an' to the most aerial warblings of its highest key,
hardly a pipe or stop was wanting. Like all the magical voices, it had
the faculty of imparting to the most familiar and commonplace
expressions an inexpressible fascination. Probably no orator ever lived
who, when speaking on a great occasion, was more completely absorbed
with his theme. "I do not know how it is with others," he once said,
"but, on such occasions, I seem to be unconscious of the external world.
Wholly engrossed by the subject before me, I lose all sense of personal
identity, of time, or of surrounding objects."

MARTIN VAN BUREN.

In the quiet little village of Kinderhook, New York, there was at the
close of the Revolution, an indifferent tavern kept by a Dutchman named
Van Buren. There his distinguished son Martin was born on the 5th day of
December, 1782.

After attending the academy in his native village he, at the age of
fourteen, began the study of law. His success was phenomenal from the
beginning, and he has passed into history as an indefatigable student
all through life. In 1808 he was made surrogate of his native county. In
1812 he was elected to the senate of his native State and in that body
voted for electors pledged to support DeWitt Clinton for the presidency.
He was attorney-general of the State from 1815 until 1819. Mr. Van Buren
was a very able politician and it was through his influence that the
celebrated 'Albany Regency,' whose influence ruled the State
uninterruptedly for over twenty years, was set on foot.

In 1821 Mr. Van Buren was chosen to the United States Senate and was
made a member of the convention to revise the State constitution. In the
latter body he advocated the extension of the elective franchise, but
opposed universal sufferage, as also the plan of appointing justices of
the peace by popular election. He voted against depriving the colored
citizens of the franchise but supported the proposal to require of them
a freehold qualification of $250. In 1828 he was elected governor of
the great State of New York and resigned his seat in the National
Congress to assume this new position. As governor he opposed the safety
fund system which was adopted by the legislature in 1829. In the month
of March of the next year after assuming the gubernatorial chair he
accepted the leading position in the cabinet of President Jackson but
resigned two years later.

On May 22nd, 1832, he was nominated for the office of vi