Perleys Reminiscences, v. 1-2 | Page 3

Weed-- Dissensions among the Whigs--Cabinet Troubles--Congressional Criticisms--Cushing and Adams, of Massachusetts--Wise, of Virginia --Bagby, of Alabama.
CHAPTER XXI.
DIPLOMATIC AND SOCIAL LIFE OF WEBSTER. The Ashburton Treaty--Diplomatic Negotiations--Speech by Daniel Webster--Webster's Social Life--Mr. Clay's Nightcaps--Administration Organs--Justice to John Tyler.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE CAPITOL AND THE DRAWING ROOMS. A Stormy Session--John Quincy Adams at Bay--The Code of Honor--The Supreme Court--Visit of Charles Dickens--The Secretary of State's Party--A Reception at the White House--The President's Ball for Children--Diplomatic Hospitality--Ole Bull--A Troublesome Congressman.
CHAPTER XXIII.
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS. The Accidental President--Virginia Hospitality--Second-Hand Style --The Pathfinder's Marriage--Baron de Bodisco, of Russia--Mr. Fox, of Great Britain--The Author of "Sweet Home"--The Daguerreotype-- The Electric Telegraph--The New York Tribune--Resignation of Mr. Webster--Reconstruction of the Cabinet--Fatal Accident on the Princeton--Marriage of President Tyler.
CHAPTER XXIV.
HOW TEXAS BECAME A STATE. John C. Calhoun, Secretary of State--How Tyler was Managed--Admission of Texas--Douglas, of Illinois--An Able House of Representatives-- An Exciting Campaign--President Tyler's Programme--Nomination of Henry Clay--The Democratic Ticket--Surprise of George M. Dallas-- The Liberty Party--Exit John Tyler.
CHAPTER XXV.
PRESIDENT POLK'S ADMINISTRATION. Inauguration of Polk--His Personal Appearance--Inauguration Balls --Mrs. Polk--Secretary Buchanan--Governor Marcy, of New York-- Completion of the Cabinet--The Oregon Difficulty--The Mexican War --A Change of Organist.
CHAPTER XXVI.
DEATH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. Washington Society--An Old Whig Supper--Death of John Quincy Adams --Abraham Lincoln in the House--Jefferson Davis as a Representative --The Democratic Nomination--Lewis Cass, of Michigan--The Whig Convention--Daniel Webster and Henry Clay--Nomination of General Taylor--Letter of Acceptance--The Free-Soil Movement--Inception of the Great Conspiracy.
CHAPTER XXVII.
MAKING THE MOST OF POWER. President Taylor and His Secretary--Selection of the Taylor Cabinet --The Taylor Family--Jefferson Davis--Inauguration Ceremonies-- Office Seekers--Patronage and Spoils--The Galphin, Gardiner, and other Claims--The Taylor Administration--The White House.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE GREAT COMPROMISE DEBATE. Stormy Scenes at the Capitol--Crimination and Recrimination--Taylor's Only Message--Return of Mr. Clay to the Senate--The Great Compromise Debate--Webster's Seventh of March Speech--The Last Days of Calhoun --Jefferson Davis' Leadership--John P. Hale, of New Hampshire.
CHAPTER XXIX.
PROMINENT STATESMEN AND DIPLOMATS. Sam Houston, of Texas--Seward, of New York--Buchanan, of Pennsylvania --Agricultural Donations--Diplomatic Representatives--Social Enjoyments--Winthrop's Farewell Supper--Fatal Illness of General Taylor--Death of the President.
CHAPTER XXX.
FILLMORE AT THE WHITE HOUSE. President Fillmore--Funeral of General Taylor--Webster again Secretary of State--The Compromise Measures--Mrs. Millard Fillmore --A Proud Father--The Capitol Extension--The Library of Congress-- Washington Society--Public Amusements.
CHAPTER XXXI.
ARRAIGNMENT OF DANIEL WEBSTER. Accusation Against Mr. Webster--The "Expounder of the Constitution" Sore at Heart--Belligerent Mississippians--Painting and Sculpture at the Capitol--Overland Explorations--A Washington Mob--A Washington Correspondent.
CHAPTER XXXII.
