A Discourse on the Life, Character and Writings of Gulian Crommelin Verplanck | Page 4

of Franklin; the grandmother of the
virtues and accomplishments of Cornwallis. The boy, of course, had to
choose between these different sides, and he chose the side of his
country and of the people.
I think that I perceive in these circumstances how it was that the mind
of Verplanck was educated to that independence of judgment, and that
self-reliance, which in after life so eminently distinguished it. He never
adopted an opinion for the reason that it had been adopted by another.
On some points--on more, I think, than is usual with most men--he was
content not to decide, but when he formed an opinion it was his own.
He had no hesitation in differing from others if he saw reason; indeed,
he sometimes showed that he rather liked to differ, or chose at least, by
questioning their opinions, to intimate that they were prematurely
formed. Another result of the peculiar political education which I have
described, was the fairness with which he judged of the characters and
motives of men who were not of his party. I saw much, very much of
him while he was a member of Congress, when political animosities
were at their fiercest, and I must say that I never knew a party man who
had less party rancor, or who was more ready to acknowledge in his
political opponents the good qualities which they really possessed.
After taking his degree he read law in the office of Josiah Ogden
Hoffman, an eminent member of the New York bar, much esteemed in
social life, whose house was the resort of the best company in New
York. His first public address, a Fourth of July oration, was delivered
when he was eighteen years of age. It was printed, but no copy of it is
now to be found. In due season he was admitted to the bar, and opened
an office for the practice of law in New York. A letter from Dr. Moore,
formerly President of Columbia College, relates that Verplanck and
himself took an office together on the east side of Pearl street, opposite
to Hanover square. "Little business as I had then," proceeds the Doctor,
"he seemed to have still less. Indeed I am not aware that he had, or
cared to have, any legal business whatever. He spent much of his time
out of the office and was not very studious when within, but it was
evident that he read or had read elsewhere to good purpose, for though

I read more Greek than law and thought myself studious, I had occasion
to discover more than once that he was a better Grecian than I, and
could enlighten my ignorance." From other sources I learn that in his
legal studies he delighted in the reports of law cases in Norman French,
that he was fond of old French literature, and read Rabelais in the
perplexing French of the original. It is mentioned in some accounts of
his life that he was elected in 1811 to the New York House of
Assembly by a party called the malcontents, but I have not had the
means of verifying this account, nor am I able to discover what were
the objects for which the party called malcontents was formed. In this
year an incident occurred of more importance to him than his election
to the Assembly.
On the 8th of August, 1811, the Annual Commencement of Columbia
College was held in Trinity Church. Among those who were to receive
the degree of Bachelor of Arts was a young man named Stevenson,
who had composed an oration to be delivered on the platform. It
contained some passages of a political nature, insisting on the duty of a
representative to obey the will of his constituents. Political parties were
at that time much exasperated against each other, and Dr. Wilson of the
College, to whom the oration was submitted, acting it was thought at
the suggestion of Dr. John Mason, the eloquent divine, who was then
Provost of the College, struck out the passages in question and directed
that they should be omitted in the delivery. Stevenson spoke them
notwithstanding, and was then privately informed by one of the
professors that his degree would be denied him. Yet, when the
diplomas were delivered, he mounted the platform with the other
graduates and demanded the degree of Dr. Mason. It was refused
because of his disobedience. Mr. Hugh Maxwell, afterwards eminent as
an advocate, sprang upon the platform and appealed to the audience
against this denial of what he claimed to be the right of Stevenson.
Great confusion followed, shouts, applauses and hisses, in the midst of
which Verplanck appeared on the platform saying: "The reasons are not
satisfactory; Mr. Maxwell must be supported," and then he moved