The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-11-24
Amos Kendall and his Times.

AnOIner- Olu veteran Has ulSdppedr-
ed from the theater of human events.
The telegraph announced Saturday the
death of the Hon. Amos Kendall,
one of the last survivors Of what will
be known as the Jackson Era in our
history. He was born in Massachu-
setts in 1889, the year which .,witnes-
sed the formation of the present Gov
ernment of the United States. He
was old as the Constitution. Like
MANY of the talented young men of
New England, he left there early IN
life and emigrated to Kentucky. He
was at first a school teacher, then a
private tutor in the family of Henry
Clay, at Lexington. Alterward he
entered into political life, and became
the editorof the Argms at Frankfort.
He there exhibited journalistic talents
which attracted marked public atten-
ton. Despite his former relations
with Mr. Clay, he early espoused the
cause of Andrew Jackson as candi-
date for President Mr.. Clay's great
and successful rival for that office. aa
After General Jackson's election to
the Presidency, Mr.. Kendall went to
Washington in the capacity of Fourth
Auditor of the Treasury. Here his
fine abilities as writer found ample
scope ina series of brilliant contribu-
tions to the Washington Globe, then
edited by the elder Francis P. Blair,
who, at a ripe old age, still survives.
AT that time the ashington journals
were q power in the country, and po-
liticaily exercised far greater sway
than the New York or any other pj-
pers. The Globe had been esta ablished
to sustain Jackson against the Unitad
States Telegraph, which had gone over
to Mr., Calhoun, then Vice President,
who had had a bitter quarrel with his
chief. The greatest intellects of the
country then wrote for the Wa2hing-
ton press. Mr.. Webster and Mr..
Clay did not disdain to write for the
National lIntelfigeacsr; Mr., calhoun for
the TsleJrai3H, in aid of his friend Duff
Green, while. Colonel Benton anu
Amos Kendall devoted their power
ful pens to the service of MIR. Blair in
the Globe. The latter was an exceed
ingly trenohant paper. The force and
vigor of its editorials strongly Y resembl-
ed those of the London Times. Gen
leral j Jackson considered the Globe as
the most formidable battery he had on
the opposition. Its leading contribu-
tors were his most confidential coun-
selors, and through them his own ma
tive and original ideas of public policy
found their way into the Globe. But
this was not all. Blair and Kendall,
particularly the latter, were Of great
assistance to the old General in the
preparation of his State papers. 1t
is we'll known that while the old hero
was one Of the best thinkers of his day
and wrote with great effect, that his
want OF scholastic attainments render
ed it necessary that it should undergo
some polish and supervision. This
Amos Kendall gave to them, and it
is generally conceded that his messages
and public documents rank among the
ablest that were ever transmitted to
Congress. His farewell address, es-
peciaily his protest to the Senate and
bank vetoes, are model compositions,
and are only inferior in eloquence and
their lcho;ce dictlon to the greatest el-
forts of Daniel Webster.
Mr. Kendall was Post master Gen
eral part of Jackson's and during the
entire term Van Buren's Admins
tration. In it he displayed the high
est order of administrative ability.
During the period from 1880 to 1871,
Mr.. Kendall was regarded by polite
al friend and foe as one of the leading
spirits Of the times. The great Whig.
opposition considered him Il Mephis-
and attributed all the shrewd
and cunning management of the Van
Buren, Administration to him. AS an
instance of this, the writer recalls from
memory a remark made by Henry
Clay. In 1889, that gentleman, eX-
pecting to be the Whig candidate for
President in 1910, made tie tour of
the Northern States. He met every
where, of course, enthusiastic recep-
tions from his political friends. We
were present at one of them at town
in Northern New York. Mr.. Clay,
in the course Of 4 short speech which
he made on the occasion, and which
was strongly a partisan one, raised his
voice and used this language: Eel |
low-citizers, ] have portrayed to you
the character Of Mr.. Van Buren's Ad-
When it shall have end
ed, who will be his successor of that
political school Will it be Thomas
ii. Benton, Amos Kendall or the
levil?" This remark, and the plac
ng of Amos Kendalls name in jux-
:aposition with such formidable per
sonages, showed the high estimate
which Mr.. Clay had of his talents, if
lot of his moral honesty.
After General Harrison's election
md SUCCESSION to the Presidency, in
March. 1871, Mr. Kendall, at the
lgo o! f,ty-one, abandoned the polite
Il field in which he had won such
aurels, and in which apparently, were
,efore him still greater distinctions.
lie has been locker on of political
vents rather than an actor in them
iHce that time. He ever retained,
Iowever, warm sympathy for tie
Democratic party, and occasionally
to the press vigorous ar
icles in defense of its public policy.
n $50 he had friends who sugge sged !
is name as Democratic cand late
Or President. Ta
In ls43 or'44, we think it was he /
ommenced to write The Life a. 4i- (
reaO Jackson. 1t was TO be published
/ serial numbers. Seven of them
ere actually published, and were dis