appoint you. The office ought to be held by a good Christian man of meekness, patience, and humility. We have had all sorts of venison dinners and suppers since you left us. There has been more eating done in Frankfort during the last ten days than you ever heard of. Electors are pouring in upon us from all quarters. A few words of instruction, by way of practical improvement: Take strong hold,-don't be too modest. I know what I say.

Hon. J. J. CRITTENDEN.

Your friend,

R. P. LETCHER.

(R. P. Letcher to J. J. Crittenden.)

December 14, 1840.

DEAR CRITTENDEN,-As I told you, your election to the Senate will take place on Wednesday. It may be that some gentlemen will press you hard to say whether you will hold the station or resign it before the legislature adjourns. Some wish, no doubt, to have an election this session. Should you go into the cabinet, I do not wish to be under the necessity of appointing your successor; but still, let me tell you, take your time,—view the ground, and don't be hastened. If, after mature reflection, you can see your way clear, I would be pleased that the legislature should know the fact and make an election, but understand well what you are about. The old D. is butting himself against some resolutions, offered by Pirtle, in favor of a national bank. He has been speaking an hour or two. When will wonders cease? He will be tired of his honors before this session closes. I understand he says, "That Harrison's cabinet will be a Clay fixing, out and out, and that it will all go down. Crittenden is to go as Attorney-General (Clay's work), and he can't hold out twelve months," etc., and some other little compliments he paid you, which it would make you too proud to repeat. Since the young D. returned from his scout after Harrison, the old fellow is in a bad humor. There are many very uneasy souls here lest W. should get some place. You have no idea of the feeling of hostility created by the conjecture that he was to be provided for. I entertain no personal feeling against him myself, but what I tell you is so. Truly your friend,

R. P. LETCHER.

CHAPTER XI.

1840-1841.

Pension to Hannah Leighton-Pre-emption and Distribution-Letters.

T is generally known, that on the evening of the 18th of April, 1775, the British army left Boston to proceed to Concord, where the colonial stores were collected, and to seize them. This was the commencement of the war. The morning of the 19th this intelligence had been communicated to a considerable distance by the use of torches, tar barrels, and other signals; and before noon Isaac Davis, a young man of eighteen or nineteen years of age, captain of a militia company, was on his way to protect the colonial stores. Isaac Davis was the husband of Hannah Leighton. Before the British troops could arrive at Concord they sent forward a party to take possession of two bridges on the Concord River, which were situated three or four miles apart; and this was known at an early hour for many miles around. Isaac Davis with his company were soon under arms and on their march. They arrived at Concord by a road that led to the lower of these bridges, and there on the right and on the left were seen other collections of Massachusetts troops, but there was no organization amongst them. Davis, however, kept on his course; before he reached the bridge admonitory shouts were given to the militia not to approach; this was disregarded; the British fired, and several men fell; Davis pressed forward, and as he neared the bridge the British fired, and he fell. In the contest that ensued, the British were driven back to Boston. Davis's widow married a man by the name of Leighton; she was ninety years of age, was penniless, and asked relief from the government.

Mr. Calhoun said he considered the pension-list no more than a great system of charity, and that the pension to men for

six months' service was an imposition; to call it a pension was a fraud on the public; it was under the name of charity, but its true name was plunder.

Mr. Crittenden said: I have been under the impression that this bill had passed through both houses of Congress at the last session. Am sorry to find I was mistaken. It is vain to say that this case is like every other case, vain to tell me that this can be tortured into a precedent which could be abused. This case stands by itself, morally, socially, indeed, in every point of view.

It is an application in favor of the widow of the first man that fell in the Revolution, when there was no regularly organized government. That man, stirred by his own patriotism, without a country, I may almost say, went forward to make, and then to defend, that country. Shall I, then, be told that this case would not be distinguished, both in the hearts and reasons of men, from the case of others under an organized government? Such a statement cannot reach my understanding or my feelings. I hope the bill will pass, and that this nation will no longer remain under the reproach of refusing a piece of bread to maintain this poor widow of a Revolutionary officer who received his deathwound under such circumstances. I shall call for the ayes and noes that I may record my vote; and if these are abuses, let those who commit them take the responsibility.

(R. P. Letcher to J. J. Crittenden.)

