CHAPTER IIIAT KENYON COLLEGE, 1838-1840-- FRESHMAN ANDSOPHOMORE YEARS
OCTOBER 31, 1838. --Spent in going to Mount Vernon on way
to Kenyon College.
November 1.-- Arrived at Gambier; looks as I expected.
November 3.--I was examined for the freshman class by
Messrs. Kendrick, Menscher, Smith, and Wing. Passed without
any trouble. My teachers are Messrs. Sandels and Ufford.
November 6.--Recited for the first time. The lessons are
not hard, about the right length.
November 27.--Went skating for the first time and broke
through the thin ice where the water was eight feet deep; was
not scared much. My companions helped me out without much
trouble. I could have got up without any help.
December 21.--[At] 4 o'clock A. M., started for home on
foot in company with Lamb, Comstock, and Calhoun. I arrived
at Delaware, forty miles, having been on the road about twelve
hours. I was not much fatigued. Spent a week very pleasantly.
December 28.--Started back alone on foot. Staid at Mr.
Calhoun's over night. Started in the morning at 5 o'clock. It
was very stormy and the snow was three or four inches deep.
Arrived at Gambier at 4 o'clock, rather tired and lame.
January 1, 1839.-- We had recitations as usual but [I] did not
study any as I thought I would begin the New Year happily if
not profitably. I spent in the Christmas holidays but seventy-five
cents, my journey included.
January 18.-- This evening one of my friends had some eggs
and was about making some custard in his room in company with
three others. The tutor came to the door [and] knocked. M--
went and unfastened it. In the meantime the others had hid,
one under the bed and the others in the closet. The tutor found
them and sent them to their rooms, feeling rather sheepish. He
then jawed M-- and cleared out.
(27)28 RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
GAMBIER, OHIO, February 5, 1839.
DEAR SISTER:-- Seein' as 'ow I've not written a letter to you
entirely since I've been here, I'll do it now. (An excellent reason
for so doing). Now I'll tell you the snaps there have been of
late in this province. As long as "his supreme highness," Rev.
William Sparrow, Vice-President of Kenyon College, a true son
of Erin, keeps away, so long all things here go along pleasantly;
but as soon as he begins to exercise his "justice," then comes
trouble. As soon as he got back, in the chapel after prayers, he
said: "Young gentlemen, you will stop a very short time while
I make a very few remarks." He then talked about an hour, all
very good considering who it came from, and ended by saying,
"You will come to me after this to render all excuses!" Ho!
ho! how kind! I have not been obliged to be excused yet for
anything and shan't if I can help it while old S. is the law
and prophet. Among his few remarks he said: "I do think
if any one is despicable it is a hypocrite." Most of us at that
time "smiled gently like a wolf." Ho, ho!
In the Grammar School the faculty "in their wisdom" con-
cluded they would oblige the scholars to call the roll themselves
and in this way save the expense of hiring it done. They all
called it in their turns, like a set of fools, till it came the turn
of a young man by the name of Harrison, but when the roll was
given to him, he put it in his pocket and did not call it. The
next day the Principal told him to go out of the room. He
went out. Some of the other scholars looking rather mutinous,
the old Principal got up and made a flaming speech telling them,
"this is a monarchial form of government; and the power of
commanding is fixed here," at the same time striking his breast
an awful blow.
And what did the honorable faculty do upon this? Why,
went and said that the Principal of the Grammar School had
done his duty and that Mr. Harrison should beg his pardon or
leave the institution. An excellent alternative. As a matter
of course Mr. H. chose to leave but was obliged to wait till he
could get money from home. A day or two ago old Sparrow
met him and told him [if] he did not leave the hill in eight
hours he would give him a public dismissal. And "Mr. Sparrow
AT KENYON COLLEGE, 1838-1840 29
is a very kind, affectionate man; he'll do just right." A petition
was got up for the purpose of trying to turn the faculty's decree,
and every student in college signed it except one and he is a
"Marylander from old Frederick," same as old Sharpe & Co.
