of high aspirations and peregrinations and
can have nothing to do with such low-down scopangers as yourself. Good
morning, sir!"

It may be presumed that both spoke in jest, because they became
inseparable companions and the best of friends.

McConnell had a tragic ending. In James K. Polk's diary I find two
entries under the dates, respectively, of September 8 and September 10,
1846. The first of these reads as follows: "Hon. Felix G. McConnell, a
representative in Congress from Alabama called. He looked very badly
and as though he had just recovered from a fit of intoxication. He was
sober, but was pale, his countenance haggard and his system nervous. He
applied to me to borrow one hundred dollars and said he would return it
to me in ten days.

"Though I had no idea that he would do so I had a sympathy for him even
in his dissipation. I had known him in his youth and had not the moral
courage to refuse. I gave him the one hundred dollars in gold and took
his note. His hand was so tremulous that he could scarcely write his
name to the note legibly. I think it probable that he will never pay me.
He informed me he was detained at Washington attending to some business
in the Indian Office. I supposed he had returned home at the adjournment
of Congress until he called to-day. I doubt whether he has any business
in Washington, but fear he has been detained by dissipation."

The second of Mr. Polk's entries is a corollary of the first and reads:
"About dark this evening I learned from Mr. Voorhies, who is acting as
my private secretary during the absence of J. Knox Walker, that Hon.
Felix G. McConnell, a representative in Congress from the state of
Alabama, had committed suicide this afternoon at the St. Charles Hotel,
where he boarded. On Tuesday last Mr. McConnell called on me and I
loaned him one hundred dollars. [See this diary of that day.] I learn
that but a short time before the horrid deed was committed he was in the
barroom of the St. Charles Hotel handling gold pieces and stating that
he had received them from me, and that he loaned thirty-five dollars of
them to the barkeeper, that shortly afterward he had attempted to write
something, but what I have not learned, but he had not written much when
he said he would go to his room.

"In the course of the morning I learn he went into the city and paid a
hackman a small amount which he owed him. He had locked his room door,
and when found he was stretched out on