Page:Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs (Volume One).djvu/99

Rh and had to cut down the trees to land it.” A fellow in the crowd cried out, “Carrying coals to Newcastle.” “Yes.” said the speaker, “them coals he carried to Newcastle. I don’t know so much about the coals, but about the wood I’ve got the documents.”

The general public was not only disposed to accept every wild statement, but the average intelligence was much below the present standard, and the means of communication were poor. If, however, there had been no canvass, the overthrow of Van Buren would have occurred. The defeat of the United States Bank, and the failure of the pet bank system, had been attended by disorders in the finances, the ruin of manufactures, a reduction in wages, with all the incident evils. As these evils were coincident in time with the measures, the measures were treated as the guilty cause. Beyond question, Mr. Clay’s tariff bill contributed to the troubles.

George Bancroft, the historian, was then collector of the port of Boston. He took an active part in the canvass in Massachusetts. On the evening of Saturday previous to the election in Massachusetts, he spoke at Groton in a building afterwards known as Liberty Hall.

Mr. Bancroft had a full House, but not an enthusiastic one. Many of his hearers were Whigs, who came from curiosity, but not to cheer the speaker. Moreover, the news of the New York election, then held the first three days of the week, was not encouraging to Democrats. After the meeting Mr.