stand like Tantalus with his lips to the fountain, without being permitted to taste its blessings. Nor can his condition be essentially improved while he mingles with a people who, however virtuous he may be, cannot and will not extend to him the hand of social equality.

But time will not permit me to enlarge upon the various topics so significantly enforced by your resolutions, and in a few hurried words I desire to say, that I will cordially join you in inculcating sentiments which shall tend to enlarge the boundaries of rational freedom, and to render its foundations more broad and deep; which shall as well secure to industry its reward and to labor the bread it has earned, as to the affluent his fair inheritance or honest accumulations; which shall restore to the people, as far as is practicable, the appointment of their own servants, and shall simplify and correct all that is involved and erroneous in the machinery of government; which shall war with privilege and inequality in whatever imposing garb they may appear, or however specious their disguises; which shall raise still higher the standard of morals and of social order, and cause the rich blessings of civil and religious liberty to flow onward, to fertilize and bless the extended domains of humanity. With high considerations of regard,

I am your friend and fellow-citizen,

D. S. DICKINSON.

EDWARD STRAHAN, Chairman Committee of Arrangements.

MR. STILWELL TO MR. DICKINSON.

NEW YORK, March 17, 1846.

DEAR DICKINSON-I have received your speech on the Oregon question, and read it with attention. I have been a close observer of events connected with the subject of your remarks, and it is but just for me to say to you, as I do most freely and candidly, that I have derived more full and complete information from the speech you have sent me, than I have been able to gather from all other sources.

Of course, this commercial place is anxious for peace on any terms, but I am satisfied that the public view will sustain you

in persisting on running the 49th parallel through to the ocean, at any hazard. Your course I have carefully watched, and I approve it most cordially. I hope you will continue to be as discreet as you have been. Take good care of our friend General Cass; he is one of the nation's jewels, and should be preserved with as much solicitude as the regalia. The General is my favorite among all the Democratic candidates; and if he should ever be the Presidential candidate, I shall support him, although I avow myself a Whig.

I hope you will not encourage the second-term doctrine under any circumstances. I have no particular objection to urge against Mr. Polk, but I am satisfied the good of the country requires that no person shall be a candidate for a second term.

I hope you find Washington as pleasant as you expected,— certainly you cannot desire to be in our Senate.

Believe me to be, my dear sir,

Truly your friend,

SILAS M. STILWELL.

MR. DICKINSON TO VIRGINIA E. DICKINSON.

WASHINGTON, June 23, 1846.

MY DEAR VIRGINIA-Your dear mother and little Mary Stevens left here this day at half past twelve. They expect to stay at Baltimore to-night, and go to Philadelphia, perhaps to New York, to-morrow. They will spend one day in Albany, and reach home about the middle of next week, if nothing occurs to detain them.

I regretted to part with them, but upon full consideration thought it best, as did your mother.

Love to Lydia L, and make all as pleasant as possible. Your affectionate father,

D. S. DICKINSON.

MR. DICKINSON TO MARY S. DICKINSON.

WASHINGTON, July 5, 1846.

MY DEAR MARY-I miss you very much, and can only be

reconciled to your absence by the thought that you are at home, with brother and sisters, where it will be more pleasant for you than here. It has been very rainy ever since you left until to-day, it is pleasant and sunny. There are about thirty wild Indians here, from the Camanches, and other Southwestern tribes. They were at the President's Grounds on Wednesday, and the next day came into the Capitol. They were in their native costume-bare-headed, the upper part of their faces painted red, and looked about as much like evil spirits as possible. They knew General Houston, and were very glad to see him. He had lived with them, at one time, a number of years.

There is a group of little girls in front of Dr. McConnell's every day, asking me if I have "heard from Mary."

Give my love to your mother, sisters, and brother, and write as often as you can.

Your affectionate father,

Miss MARY STEVENS DICKINSON.

D. S. DICKINSON.

MR. DICKINSON TO LYDIA L. DICKINSON.

WASHINGTON, July 23, 1846.

