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BISHOP CHASE'S
REMINISCENCES;
AN
AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
SECOND EDITION:
COMPRISING A HISTORY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN THE AUTHOR'S LIFE
TO A. D. 1847.
WITH A PORTRAIT AND FOUR ENGRAVINGS.
IN TWO yCIiU^VTES.
VOL. II.
Scbentg^fitst ^salm, 17, 18. — • —
BOSTON: JAMES B. DOW, 141 WASHINGTON STREET.
NKW YORK : STANFORD & SWORDS. PHII.ADKLPHIA : G. S. APPLETON. HART- FORD: BROWN & PARSONS RICHMOND, VA. : NASH Ac WOODHOUSE. CHARLESTON, S. C. : SA3IUEL HART, SEN.
1848.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847,
BY PHILANDER CHASE,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
» ;•
'».•'••-*
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STEREOTYPED BY
GEORGE A. CURTIS;
NEW ENGLAND TYPE AND STEREOTYPE FODNDERY, BOSTON.
PRINTED BY WM. A. HALL & CO.
V^^
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Pa»«
Letters of the writer to his wife, detailing the getting up, introduction and prospects, of the bill for a grant of land — Visits, and incidents at Wash- ington — Moral and religious reflections — Excursion to Virginia — The Church, 1
CHAPTER II. Debate on the bill in the Senate — The passage of the bill, 13
CHAPTER III.
The course of the bill in the House detailed in letters of the writer to his wife — Whence arose his opposition and whence his comfort — Failure of the bill — What had been gained by the effort, 19
CHAPTER IV.
Reflections on quitting the field — Address to the convention of 1828 — Sum- mary of doings at the eastward — Financial concerns of the college — Notes of the moral and religious condition of the institution — Letters — Graphic description of college grounds — Margaret Kenyon, 29
CHAPTER V.
Letter from Rev. Josiah Pratt — Convention address, 1829 — Episcopal visitation — Ride in a skiff', 48
CHAPTER VI.
1830 — G. M. West's public speech — Conduct of his adherents — Letter of Dr. Milnor — Friendship shown in a wrong way — Protest against an ille- gal and unchristian investigation — A reply to an unjust inquisition, . . 69
CHAPTER VII.
Convention of 1831 — The address — Things lawful and things unlawful set forth in it — An investigation of the charges of the professors demanded — Report of commiitee on the address — Conduct and reflections on hear- ing it — Resignation — Committee of ''regrets" — Soliloquy, 94
CHAPTER VIII.
Yet another blow — The committee of "regrets" report in secret session — Their report unanimously adopted — A knowledge of it withheld from the chief person interested — A review of its statements and character — A letter printed at the time, pertinent to the point at issue — " Episcopal authority " defined, ' 114
IV CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
Review of the report continued — The principle of "merging" considered
— A mathematical question — A letter from an "honest man" proves prophetic — One from a member of the convention reveals facts — The secret accusations of the inquisition realized — A rejected resolution — Unusual liberal promises accounted for, 125
CHAPTER X. Letter of Bishop M'lllvaine to Bishop Chase — A long but important answer
— An unexpected movement of the trustees of the Ohio seminary — A plain story — An important change in principle ! ! ! — An alteration of the constitution, 146
CHAPTER XI. Narrative resumed — "Valley of Peace" — The end of the road, .... 181
CHAPTER XII.
The writer visits Michigan with a friend — Who foresaw the result — Some account of the journey — Where and how turned aside — Discovers the land of Gilead — Its romantic appearance — A lone, but crowded house
— Buys land — Fears want more than war — Begins a farm — Returns to the Valley — Second journey and final removal — Indians — A pecu- liarity of dress — Origin of — A Bishop at a protracted meeting, .... 186
CHAPTER XIII.
