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an unusual proficiency. On his return cing the masses. General Harrison had been he published " Reminiscences of Spain," a nominated because of his supposed avail work in two volumes, which was favorably ability, and one of his opponents, to dis received, as up to that time this country parage him, had said he lived in a log hut, had been but little visited by American and drank hard cider. This was taken up travellers. as a rallying cry by the Whigs, and log Mr. Cushing represented Newburyport in cabins and cider barrels were carried in all the Massachusetts Legislature in 1833 and the processions, the barrels always empty at 1834, and in 1834 was elected to Congress, the end of the route, if not at the beginning. where he served till March 4, 1843. General Harrison's simplicity of life was con From the first his ability was recog trasted with the alleged extravagance of Van nized. Mr. Webster said that " Mr. Cush Buren, who was said to use " gold spoons." ing had not been six weeks in Congress Many popular songs were composed and before he was acknowledged to be the high sung, full of taking phrases that wonder est authority on what had been the legis fully excited the crowds. One that is re lation of Congress on any given subject." It membered ran thus in the chorus, — was a period of the keenest party feeling, "Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, for it was during the close of General Jack For Tippecanoe and Tyler too, son's administration and all of Van Buren's. For Tippecanoe and Tyler too, New questions were constantly arising, some And with them we Ml beat little Van, of them of a constitutional nature, and they Van, Van, Van is a used up man." were discussed with an ability that had not One of the largest of the mass meetings been surpassed before, and has not been since. General Jackson was opposed to the was that on Bunker Hill, September 10, United States Bank, vetoed bills for its re- presided over by no less a man than Daniel charter, withdrew from it the Government Webster, and addressed by the most distin funds, and deposited them in different State guished men from all over the country, of whom are recalled Ogden Hoffman, so cele banks, which lent the money freely and en couraged speculation. Then came the severe brated as a jury lawyer, Benjamin Watkins financial panic of 1837. The result was Leigh, Reverdy Johnson, then a young man, general discontent with the party in power, and Governor Pennington, of New Jersey, besides many orators from New England. unaided now by General Jackson's popu larity, and the overwhelming election of The writer was then a boy, an ardent Whig, anxious above all to look on the face of General Harrison in 1840. Into all the discussions in Congress and Daniel Webster, and well remembers the before popular assemblies, Mr. Cushing enthusiasm and excitement of the occasion. threw himself with all his vigor, and with All the prominent men who took part have an ability that gave him a national reputa passed away except Robert C. Winthrop, tion. The campaign of 1840 was probably then a young man, who called the conven the most remarkable in American history. tion to order, and who still survives, — a It was the first when large crowds were noble remnant of what seems to have been assembled at political gatherings in every an heroic age of great men. In this Harrison campaign Mr. Cushing part of the country, for the building of rail took an important part. He wrote a life of roads to all the great centres of popula tion had then first made such gatherings General Harrison, which was extensively circulated, and made speeches continually, possible. The leading feature of the campaign was one of which I heard. The meeting was presided over by a man who up to that time the introduction of new means of influen