnared before they are aware of their danger. Many of them have been religiously brought up, and, as the fruit of their first misdeeds, conscience will rise and make itself painfully felt. When suffering these pangs of remorse, a youth, not yet hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, would give worlds if he could find a kind look, or a helping hand, to encourage his return to the path of duty; but when left to himself, under his painful sense of abandonment, he goes on from bad to worse, till, in despair, he gives up all for lost, and perishes forever.
Our merchants should remember this. They owe more to a young man in their employ, than to see that he is always in his place at the counting-room or the store. They are, in some sense, responsible as his moral guardians, while he is serving them; nor should they hastily cast him off for his first offence, when it comes to their knowledge. They should try to reclaim him, remembering that a kind word, spoken in season, may rescue him from the coils which the tempter is beginning to wind around him, and render him in after life the useful man and the 8
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sincere Christian; when a cold neglect or un- pitying exposure may harden him in his sin, till he becomes a felon or a still worse malefactor.
Col. Rutgers had no faith in legacies to the cause of religion, and giving little or nothing while a man lives. He would, he said, be his own executor of what he felt it his duty to give away for public purposes; and most faith- fully did he act up to his resolution of liberali- ty during his life. When he deemed an object entitled to his patronage, if he had not the money on hand he would borrow it, rather than send the applicant "empty away." When that excellent man, Dr. John H. Rice, was in the city, soliciting aid for the Union Theological Semi- nary in Virginia, he wished to call on Colonel Rutgers, and desired me to accompany him. When we made our call, and I had spoken of Dr. Rice's object, the Colonel laughingly replied that we found him unusually poor that day as to ready cash; but if he had not money, he was thankful he had credit. He accordingly asked for Dr. Rice's book, and put down his name as one of the most liberal subscribers, requesting Dr. Rice to meet him at my house the next
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day, at eleven o'clock, which would give him time to go down to the bank. He met us at the hour appointed and gave his check, with a look, an expression of satisfaction, which, Dr. Rice remarked, so comforted his heart that he could go upon the strength of it many days in the toilsome, wearying work of soliciting subscriptions. This was the good Colonel's way of doing good things. It gave him pleasure to be liberal, and he felt obliged to the man who enabled him to see where his liberality would be of the greatest advantage to the cause of Christ. Would that all our men of wealth would be persuaded to taste that luxury !
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CHAPTER VIII.
DEATH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS .- CONSPICUOUS FEATURES IN HIS CHARACTER .- HIS UNDEVIATING ADHERENCE TO WHAT HE CONCEIVED TO BE RIGHT, EXEMPLIFIED IN HIS APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE WHILE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ALSO WHILE OUR MINISTER AT THE COURT OF THE' NETHERLANDS .- HIS GREAT RESPECT FOR THE MEMORY OF HIS MOTHER .- HIS OPINION OF A MOTHER'S INFLUENCE ON THE CHARACTER OF DISTINGUISHED MEN .- IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT .- How ILLUSTRATED IN HISTORY BOTH SACRED AND PROFANE .- SUS- CEPTIBILITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TO A MOTHER'S INFLUENCE.
THE death of the Hon. John Quincy Adams created a sensation which was felt extensively through the country. He was one of the Ex- Presidents of the United States, had reached the advanced age of eighty-two years, and from his earliest manhood had borne a conspicuous part in our political history both foreign and domestic. The manner and circumstances of his death ren- dered the event the more solemn and impressive. After his Presidency he had been a member of the House of Representatives for several years, and on the morning of Monday, the 21st February, 1848, having appeared as usual in his place, about twelve
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