Election to the Diocese of Illinois — First journey thither — Family corre- spondence, 216
CHAPTER XIT. ~
Returns to Michigan — A lonely and perilous journey — : Attends General Convention, 1835 — Diocese of Illinois received into union with the Church in General Convention — Extract from the journal, 225
CHAPTER XV. Voyage to England — Reception and correspondence, 233
CHAPTE R XVI. Lord Bexley — Letters from home — Tyndales — Oxford — Lady Rosse — Hams Hall — Hughenden — High Wycombe — Returns to London, . . 263
CHAPTER XVII. Dr. Turner— Tunbridge Wells — Mrs. Walker (daughter of William Jones)
— Mr. Cowburn's — Reflections in the chamber of a deceased friend, G. W. Marriott — Spring Grove — Lunatic Asylum 286
CHAPTER XVIII. 296
CHAPTER XIX. Journal continued — Mrs. Cottrell — Bishop of Sodor and Man — Letter from his wife concerning the burning of their house at Gilead — Its effects, 304
CONTENTS. V
CHAPTER XX.
Page
Sympathetic correspondence, 321
CHAPTER XXI.
Journal continued — Letters on leaving England — Arrives in America, . 330
CHAPTER XXII. Memorandum made soon after returning from England, 355
CHAPTER XXIII. Removes his family to Illinois — Labors and journeys, 365
CHAPTER XXIV.
An Episcopal tour from 1st of June to 20th of July, 1837 — Story to the honor of the female sex — Visitations at the close of the year, 384
CHAPTER XXV. Errors heartily forgiven, but necessary to a true biography, 415
CHAPTER XXVI. English letters written A. D. 1838, 427
CHAPTER XXVII. Illinois in 1S36-7-8 — Fixes the site of the college, 436
CHAPTER XXVIII.
1839 — Laying of the corner stone, 447
CHAPTER XXIX. Visit to the South, 1839, 455
CHAPTER XXX.
1840 — History continued, in letters from New Orleans, 472
CHAPTER XXXI.
History continued, in letters from Charleston, S. C, Savannah, Augusta, and elsewhere, 483
CHAPTER XXXII.
Return to Charleston from Virginia — "Blessed breakfast" — Success at the North and East — <' The Robin's Nest " — The progress of improve- ments at that time, 500
CHAPTER XXXIII. Occurrences from 1841 to 1846, 520
CHAPTER XXXIV. 1846 — A few letters which speak for themselves, 542
CHAPTER XXXV.
Of the granting of the charter to Jubilee college — Conclusion, 553
VOL. U. 1*
REMINISCENCES
OF
BISHOP CHASE.
VOLUME H.
CHAPTER I.
LETTERS OF THE WRITER TO HIS WIFE, DETAILING THE GETTING UP, INTRODUCTION AND PROSPECTS OF THE BILL FOR A GRANT OF LAND
VISITS, AND INCIDENTS AT WASHINGTON MORAL AND RELIGIOUS
REFLECTIONS EXCURSION TO VIRGINIA THE CHURCH.
The journey in the stage-coach, over the Alleghany moun- tains, in the months of January and February, and the deep mud of the roads in passing through Maryland to Washing- ton, were no subjects of agreeable reflection; but it is a delight to remember how kindly the writer was received by his honorable friend and relative, Judge Cranch. With this dear family he was invited and prevailed on to stay while he remained in Washington, where he arrived on the 2d of February, 1828. On the same day he called and embraced his dear brother, Dudley Chase, then a member of the Senate of the United States. On the third of February he adminis- tered the holy communion in the church at the Navy Yard, and preached.
''Washington City, Wednesday, Feb. 6th, 1828. '' My Dear Wife : —
" I received your two letters, with their inclosures, yesterday. As I was engaged writing a new memorial to Congress, I did not write you, as I intended. I have just finished and tran- scribed it this morning, and shall put it into the hands of Judge Ruggles, who has promised to lay it before the Senate to-day.
" Some one in the House of Representatives has called up the subject of the claims of the State of Ohio to a donation of
2 BISHOP CHASE'S REMINISCENCES.
lands for college purposes. The committee to whom it was referred having reported unfavorably, Mr. Vinton made a speech on the occasion, and got the matter reported to a com- mittee of the whole, to consider the subject some day soon.
'' How this will operate in relation to Kenyon college, I cannot foretell. If favorably, it will be because God is infi- nitely merciful to us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
'' We shall go on as if that matter were not in existence. " Ever your faithful husband,
'^P. Chase."
In continuation : —
''Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1828, half -past one, P. M.
"I have just returned from the Senate chamber, where I witnessed the presenting of my petition, and the referring of it and the accompanying documents to the committee on public lands, with an order to print the whole for the use of the Senate and House of Representatives.