Mr. H. is now in [Mount] Vernon; the faculty have not yet acted
on the petition.
"Resist tyranny in every shape," is my motto, "but in none
[is it] so dangerous as when exercised by a number of tyrants."
This latter clause suits the faculty of Kenyon College. They
give a student a fair trial, they say, but do not allow him to say
a thing for himself. This is a "fair trial" truly.
As to going to Hudson College: I may possibly agree to go
there when I am turned away from this, provided they wish me
to go there very much. The same will apply to all the colleges
in the world except Yale and Georgetown, Kentucky. That's
my honest opinion on colleges. Mother wants me to like my
teachers. Well, I do like them--a great ways off. She says
I must not think my teachers are partial. Well, I don't think
they are. I know so; and do believe they are partial to me-
for one. Mother told me to begin a letter on receipt of hers.
I did so, and then burnt it. She says I must be careful of my
health. Well, I is careful. She also says I must dry my clean
clothes by the fire. Well, if I did that I should put none on.
As to our friends over to the Hall, H. Howard does not like
Mr. Dyer much, but Mr. D. likes him quite well. S. and E.
Hinton neither like Mr. D. nor he them.
I see you are so much obliged to me for five words that you
cannot express it, and now, of course, you'll be so much obliged
to me that you'll sneeze, gap [gape], and other omens of the
kind. Don't congratulate yourself too much about my making
short sermons when I am a preacher. If you had seen some
documents that proceeded from my pen, you'd be congratulating
yourself on the idea of what a long time you'd have to sleep in
sermons. I must say something about gaping. You need not
try to save any for me, for if you do your mouth will be open
all the time. . .
Please send me a half dozen "Downfalls of Babylon" to cover
books with. If you don't get a Journal and Register once in a
30 RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
while, just lay it to Amos Kendall [Postmaster General], for I
start one from here every month and rainy days oftener.
And so Miss F. A. Hayes wishes R. B. Hayes to like his
teachers. You better get Uncle, Mr. Wasson, and all others
concerned to write to me to like my teachers.
I went into the college library for the first time and there saw
books some of which [looked] as if printed when Methuselah's
grandmother was a babe, and others so large they'd weigh fifty
pounds. I shall give you a list of the books I saw there that
you should by all means procure and read forthwith: viz.:
Bibles in the following languages, German, Irish, Welsh, Hebrew,
Spanish, Italian, Gaelic, Danish, Malay, Carshun and Syric,
Turkish, Chaldee, Singhalese, Georgian, Kythee, Nugee, and last,
not least, the English, all of which were 'most twice as large as
Mr. Vandeman's.
The dreaded examination comes on in six weeks and I verily
fear that about a dozen of us will have to study in vacation. The
beloved vacation is in six weeks from next Wednesday and is
changed to three weeks long. Good. In my next letter I shall
give you an account of how I spent my money and also that I
want forty dollars which is fifteen or twenty more than I want
next term.
Your affectionate brother,
R. B. HAYES, ESQ.,
No. 13, West Division, Kenyon College.
Miss F. A. HAYES,
Delaware, Ohio.
GAMBIER, OHIO, March 10, 1839.
DEAR MOTHER:--I am about to try to write an answer to
your and F.'s "bone" letter; "bone" 'cause it had forty dollars
in it. When I get home so as to talk it over I think I can con-
vince you about the "dismissions" being unjust, but I am too
lazy to write enough for that. There has been a very smart
young man dismissed from the junior class since I wrote last,
and I think unjustly. But as I don't expect to be dismissed, I
shall drop this subject. You said Uncle said "I must not walk
AT KENYON COLLEGE, 1838-1840 31
home in a day." Well, it is immaterial. I'd as soon be a minute
or two over a day as under. But what pleased me particularly
was your saying I must "bring my clothes home," as if I would
forget to wear any. You say I missed seeing many friends by
not being home, but if I had not been here I should not have
seen some of my friends, for instance Mr. Sparrow or Mr.