MY DEAR CHILD-I received your excellent letter, day before yesterday. I am thankful for so good and dutiful a daughter as you are, and long for the time to come when I can see you again. I know you will make it as agreeable for your dear mother as possible. I hope you will soon be able to commence your little school again; it must be so pleasant for you and your dear little sister Mary. Dear child-I hope she enjoys herself at home.

I shall leave W— in season to attend court, if possible. Be careful of your health and give my love to all.

Your affectionate father,

D. S. DICKINSON.

GOVERNOR FAIRFIELD TO VIRGINIA E. DICKINSON.

WASHINGTON, August 2, 1846.

MY DEAR MISS VIRGINIA-I thank you, more than I can express, for your very kind reply to my abrupt and saucy letter written "long time ago," and thank you also for permitting me to write you again. It is a privilege I fear Mrs. Murray will be disposed to deny; so I had better improve it while it lasts.

Well-we are upon the verge of setting our faces homeward; one week from to-morrow-and there, only think!-Yes, and only think; with the image of dear home constantly before me; my excellent "gude wife" and eight affectionate children, all standing with open arms to receive me; how could I think of you! Is any further proof wanted of the snug place you hold in my affections? To tell the truth, I am absolutely, without qualification or limitation, downright homesick!— What a fool a man is to spend half of his time away from home-away from those whose society is life to him, and whose happiness is dearer to him than life;-at best for a little empty honor! I think your father might indulge a little in this philosophy as well as myself; but pray don't tell him so,we cannot spare him yet. needs somebody to hold him

in check, and the Governor is just the man for it.

Let me see, can I tell you anything about Washington worth hearing? Our mess, our poor, broken up, disjointed, disconsolate mess. Oh, you never saw such a sorry-looking set of fellows as we are. Our faces when we meet at breakfast are as long as a turnpike, and as solemn as a tombstone. Were it not for your father's never-failing fund of wit and humor, I am sure we should have become petrified long ago, and fit only to be cut up into whetstones. By the way, that's a good idea, isn't it? What capital whetstones old sharp-witted lawyers would make! And why not thus cut them up as well as cut up old moons into stars? If I conclude to take out a patent for this, you and I will share the profits-so keep dark about it.

Our table has been shortened several times. Mr. King and I still occupy our relative positions at either end, but the settlements between us are so sparse, that we can hardly be said to

belong to the same neighborhood. Mr. King and I do the best we can to keep up good government, but in spite of all our efforts, the solemnity of the scene is occasionally interrupted by the popping of a beer bottle;-mind, I said occasionally. I would not have you think we drink beer every day—Oh, no, -tell your mother I shall take better care of" the Governor " than all that would come to.

Give my love to your mother, and tell her I shall ever remember with pleasure our long sojourn together in a stranger land. Her departure left a blank in our little society that was sadly felt by all, but by one only more than myself. Give my love also to little Mary, whom I shall ever remember for the sprightliness and maturity of her mind, and for her gentleness and amiability of heart. When shall we all meet again? Answer in person next winter.

Give my love to Miss Harper. I owe her a letter, but have not time to write now. This week is to be a very busy one with us.

What a rigmarole I have written! Never mind, I am not afraid to trust to your mercy. I am not sure that you would not forgive me, not only for murdering the "King's English," but for murdering anybody, always excepting "Cousin Henry." Truly your friend,

JOHN FAIRFIELD.

Miss V. E. DICKINSON.

MR. DICKINSON TO COL. SALISBURY, Chairman, &c.

BINGHAMTON, September 24, 1846.

MY DEAR SIR-I am favored with yours of the 16th, inviting me in the name and behalf of the Democracy of Bradford county to join in a mass meeting, to be held at East Smithfield on the 30th, upon matters of public moment. The Democracy of Southern New York feel a lively interest in all that concerns their brethren of Northern Pennsylvania; and it would afford me unbounded pleasure if I could practically indulge this sympathy, and comply with an invitation conveyed in terms so gratifying; but the recent protracted session of Congress VOL. II.-25