PUBLIC LIBRARY ASTOR, LENOX AND Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by JOHN P. JEWETT AND COMPANY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. CAMBRIDGE: PREFACE. THE design of this work being to present a just and true account of the personal character and public services of Robert Rantoul, Jr., I have given, in illustration of his principles and the objects at which he aimed, his own Speeches and Writings, and the circumstances which called them forth, as well as whatever information could be gathered from those who knew him most intimately from his birth to his death. I have, besides, enjoyed the benefit of a personal acquaintance with him from the commencement to the close of his public life; and if I have not succeeded in forming a just estimate of his character, I may have been misled by the sentiments of respect and affection with which its noble traits and excellences never failed to inspire me. For I will not deny, that if a sincere admiration of Mr. Rantoul's private and public character be a disqualification for editing this work, its success must be particularly affected and hurt by it. To speak of him as he was, is to praise him. Let the reader, therefore, pardon me if he find sober narrative sometimes uttering the warm language of eulogy. It could not otherwise have been true. The biographical sketch of Mr. Rantoul in his earliest years, and up to the time of his graduation at Harvard College, is from the accomplished pen of his kinsman and friend, Rev. A. P. Peabody, D. D., of Portsmouth. This, with the extracts from the letters of Doctors Ray and Torrey, and the three short poems, which are thrown in, not so much to show his poetical talent, as the delicacy of his sentiments, and the tenderness of his personal character, constitutes the first Chapter. I am also indebted to the kindness of Richard H. Dana, Jr., Esq., for a full and accurate report of the Sims Case, in which Mr. Rantoul's service, as counsel for the alleged fugitive from slavery, was so honorable to his ability as a constitutional lawyer, and to the humanity and justice of his sentiments. To C. L. Woodbury, Esq., I am also under obligations for information in relation to what is known to lawyers as the New Bedford Bridge Case, and to Mr. Rantoul's practice in trials for infringement of patent rights. Of whatever else in this work appears as editorial, I take the exclusive responsibility; and that responsibility will appear sufficient to any one, who considers how many important subjects are touched upon, and how much one, who does his own thinking, hazards, in these times of panic patriotism, when republican America, in her pretty innocence, babbles, like the old despotisms of Europe, of finalities; and a free word, spoken by free lips, is freighted with magic thunder to shake the pillars of the Constitution. Freedom must be at its last gasp, when such a man as was Robert Rantoul, Jr., can be excluded from a democratic convention, for holding fast the sacred rights of opinion and discussion, rights essential to liberty and manhood, and hostile only to tyrants. But in the cause of human rights he spake, and "though dead, he yet speaketh;" and could the voice of all the friends of freedom united, give to the dust that rests upon its native Atlantic shore its former vitality, the restored could not speak with more effective, if, "miraculous, organ" for truth, liberty, and the happiness of the people, than he has spoken in the works here republished. If they shall enkindle in one human soul a new and more earnest sentiment of humanity, a profounder respect for justice in political institutions and laws, and a higher reverence for the majesty of virtue in private and public life, the editor will feel that his humble service is a thousand times rewarded. ROXBURY, JUNE 17, 1853. CONTENTS. Parentage and birth. Home influences. Permanent traits of character early dis- played. His first school teacher. Extract from his Journal when eight years old. Phillips Academy, Andover. Testimony of a class mate, Dr. Ray. Habits of study. Harvard College entered, 1822. Character as a student. Industry. The subjects which interested him. Choice of companions. How regarded by those who knew him. Public spirit. Valedictory poem. Interest in Lyceum. Dr. Torrey's letter. Summary view of his early character. Poems, Commenced the study of law in 1826, with Mr. Pickering. Continued it with Mr. Saltonstall. Literary tastes. Love of history and politics. Admitted to the Bar, 1829. Trial of the Knapps, 1830. Effects of independence in discharge of duty. Lost the patronage of wealth by it. Married, 1831. Left Salem for South Read- ing. Lived there two years. First of his published political addresses. Removed to Gloucester, 1833. Resided there five years. A representative in the Legisla- ture four years. Opened an office in Boston, 1838. Obstacles to his success and advancement. His democratic opinions injuriously affect his professional practice. It was so in the case of Story. Genius finally triumphs. Several important cases mentioned. "Journeymen Boot-Makers' Case," from Democratic Review. The Rhode Island Trials. Circumstances which led to them. Account of Mr. Ran- toul's argument from "Providence Express." Appointed Collector in 1843. Dis- trict Attorney in 1844. Vindicated great principles of constitutional law. New Bedford Bridge Case. Learned argument. The Spitfire Case, (a slaver). The Crafts Case of fraudulent wrecking a ship. Great length of this trial. Extracts from Journal of Commerce and Boston Times. In 1835, on the Committee for Revising the Statutes. In 1836, 1837, 1838, one of the Judiciary Committee. Extract from his Journal, written 1835. Found the advantage of journalizing not worth the trouble. Codification of the Common Law; for his views of, see Chapter IV., in his A* Oration at Scituate. His unexpected call to defend an alleged fugitive slave. Report of the Sims Case, by R. H. Dana, Jr., Esq. Mr. Rantoul's argument never answered, and unanswerable, 16-66 CHAPTER III. His love of knowledge prompt his labors in the cause of Education. His estimate of the value of knowledge. Theme of one of his earliest addresses on Education. The worth of knowledge determined by the moral character of its possessor. The highest office of the Teacher. The cultivation of the moral sentiments the best part of education. Illustration from his own character, which was as pure and elevated as his love of knowledge and facility of acquisition were great. Hence his unaffected interest in the cause of Moral Reform. Labors in favor of Temperance, and his view of the means of promoting it, (see, also, on this subject, Chapter V). Made numerous Speeches not published or written out. Plymouth county Normal School Convention. Massachusetts Board of Education. Mr. Rantoul an active member six years. Lectured often before Lyceums. Article of his published in the North American Review, here reprinted. Also his Address before the American Institute of Instruction, 67-140 CHAPTER IV. His political principles early matured. Originated in his natural character, and love of historical and statistical knowledge. Believed in the progress and improvement of the race, and the ultimate triumph of the right and the true. Regarded government as an evil to be borne because necessary; and to be dispensed with as far as possible. The world governed too much. Held to the strict construction of the Constitution of the United States. Frank, explicit, and consistent from first to last in avowing his opinions. Extracts from his writings of 1834 and 1851, compared, proving identity of opinion at those two periods. Advocated a system of equal rights, equal burdens, and free trade. Wrote much for the press. Character of the "Gloucester Democrat and Workingmen's Advocate." Ably supported Jackson's Administration. Extracts. Unavoidable responsibility imposed by republican institutions. Vigilance necessary to preserve them. He acted up to his principles fearlessly and faithfully. Sought the public good. His principles consistent and homogeneous. Superior to mere party. Above selfish considerations. Always boldly on the side of freedom. Oration at South Reading, 1832. Oration at Gloucester, 1833, as published in Workingmen's Library, vol. I. ; Chief Justice Marshall's opinion of this Oration. Address to the Workingmen of the United States. Oration at Scituate, 1836. Extracts from Oration at Lenox, 1838, on the true basis of free governments, 141-307 CHAPTER V. Position and influence in the Legislature. Representative from Gloucester the first time, 1835. Eminent qualifications for that office. His aims as a representative. The character of his constituency. Opposition in the House. Effect of his bold |