Dyer, etc. Uncle will get a letter at the end of the session from
old Sparrow and I reckon it will say I am a tolerable good boy,
considering my birthplace. I am afraid I will not write to
Uncle this term. But the gun story took my eye. Edgar Hinton
came over here the day I got your letter and I told him his gun
had burst and 'most killed his father. He said, "Why, the gun
ain't spoiled is it? He might have known he could not load it."
That's good! ha! ha! whew! Now I will account for my money.
You recollect I gave you an account of all except what I got
Christmas and five dollars which I then had left. It has gone for
Wood ............................................ $2 00
Society expenses ................................ 9 00
Sugar and my expense coming back ................ 1 00
Tuition in oratory .............................. 1 50
Paper, stationery, etc .......................... 1 00
Postage on paper and letters .................... 1 00
Portfolio ....................................... 1 25
Gallon of oil .................................. 1 00
Algebra ......................................... 1 50
Slate ........................................... 25
2 Mending shoes ................................. 1 00
Supper at Cake Shop ............................. 25
Total ............... ........................ $20 75
Left in treasury $4.25. Plus $40 equals $44.25.
Of the $44.25 which I now have, I must pay $2.00 for wash-
ing, $34.75 for board, and $2.00 which I owe to Mr. Jones in
Mount Vernon. My debts are in all $38.75. So you see my ex-
penses this session, buying furniture and all, will be 'most $1oo.
This includes travelling expenses, etc.
We shall study none after Wednesday. Then comes examina-
tion and I am rather dubious whether I shall pass or not. I
32 RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
rather think I shall. If I don't, I shall just bring a book or two
home to study rainy days.
I am your affectionate son,
R. B. HAYES.
MRS. SOPHIA HAYES.
DEAR F--:--I admire your story of the crackers very much
for they are eatables. If R. Moody had been cunning he would
have given me that gun. I rather fear we will not use it much.
You say your risibles were excited by my letter. I s'pose that is
some new-fashioned cape or bonnet, but I must say I don't see
what there was in my letter to make your capes or bonnets shake
about; but no odds, I don't doubt your word tho. But I hope
you will not say I cut your letter in pieces without good author-
ity, for I have neither cut up or burned one of your letters or
otherwise mutilated them. So, now! I am glad you have trav-
elled so much, but you will read no more of Dr. Fiske's travels
for he is dead. He died two weeks ago. You ask me if we shall
have time to go to Lower Sandusky this spring. I think we
will, for if we went but two miles a day we would get there be-
fore the end of spring. I don't think we would have time for
much of a visit but still I should like very well to go. I suppose
your six-feet girls were measured with a pole where the feet
were not more than nine inches long, but they should be tall, for
the Mansion House is a tall house.
I am astonished at your cruelty in preferring quills to steel
pens, for in using a steel pen you are assisting thousands of poor
souls to gain their bread, viz., ironmongers, miners, blacksmiths,
etc., who gain their living by making steel pens; but on the
other hand you would reflect upon the pain of Madame Goose
and Mr. Gander in having their feathers plucked out by the
roots. Oh! it is horrid to think on, tho I am now using quills
myself.
I hope to be home if nothing happens on Saturday the 23d of
March. I don't know whether I shall write any more or not.
I remain your affectionate brother,
R. B. HAYES.
MISS F. A. HAYES.
AT KENYON COLLEGE, 1838-1840 33
GAMBIER, OHIO, May 13, 1839.
DEAR F--:-- I received yours and Mother's letter some time
ago and ought [to] have answered it before now. John's death
was hard news for me. When I heard of his death I did not
know that Mr. W -- [Wasson] had got home from Pennsylvania,
and bad as it was I could not help thinking what bad news it
would be to Mr. W--.
The student who saw Mr. W- said he had a niece with him
whom he had brought from Pennsylvania. You say nothing of it.
I do not doubt that H. P. -- can beat me at chess. I have
played but once since I wrote to you before. Playing ball is all
the fashion here now and it is presumed that I can beat you at
that if not at chess. There is to be at Kenyon College (which,
by the way, is not far from this place) a grand celebration by the
students on the Fourth of July 1839, and if nothing happens it
will be a tall affair. I do not know as ladies will partake of the
dinner, but if they do I'll give you an invitation in due season.
