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Taken as a class, while there is a fair proportion both of genius and scholarship among them, yet the general result speaks more of average talent and education turned to excellent account, than of any striking eminence in any particular direction.

But we regard it as highest of all that they were men of good and honest hearts-men who have set their faces as a flint to know and do the RIGHT. All of them are men whose principles have been tried in the fire, men who have braved opposition and persecution and loss for the sake of what they believed to be true, and knew to be right, and for this even more than for their bravery in facing danger, and their patience and perseverance in overcoming difficulties, we have good hope in offering them as examples to the young men of America.

In respect to one of the names on the list, the editor's near relationship, while it gives her most authentic access to all sources of just information, may be held to require an apology. But the fashion of writing biographies of our leading men is becoming so popular that the only way in which a prominent man can protect himself from being put before the public by any hands who may think fit to assume the task, is to put into the hands of some friend such authentic particulars as may with propriety be recorded. Mr. Beecher has recently been much embarrassed by the solicitation of parties, who notwithstanding his remonstrances, announce an intention of writing his life. He has been informed by them that it was to be done whether he consented or not, and that his only choice was between furnishing these parties with material, or taking the risk of what they might discover in their unassisted researches.

In this dilemma, it is hoped that the sketch presented in this volume, as being undeniably authentic, may so satisfy the demand, that there may be no call for any other record.

HARTFORD, January, 1868.

H. B. STOWE.

CONTENTS.

The Men of our Time-Lincoln Foremost-The War was the Working-Man's

Revolution-Abraham Lincoln's Birth and Youth-The Books he Read-

The Thirty Thousand Dollars for Tender-The Old Stocking of Govern-

ment Money-A Just Lawyer; Anecdotes-His First Candidary and Speech

-Goes to Legislature and Congress-The Seven Debates and Campaign

against Douglass in 1858-Webster's and Lincoln's Language Compared-

The Cooper Institute Speech-The Nomination at Chicago-Moral and

Physical Courage-The Backwoodsman President and the Diplomatists-

Significance of his Presidential Career-Religious Feelings-His Kindness

-"The Baby Did It"-The First Inaugural-The Second Inaugural, and

other State Papers-The Conspiracy and Assassination-The Opinions of

Foreign Nations on Mr. Lincoln.

CHAPTER II.-ULYSSES S. GRANT.

A General Wanted—A Short War Expected—The Young Napoleon—God's

Revenge Against Slavery-The Silent Man in Galena-"Tanning Leath-

er"-Gen. Grant's Puritan Descent-How he Loaded the Logs-His West

Point Career Service in Mexico-Marries, and Leaves the Army-Wood-

Cutting, During and Leather-Selling-Enlists against the Rebellion-Mis-

souri Campaign-Paducah Campaign-Fort Donelson Campaign-Battle

of Shiloh-How Grant Lost his Temper-Vicksburg Campaign-Lincoln

on Grant's "Drinking"-Chattanooga-Grant's Method of Making a Speech

-Appointed Lieutenant-General-The Richmond Campaign—“Mr. Grant

is a Very Obstinate Man "-Grant's Qualifications as a Ruler-Honesty-

Generosity to Subordinates-Sound Judgment of Men-Power of Holding

his Tongue-Grant's Sidewalk Platform-Talks Horse to Senator Wade-

"Wants Nothing Said "-The Best Man for Next President.

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His use of Language-Things by their Right Names-Abolitionist "Hard

Language;" Garrison's Argument on it-Protest for Woman's Rights-The

Triumph of his Cause-"The Liberator" Discontinued-Second Visit to

England-Letter to Mrs. Stowe.

CHAPTER IV.-CHARLES SUMNER.

Mr. Sumner an instance of Free State High Culture-The "Brahmin Caste"

of New England-The Sumner Ancestry; a Kentish Family-Governor

Increase Sumner; His Revolutionary Patriotism-His Stately Presence; "A

Governor that can Walk"-Charles Sumner's Father-Mr. Sumner's Edu-

cation, Legal and Literary Studies-Tendency to Ideal Perfection-Sumner

and the Whigs-Abolitionism Social Death-Sumner's Opposition to the

Mexican War-His Peace Principles-Sumner Opposes Slavery Within the

Constitution, as Garrison Outside of it-Anti-Slavery and the Whigs-The

Political Abolitionist Platform-Webster asked in vain to Oppose Slavery

-Sumner's Rebuke of Winthrop Joins the Free Soil Party-Succeeds

Webster in the Senate-Great Speech against the Fugitive Slave Law-The

Constitution a Charter of Liberty-Slavery not in the Constitution-First

Speech after the Brooks Assault-Consistency as to Reconstruction.

CHAPTER V.-SALMON P. CHASE.

England and our Finances in the War-President Wheelock and Mr. Chase's

Seven Uncles-His Uncle the Bishop-His Sense of Justice at College-His

Uncle the Senator-Admitted to the Bar for Cincinnati-His First Argu-

ment before a U.S. Court-Society in Cincinnati-The Ohio Abolitionists-

Cincinnati on Slavery-The Church admits Slavery to be "an Evil "—Mr.

Chase and the Birney Mob-The Case of the Slave Girl Matilda-How

Mr. Chase "Ruined Himself"-He Affirms the Sectionality of Slavery-

The Van Zandt Case-Extracts from Mr. Chase's Argument-Mr. Chase

in Anti Slavery Politics-His Qualifications as a Financier.

CHAPTER VI.-HENRY WILSON.

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CHAPTER VIII-DAVID G. FARRAGUT.

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