"This looks cheering, and is rendered doubly so by an open declaration from several of the senators, who came to shake hands with me, that they were of the opinion that my prayer would be granted in the Senate ; some doubts were entertained in regard to the House. My brother says, come what will, success or failure, as to the obtaining of the lands, my appearance here, sincerely and boldly making a request of the nature of that contained in our petition, and the conse- quent development of the extent of the plan of benevolence involved in the very nature of our college, will be of great and beneficial importance to us. It is worth the trial twice ten- fold, though we fail in the immediate object of our wishes. Thus my brother, Dudley Chase, whom I pray God ever to bless, and for whom, no doubt, you will offer yours and our dear children's daily prayers.
" Your faithful husband,
"Philander Chase."
From the same to the same : —
'-'February 14.ih. "■ I met the committee to whom was referred my petition for the grant of lands of Kenyon college, this morning, at ten, in
BISHOP chase's reminiscences. 3
the cockloft of the Capitol. There were present, Messrs. D. Barton, of Missouri, W. R. King, of Alabama, and Elias K. Kane, of Illinois. They gave me their undivided attention, and heard me with kindness. You know I seldom feel satis- fied with my own speeches, therefore cannot expect that I should detail what I said in this letter to you. My address was the sum of what I had formerly communicated, rather than the invention of any new argument. Their regular day of meeting for the despatch of business is to-morrow, when they promised to take up and consider my petition ; in this very good humor I left them, and for the first time went to the House of Representatives and was introduced to the speaker.
'• This gentleman (the speaker) conducted me to the adja- cent room, where we were seated together for some time. His manner was respectful, and he seemed interested in my object. Now I can easily suppose that upon this view of things you would think me disposed to be somewhat elated ; but indeed you are mistaken. Were I certain of success. I trust my gratitude would be sincere, and very ardent ; but I have enough to humble me. Besides, even supposing the committee report favorably, who knows how the Senate, as a body, will act] And then, should they pass the bill in my favor, what an ordeal has it to go through in the House of Representatives ! Amidst all these dangers and perils. I know there is a God who can give safety and final success. In him I trust, to him I pray. This done, and done continually, I know whatever He appoints and orders will be right and for the best.
''I am to dine at Mr. Clay's on Wednesday, the 20th inst.
"Your faithful and loving husband,
u
Philander Chase."
^'Febniwy loth. "The committee on lands, to whom my petition was re- ferred, continues to speak favorably. Tlu^ Milnor professor- ship is filled: though we and our children are beggars, it must go."
The writer had equalled liis brother in subscription, that the one thousand dollars might in time be secured.
4 BISHOP chase's reminiscences.
^^ Washington Cili/, ISth day of February, 1828. ''My Dear Wife: —
"On Saturday last, the Rev. Dr. Keith, of the theological seminary near Alexandria, came to Washington with his carryall wagon, and took me to Rev. Mr. Jackson's, in this place. We had a pleasant ride ; after which, he left me at Mr. J.'s door, and rode out home to the seminary, two miles
and a half.
" The family of the Rev. Mr. J. treated me with great kind- ness, and in the course of the evening a respectable member of his congregation called and took me to visit the widow of the late Dr. Wilmer, left with a large family of nine children, six of his by a former wife, and three of her own ; I could not but regard her with great interest. Is not this, thought I, a representation of my dear wife's condition, should God take me from this world? No : for Mrs. W. is comparatively rich in worldly substance, while you and your little ones will have few or no possessions at my death. This reflection would distract me, if I did not know that God is your portion ; this soothes many an aching, distressful moment ; 'Jehovah Jireh,^ ^God vj ill provide.^
"I preached in the morning for Mr. Jackson, and in the evening for Mr. Keith, but did not see the latter, he being engaged at the seminary. Colonel Chambers, of the eastern shore of Maryland, and senator to Congress, was in church both times, and spent the evening with Mr. Jackson's family, and I, having dined with him at Mr. Kanell's, like him, and
hope he likes me, so far, at least, as to vote for . But stop
— I will go on with my story. I stayed all night at Mr. Jack- son's, and this morning rode to this — Washington — city, in company with Colonel Chambers ; found a letter from brother Kip— all well— and another from Arius Nye, telling me, what Mr. Norton had told me before, that the taxes were remitted ; I blessed God and took courage, went home and wrote to Mr. Norton, and then went to the Senate chamber — and what do you think I heard there? I have reserved the pleasure of telling you to the last page of my letter, and this may show you what command I have over my feelings ; fearing, how-
BISHOP chase's reminiscences. 5
ever, that I may tire your feelings of anxiety, even to impa- tience, I will tell you.
