Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 07.pdf/238



. VII. . 5.

was the misfortune of Mr. Van Buren's long legal career that his particular resultant fame became more or less obscured by his witty quality, his social popularity, and his aptitude for politics. The last element was inherited from his father, Martin Van Buren, whom his contemporaries of all parties agreed in denominating the most able politician that New York State—always the school of remarkable politicians—ever produced. In considering John Van Buren as advocate and counsellor it would be difficult, however, to segregate his legal from his social and political fame. His career must be properly viewed in its triune bearings. He was native of a New York county—Columbia—which has given to the Bar and Bench of the Empire State more jurists of renown than any other of its rural counties. In this connection may be recalled from the top of the list the names of Edward Livingston, the three Vanderpoels, John H. Reynolds, John W. Edmonds, Benjamin F. Butler (of Jackson's cabinet), Ambrose L. Jordan, Theodore Miller, T. Bailey Myers and Samuel J. Tilden. John Van Buren's life extended from his birth in February, 1810, to his death on shipboard in October, 1866. His early education was had at the still noted Kinderhook Academy, and from thence he entered Yale College and took baccalaureate in 1828. One of his class mates whom I have met referred to Van Buren's college popularity, his remarkable memory, and his powers as a debater, as alternating logic and wit with a precocity that foretold a brilliant future. He was a notable among students; for professors and collegians recognized him as the son of a father who had successively become Governor of the State, and its Federal Senator while manipulating the great Democratic "machine" known then, and to subsequent his tory, as the Albany Regency. Young Van Buren ever mourned the loss of his mother, who had died when he was but nine years old; and in after-life he often regretted to intimate friends that no feminine surround ings had tinctured his progress towards manhood. Upon graduating he entered the law office of Benjamin F. Butler, then at work as a reviser of the New York statutes, and who had an office in Albany where he was a political power, and which office he soon vacated to become Attorney-General of the United States. The legal memory of this Benjamin F. Butler, who antedated his Massachusetts namesake by many years, is kept green by the illustrious presence at the New York Bar of his son and personal replica, Wm. Allen Butler. John Van Buren proved of clerical service to his preceptor in the preparation of reviser's notes, and in after-life he often referred to his schooling at Albany in statute-making. He proved to be a diligent student, and an acute observer of his legal surroundings and of court procedures; for Albany was the headquarters of the Supreme Court and of the appellate Court of Errors.