We shall undoubtedly have better speeches, if not eatables, than
at Delaware, Ohio.
Now that this place is beginning to look like spring, I do not
wonder that Mrs. Little thought it beautiful. I hope to see you
here this summer sometime.
Your brother,
R. B. HAYES.
MIss FANNY HAYES.
DEAR MOTHER:-- In your letter you show some fear that I do
not write enough, but you need not fear, for this season we are
compelled to write compositions of some kind or other at the
rate of about three in two weeks; and as for improving in pen-
manship, I have given that up long since. I do not wish to
go to Yale College but I think I shall remain here, though I
think Hudson College is as good, if not better than this one is;
and I have no doubt it soon will be much better than any other
in the West anywhere.
I was sorry to hear that H. Moody is not to be married in
Delaware, as I should very much like to go to the wedding.
My bill here this session will not be so much as it was last by
3
34 RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
fifteen [or] twenty dollars, I think. The beginning of the session
the studies were tolerable hard, but now I can get my lessons
very easily.
As for writing long letters, I cannot do it when I have nothing
in the world to write about.
I have not been absent from recitation or any other duty this
session. We get up at five o'clock and have about two hours of
playtime before nine o'clock; and as a matter of course if we
have more playtime, I like the summer term the best.
I remain your affectionate son,
R. B. HAYES.
P. S.--I am thankful to you for sending papers. I've just
received the New Orleans Picayune and Express.-- R. B.
MRS. SOPHIA HAYES.
GAMBIER, OHIO, July 9, 1839.
[DEAR F--] :-- I received the letter of Mrs. Hayes and Daugh-
ter in good health after a long but pleasant voyage of four days.
The only news here now is, the big monkey is dead and pussy
has got the hydr- I forget the rest of the word. As there
is nothing else to write of I shall attempt to give you a history
of our celebration of the Fourth of July, 1839. At 4 o'clock A.
M., the flags were hoisted--one on a pole by the chapel, the
others on the college, the band playing their prettiest in the mean-
time. We then went to prayers and thence unto a little the
poorest breakfast you ever saw. Time then flew as it were upon
snail's wings till half past 10 o'clock A. M., when after a great
deal of trouble Marshalls Lane and Comstock succeeded in get-
ting us in order. We marched into the chapel to the sound of
martial music. A prayer by the chaplain, Bishop McIlvaine [ex
officio President of the college], the Declaration of Independence
by Reader Gibbs, and very good oration by Orator Lightner.
We marched to Mr. Sawyer's, who is no more nor less than Eng-
lish Jimmy who used to live in Delaware, where we had the best
dinner I ever saw; and every one of the faculty and all the
rest said it was the best they ever saw. The first course, there
was beef, veal, pig, bacon, mutton, chickens, turkeys, peas, beans,
AT KENYON COLLEGE, 1838-1840 35
new taters, new turnips, plum pudding, bread, butter, water, and
other articles too numerous to mention.
Second course: twenty-nine kinds of cake more or less as
the case may be. There were eight kinds of cake I never saw
before; seven kinds I did not know nor never heard the names of.
Third course: lemonade to drink toasts in and ice cream.
There were lots of toasts given, a copy of which I hope to send.
We then marched to the chapel and heard about a dozen speeches
from different students. By this time it was 'most dark. We
went home and I went to bed after having spent the happiest
day I ever spent without exception. I believe there is not a
student but thinks we had the most happiness here of any place
in the United States. An ode was read at the table by Mr. Taylon
a member of our class. It was excellent and Dr. Sparrow was
so much pleased with it that his toast on the occasion was "The
Poet of the Occasion." Something of an honor to be toasted by
such a man as the Doctor! I will send you a copy [of the ode]
if it is printed, as I believe it is to be.