"Judge Ruggles (may God bless him now and forever) came to me, and told me that the committee to whom was referred my petition for donations of lands for Kenyon college, had determined to report a bill in favor of a gra?it of txoo townships^ to be selected in parcels of not less than one section^ {alias ^ a mile square each^ and, had desired him to draio up the said bill to our hearts'' content. I went right home and fell on my knees, to offer my gratitude and praise for so great an appearance of final success.
" I know, and I wish you and all our dear friends to know, also, that I am as yet, even with the good opinion of the com- mittee in my favor, far from being sure of success, even in the Senate, much less in the House, where the jealousy of other colleges in Ohio is excited to no common degree against us ; yet, as I am thus far blessed, I will and ought to be thankful. Though my plan be destroyed, and my hopes cut short to- morrow, I will rejoice to-day and evermore. For even though I fail here in Congress, I shall not fail in success if I submit to God's good pleasure, for that is the essence of all that bears the name of success.
" If I fail in Congress, it is my intention to draw up a mod- est statement of my case, and address it to the notice and bencTolence of the whole Protestant world. I trust they will hear me. It will be short, but will have an extensive circula- tion throughout the Christian world. Do pray for me night and day ; scarcely for one moment is your dear image absent from my mind's eye. Kiss the children, and make them do as you bid them ; remember that you are discharging the duty of us both. May God ever bless you in the good work. Why don't you write to your loving husband?
"Philander Chase."
" March 7th. " I have this morning to write a new statement of my be- ginning and progress of Kenyon college, for the use of Judge Ruggles, in bringing forward and supporting the bill for a township of land.
6 BISHOP chase's reminiscences.
"If Mr. Thomas Smith does not come in town this week, I shall go to see him in the beginning of the next. He sub- scribed one thousand dollars for Kenyon college ; I received one letter from him since in this city, promising to be here ; but the time has passed by. I fear he is sick.
" My cause will soon be decided in the Senate, where, per- haps, it may be in my favor, but in the House of Representa- tives— mercy on us ! The sectional and sectarian interests from our own Ohio members present a most formidable obsta- cle. The controlling power of God alone can govern such a mass of selfish and heterogeneous motives. I feel as if I could fly to see you, but here I am chained to the wheel of duty, and must be conteyvt — resigned would be a better word."
''Washington City, March I3th, 1828. "MyDear WIFE: — " I am very thankful in telling you that my prospect of suc- cess in obtaining the township of land for Kenyon college daily increases. The progress of good will towards the grant from Congress is slow, but, if I may judge from such evidence as comes to my ears, it is sure. Last night I was in company with Major Barkley, from Mansfield, Ohio, and Mr. Devan- port, from Barnsville, Ohio, my warm friends ; their hopes are strong in my favor. This morning I heard, through a friend, that Stansbiiry is come over to the expediency of my applica- tion ; add to this, Benton, from Missouri, is alive to the impor- tance of our college, and means to advocate our bill in the Senate, with all his might. What is more than all, brother Dudley, who, you know, through the best of motives, (I mean the fear of adding fuel to the flame of my already burning hopes ^^ is averse to any expression of his opinion, till all amounts to nearly a certainty — even this, my brother Dudley, (may God ever bless him,) is free to tell me that I shall suc- ceed in the Senate ; that I may do so without opposition. He is delighted to see me mingling with the Jacksonians, and breaking down the barriers between the parties. Am I not a blessed man^ to be placed always between two fires^ and yet so shielded by the protecting power of kind Providence as to be hurt by the shot of neither 7
BISHOP chase's reminiscences. /
"I don't ever read the papers, nor do I care for their con- tents. The good of my country, in educating the rising gen- eration of the west in knowledge and virtue^ is my object; this accomplished, I have no other wish left, hut the salvation of my own soul, and those lohom God hath given to my charge.
