effect an entrance; and if your verdict is against my client to-day, it will be because the money of a jackass has found its way to some of your pockets. I allude to only a part of the panel before me. Gentlemen, let them be weighed in the balance; let corruption to-day put on incorruption, and the right will triumph."

The poor man succeeded, and the right did triumph. Are not the voice and sarcasm of an Hosmer demanded to administer a wholesome rebuke to juries of this day? Who shall say that they are not?

The political arena never afforded any attractions for Mr. Hosmer. He was ambitious, but his ambition was confined entirely to his profession. But in the fall of 1823, he was persuaded to accept the nomination for member of Assembly from Livingston county, which, at that time, elected two members. He was elected, took his seat in the Legislature of 1824, and was honored with the position of chairman of the Judiciary Committee. His colleague was Hon. George Smith. This was in many respects one of the most memorable sessions of the Legislature which ever took place in this State.

At this session Silas Wright first appeared before the people as Senator from the then fourth senatorial district, which consisted of nine counties, including the county of St. Lawrence, his own county. Although he had been a resident of that county but five years, yet, in the fall of 1823, he was put in nomination for Senator, and triumphantly elected over his opponent, General Moers, of Jefferson county.

Among the important measures proposed in this Legislature, was a bill providing for the choice of presidential electors by the people, who at this time. were elected by the Legislature, which, in each presidential canvass, met early in November, for the purpose of choosing electors for President and Vice-President. The bill was introduced as a political move

ment, to defeat Mr. C. Crawford, who, with Jackson, Clay, Adams and Calhoun, was a candidate for the presidency. Mr. Crawford, through Mr. Van Buren, was confident of securing the New York electors if they should, as usual, be chosen by the Legislature; and hence the introduction of the bill allowing the choice of electors by the people. The measure became at once very popular; therefore the friends of Mr. Crawford did not venture an open opposition to it. Mr. Flagg, a warm supporter of Crawford, introduced a resolution into the House, favoring the proposed new electoral law; but he annexed conditions to it, which, in certain emergencies, would give the choice of electors to the Legislature. The introduction of Mr. Flagg's resolution let loose the fury of legislative warfare, and a contest ensued which had never been equaled in either branch of the Legislature. In the discussion which followed, Mr. Hosmer took an important part. He was a ready, sagacious and eloquent debater, and his clear reasoning powers gave him a high and influential position. He supported Mr. Flagg's resolution, and in March, 1824, delivered his great speech in the House in its favor. It is seldom that a speech on a proposed bill or resolution in a legislative body produced the effect which this speech of Mr. Hosmer's did. It was a profound and statesman-like, a calm and philosophic review of the whole great question. Soon after its delivery the vote on the resolution of Mr. Flagg was taken, and the measure sustained by a vote of 76 to 47.

In the Senate, the Electoral bill passed through several amendments. Mr. Wright favored the choice of electors by the people,' and introduced a bill into the Senate to that effect; but his bill was defeated. At length Hon. Edward P. Livingston introduced a resolution postponing the further consideration of the whole matter until the first Monday of the ensuing November, being the day beyond the extra session, when the electors would be chosen by the Legislature.

This resolution passed the Senate, and gave the State of New York to Mr. Crawford. Mr. Wright and sixteen other Senators voted for this resolution, thereby subjecting themselves to severe and bitter censure. They were immediately characterized as the famous "seventeen Senators."

At the close of his legislative term, Mr. Hosmer returned again to the practice of his profession. Declining another nomination, he left the political field forever, so far as entertaining any desire for official position.

He died in the 80th year of his age, March, 1861, at Chicago, while visiting his daughter, Mrs. Wells, of that city.

His highly cultivated literary taste and acquirements rendered him the life of a refined and an intellectual social circle. He possessed a mental energy which awakened and kindled a like energy in those with whom he conversed. The same love of sarcasm and satire which rendered him a formidable antagonist at the bar, tempered by the calm and pleasant amenities of society, rendered his conversation attractive, while he possessed the rare qualification of being an excellent listener to the conversation of others, which is often the talisman of fascination.

In his domestic relations, as husband and father, he was happy. Several children survive him, among whom is the distinguished poet and author, W. H. C. Hosmer, known as the Bard of Avon.

WILLIAM M. HAWLEY.

Early Identified with western New York.-Elected a Constable.-Attends Court and Studies Law.-Sent in Pursuit of a Notorious Criminal.-Singular Manner in which the Man is Captured.-Description of the Allegany County Bar.Hawley's Practice in Justices' Courts.-His Manner of Trying Causes in Those Courts. Ludicrous Description of one of These Trials.-T. J. Reynolds.-Horse Shedding a Witness.-The Witness in a Close Place.-Mr. Hawley is Admitted to the Bar.-Forms a Partnership with the famous John Baldwin-Appointed First Judge of Steuben County.-Elected to the State Senate.-His Career as a Senator.-A Delegate to the National Democratic Convention of 1848.-Description of the Convention.-Delegate to the Buffalo Convention in August, 1848.His Influence in that Convention.-His Speech.-Co-operates with John Van Buren.-Hawley Joins the Republican Party.-Interview with John Van Buren. --Active in the Republican Party-Retires from Politics.-Character as a Lawyer and a Citizen.-Death.

WITH the eminent lawyer whose name stands at the head of this sketch, is associated much of the history of Steuben county and western New York; while the record of self-made men presents few higher triumphs of unassisted energy and exertion, than is exhibited in his life; for, he was in every sense, the architect of his own fortune. It has been truthfully said, that those who, in the commencement of life, are compelled to struggle with difficulties, determined to overcome them, have the key to success in their hands.

The beautiful fable of Antæus, the earthly giant, wrestling with Hercules, the giant of celestial descent, illustrates the potency of self-reliance and fearless determination, in grappling with formidable obstacles. When Antæus was in danger of being overcome, he touched the earth, instantly regaining his powers, and finally conquering. Thus with the subject of this sketch; he entered the battle of life, com

pelled to contend with Herculean difficulties, and when, like Antæus, he was sometimes obliged to touch the earth, he sprang again to the contest with renewed energies, which at length gave him the victory.

William M. Hawley was born in the county of Delaware, New York, February 13th, 1802. His father was one of the early settlers of that county, a farmer by occupation. His means were limited, and he could afford his children but few advantages for education. Young Hawley very early evinced a desire for knowledge; and the few advantages within his reach were eagerly seized by him, and turned to the best account. In the humble common school to which he was early sent, he made rapid proficiency in reading, writing, and arithmetic, giving some attention to English grammar.

While very young, a friend of his father lent him Plutarch's Lives, which he read, not only with avidity, but understandingly. Through his whole life that great biographer continued to be his favorite author among the ancient writers. A clergyman in Mr. Hawley's neighborhood, who possessed a very good miscellaneous library for the times, observing the boy's love of reading, kindly offered him the use of his books. The offer was joyfully accepted, and from that time he became an industrious student; every leisure hour being devoted to his books. So retentive was his memory, that once reading a work, he could repeat verbatim, large portions of its contents.

While it is true, that the improvement of which the mind is susceptible by culture, is more remarkable in the case of memory, than in any of our faculties, yet in a boy of tender age, with few advantages for the culture of this, or any other faculty, a memory like his was truly remarkable; and it is not strange that young Hawley soon gained the reputation of being a boy possessing much intelligence and infor