OF PUBLIC MEN BY. JOHN W. FORNEY WHILE HE WAS CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SECRETARY OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES Editor of the organ of THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (THE WASHINGTON DAILY UNION) AND EDITOR OF THE ORGAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FROM 1862 TO 1868 Volume II. NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE U.S.5230.85 €). 1881. Mar. 17. Summer Elina • 1.34 HARVARD Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. All rights reserved. 8813 PREFACE TO THE SECOND VOLUME. THE immense success of the first volume of my "Anecdotes of Public Men" encouraged the preparation of the new series now presented to the public; and the reader will find, I hope, in this large variety of characters and scenes, the same kindly spirit to the living and the dead. Written in the turmoil of great excitement at Washington, while I was in a high official position, and in Philadelphia after I had voluntarily resigned all office, and in a foreign country when I was acting as the American Commissioner to promote the success of the Centennial Exhibition, between the years 1874 and 1876, I claim the indulgence of the press for all mistakes and omissions. This second volume appears after an exciting political campaign, in which I supported the Democratic candidate for President, on the plea of sincere devotion to the conciliation of the sections. It was that which led me to vote for General Hancock; and it is my hope that his victorious competitor may keep the same aim before him all through his administration. I am rather proud of the fact that there is not a page in this book inconsistent with my own earnest desire to do justice to the motives of all men, of whatever rank, religion, party, or country. Published at a time when the passions of a great presidential struggle are slowly dying, and when all our people are looking forward to a new era of production and prosperity, I feel that this volume will be read with pleasure, and perhaps with profit, in all the states. J. W. F. ANECDOTES OF PUBLIC MEN. I. JAMES W. NYE, THE HUMOROUS ORATOR. WHEN James W. Nye was a very young man, not more than thirty, he was appointed one of the Common Pleas judges for his native county of Madison, N. Y., and gave great satisfaction by his popular manners, personal courage, and large humanities. Nye was always a favorite with the old Democratic leaders of the Empire State, especially with Martin Van Buren and William L. Marcy. Although an extreme Democratic partisan, his ready humor and instinctive generosity made him the chief of a considerable following. Few men surpassed him in private conversation or public speaking, as those who enjoyed his society and heard his speeches during the war need not be reminded. But to the incident I intended to relate: When he became Judge of the Madison courts, he one day visited the county prison in the character of an inspector, and was surprised to find among the inmates a lad of twelve or thirteen years of age, sent there to await his trial on a charge of theft. Struck by his youthful appearance, he asked him whether he was guilty of the charge laid against him, to which the boy at once replied in the affirmative. He said his father and mother were miserably poor, and that, in desperation, he had broken into a corn-crib and supplied the family with corn. Believing, from the lad's manner, that he was worthy of |