"I can hardly beUeve myself on the wing of flying still further from you, yet it is so; at twelve (one hour and a half from this) I am in the steam-boat, to go to Fredericksburg, Virginia, and thence to see Mr. T. Smith, about the one thou- sand dollars subscription.
" He is to meet me, I suppose, at the landing in Fredericks- burg, and take me to his house. I shall return hither about next Monday, when I hope to hear more of my affairs.
"All say, 'You must not be impatient; the object is so great that it deserves your attendance through all sacrifices.' And my friends say, ' It is so evidently becoming every day more probable and practicable, that it would be wrong for you to leave it ; for if you do— if you go, all interest will cease. The bill will lie on the table, and die a natural death.' Do you ask the reason of this remark? Party spirit rages so high as to drown the still, small voice of Kenyon college. Adieu ! '' Your faithful husband, Philander Chase."
''King George County, Virginia, March 19th, 1S28. "My Dear Wife: —
" On Thursday last, the day on which I wrote my last letter to you, I set off in the steam-boat and proceeded down the Potomac. The day was fine, and the scenery beautiful. As I passed the place where lie the remains of our country's Father, I remembered my having once visited it in person, and seen in the tomb, inclosed in a small box, what now appeared at a distance. Like all things in this perishing and evanescent world, the prospect before me had just enough of grandeur, and glory, and greatness, connected with it, to show that man had sprung from some higher power; and surely there was abundant proof of corruption and decay, to manifest that he has fallen, and that this world is not his home.
"I found, when arrived at tlic landing, that I was nearer, by some ten miles, to Mr. Thomas Smith's, than by going to
VOL. II. 2
8 BISHOP chase's reminiscences.
Fredericksburg; I therefore concluded that Mr. Smith's expres- sion, ' that he would send his carriage for me,' meant that he would meet me at the nearest landing-place ; it was natural for me, therefore, to think of stopping where I landed. Ac- cordingly, I stayed that night and the next day at that dreary place, something similar to the landing-place at K. No car- riage, however, came, and I went in the evening coach to Fredericksburg. It was near midnight before we had, through very bad roads, arrived there; but though so late, I went immediately to the Rev. Mr. McGuire's. Here I met with the kindest treatment. Mrs. McG. is niece to General Washing- ton, and partaking of that, the best royal blood of our coun- try, was entitled to great respect. I found her equal to her descent, and I think her piety equal to her good sense.
"Mr. McGuire's parish is very similar to that in Hartford, Conn., as it used to be; and in saying this, you know, I say all that I can say in behalf of any place or people. I was de- lighted, and that in so many ways, that I must reserve the history of our visits and visitors to that blessed time when God shall permit me once more to see you !
" I preached on Sunday ; on Monday, Mr. B.'s uncle showed me his nephew's letter, dated at Worthington, and full of good news about that excellent young man's mind. Oh, how 1 rejoice that God hath visited us in the conversion of this dear youth! His connections are very respectable here; what prospects arise in the hopes of his being a clergyman !
" On Monday, we all came (I mean Mr. McGuire, and sev- eral others from F.) on our way to King George county, and dined with a Mr. Gray, one of the best of the best, both him- self and family. Here, at evening, I met with the Rev. Mr. Peet, who came with Mr. T. Smith's coach, to take me to his house, about twenty miles off. In the morning, yesterday, we set off, and after eating on the way a most excellent lunch, at Mr. Taliaferro's, (pronounced Tollifer,) and riding through a desolate country, we arrived at Mr. Smith's, wliere we have been treated with the utmost kindness. They have made an appointment for me to preach this day. To-morrow (D. V.) I am to go to Washington again.
BISHOP chase's reminiscences. 9
" I write this in the bed-chamber, at Mr. T. Smith's. Have not seen him this morning. Adieu !
"Your faithful husband,
"Philander Chase."
" Washington^ March 21, 1828.
^' My Dear Wife : —
" Mr. Thomas Smith has fulfilled most promptly the terms of his subscription. I consider him the founder of the Milnor professorship equally with others.