Mr. Calhoun was at your celebration at Delaware. He praised
the generosity of you folks very much. He thought it a grand
celebration; but I think I had rather have been here. We have
commenced reviewing in all our studies, preparing for examin-
ation. If I pass, in five weeks I will be a sophomore. Com-
mencement, there will probably be more here than ever before.
The class that graduates is a very smart one. The orator of the
Fourth and [the] reader are the smartest.
You in your letters quote Shakespeare more than Scripter and
I expect you read it more. However, an old stiff Presbyterian
reverend in Vermont says Shakespeare is an exposition of
Scripter.
Give my respects to the Husted family and all other cousins.
I know how to sympathize with you for having no knife as I have
had none this session. I hope to come next session with a larger
supply of everything than I did this. I hope you will have
peas or squashes, as the case may be, when I come to visit you.
Good-bye.-- "Consider me as one of your very best friends."
-Milton. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
Henry Clay is at [Mount] Vernon. I hope to see him.
36 RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
DEAR MOTHER:-- Your letter was very acceptable. I was glad
to hear that Uncle had found so good a friend. I hope he will
soon be well. Do not make me more than one or two shirts now.
Make them the same as my others, except much larger cuffs
and necks, as my others choke me rather much. My clothes are
not shabby but I have not enough. If it continues warm, I shall
be obliged to get a pair of pantaloons. I can get thin clothes here
much better than at home. I can get a "decent" pair for two
dollars and fifty cents. If it is not hot long I shall not get them.
My expenses here this term are more than I expected. For my
first year here the expense will be one hundred and eighty-nine
dollars. I never will or can get along as cheap again. The
term so far at least has been to me very pleasant. One of
the very worst and most profane fellows in college have been con-
verted by Dr. Sparrow's lectures and it was truly a great change.
I remain this time your affectionate son (not brother),
R. B. HAYES.
F. A. HAYES:-- My authority for signing brother is a certain
Indian chief who lived in the time of Caesar and ruled over Den-
mark, by name Mr. Col Wyconneechechechochuchekirmpanathe-
nothen.
MIss F. A. HAYES,
Delaware, Ohio.
GAMBIER, August, 1839.
DEAR MOTHER:--Your letter was received in due season and
I hope hospitably. You appear to have been in part of your
letter rather desponding and partly in fine spirits. I am very
sorry Uncle's health does not improve. As you left Fanny the
"task" of telling the story of her "thraldom," I will give her the
task of reading my opinion of it.
The revival I spoke of in a former letter is now the all-
engrossing subject here. There are now but ten in the whole
college who are not changed. I am among the ten as yet, tho
I have changed my opinions of persons and things a great
deal. I have changed my opinion of Mr. Sparrow and Mr.
Stevenson. It now appears to me that it was a hard necessity
which compelled them to act "tyrannically."
AT KENYON COLLEGE, 1838-1840 37
Every single one of my best friends are "gone," as it is called.
I attend the meetings and read all the books that my friends
request me to, but I find it is the loss of my friends which affects
me more than anything else. When the revival began to take the
"good" fellows as well as the "bad," I was frequently in company
with five or six others, of whom I was the only one who would
"acknowledge" my respect for religion, who are all "gone" but
myself. I have but little hope I shall be among them. If I am not,
I fear I can never spend as happy a time in Kenyon as I have.
I know now the truth of the saying, "a person knows not the
value of a friend 'til he is lost," although I know my old friends
are better friends than those [of] "that line." All the Nor-
walkers and Lamb are, I believe, among them.
Dear me, what a fuss, but I forgot I was to write to Fan about
the [engagement] instead of you.
I shall need twenty dollars more. I wish twenty-five dollars
and hope you will send the latter as I should like to buy a book or
two so that if I wish to stay a little longer than vacation I can
study some.
I remain your affectionate son,
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
MRS. SOPHIA HAYES.
GAMBIER, May 4, 1840.
DEAR MOTHER:--I am again comfortably settled at my
studies. I am glad I came no sooner than I did for but few
came before me. There are not near as many here as there was
last session; but twelve in my class. The two best scholars are
gone. Dr. Sparrow leaves for good at the end of the session,
and several more of my class leave at the same time; there will
not be more than five left.
