John Potter Stockton. name (consecrated by the genius of novel ist Marryat) was abolished for the more American appellation of ensign — he had become spectator of one of the most tragic of events. During the Tyler administration Captain Stockton had brought his flagship the "Princeton " (by the way, the first steam frigate ever added to the navy, and wholly planned and supervised by him) to Wash ington; and had planned an excursion in her down the Potomac for the President and his bride and the members of the Cabinet. During the trip as a salute was being fired from the deck, a newly patented cannon burst, instantly killing the secretaries of State and Navy and the President's fatherin-law. The tragedy shocked the entire nation, embittered Commodore Stockton's after life and remained a weird memory for the witnessing midshipman .when he after wards lived as senator near the Potomac. During his father's brief senatorial term, it was his then legal son who drew statutes, conceived by the Commodore, abolishing flogging in the navy, and authorizing such defenses of the coast as at this time of writ ing rencwedly occupy congressional atten tion. During the Civil War John Potter Stock ton remained a strong unionist, and when chairman of the New Jersey delegation to the Democratic National Convention of 1864, he endeavored to soften the enigmatic ex pressions of its platform regarding the con duct of the war. In the midst of great con fusion among the national delegates, and while evening shadows were falling, Stock ton mounted a chair and in a ringing voice that rose above all the temporary disorder, nominated McClellan, and by the conse quent enthusiasm restored harmony. He was always an impressive speaker and his figure was instinctive with the innate mag netism of eloquence — so necessary in the orator who aims to impart it to his auditors. Of more than average height and straight
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as an Indian, with gesture praised by Ham let in his admonition to the players — " suit ing action to word," and with eyes that could, whenever requisite, flash in indigna tion and scorn, or soften into pathos, and with a flexible musical voice, he was every where — whether at platform or bar or forum — recognized as one of the great orators whom the United States has given to history. Delegate Stockton was the most influen tial in selecting Senator Pendleton as vicepresidential campaign mate of General McClellan. Pendleton and he had been in the senate together and became close friends. His own choice to the senate by his party, in acknowledgment of his political services, was attended with dramatic inci dents. When he reached Washington to claim his seat, there was a tie on every party vote; and his presence would on full atten dance give a majority of one to the Demo crats — a result that would tend to embarrass the Republican administration. To exclude Stockton, Charles Sumner — equally adroit in political management as potent in per suasive speech — raised the point that he had been chosen not by a majority of the New Jersey legislative convention, but only by plurality. That was the fact, yet a legislative majority had previously ordered that such a result should become decisive. The proper senatorial committee had unan imously reported Stockton entitled to the seat; its Republican members being urged by President Lincoln, and some of the cabi net to support Stockton, because the pres ence of an influential Democrat earnestly supporting the war was very desirable. Sumner, however, insisted upon a caucus, which resulted in determining to support the plurality objection. On the vote in a full senate there was a tie, and Stockton's name was on the roll, because his creden tials had been filed, and there was no con testant. When he was called his party as sociates contended that he was a partisan as
