was called "stump
oratory," in them that picturesque form of party warfare flourished
most and lasted longest. The "barbecue" was at once a rustic feast and
a forum of political debate. Especially notable was the presidential
campaign of 1840, the year of my birth, "Tippecanoe and Tyler," for
the Whig slogan--"Old Hickory" and "the battle of New Orleans," the
Democratic rallying cry--Jackson and Clay, the adored party chieftains.

I grew up in the one State, and have passed the rest of my life in the
other, cherishing for both a deep affection, and, maybe, over-estimating
their hold upon the public interest. Excepting General Jackson, who was
a fighter and not a talker, their public men, with Henry Clay and Felix
Grundy in the lead, were "stump orators." He who could not relate and
impersonate an anecdote to illustrate and clinch his argument, nor "make
the welkin ring" with the clarion tones of his voice, was politically
good for nothing. James K. Polk and James C. Jones led the van of
stump orators in Tennessee, Ben Hardin, John J. Crittenden and John C.
Breckenridge in Kentucky. Tradition still has stories to tell of their
exploits and prowess, their wit and eloquence, even their commonplace
sayings and doings. They were marked men who never failed to captivate
their audiences. The system of stump oratory had many advantages as a
public force and was both edifying and educational. There were a
few conspicuous writers for the press, such as Ritchie, Greeley and
Prentice. But the day of personal journalism and newspaper influence
came later.

I was born at Washington--February 16, 1840--"a bad year for Democrats,"
as my father used to say, adding: "I am afraid the boy will grow up to
be a Whig."

In those primitive days there were only Whigs and Democrats. Men took
their politics, as their liquor, "straight"; and this father of mine was
an undoubting Democrat of the schools of Jefferson and Jackson. He
had succeeded James K. Polk in Congress when the future President was
elected governor of Tennessee; though when nominated he was little
beyond the age required to qualify as a member of the House.

To the end of his long life he appeared to me the embodiment of wisdom,
integrity and courage. And so he was--a man of tremendous force of
character, yet of surpassing sweetness of disposition; singularly
disdainful of office, and indeed of preferment of every sort; a profuse
maker and a prodigal spender of money; who, hi