A three-dollar bill I took from Chauncey H--, I found at
Columbus to be counterfeit. I sent it back by Mr. Bunker. By
the by, I had a pleasant time at Columbus. I was much pleased
with William's* plan of fixing his house. I shall spend my vaca-
tion very pleasantly there, I should think. Mr. Hinton's boys
are very well pleased indeed. The teachers are fine men and
*William A. Platt, who had married Fanny Hayes, September 2, 1839.
38 RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
above all I believe they keep the house clean; the Grammar
School is also much improved, but here it stops. The improve-
ment in the college department is on the wrong side of the
face. Harry Howard came back last week. I shall get thin
clothes as I want them. I am out of the line so I will not
attempt to strive against fate but stop short. If all leave who
now think they will, I leave with them.
Your son,
R. B. HAYES.
P. S.--Tell F. I found Ossian's poems in both libraries. I
have them out now.
MRS. SOPHIA HAYES.
GAMBIER, OHIO, July 19, 1840.
DEAR SISTER:-- I can but look back with "fear and trembling"
upon my folly in writing a letter characterized by such a fool-
hardy disregard of consequences as was my last; for among the
first lessons taught me in my childhood was to shun everything
like an attempt to startle or frighten a fellow-being for the sake
of a moment's fun or a senseless laugh. Yet forgetting or dis-
regarding this oft-repeated warning, I, as if goaded on by a
demon, concocted, reduced to writing, and mailed to you a letter
of three pages' length. "My tongue cleaves to the roof of my
mouth," my knees knock together, and my hands refuse to per-
form their office when a glimmering of the jeopardy in which
your reason and life was placed by that letter crosses my brain.
Thanks to the soundness of your education, the strength of your
intellect, and the firmness of your soul, you are saved; and be-
lieve me when I say that never, never, never again shall I run
such immanent hazard of blighting forever all the happiness
which our family now enjoys by writing a letter of such un-
usual length.
You and your little band of emigrants have by this time settled
a colony in the northern part of that heathenish city, "about
equally distant from the penitentiary, graveyard, rope-walk,
and slaughter-house. Very appropriate." Ha! ha! That
is a good joke on the Van Buren men.
AT KENYON COLLEGE, 1838-1840 39
Now, as I am remarkably well versed in the history of the
ancient republics and well acquainted with the principles upon
which a government should be framed, a little salutary advice
will not be out of place. It is a fact well attested by the his-
tory of every new country, that whatever fraud or injustice is
committed by colonists upon the aborigines of a country, is
always reflected back upon the heads of those who commit [it],
and that by a kind and conciliating manner toward the natives
nothing is lost but often very much gained. My advice, there-
fore, is that [in] all your acts, both public and private, you
continually keep this grand truth before your mind. Conducting
yourself in this way, you may confidently and reasonably expect
that your colony will become a great and wise people and be
loved and esteemed by your friends and respected and admired
by your enemies, and that, unlike all things else of human
origin, your nation will never fall but go on "conquering and to
conquer" till the end of time.
MISCELLANY.
Commencement is on Wednesday, the 5th of August.
We had a fine time on the Fourth.
Eight students got into a snap and were put on probation, two
of them professors of religion. One had to read a confession to
escape dismission.
Mrs. Hayes is expected here the first of next month. Mr. and
and Mrs. Platt also.
Money is scarce and much needed, as the bankrupt law is de-
feated in the H. R. [House of Representatives].
By the end of the session R. B. H. must have thirty-five dol-
lars. One installment of which is expected and needed in his
next letter from home.
The mail will be closed in ten minutes.
A letter is requested immediately.
Ten more words is wanted to fill out this column.
Mother wishes me to keep my hair, "teeth," and nails cut short.
Your brother, R. BIRCHARD HAYES.
Give my respects to the family.
MRS. WM. A. PLATT.
40 RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
[The Presidential campaign of 1840 was one of the most ex-
citing and interesting political contests in American history.
