Produced by Ed Ferris [Frontispiece: v1.jpg] SENATOR GEORGE F. HOAR From a photograph taken in 1897 _Copyright, 1897, by H. Schervee, Worcester, Mass._ [Title page] AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SEVENTY YEARS BY GEORGE F. HOAR WITH PORTRAITS VOLUME I. NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 1903 [Dedication] TO MY WIFE AND CHILDREN THIS RECORD OF A LIFE WHICH THEY HAVE MADE HAPPY IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED [Table of Contents] CONTENTS CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER II ROGER SHERMAN AND HIS FAMILY CHAPTER III SAMUEL HOAR CHAPTER IV BOYHOOD IN CONCORD CHAPTER V FAMOUS CONCORD MEN CHAPTER VI FARM AND SCHOOL CHAPTER VII HARVARD SIXTY YEARS AGO CHAPTER VIII 1849 TO 1850--FOUNDATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY-- DANIEL WEBSTER CHAPTER IX LIFE IN WORCESTER CHAPTER X POLITICAL HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS FROM 1848 TO 1869 CHAPTER XI THE KNOW NOTHING PARTY AND ITS OVERTHROW CHAPTER XII ELECTION TO CONGRESS CHAPTER XIII SUMNER AND WILSON CHAPTER XIV PERSONALITIES IN DEBATE CHAPTER XV THE NATIONAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN 1869 CHAPTER XVI POLITICAL CONDITION IN 1869 CHAPTER XVII RECONSTRUCTION CHAPTER XVIII COMMITTEE SERVICE IN THE HOUSE CHAPTER XIX SALMON P. CHASE CHAPTER XX ADIN THAYER CHAPTER XXI POLITICAL CORRUPTION CHAPTER XXII CREDIT MOBILIER CHAPTER XXIII THE SANBORN CONTRACTS CHAPTER XXIV BENJAMIN F. BUTLER CHAPTER XXV BELKNAP IMPEACHMENT CHAPTER XXVI ELECTORAL COMMISSION CHAPTER XXVII FOUR NATIONAL CONVENTIONS, 1876 CHAPTER XXVIII FOUR NATIONAL CONVENTIONS, 1880 CHAPTER XXIX FOUR NATIONAL CONVENTIONS, 1884 CHAPTER XXX FOUR NATIONAL CONVENTIONS, 1888 CHAPTER XXXI SATURDAY CLUB CHAPTER XXXII THE WORCESTER FIRE SOCIETY APPENDIX I. APPENDIX II. [Text] AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SEVENTY YEARS CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY Everybody who reads this book through will wonder that a man who ought to be able to tell so much has really told so little. I have known personally and quite intimately, or have known intelligent and trustworthy persons who have known personally and quite intimately, many men who have had a great share in the history of this country and in its literature for a hundred and thirty years. In my younger days there were among my kindred and near friends persons who knew the great actors of the Revolutionary time and the time which followed till I came to manhood myself. But I did not know enough to ask questions. If I had, and had recorded the answers, I could write a very large part of the political and literary history of the United States. I never kept a diary, except for a few and brief periods. So for what I have to say, I must trust to my memory. I have no doubt that after these volumes are published, there will come up in my mind matter enough to make a dozen better ones.