FRANKFORT, January 1, 1841. DEAR CRITTENDEN,-One word: I have just received and read your letter to a few good friends who happened in my office. Your warm expressions of gratitude to your State for the kind manner of again electing you to the Senate made the tears run down their cheeks. I could hardly read it in an audible voice. I have heard no one of any sense say you ought to resign before you actually accept some other office. Do nothing from motives of delicacy. I am persuaded you ought to run no risk whatever. Suppose General Harrison should die before the 4th of March, what might be your condition then? Suppose your associates in cabinet should be anything but agreeable to you, how would the matter stand? There is some hazard in resigning, and none by holding on. A safe course in this life is the better course. I again repeat, do nothing to relieve me from embarrassment (in case of a called session), to fill the vacancy. I am ready to act, or not to act, as occasion may require, and care nothing about responsibility, or as little as I

ought. All well. Went last night to a party at Judge Brown's. To-day, have a small dining-party of thirty myself.

Hon. J. J. CRITTENDEN.

Your friend,

R. P. LETCHER.

On the 5th of January, 1841, Mr. Crittenden proposed an amendment to the pre-emption laws; he thought that before granting to foreigners any of the privileges provided by the bill, they should record evidence of their intentions to become naturalized. The advocates for the bill had urged its passage upon the ground that the foreigner exposed himself as a bulwark to guard our frontier. Mr. Crittenden declared the.American people were not yet reduced so low as to offer mercenary rewards to strangers to bribe them to expose their bosoms as a rampart against a foe. Not "against a world in arms" would he seek such protection, much less against a horde of naked savages. He contended that the soil of the United States belonged to the citizens of the United States. He was the son of a pre-emptioner, was born on a pre-emption, and was ready and willing to give a pre-emption right of three hundred and twenty acres to every real bona fide settler who was not worth over one thousand dollars. As to a distribution of the proceeds of the common estate in the public lands, Mr. Crittenden always contended that the people had that right, that it had not been denied, and could not be disproved. In a speech made by Mr. Crittenden on pre-emption and distribution, he alluded to Mr. Benton's having stated that the presidential election of General Harrison was brought about by bankers and stockbrokers in England. Mr. C. declared that the result of the late election was not the effect of British gold, but the sense of the American people as to the management of their public affairs. The expression of opinion came from the old genuine Republican stock; it was a spark from the old Revolutionary flint, and had blown the gentleman "sky high." He hoped they would not, now that they had reached the ground and were rubbing their bruised and broken shins, try to disguise the truth to themselves. The people were coming on the fourth of March, and bringing the man of the Log Cabin with them. The Van Burenites were puzzling their heads to account for it, but we will work out the sum for them. The honorable gentleman from Missouri seemed

to think that if the States once lapped blood during this process of distribution it would eventually become their common food, and the general government would be stripped of its revenue. The general government was the offspring of the States, and the States were not vampires; they would not feed upon the strength and empty the veins of their child.

The following letters, received and written by Mr. Crittenden, explain fully the circumstances connected with his re-election to the Senate, and his immediate resignation, to take a place in General Harrison's cabinet.

General. Harrison was elected President, and took the oath of office 4th of March, 1841. The President called an extra session of Congress, to meet the 31st of May, but did not live to see it meet; he died on the 4th of April, 1841.

(John Bell to Governor Letcher.)

WASHINGTON, January 13, 1841. DEAR GOVERNOR LETCHER,-I presume White keeps you advised of all the on dits of the day here,-of the under-current plots and counter-plots, etc.,—so I shall say nothing of them, Of myself I will say, that I believe for the whole time since the opening of Congress the rank and file of our party here have been strongly in favor of my going into the cabinet. With not a few the feeling has been a positive one, not of mere acquiescence. Still, the great leaders evidently hang back.

Both Clay and Webster would be glad to have some more active or unscrupulous partisan (I know not which) than either of them think I could be made. Webster thinks I am, or will be, a decided partisan of Clay, and the latter thinks I would not go far enough, or be bold enough in his service. This is the gospel truth of the matter.

It is either so or General Harrison himself has objections, for I have learned that he, or his friends about him, have been long since well advised of the course of sentiment in regard to me. Yet the War Department is still held up for the further development of public sentiment. I am growing pretty sick already of this thing of office in my own case, and the increasing tide of application from new quarters that daily beats against my ears gives me spasms. In truth, I begin to fear that we are, at last, or rather that our leading politicians in the several States are, chiefly swayed by the thirst for power and plunder. Would you think that Senator Talmadge is willing to descend from the Senate to the New York custom-house? This is yet a secret, but it is