Never before had the people generally been so stirred. The
Whigs early took the initiative. They held everywhere enormous
meetings with singing, shouting, cheering processions of en-
thusiastic partisans. The campaign roused the ardor of young
Hayes, who was an earnest Whig, and made a deep and lasting
impression on his mind. He followed it throughout with in-
tense interest and was jubilant at the overwhelming Whig
triumph. This is manifest in the following brief history of the
campaign which he wrote during its progress. It reveals such
constraint and maturity that it is difficult to realize that it is the
composition of a lad just completing his eighteenth year.]
A HISTORY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1840.
BEGUN JUNE 25, 1840.
In order to give a full and complete history of this campaign,
it is necessary to go back to and examine the situation of the
country, the policy pursued, and the measures which Mr. Van
Buren was pledged to carry out when elected in 1836.
By the influence of General Jackson in 1834 the state bank
system was substituted for the National Bank as the depository
of the public moneys.
The "Pet Bank System" during the remainder of General
Jackson's Administration apparently succeeded in accomplishing
its object; and when he delivered his last message our affairs
were in so prosperous a condition that he said with truth: "I
leave the nation in prosperity and at peace with all nations."
Mr. Van Buren in his inaugural address, March 4, 1837, said:
"I shall follow in the footsteps of my illustrious predecessor";
an assurance which he has since found very hard [to] fulfill.
In May following, all the evils of the "Pet Bank System" burst
upon the country. The banks were compelled to "suspend," and
the commercial cities were filled with distress and ruin. An
extra session of Congress was called. Mr. Van Buren recom-
mended the sub-treasury scheme, the object of which was to
separate the Government from the banks and reduce our cur-
AT KENYON COLLEGE, 1838-1840 41
rency to specie. Many of the heretofore members of the Van
Buren party refused to support the measure. They called them-
selves Conservatives. Mr. Rives, Tallmadge, Ruggles, and sev-
eral members of the House of Representatives were among the
principal. The measure was rejected by a close vote.
The fall elections turned upon this point. The party opposed to
Van Buren succeeded beyond all expectation. New York went
against him by a large majority. But in his first annual message
to the Congress of 1837-8, he again recommended the measure,
and it became evident that the Administration were determined
to "sink or swim" with the scheme. Mr. Van Buren said, al-
luding to the result of the fall elections: "The sober second
thought of the people is seldom wrong and always efficient."
The measure was again rejected. A caucus was held by the op-
position members of Congress who recommended that a con-
vention to nominate candidates for President and Vice-President
be held at Harrisburg, December, 1839. Although this was later
than many wished, yet, as it was recommended by the best
"managers" in the land, it was agreed to by the party.
In the fall elections of 1838, the Van Buren party were suc-
cessful. Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee, all returned Democratic
members, but New York still remained firm; so that the opposi-
tion were still in good spirits. In the session of 1838-39, the
Sub-Treasury was again put down. In the fall elections of 1839,
the Democratic party were very successful and the Whig party
were low-spirited.
But the pressure of the times began to be felt all over the
Union. The farmers and laboring classes, who before had not
suffered, now were the most oppressed.
The Twenty-sixth Congress, after several weeks of trouble
about contested seats, was organized and the administration
party with the aid of the New Jersey members had a decided
majority.
The Whigs now began to hope that with a popular candidate
they could by great exertion succeed. Many thought the Van
Buren party had not fulfilled their promises and expressed their
dissatisfaction with the Administration.
In December, 1839, "the Convention" met. It was composed
42 RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
of one delegate from each Congressional District. Nearly all the
States were represented by the principal men in the nation.
Governor Barbour, of Virginia, presided. The candidates for
nomination were Clay, Scott, and Harrison. There was a spirit
of concession manifest from the beginning which showed they
[the delegates] were determined.
Harrison was nominated. The convention were all well satis-
fied. Everywhere the nomination was hailed with joy by the
opposers of the Administration. Large and enthusiastic meetings
were held in the different States to respond to the nomination.
