PREFACE It My acquaintance with the subject of this memoir commenced while we were both yet students of the profession which he was destined so conspicuously to adorn. rapidly matured into a friendship which never knew any interruption. Though for a time, on political questions, operating on diverging lines, we differed only about the means, never about the ends of which we were in pursuit. At the close of the Civil war of 1861 we found ourselves once more on common ground, and thenceforth to the close of his life it was my privilege to coöperate with him in his persistent efforts to correct some of the administrative abuses, which were the not unnatural results of that gigantic fratricidal struggle. About the time that he found himself compelled by impaired health to retire from the active leadership of his party, he placed in my hands all of his public papers, from which I was permitted to choose such as I deemed of permanent interest and value. These were submitted to the public in 1885.1 He subsequently gave me access to his private correspondence, portions of which he caused to be copied and printed, partly for my convenience, in case I should survive him and feel disposed to give to the world in greater detail the story of his life. The volumes now submitted to the public are the results of "The Writings and Speeches of Samuel J. Tilden," edited by John Bigelow, in two volumes, New York, Harper & Brothers, 1885. an effort to discharge what I am disposed to regard as my duty to a faithful friend, as well as to the great community of which he had been for full half a century a devoted servant and benefactor. His public life spanned a larger portion of the history of our Republic than that of any other eminent American statesman, and he occupied the unique position in our history of being the only one selected by the nation for its chief magistracy, who was never clothed with its responsibilities. That there was much in such a life which those to whom the future destinies of our country are to be confided, may study with profit, there can be no doubt. The contribution to the facilities for this study, attempted in these pages, inadequate as I am conscious it is, and imperfect as any record of such a life must be, written before Time's effacing finger has obliterated the transient memories of a more or less stormy career, and revealed its durable outline and grand proportions, will, I trust, be not without some value. When the passions and prejudices engendered by political strife shall, as in due time they will subside, Mr. Tilden's place among the foremost and wisest statesmen of our country will be cheerfully recognized. If, however, I owe to his memory, as I suppose I do, any further duty as a friend and patriot, it is a duty which my increasing years admonish me must not be deferred. J. B. 21 GRAMERCY PARK, NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 1894. CONTENTS The Tilden ancestry- The dens of the wealds of Kent - Sir Richard Tilden's ancestor's intermarriage with a nephew of William the Conqueror - John Tilden, of Benenden, A.D. 1400 - Nathaniel Tilden's musket -- His grandson's first and last sporting experience - Major Doubleday - William Jones, founder of New Haven- David Yale, one of the founders of Yale College Governor 1-11 Chancellor Kent reads his last preface to his "Commentaries"- First essay as a political writer - Opposes a recharter of the United States Bank Defends President Jackson's nullification message of a protective tariff - Silas Wright's peccavi · The treasury Enters Yale College - Dietary troubles -- Death of his brother George Leaves college in ill-health Advice for Van Buren the New York University - Leggett and the "Plaindealer”. Financial crisis of 1836-7- Marcy and Tilden begin to diverge -Tilden's reply to "Marshall" The Independent Treasury Prepares the Address of the Mechanics and Workingmen 46-74 Advises his sister in regard to the choice of a husband - Her death - Van Buren and Harrison campaign Address in Admitted to the bar - Opposes a coercive bankrupt law The Glent- worth election frauds - Law-book purchases Death of Elam Tilden - A winter's journey from Albany- The Know-Nothing cyclone James K. Polk elected President Silas Wright Governor of New York - The "Daily News" established - The slavery schism in the Democratic party- - Elected to the Assembly -The anti-rent war- - Elected to the Constitutional Convention of 1846 Governor Wright's defeat for reëlection - Annexation of Texas - Address of the Democratic members of the Legisla- ture on the slavery issues - Baltimore convention - Martin Van Buren and Charles Francis Adams nominated by the Free-Soil Nominated for attorney-general - Correspondence with his Democratic competitor - Defence of Comptroller Flagg — Burdell will contest - Pennsylvania Coal Company - Professional Constitutional convention of 1867-Resists the enlargement of the canals Resents the imputation of having sympathized with the Rebellion Combats the Tweed ring - Joins in organizing the New York Bar Association - Measures for the reform of the judiciary -Elected to the Legislature in 1871 - Advice of Horatio Sey- mour Impeachment of judges Letters from Charles O'Conor and William Allen Butler-O'Conor's account of the origin of the New York rings - Seymour's nomination for the presidency — Tilden not responsible for it Letters to the Tammany society - Declines an invitation to speak in Washington for the ratification |