"I think I told you that the Rev. Mr. Peet, (from New York,) whom you may recollect to have been often and most respectfully mentioned by myself and Mr. Morse, as a truly good young man, is fixed as the minister of the church in King George county. He dined with us at Mr. T. Smith's, and the next day conducted me to the place of worship. It is an old church, now cut up into an academy, being in the form of a cross ; the middle part only is reserved for the school, and preaching on Sundays; the projections are taken for the teachers' rooms. What a falling off is here ! I almost shed tears as I passed through the rooms and saw where the altar stood, now desecrated to common use ; but perhaps it is all for the best, for more souls may be saved by the present order of things, when they have a good Bishop, than by the former, when such a blessing was not known in America. Formerly the rectors, like Jeshurun, the more prosperous tbey were, the more forgetful they were of God, the author of all their mer- cies. All vital religion was forgotten in the luxuries of life, and mostly the Sabbath was closed, not in prayer, but surfeit- ing and drunkenness.
" For these things God hath visited Virginia. An infidel party rose out of the corruptions of the Church, and eat up her fat things and destroyed lier sanctuaries. All her glebes were confiscated and her charters taken from her; many of her churches were turned to secular uses, and many more were suffered to go to ruin. The livings being destroyed, the clergy, who had served only for gain, and kept the flock only for the fleece, either fled the country or shut up their mouths, as they did the doors of their churches, in silence. Infidelity rode
10 BISHOP chase's reminiscences.
triumphant till nearly the whole generation of transgressors had passed away ; the sequel you know. Bishop Moore came, and makes every man know his place and do his duty.
'' The congregation to whom I preached on Wednesday was large and very attentive. The Rev. Mr. Peet read prayers ; after service, they gathered round me, the rich owners of the surrounding plantations — Mr. Washington, son of Lawrence W., to whom, as his relative and friend, the General willed his golden-headed cane ; Col. Stuart, with whom we dined, (about six or eight miles from the church,) and with whom we tarried all night. The company at Col. Stuart's was very large, and we contrived to turn a great part of the conversa- tion into a religious channel. Mr. Thomas Smith was with us, and the more I see of him the more I revere his piety and generosity.
'' Yesterday morning Mr. T. Smith and Mr. Peet set off by way of the shores of the Potomac to breakfast with Mr. Wash- ington. He calls his place Waterloo, and it is decidedly the handsomest situation I visited in Virginia. Its view is exten- sive, and shrubbery and forest trees set out with great taste. We took our luncheon at Col. Stuart's. His daughter, Mar- garet, bred up in as fine a garden as our country produces, is the sweetest flower in it. She played for us a number of verses in the tune of ' Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled.' They were written by Frank Key, on the plan of the Christian war- fare ; the whole performance, time and verses, are exceedingly animating. She has promised to send me a copy of them. From Col. Stuart's we rode to a place within two miles of the landing, where I embarked on board a small skiff, to save going by land six miles around ; at eight o'clock I got on board the steam-boat, and at six this morning was in this room of Judge Cranch's, where I write myself
" Your faithful husband,
''Philander Chase."
In continuation : —
"24^A March, Monday night, eleven o^ clock, "My Dear Wife : —
" I have been very busy this day. In the morning I called on Messrs. Ruggles, Hendricks, and Thomas, of the Senate,
BISHOP chase's reminiscences. 11
and my brother D . This evening I have been to see Mr.
Stevenson, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Messrs. Stansbury, Blake, and Barkley. Stansbury says he will give me his vote and influence. This is more than I expected.
'' We all think the bill will pass the Senate, to-morrow or next day, but at the same time we donH knoiv. Perhaps it is better we should not ; it keeps us more constant and fervent in our prayers. God grant them acceptance, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Good night, my blessed wife ; I think of my children constantly, and never without prayers for God's blessing on them."
^^ Tuesday morn, sunrise.
" I am going this morning to breakfast with Mr. Clay ; shall dine with a number of the Massachusetts members, and drink tea with another mess.
"Things look well, and God seems to have answered my prayers. I pray that my confidence may not amount to pre- sumption. If all my hopes about this donation from Congress prove fallacious, O may God give me the grace of submission, which to my own soul 1 have no doubt is as much needed as any other blessing. Thy will, oh God, be done. P. C."