John Tyler, of Virginia, was nominated for Vice-President
unanimously. General Scott, Mr. Clay, Webster, Tallmadge,
Rives, Generals Clinch, Gaines, and Van Rensselaer, all expressed
their determination to go heart and hand for the nominations.
In this State (Ohio), many who had before been supporters
of Van Buren came out publicly and declared their intention to
go for Harrison. About this time the Baltimore Republican,
a Van Buren print, sneeringly said of General Harrison: "Give
him a pension of two thousand dollars and a barrel of hard cider,
and he will be content to live in a log cabin the remainder of his
days." Great use was made of this by the Harrison party. They
styled themselves the "Log-cabin and hard-cider party." In
February and March, 1840, log cabins began to be built for
council houses for the Harrison party.
A convention was held on the 22d of February in this State
(Columbus) to respond to the nomination and nominate candi-
dates for state offices. Large and spirited meetings were held in
the different counties nominating delegates for "the Convention."
All knew that the State was aroused, but as the weather was bad,
the roads almost impassable, few expected that there would be
much of a "turnout"; but the day came, and with it the greatest
[meeting] in many respects ever held. There was no plan or
system, but each delegation bore as their emblem whatever their
caprice dictated. Log cabins, hard cider, canoes, boats, all kinds,
were brought with thousands of mottoes.
At this convention it was, that political songs were sung to
any great extent, and this was the first of that series of great
conventions for which this campaign will be remarkable. Num-
AT KENYON COLLEGE, 1838-1840 43
ber present twenty thousand. A convention was held in Con-
necticut, remarkable for its size,--five thousand.
The first contested state election after the nomination was in
Connecticut. To this election the eyes of both parties were
turned. Both claimed it and both knew it would test the popular-
ity of the Harrisburg nominees. The result was a clear Harrison
majority of four thousand five hundred. Rhode Island was also
claimed by both parties. Harrison's majority, one thousand
four hundred.
But again the eyes of both parties were directed to [the] Vir-
ginia election. Two senators were to be elected by the next
Legislature. Two Van Buren and two Harrison men were up.
The Van Buren party hoped that the nomination would be un-
popular in the South; but the result showed a Harrison majority
of ten on joint ballot. The township and charter elections were
claimed by both parties as evidences of their strength.
Tremendous conventions began to be held in the summer by
the Harrison party. [On the] 11th [of] June, Fort Meigs,
thirty-five thousand. Tippecanoe, thirty thousand. Illinois, June
4, fifteen thousand. Both parties are straining every nerve.
Now my belief is that the Harrison party will succeed.-- June
30, 1840.
July 30. -- The election in Louisiana came off on the 6th. The
result was looked to with great interest as indicative of the state
of feeling existing in the extreme South. It resulted in the
triumph of the Harrison party.
August.--The battle waxes hotter; the Administration begin
to hope for success in the elections in Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois,
Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina. But they are doomed
to be disappointed: the Harrisonians have carried the three large
States.
September.--The Van Buren party, grown desperate by de-
feat, now begin to hope for the result in Maine and Vermont.
They are beaten in both States.
October.--They know that nothing but success in this State
can save them. They are accordingly straining every nerve.
Johnson, Allen, Shannon, etc., are stumping it over the State,
Mr. Corwin has also been before the people.
44 RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
October 13.--Election day. The Whigs have carried the
States of Georgia, Maryland, and Delaware. In fine spirits here
I believe Mr. Corwin will be elected by fifteen thousand.
October 20.--Returns all in. Corwin, Governor, by seventeen
thousand five hundred!!!
October 25.--The result in Pennsylvania is doubtful. I think
the Whigs will carry it on the 30th by eight thousand. And in
this State by twenty-five thousand.
November 5.--The long agony is over. The "whirlwind" has
swept over the land and General Harrison is undoubtedly elected
President. I never was more elated by anything in my life. His
majority in this State about sixteen acres, or twenty-three thou-
sand. Kentucky and everywhere else is going fine. Glorious!
Up on the Reserve "Birney [James G. Birney, candidate for
President of the "Liberty Party"] and Van Buren run about
alike." Ha! ha!