Produced by Ed Ferris Transcriber's notes: Names have been corrected. "Indianians" changed to "Indianans". LoC call number: E415.7.J9 1969 POLITICAL RECOLLECTIONS 1840 to 1872. BY GEORGE W. JULIAN. MNEMOSYNE PUBLISHING CO., INC. MIAMI, FLORIDA 1969 Originally Published in Chicago 1884 COPYRIGHT By JANSEN, McCLURG & CO., A. D. 1883. First Mnemosyne reprinting 1969 Reprinted from a copy in the Fisk University Library Negro Collection Copyright (C)1969 Mnemosyne Publishing Co., Inc. Miami, Florida Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 78-83885 PREFACE. The following chapters are devoted mainly to facts and incidents connected with the development of anti-slavery politics from the year 1840 to the close of the work of Reconstruction which followed the late civil war. Other topics, however, are occasionally noticed, while I have deemed it proper to state my own attitude and course of action respecting various public questions, and to refer more particularly to the political strifes of my own State. In doing this, I have spoken freely of conspicuous personalities in connection with their public action, or their peculiar relations to myself; but my aim has been to deal fairly and state only the truth, while striving to weave into my story some reminiscences of the men and events of by-gone times, which may interest the reader. In the endeavor to elucidate the orderly progress of anti-slavery opinions and their translation into organized action, I have summarized and re-stated many of the familiar facts of current American politics during the period embraced; but I hope I have also made a slight contribution to the sources of history bearing upon a world-famous movement, touching which we should "gather up the fragments that nothing be lost." G. W. J. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE HARRISON CAMPAIGN--THE BEGINNING OF ANTI-SLAVERY POLITICS. The "Hard-cider" Frolic of 1840--The Issues--Swartwout and Political Corruption--The Demand for a Change--Character of Gen. Harrison-- Personal Defamation--Mass-meetings and Songs--Crushing Defeat of the Democrats--First Appearance of the Slavery Issue in Politics-- Pro-slavery Attitude of Harrison and Van Buren--Events favoring the Growth of Anti-slavery Opinion--Clay and Mendenhall--Texas' Annexation and John Tyler.