''Washington, D. C, March 25, ) Tuesday ?iight, eleven o^ clock. >
''I went very early this morning and called on the Rev. Mr. Hawlcy, and then on Mr. Clay, and then on General Van Ness.
'' Mr. Clay speaks with great despondency about my peti- tion. I asked his reasons ; he gave them me, at the same time telling me that he had no mind to listen to my answers. I told him that I was grateful to him that he had saved me the trouble, and that if there were no more powerful reasons than he had stated I should not despond. Having set this down on the score of my sanguine temperament, he took up his news- paper, and I came away. As I gave notice to all the party of politic men, that I meant not to be identified witli any, but make my cause known to all, even so I doterminrd to proceed. Accord iiitfly I asked CJeneral Van Ness to go with me to Mr. Van Buren, the great head man of the Jacksonians. He
VOL. II. 2*
12 BISHOP chase's reminiscences.
received me politely, and plainly told me, that though he was against the principle of granting lands to individual corpora- tions, yet he did consider my cause had peculiar claims, and if in any case he should vote in favor of such a claim, it would be in favor of mine. I asked him if he would say as much as this before the Senate. He said yes.
^^27th March, six o'clock A. M. '' This day, (surely things are now so arranged that I may say this day,) my hopes will be raised or extinguished for- ever, about the grant of land for Kenyon college. I feel the importance of the crisis, and throw myself on the mercy of Him who died. to purchase mercy for us. Oh, may I have grace to sustain whatever event God pleases to produce, for He will do right ; if he give what we call prosperity, it is right ; if adversity, that is right also ; all we want is a faithful con- formity of ours to his will, yet it is our duty to have a will and desires of our own, that our faith may appear in bending them to his. God give us power and strength to do this con- tinually, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.*^
On the 28th day of March, the writer, as intimated in the foregoing letter, did not attend the Senate. Both his friends and his foes had the satisfaction to know that the subject of their remarks was not present. Such intelligence was, how- ever, communicated to him as enabled him to write these words to his anxious wife and school at Worthington, Ohio ;
''2Sth March, 1828. '' Bless God with me, and call upon all our family to praise his holy name. Our cause is gained. The bill has passed through all the opposition it will ever have in the Senate, twenty-five to fifteen ; all is joy and congratulation. Even those who opposed it say they are glad that it has passed. Brother D. says, he ' never knew a long debate which pre- served its animated character with so much kindness for the thing opposed, and mutual respect among the speakers.' More of this when I shall have time. This must be sent you to-night ; it is now half-past four o'clock.
" Your faithful P. Chase."
BISHOP chase's reminiscences. 13
CHAPTER II.
DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE SENATE THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
The following historical record of a debate in the Senate, on the subject of Kenyon College^ is the bearer of its own apol- ogy. To omit through modesty its personal reference, would deprive it of its interest, as it is disinterested testimony, and forms a good epitome of the past history.
" In the Senate of the United States, March 28, 1828.
*' The bill granting a towmship of land for the benefit of Kenyon college, in the State of Ohio, having been taken up in committee of the whole, Mr. Chandler moved to amend the bill by providing for a similar grant for the benefit of Water- ville and Bowdoin colleges, in the State of Maine.
'' Mr. Ruggles said, as he presented the petition on which the bill was reported, it would perhaps be expected of him, that he should say something in explanation of the object.
" The president and trustees of Kenyon college have, by their memorial, respectfully asked of Congress to grant them a township of land, to aid their efibrts in rearing and building up a seminary of learning, which has been commenced under the most favorable auspices, and now in a state of great for- wardness. The funds which have been already acquired for this object have been raised by the president alone, (Bishop Chase,) who has spared no pains, and omitted no exertions within his power, to carry into effect this design. His great devotion to the success of this institution for several years past, has led him to make great sacrifices of property, com- fort, and happiness, to attain his object. He has succeeded beyond the most sanguine anticipations of his friends, and even ])cyond his own most ardent expectations. The dona- tions already made in iMiropc, and in this country, amount to fifty-five thousand dollars, all of which are to be cxchisively appHed to the support of this institution. He now asks Con- gress to grant one township of wild and unappropriated lands, within tlie State of Ohio, to further assist him in llie prosecu-
14 BISHOP CHASE'S REMINISCENCES.
tion of this praiseworthy and patriotic undertaking. Mr. R. said he hoped the appUcation would not be made in vain ; he sincerely believed that, when the Senate took into considera- tion the great and unparalleled exertions of this distinguished individual, in the cause of humanity and learning, they would not withhold the small assistance asked for.
