Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-12-03

opinion between US on an important public
| question. Yes, the eight hour law He
would not admit that it was a mistake.
! believe now as heretofore that he was actu-
ated by the best VI motives, and it he was
biased by desire for votes, with his heart
set upon the Presidency, he would not think
or see it. | asked bin if he personally re-
garded it n hardship to work 10 or II hours
n day. Said he Mo- it was u privilege
but he had hoped that workingmen would
take more time for seli-improyement if
eight hours were legal days work He
remembered when he was a farmer and
then shOemakers apprentice, how he
worked to get an hour for reading. lie
ascribed his success in life To his early love
for reading.
He deplored the fact that the public do
main had been so squanderei in the past,
and thought, if it had been saved. the war
debt could have been paid without embar-
rassment. lie deplorel also the want of
wisdom in the Government and in Congress
When he was elected Vice President he
made many appeals to the President to draw
the best men OF the courtry into the Cabi-
net. lie failed in exerting any influence in
that direction. lie spoke Of the weakness
OF the Cabinet and was troubled Mt seeing
Mr.. Richardson in the Treasury He talk eji
uneasily about ;hird term Tor Grant until
recently.
ale paid his last visit 10 Inc two weeks
ago Sunday. He was Oh his way to Wash |
ington. He seemed very much depressed !
and looked pallid. lie would not admit I
that he was i'll, and talked hopefully. !
We talked about his being a candidate /
for the Presidency, and saw that his whole (
heart was enlisted For the last year or two I
his ambition got the better of his Judgment /
Like most men spoken OF for the presidency. /
the thought came to possess him. II was /
his misfortune not an ohense. MIR Wilson
showed nervousness during the last year and I
ambition aggravated the disease. Ii he had {
been nominated and elected, he would have
died in the hour OF victory, and the diSap-
pOintment Of defeat in contention or ut
the polls would have killed him. The judy
ment Of p0steriiy will be that he was sec
ond Roger Sherman and l. statesman. He
was occasionally closely allied with Thad
deus Stevens. lie admired Stevens IN
qualified sense.
Mr.. Wilson was always trying to hold
Sumner back, 20 modify MS views, and
make hun more practical. The country
Will always oyer-estImaie Sumner. | think
though | dislike TO say it. wilson was
more useful than Sumner, though not 30
cultured. | think his great work on the
Rise and Fall Of the Slave Power dis
plays wonderful ability. research and clear
Judgment. lie never visited me without
talking about his hook. and frequently read
ne portion, Of the manuscript. When last
here be said it was hi, intention to COM
petc his volume this winter The hope Of
completing the work buoyed him up during
he last hour. lie went 10 Saratoga during
The summer 10 write. but hecaue weary and
wen; South. | think the Presidential qne>-
ion troubled him. lie had great pride in
ceiling that hi- holk was the work which
would make his uau.e live iu history and
bat It would become tie standard work On
The great question TO which be gaze the
lc>t part ol his life