ffalo movement. Many were honest and earnest,
and in after life followed the principles which they had then
professed. Chief among these may be reckoned Preston King, who
exerted a powerful influence in the anti-slavery advances of after
years, and James S. Wadsworth, who gave his name, and generously
of his wealth, to the cause, and finally sealed his devotion with
his blood on the battle-field of the Wilderness.

CHARACTER OF MR. VAN BUREN.

Mr. Van Buren spent the remainder of his life in dignified retirement
--surviving until his eightieth year, in 1862. In point of mere
intellectual force, he must rank below the really eminent men with
whom he was so long associated in public life. But he was able,
industrious, and, in political management, clever beyond any man
who has thus far appeared in American politics. He had extraordinary
tact in commending himself to the favor and confidence of the
people. Succeeding to political primacy in New York on the death
of De Witt Clinton in 1828, he held absolute control of his party
for twenty years, and was finally overthrown by causes whose origin
was beyond the limits of his personal influence. He stood on the
dividing-line between the mere politician and the statesman,--
perfect in the arts of the one, possessing largely the comprehensive
power of the other. His active career began in 1812, and ended in
1848. During the intervening period he had served in the Legislature
of New York, had been a member of the Constitutional Convention of
1820, had been attorney-general of the State, and had been chosen
its governor. In the national field he had been senator of the
United States, Secretary of State, minister to England, Vice-
President, and President. No other man in the country has held so
many great places. He filled them all with competency and with
power, but marred his illustrious record by the political episode
of 1848, in which, though he may have had some justification for
revenge on unfaithful associates in his old party, he had none for
his lack of fidelity to new friends, and for his abandonment of a
sacred principle which he had pledged himself to uphold.

[* NOTE.--An error of statement occurs on page 72, Volume I, in
regard to the action of the Whig caucus for Speaker in December,
1847. Mr. Winthrop was chosen after Mr. Vinton had declined, and
was warmly supported by Mr. Vinton. The error came from