FOREIGN INFLUENCE AND KNOW-NOTHINGISM. "Filibustering"--The Hulsemann Letter--Kossuth, of Hungary--The Know-Nothings--Boss Tweed, of New York--Butler, of South Carolina --Other Prominent Senators--Exit Clay--Enter Sumner--The Officers of the House.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
PLOTTING FOR THE PRESIDENCY. President-Making--Political Intrigues--The Democratic Convention-- Nomination of General Pierce--The Whig Candidates--Rivalry Between Webster and Fillmore--The Last Whig National Convention--Death of Henry Clay--General Scott as a Candidate--General Frank Pierce, of New Hampshire--Death of Daniel Webster--General Pierce Elected President.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
PIERCE BECOMES PRESIDENT. Inauguration of President Pierce--Vice-President King--The Cabinet --Popularity of the New President--Pryor, of Virginia--Rare Old Wines--Peale's Portraits of Washington--Brady's Portraits--Visit of Thackeray--A Copyright Victim--Jullien's Concerts.
CHAPTER XXXV.
CHIVALRY, AT HOME AND ABROAD. Executive Appointments--The Ostend Manifesto--Mr. Buchanan at London --The Kansas-Nebraska Debate--Spicy Words Between Breckinridge and Cutting--Diplomatic Card-Playing--Assistant-Secretary Thomas--The Amoskeag Veterans.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CRYSTALLIZATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. Formation of the Republican Party--The Election of Speaker--Mr. Banks Triumphant--Division of the Spoils--A Protracted Session-- Assault on Horace Greeley--Territorial Delegates--The Senate--The Virginia Senators--"Hale," of New Hampshire.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
POLITICAL STORM AND SOCIAL SUNRISE. Sumner, of Massachusetts--The Assault on Sumner--Troublous Times-- Congressional Courtesies--Senatorial Wit--Convention of Old Soldiers --Social Routine at the White House--Society Gatherings.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
GROWTH OF THE METROPOLIS. The Crampton Difficulty--Unsuccessful French Mediation--The Diplomatic Corps--Information for Publication--Mr. Buchanan in England-- Washington Hotels--The New Hall of the House.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE NORTHERN CHAMPIONS. Fessenden, of Maine--The Sterling Claim--Social Festivities--Marriage of Judge Douglas--Congressional Scenes--Secretary of War Davis-- Art and Literature--George W. Childs--J. R. Bartlett.
CHAPTER XL.
EXCITING PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST. Democratic Candidates for the Presidency--James Buchanan--Stephen A. Douglas--Delegates to the Cincinnati Convention--The Struggle-- The Disorganized Democracy United--Opposition Nominations--The Republican Convention--Election of Mr. Buchanan--Counting the Votes.
CHAPTER XLI.
MISS LANE IN THE WHITE HOUSE. President-elect Buchanan--Miss Harriet Lane--The New Cabinet and the Message--The Newspaper Organs--Inauguration of President Buchanan --The Inauguration Ball--The Dred Scott Decision--The Minority Decision.
CHAPTER XLII.
DIPLOMACY, SOCIETY, AND CIVIL SERVICE. Foreign Relations--Lord Napier, the British Minister--Sir William Gore Ouseley--Society in Washington--A Fashionable Pretender--Civil Service--Office Seeking--Choate's Handwriting--The Governors of Kansas.
CHAPTER XLIII.
PRELUDE TO THE REBELLION. Organization of the Senate--John Slidell, of Louisiana--Senator Douglas Opposes the Administration--Ben Wade's Bon Mot--Meeting of the House--Election of Speaker--Investigation of the Wolcott Attempts at Bribery--Debates on the Admission of Kansas--Nocturnal Row in the House--The North Victorious.
CHAPTER XLIV.
POLITICIANS, AUTHORS, AND HUMORISTS. Wade, of Ohio--Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi--Johnson, of Arkansas --Anthony, of Rhode Island--Trollope, of England--One of Mike Walsh's Jokes--Albert Pike's Wake--The Sons of Malta.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS [omitted]
LIST OF AUTOGRAPHS
ANDREW JACKSON JOHN QUINCY ADAMS WILLIAM HARRIS CRAWFORD EDWARD EVERETT HENRY CLAY JOHN CALDWELL CALHOUN SILAS WRIGHT, JR. DANIEL WEBSTER THOMAS HART BENTON RICHARD MENTOR JOHNSON ALEXANDER HAMILTON STEPHENS ANDREW STEVENSON WILLIAM RUFUS KING MARTIN VAN BUREN TRISTRAM BURGESS WILLIAM LEARNED MARCY THOMAS CORWIN WILLIAM HENRY