Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White, vol 1 | Page 4

prayer and Gerrit Smith's speech. Characteristics of Gerrit
Smith. Effects of the rescue trials. Main difficulty of the anti-slavery
party. ``Fool reformers.'' Nominations of Scott and Pierce; their
qualities. Senator Douglas. Abolition of the Missouri Compromise.
Growth of ill feeling between North and South. Pro-slavery tendencies
at Yale. Stand against these taken by President Woolsey and Leonard
Bacon. My candidacy or editorship of the ``Yale Literary Magazine.''
Opposition on account of my anti-Slavery ideas. My election.
Temptations to palter with my conscience; victory over them. Professor
Hadley's view of duty to the Fugitive Slave Law. Lack of opportunity
to present my ideas. My chance on Commencement Day. ``Modern
Oracles.'' Effect of my speech on Governor Seymour. Invitation to his
legation at St. Petersburg after my graduation. Effect upon me of
Governor Seymour's ideas regarding Jefferson. Difficulties in
discussing the slavery question. My first discovery as to the value of
political criticism in newspapers. Return to America. Presidential
campaign of 1856. Nomination of Frmont. My acquaintance with
the Democratic nominee Mr Buchanan. My first vote. Argument made
for the ``American Party.'' Election of Buchanan. My first visit to
Washington. President Pierce at the White House. Inauguration of the
new President. Effect upon me of his speech and of a first sight of the
United States Senate. Impression made by the Supreme Court. General
impression made by Washington. My first public lecture--``Civilization
in Russia''; its political bearing; attacks upon it and vindications of it.
Its later history.
CHAPTER V
. THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD--1857-1864.
My arrival at the University of Michigan. Political side of professorial
life. General purpose of my lectures in the university and throughout
the State. My articles in the ``Atlantic Monthly.'' President Buchanan,
John Brown Stephen A. Douglas, and others. The Chicago Convention.
Nomination of Lincoln. Disappointment of my New York friends.
Speeches by Carl Schurz. Election of Lincoln. Beginnings of Civil War.

My advice to students. Reverses; Bull Run. George Sumner's view.
Preparation for the conflict. Depth of feeling. Pouring out of my
students into the army. Kirby Smith. Conduct of the British
Government. Break in my health. Thurlow Weed's advice to me. My
work in London. Discouragements there. My published answer to Dr.
Russell. Experiences in Ireland and France. My horror of the French
Emperor. Effort to influence opinion in Germany. William Walton
Murphy; his interview with Baron Rothschild. Fourth of July
celebration at Heidelberg in 1863. Turning of the contest in favor of the
United States. My election to the Senate of the State of New York.
CHAPTER VI
. SENATORSHIP AT ALBANY--1864-1865
My arrival at Albany as State Senator. My unfitness. Efforts to become
acquainted with State questions. New acquaintances. Governor Horatio
Seymour, Charles James Folger, Ezra Cornell, and others on the
Republican side; Henry C. Murphy and Thomas C. Fields on the
Democratic side. Daniel Manning. Position assigned me on committees.
My maiden speech. Relations with Governor Seymour. My
chairmanship of the Committee on Education. The Morrill Act of 1862.
Mr. Cornell and myself at loggerheads Codification of the Educational
Laws. State Normal School Bill. Special Committee on the New York
Health Department. Revelations made to the Committee. The Ward's
Island matter. Last great effort of the State in behalf of the Union. The
Bounty Bill. Opposition of Horace Greeley to it. Embarrassment
caused by him at that period. Senator Allaben's speech against the
Bounty Bill. His reference to French Assignats; my answer; results;
later development of this speech into a political pamphlet on ``Paper
Money Inflation in France.'' Baltimore Convention of 1864; its curious
characteristics; impression made upon me by it. Breckinridge, Curtis,
and Raymond. Renomination of Lincoln; my meeting him at the White
House. Sundry peculiarities then revealed by him. His election.
CHAPTER VII
. SENATORSHIP AT ALBANY--1865-1867
My second year in the State Senate. Struggle for the Charter of Cornell
University. News of Lee's surrender. Assassination of Lincoln. Service

over his remains at the Capitol in Albany. My address. Question of my
renomination. Elements against me; the Tammany influence; sundry
priests in New York, and clergymen throughout the State. Senatorial
convention; David J. Mitchell; my renomination and election. My third
year of service, 1866. Speech on the Health Department in New York;
monstrous iniquities in that Department; success in replacing it with a
better system. My Phi Beta Kappa address at Yale; its purpose. My
election to a Professorship at Yale; reasons for declining it. State
Senate sits as Court to try a judge; his offense; pathetic complications;
his removal from office. Arrival of President Johnson, Secretary
Seward, General Grant, and Admiral Farragut in Albany; their
reception by the Governor and Senate; impressions made on me
thereby; part taken by Governor Fenton and Secretary Seward; Judge
Folger's remark to me. Ingratitude of the State thus far to its two
greatest Governors, DeWitt Clinton