The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-08

~ T. - rssSis6 ~ 60 u q ysnn1oly1.
~ ~ eenvlnssa - hAhAA 1t11s knsWle6ee
4 n wAaesvss ~ nisAt sass havs AsA H
~ aGRssahse .aAd satsstalnins 70 he day Of |
~ dsath. always shseeful aAd he'd Sons ann.
waed anytA1ng d Ooansll that he wanted 81.
led. 10 aiWAys began By rslstiag some snso-
lote applicable 70 the business. Il was not long
before ~ lsft Europe. believe. that he felt the
Dtons. When hs was troubled with II In ooun.
III. hs often mentioned 70 me that those who
lived out the days Of life must expect to suffer;
that most Of his present friends were the sons
Dr. grandsons OF his former companions; that
ny grandfather. Nicholas SOUL. Surveyor.Gsn.
sral OF PcnnsylvsniA was one OF bic most In.
Innate frisnds. . The Doctor often mem
TONED II - bis opinion that We were the
hsppiest people In the world. He used 10 say
the reason why We had not 50 many old people
- In Europe IN proportion TO our numbers was
that sixty or seventy years back there were but
few born In the country. Ho thought that no
people In the world lived to greater age than
the Americans or enjoy better health"
We hnd In this book similar personal rsmi-
niscences Of Washington. Il had seen him."
brother Edwards and In camp. When he was
In the Convention dined several times 10 COM
pany with him. and had the honor OF his COM
pany 10 dine with me. When he was elected
President OF the United States no lived during
tho whole Of the time that he was In Philsdel-
phia nearly opposite 70 me. At that time saw
him almost daily. frequently attended his
levees to introduce some friend or acauaitance.
and called sometimes with Gov. Mlfiin. The
General always behaved politely to the Gov
ernor. but IL appeared to mo that he had
not forgotten tho Governors opposition TO
him during the Revolutionary war; He Was q
most elegant figure Of man. with 40 much
dignity Of manners that no person whatever
could take any improper liberties with him.
havo heard Mr.. Robert Morris. who was as In
Innate with him as any man in America say
that he was the only man in whose presence he
felt any awe. You would seldom see q irown
or q smile on his countenance. his air was
serious and rejecting. yet havU seen him in
the theatre laugh heartily. He was
much more cheerful when he was retiring from
the Office Of President than had lever seen him
before. He was in Philadelphia short
time before he died. and thought he mover
looked better than he did at that time. He en-
joyed remarkable health. hardly over having
been confined by sickness"
II We should judge from the space allotted to
the topic In this diary we might infer that Penn
sylvanians took no great interest in the forma-
ton Of tho Federal Constitution. Can't. Biddle
gives twelve lines to the subject This year.
1857. tho Convention for forming Federal
Constitution met In Philadelphia. / was &C.
quanted with most OF the members. Some OF
the best informed told mo they did not believe
q single member was perfectly satisfied with
the Constitution. but they believed 1t was tho
best they could ever agroe upon. and that 1t
was infinitely bcttor to have such a one than to
break up without fixing on some form OF gov
eminent. which I believe at ono time 1t
was expected they would have done. For my
own part, have no doubt It is the
best In the world. and as perfect rs any
human form Of government can be. We had
in the Convention many OF the best and wisest
men In this or any other country" On the OBJ
stacles to the acceptance OF the Federal Consti-
tuition by Pennsylvania Capt Biddle discourses
at more length. and confirms the story that
quorum was only secured by violence when the
motion to coll a ratifyin9 Convention came up
In the Legislature. There seems to be no doubt
that the presence OF the two members needed
to constitute quorum was brought about By
dragging them forcby into the Assembly Hail.
and OBTAINING them against their will. The
author is convinced that this lawless proceed
Ing. which Notwithstanding the prosecution Of
the chief actors long ranked In the memories
OF the country members. was q min cause Of
tho removal of the State capital from Philadel-
phia. The western members. We are told. had
long been treated with great contempt by tho
principal people Of the city. and when they also
found themselves subjected to mob violence
their resentment became unappeasable. About
tho whiskey Instruction. which broke out In
the western countios In 1894 Capt. Biddle has
q good deal to say; but. although he favored
Queliing the disturbances with tho strong
hand. he Is careful to discriminate between
those who fomented and those who strove to
moderate them. at the risk Of alternating their
neighbors and best friends. Thus having
mentioned that Smile. Findley. and Gailatin
were much blamed" he adds: I do not. how
ever. believe they deserved any censure. but.
on the contrary. that they did everything In
their power to prevent the people from acts Of
violence. 1t Is possible that their being sus-
pected OF promoting the instruction made
them more anxious to put a stop to 1t than
they otherwise would have BEEN" He subjoins
in a note. Mr.. Gallatin Ia allowed by his enc
mics to be q man Of superior talents"
Capt. Biddle was firm and. what proved
much more exceptional. a faithful friend OF
Aaron Burr. and what he writes about the two
most important events Of Burr's life-his near
approach to the Presidency and his duel with
Hnmilton-wlll DO read with peculiar in
terest because 1t places both incidents In
different aspect from that in which they are
currently regarded. 1t Is generally believed
that after Burr and Jefferson received the
Same number Of votes In the Electoral College.
the formcr made overturss to the Federalists
In the hope OF beating his Republican colleague
in the House Of Representatives. The author
Of this autobiography. who was certainly In
H. l.A
Pennsylvania electors. declares that nothing
but series Of accidents prevented Burr from
obtaining majority Of the Electoral College.
and he gives no credence to the charge Of sub
sequent intrIgues. on tho ground apparently
that an experienced wirepuller would not have
neglected the most obvious means OF success.
We quote some Of his remarks upon tho sub
ject: 1T was said Mr.. Burr intrigued to get
| appointed President. II he did he managed
badly for he should have gone to Washington
where he certainly could II he wished 1t. have