politics, but it may well be doubted if any convention, during the
struggle with slavery, ever exalted the hearts of those who took part
in it more than did this assembly of fearless representatives of the
Free-soil party in Buffalo, the Queen City of the Lakes. The time was
ripe for action, and on that day in August, men eminent and to grow
eminent, sought the shade of a great tent on the eastern shore of Lake
Erie. Among them were Joshua R. Giddings, the well-known Abolitionist;
Salmon P. Chase, not yet famous, but soon to become a United States
senator with views of slavery in accord with William H. Seward; and
Charles Francis Adams who had already associated his name with that of
his illustrious father in the growth of anti-slavery opinions in New
England. Chase presided over the convention and Adams over the
mass-meeting. At the outset, it was boldly asserted that they had
assembled "to secure free soil for a free people;" and in closing they
thrilled the hearts of all hearers with the memorable declaration that
rang throughout the land like a blast from a trumpet, "We inscribe on
our banner Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labour, and Free Men." It was
a remarkable convention in that it made no mistakes. Lewis Cass
represented the South and its purposes, while Zachary Taylor lived in
the South and owned four hundred slaves. Neither of these men could
be supported; but, in the end, rather than put a fourth candidate into
the field, it was resolved unanimously to indorse Martin Van Buren for
President and Charles Francis Adams for Vice President. Daniel Webster
ridiculed the idea of "the leader of the Free-_spoil_ party becoming
the leader of the Free-soil party;" but Charles Sumner, whose heart
was in the cause, declared that "it is not for the Van Buren of 1838
that we are to vote, but for the Van Buren of to-day--the veteran
statesman, sagacious, determined, experienced, who, at an age when
most men are rejoicing to put off their armour, girds himself anew and
enters the list as a champion of freedom."[376] To give further dignity
and importance to the Free-soil movement, the nomination of John P.
Hale, made by the Abolitionists in the preceding November, was
withdrawn, and John A. Dix, then a Democratic senator, accepted the
Barnburners' nomination for governor.[377]

[Footnote 376: Charles Sumner, _Works_, Vol. 2, p. 144.

"It will be remembered that Van Buren, in his inaugural as President,
pledged himself to v