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as delivered in part to a few friends who were called into Mr。 Seward's library for the occasion。 The next morning these headlines appeared in all the leading papers in the country： 'GREAT SPEECH ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT A BIG MASS MEETING AT AUBURN； N。 Y。'
In the career of a statesman a phrase will often make or unmake his future。 In the height of the slavery excitement and while the enforcement of the fugitive…slave law was arousing the greatest indignation in the North； Mr。 Seward delivered a speech at Rochester； N。 Y。； which stirred the country。 In that speech； while paying due deference to the Constitution and the laws； he very solemnly declared that 〃there is a higher law。〃 Mr。 Seward sometimes called attention to his position by an oracular utterance which he left the people to interpret。 This phrase； 〃the higher law；〃 became of first…class importance； both in Congress； in the press； and on the platform。 On the one side； it was denounced as treason and anarchy。 On the other side； it was the call of conscience and of the New Testament's teaching of the rights of man。 It was one of the causes of his defeat for the presidency。
Senator Henry Wilson； of Massachusetts； afterwards vice…president； was in great demand。 He was clear in his historical statements and emphatic in his expression of views。 If he had any apprehension of humor he never showed it in his speeches。 His career had been very picturesque from unskilled laborer to the Senate and the vice…presidency。 The impression he gave was of an example of American opportunity； and he was more impressive and influential by his personality and history than by what he said。
One of the most picturesque and popular stump speakers was Daniel S。 Dickinson。 He had been a United States senator and party leader； and was a national figure。 His venerable appearance gave force to his oratory。 He seemed to be of great age； but was remarkably vigorous。 His speeches were made up of epigrams which were quotable and effective。 He jumped rapidly from argument to anecdote and was vitriolic in attack。
I had an interesting experience with Mr。 Dickinson when running for secretary of state in 1863。 The drawing card for that year； and the most sought…after and popular for campaign speaking； was Governor Andrew； of Massachusetts。 He had a series of appointments in New York State； but on account of some emergency cancelled them all。 The national and State committees selected me to fill his appointments。 The most unsatisfactory and disagreeable job in the world is to meet the appointments of a popular speaker。 The expectations of the audience have been aroused to a degree by propaganda advertising the genius and accomplishments of the expected speaker。 The substitute cannot meet those expectations； and an angry crowd holds him responsible for their disappointment。
When I left the train at the station I was in the midst of a mass…meeting of several counties at Deposit； N。 Y。 A large committee； profusely decorated with campaign badges； were on the platform to welcome the distinguished war governor of Massachusetts。 I did not meet physically their expectations of an impressive statesman of dignified presence； wearing a Prince Albert suit and a top hat。 I had been long campaigning； my soft hat was disreputable； and I had added a large shawl to my campaigning equipment。 Besides that； I was only twenty…eight and looked much younger。 The committee expected at least sixty。 Finally the chairman rushed up to me and said： 〃You were on the train。 Did you see Governor Andrew； of Massachusetts？〃 I answered him： 〃Governor Andrew is not coming； he has cancelled all his engagements； and I have been sent to take his place。〃 The chairman gasped and then exclaimed： 〃My God！〃 He very excitedly summoned his fellow members of the committee and said to them： 〃Gentlemen； Governor Andrew is not coming； but the State committee has sent THIS；〃 pointing to me。 I was the party candidate as secretary of state； and at the head of the ticket； but nobody asked me who I was； nor did I tell them。 I was left severely alone。
Some time after； the chairman of the committee came to me and said： 〃Young fellow； we won't be hard on you； but the State committee has done this once before。 We were promised a very popular speaker well known among us； but in his place they sent the damnedest fool who ever stood before an audience。 However； we have sent to Binghamton for Daniel S。 Dickinson； and he will be here in a short time and save our big mass…meeting。〃
Mr。 Dickinson came and delivered a typical speech； every sentence was a bombshell and its explosion very effective。 He had the privilege of age； and told a story which I would not have dared to tell； the audience being half women。 He said： 〃Those constitutional lawyers； who are proclaiming that all Mr。 Lincoln's acts are unconstitutional； don't know any law。 They remind me of a doctor we have up in Binghamton； who has a large practice because of his fine appearance； his big words； and gold…headed cane。 He was called to see a young lad who was sitting on his grandmother's lap。 After looking at the boy's tongue and feeling his pulse； he rested his head in deep thought for a while on his gold…headed cane and then said： 'Madam； this boy has such difficulties with the epiglottis and such inflamed larynx that we will have to apply phlebotomy。' The old lady clasped the boy frantically to her bosom and cried： 'For heaven's sake； doctor； what on earth can ail the boy that you are going to put all that on his bottom？'〃
Mr。 Dickinson introduced me as the head of the State ticket。 My speech proved a success； and the chairman paid me the handsome compliment of saying： 〃We are glad they sent you instead of Governor Andrew。〃
One of the most effective of our campaign speakers was General Bruce； of Syracuse； N。 Y。 The general had practically only one speech； which was full of picturesque illustrations； striking anecdotes； and highly wrought…up periods of patriotic exaltation。 He delivered this speech； with necessary variations； through many campaigns。 I was with the general； who was Canal commissioner when I was secretary of state； on our official tour on the Canal。
One night the general said to me： 〃Mr。 Blank； who has a great reputation； is speaking in a neighboring town； and I am going to hear him。〃 He came back enraged and unhappy。 In telling me about it； he said： 〃That infernal thief delivered my speech word for word； and better than I can do it myself。 I am too old to get up another one； and； as I love to speak； I am very unhappy。〃
This illustrated one of the accidents to which a campaign speaker is liable。 The man who stoIe the general's speech afterwards played the same trick on me。 He came into our State from New England with a great reputation。 He was a very fine elocutionist； of excellent presence and manner； but utterly incapable of original thought。 He could not prepare a speech of any kind。 However； he had a phenomenal memory。 He could listen to a speech made by another and repeat it perfectly。 His attractive appearance； good voice； and fine elocution made the speech a great success。 Several orators told me that when they found their efforts a failure they asked for the cause； and discovered that this man had delivered their speeches a few nights before； and the audience； of course； thought the last speaker was a fraud and a thief。
General Bruce told me a good campaign story of Senator James W。 Nye； of Nevada。 Nye was a prominent lawyer of western New York； and the most eloquent and witty member of the bar of that section； and also the most popular campaign speaker。 He moved to Nevada and so impressed the people of that young State that he was elected United States senator。 In the Senate he became a notable figure。
Nye and General Bruce were sent by the national committee to canvass New England。 Nye had become senatorial in his oratory； with much more dignity and elevation of style than before。 He began his first speech at Bridgeport； Conn。； in this way： 〃Fellow citizens； I have come three thousand miles from my mountain home； three thousand feet above the level of the sea； to discuss with you these vital questions for the safety of our republic。〃 The next night； at New Haven； he said： 〃I have come from my mountain home； five thousand feet above the level of the sea； to discuss with you these vital questions of the safety of our republic。〃 Bruce interrupted him； saying： 〃Why； senator； it was only three thousand feet last night。〃 Nye turned savagely on Bruce： 〃Bruce； you go to the devil！〃 Resuming with the audience； he remarked very impressively： 〃As I was saying； fellow citizens； I have come from my mountain home； ten thousand feet above the level of the sea； to； etc。〃
A story which illustrates and enforces the argument helps a political speech； and it is often the only part of the speech which is remembered。 I have often heard people say to me： 〃I heard you speak thirty； forty； or fifty years ago； and this is the story you told。〃 Sometimes； however； the story may prove a boomerang in the most unexpected way。
For many years； when I spoke in northern N