[244] Ibid., p. 127.
[245] Jabez D. Hammond, Political History of New York, p. 177.
[246] Thurlow Weed, in his Autobiography, says (p. 461): "Of his estimable private character, and of the bounties and blessings he scattered in all directions, or of the pervading atmosphere of happiness and gratitude that his lifelong goodness created, I need not speak, for they are widely known and well remembered."
[247] "'I heard a great deal about Mr. Van Buren,' said Andrew Jackson, who occupied a seat in the United States Senate with him, 'especially about his non-committalism. I made up my mind that I would take an early opportunity to hear him and judge for myself. One day an important subject was under debate. I noticed that Mr. Van Buren was taking notes while one of the senators was speaking. I judged from this that he intended to reply, and I determined to be in my seat when he spoke. His turn came; and he arose and made a clear, straightforward argument, which, to my mind, disposed of the whole subject. I turned to my colleague, Major Seaton, who sat next to me. 'Major,' I said, 'is there anything non-committal about that?' 'No, sir,' said the Major."—Edward M. Shepard, Life of Martin Van Buren, p. 151.
"In Van Buren's senatorial speeches there is nothing to justify the charge of 'non-committalism' so much made against him. When he spoke at all he spoke explicitly; and he plainly, though without acerbity, exhibited his likes and dislikes. Van Buren scrupulously observed the amenities of debate. He was uniformly courteous towards adversaries; and the calm self-control saved him, as some great orators were not saved, from a descent to the aspersion of motive so common and futile in political debate."—Ibid., p. 152.
[248] Jabez D. Hammond, Political History of New York, Vol. 2, p. 164.
[249] Rochester was lost off the coast of North Carolina, on June 15, 1838, by the explosion of a boiler on the steamer Pulaski, bound from Charleston to Baltimore. Of 150 passengers only 50 survived.
[250] Clinton's vote was 99,785—a falling off of 3,667 from 1824, while Rochester's was 96,135, an increase of 9,042 over Young's vote.—Civil List, State of New York (1887), p. 166.
[251] James Parton, Life of Andrew Jackson, Vol. 3, p. 131.
[252] Ibid., p. 136.