either in America or the world, to be able to say as Van Buren could truthfully say, that he gave away an American Presidency for his honor and convictions.

"The following order of the President of the United States communicates the information of the death of ex-President Martin Van Buren:

"Washington, July 25, 1862.

"The President with deep regret announces to the people of the United States the decease, at Kinderhook, N. Y., on the 24th instant, of his honored predecessor Martin Van Buren.

"This event will occasion mourning in the nation for the loss of a citizen and a public servant whose memory will be gratefully cherished. Although it has occurred at a time when his country is afflicted with division and civil war, the grief of his patriotic friends will measurably be assuaged by the consciousness that while suffering with disease and seeing his end approaching his prayers were for the restoration of the authority of the Government of which he had been the head and for peace and good will among his fellow-citizens.

"As a mark of respect for his memory, it is ordered that the Executive Mansion and the several Executive Departments, except those of War and of the Navy, be immediately placed in mourning and all business be suspended during tomorrow.

"It is further ordered that the War and Navy Departments cause suitable military and naval honors to be paid on this occasion to the memory of the illustrious dead.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

"On the day after the receipt of this order the troops will be paraded at 10 o'clock a. m. and the order read to them. The national flag will be displayed at half-staff. At dawn of day thirteen guns will be fired, and afterwards at intervals of thirty minutes between rising and setting sun a single gun, and at the close of the day a national salute of thirty-four guns. The officers of the Army will wear crape on the left arm and on their swaords and the colors of the several regiments will be put in mourning for the period of six months.

By order of the Secretary of War.

"L. THOMAS,

"Adjutant-General.

"GENERAL ORDER.

"Navy Department, July 25, 1862.

"The death of ex-President Martin Van Buren is announced in following order of the President of the United States:

"As a mark of respect for his memory, it is ordered that the Executive Mansion and the several Executive Departments, except those of War and of the Navy, be immediately placed in mourning and all business be suspended during tomorrow,

"It is further ordered that the War and Navy Departments cause suitable military and naval honers to be paid on this occasian to the memory of the illustrious dead.

"In pursuance of the foregoing order, it is hereby directed that thirty minutes guns, commencing at noon, be fired on the day after the receipt of this general order at the navy-yards, naval stations, and on board the vessels of the Navy in commission; that their flags be displayed at half-mast for one week, and that crape be worn on the left arm by all officers of the Navy for a period of six months.

"GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

CHAPTER 19.

Letters to and from Martin Van Buren and now
in the Congressional Library in Washington.

"My dear Sir:

JACKSON TO VAN BUREN

"Washington, July 11th, 1831.

"I have to acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter of the 21st ult. with Col. Moor's letter enclosed, which was sent to me at the Rip Raps, from whence I returned on the 7th instant; and this moment I have rec'd your very interesting letter of the 2nd instant which I have hastely read, and now give it a partial

answer.

"The first intimation I have had of the enemy attempting to hold out the idea that my confidence was lessened in you, was your letter just received. You are aware that I never read the papers that diffuse falshood, rather than truth, therefore the groundless rumor had never reached my ear. Since you left me, I have been visited by many at the Rip Raps; many from Richmond Va., and Norfolk came to see me. When your name was introduced, my opinion was frankly given, from which no one could believe my confidence was lessened in you. I have no doubt it would be pleasing to our enemies if they could circulate the report and obtaln belief in it, that our confidence in each other had been interrupted. I shall now take some pains (having heard of the wretched attempt, without seeming to do so) to show that my confidence has not been lessened, but increased. This will meet the falshood, and have no injurious effect, but a good one in putting down the falsehood. It is fortunate that our enemies have lied so long that their untruths do good rather than harm.

"The disgraceful course of Mr. Ingham, has, and will forever prostrate him. I am humbled when I reflect that a man who stood so high in good old Pennsylvania and was exalted to a seat in the Cabinet, has been so vindictive and destitute of common sense, as to adopt the degrading course he has, so disgraceful to himself and the nation. I trust you will see that the whole course I have adopted in this matter is calm and proper. You will see the moment I found he was writing letters, and having them published before they reached me, I directed Mr. Trist to answer his last and thus closed the correspondence. When you read it you will find he has no regard to the truth of the facts, but wishes me to become a prosecutor in his stead, and hold forth to the world that I keep the clerks under duress from giving testimony. I refer you to the correspondence which you will find in the Globe.

JOHN C. CALHOUN, 1782-1850. Vice President of the United States, March 4, 1825 to December 28, 1832. From National Portrait Gallery, 1864. Member of Congress from South Carolina 1811-1817; Secretary of War 1817-1825; United States Senator 1832-1843; Secretary of State 1844-1845; United States Senator from South Carolina, 1845-1850.