'' Mr. R. said, the college for which this donation was asked is situated in the county of Knox, within a few miles of the centre of the state. A tract of eight thousand acres of land, very rich and fertile, has been purchased by a portion of the funds acquired, and on this tract the buildings of the college have been commenced. Its central position will furnish equal facilities to the inhabitants of every part of the state. This college has been incorporated by an act of the legislature of Ohio, and the usual privileges had been conferred upon it. From the rapid progress already made in the buildings^ its entire completion will be effected in a very short period.
^' Mr. R. remarked, that he could not but advance the pres- ent bill with great earnestness, not only from his own convic- tion of its importance and necessity, but from other and higher considerations, which he considered imperative upon him. So deep an interest did the legislature of Ohio feel in the success of this institution, that at its present session resolutions were passed by that body with great unanimity, instructing their senators, and requesting their representatives, in Congress, to use their best endeavors to procure the passage of a law grant- ing a township of land for this purpose. Under the influence of these instructions, and supported by the just weight and character of so respectable a body of men as composed that legislature, he could not but expect success in the present application. Why has the legislature instructed their sen- ators and representatives upon this subject ? Why has it not granted the necessary aid itself? The reason is a plain and obvious one. Ohio is not the owner of any public land ; she has not an acre to give. The Congress of the United States possesses, and has a right to dispose of, all the public lands within the limits of the state. This application is then made to Congress, as the great landholder there, to contribute a por- tion of its funds for the purposes of education, to unite with
BISHOP chase's reminiscences. 15
those who have made donations to this object, for the benefit of the present generation and for posterity.
'' There is always an interest created in the pubhc mind, to know something of those who devote their hves and their best days for the benefit of others, for the service of mankind. Mr. R. said, he would make a plain statement to the Senate, of the great and extraordinary exertions of this distinguished indi- vidual, to build up this college, and when it is considered that he has done so much, it cannot be thought inexpedient for Congress to do something. The president of this institution is at present the Bishop of Ohio ; he was formerly an Episcopal clergyman, settled as a preacher in the city of Hartford, Con- necticut, by one of the most respectable and wealthy congre- gations in that portion of the Union. Had he been satisfied with a competent support through life, and desirous of living at ease, in a pleasant and accomplished society, he would have remained with his congregation. But his mind was of a higher order ; he was desirous of becoming more extensively useful to his fellow-citizens, and of enlarging the sphere of his benevolent exertions. In obedience to these high and honora- ble feelings, he determined upon emigrating to the western country. He left his situation with great regret, and similar feelings were manifested by all his friends and acquaintances, at their separation. It is about ten years since he established himself in Ohio. His professional duties required him, for several successive years, to travel into every part of the state, and almost into every county within the limits of the state. Here he collected the dispersed and scattered members of his society, and organized them into churches ; it was a work of great labor, and required his constant and unremitted exer- tions. While thus engaged, he became extensively acquainted with tlie citizens of Ohio, and with the situation and condition of the rising generation ; he saw, with deep regret, the defi- ciency tliat existed in the means of education, and having con- nected liis destinies with tlie people of the West, he resolved to exert all his energies to collect funds, and establish a col- lege for the purpose of instructing the youth of the country. It was a task of no ordinary character ; it required persever-
16 BISHOP chase's reminiscences.
ance and firmness of purpose which but few possess. He commenced the work, and he triumphed.
''In the prosecution of his object, the president of the insti- tution, a few years since, visited England, for the purpose of soUciting contributions, to enable him to build his college. He had been but a short time there, before a great interest was excited in his favor, and many of the most distinguished per- sonages of that country contributed largely. Lord Kenyon, whose name the college bears, took an active and decided part, and similar feelings and sentiments were created in oth- ers. From those generous benefactors of learning and science. he received thirty thousand dollars, in money, books, and other articles necessary for such an establishment. The funds so generously contributed beyond the Atlantic laid the foundation of this institution. Nor have our own citizens in the United