sonally resort to the means employed, they will yet indirectly give it their support. The organization when in the hands of professional politicians of the above type is known as "Machine."

Brave. (See Tammany.)

Bread Riots in 1837. Owing to the business panic of 1837 there was much suffering among the laboring classes. chiefly those in large cities, and bread riots in the streets of New York City were some of the results of the depression of trade.

Breckenridge, John Cabell, was born at Lexington, Kentucky, January 21, 1825, and died May 17, 1875. He was Vice-President of the United States from 1857 to 1861. He was the presidential candidate of the southern wing of the Democratic party in 1860. He was defeated, but was chosen to the United States Senate. During the extra session of 1861 he was active in the Senate. Then he went over to the Confederacy, and became a Major-General in its service. He was expelled from the Senate, December, 1861. Brigadiers, Rebel. (See Rebel Brigadiers.)

Bright, Jesse D. United States Senator from Indiana 1815-62. Expelled from the Senate February 5, 1862, because of disloyalty. Born at Norwich, New York, December 18, 1812; died at Baltimore, Maryland, May 20, 1875. Broad Construction. (See Construction of the Constitution.)

Broad Seal War was a controversy as to the election in 1838 of representatives to Congress from New Jersey. In that State up to 1846 all the representatives of the State, six in number, were elected on a general ticket. In 1838 there was a Democratic majority of about one hundred votes in 57,000. Owing to certain irregularities, the State Board of Canvassers gave the certificates under the broad seal of the State to the Whig candidates. As the House without New Jersey's members stood one hundred and eighteen Whigs to one hundred and nineteen Democrats, success in this controversy meant control of the House. After considerable confusion a compromise Speaker was elected and the Democratic members were finally seated.

Brooks, Preston S. Member of Congress from South Carolina 1853-57. Born in South Carolina, August 4,

1819; died at Washington, District of Columbia, January 27, 1857. He is known chiefly for his brutal attack on Senator Charles Sumner, May 22, 1856. Sumner had in debate criticised Senator Butler, Brooks' uncle, whereupon Brooks, backed by two other Representatives, attacked him in the Senate Chamber after adjournment. He used a heavy cane, knocking him senseless, and then brutally beating him; it was several years before Sumner recovered his health. Brooks was censured by the House and resigned, but he was at once unanimously re-elected. Massachusetts refused to elect any one in Sumner's place and the post remained vacant for several years.

Brother Jonathan. A general name applied to the people of the United States. Its origin is said to be as follows: General Washington found soon after having taken command of the Continental army that it was sadly in need of many articles. Jonathan Trumbull, the cler, at that time Governor of Connecticut, was a friend of Washington and one in whose judgment Washington had great confidence. During a consultation on the state of the army, Washington suggested that they consult "Brother Jonathan," meaning Trumbull. This advice was followed, and Trumbull devised the means of procuring what was desired. The story was told in the army, and the reply to a demand for any article was invariably advice to ask "Brother Jonathan." The phrase became proverbial and has lived to the present time.

Brown, John, was born in Torrington, Connecticut, May 9, 1800. On his father's side he was descended from Peter Brown, who had come over in the Mayflower; his ancestors on his mother's side were Dutch. While John was still young, his father moved to Ohio. John returned to New England and began to study for the ministry, but his eyes failing, he was obliged to desist. He then returned to Ohio, where he married; he was not yet twenty-one years of age. His first wife, by whom he had seven children, died in 1832. His second wife, who bore him thirteen children, survived him. He did not remain long in Ohio; after various changes of residence he moved to Massachusetts, where he engaged in the wool business. This venture ended in hankruptcy. Gerrit Smith gave him some land at North Elba,

Essex County, New York, and in 1849 Brown moved thither with his family. He took with him some freed negroes, but they, losing heart at the sterility of the soil, gave up in despair. In 1851 he returned to Ohio. Four of his sons had moved to Kansas, which was then the seat of hot slavery contention, and finding it impossible to get on without arms, they wrote to their father to send such as they needed. John Brown, moving his family back to North Elba, set out for Kansas. His purpose was to free slaves. He belonged to no political party, "he followed neither Garrison nor Seward; but the Golden Rule and the Declara

tion of Independence." He plunged into the fight between the Free-State and the Slavery men, and on several occasions defeated forces much larger than his own. Among his notable achievements was his defense of Ossawatomie against a force numbering fifteen times his own, until failing ammunition compelled him to retreat. During this period he freed many slaves, one of his exploits arousing such excitement that the Governor of Missouri offered three thousand dollars for his arrest; to this the President added two hundred and fifty dollars. In January, 1859, he started east, going to Canada, where he and his followers effected a sort of organization. For the next few months he was first East and then West, and the 30th of June found him in Maryland, near Harper's Ferry. Here he and his companions hired a farm, to which, without attracting attention, men and arms were smuggled. It was his design to seize the National armory at Harper's Ferry, in which over one hundred thousand stand of arms were stored, and, after freeing and arming what negroes he could, to take to the mountains, with which as a base he hoped to repeat his Kansas successes in freeing slaves. Fears of treachery compelled him to hasten his plans, and on Sunday evening, October 17th, the armory was seized by Brown, his force consisting of twenty-two men. Telegraph wires were cut, trains stopped, and sixty prisoners taken. Instead of fleeing to the mountains, as planned, Brown stood his ground, expecting, it is said, the negroes to rise in his favor. Be that as it may, he was surrounded by over 1,500 militia, besides some marines and artillery, and captured after a desperate fight, in which he was se