Through his whole life, he regarded the Christian religion with veneration and respect-a respect founded on an earnest conviction of the truth of the evidence and doctrines of Christianity, resulting from the frequent perusal of the scriptures.

EVERT VAN BUREN.

Born in Columbia County, New York.-His Father.-Enters the Office of J. & A. Vanderpoel, as a Law Student.- Commences his Practice at Penn Yan, New York. The Yates Bar.-Mark H. Sibley.-Dudley Marvin.-Van Buren's Early Practice. His Success.-Removes to Buffalo.--Speculation in Buffalo in 1836.Benjamin Rathbun.-His Trial for Forgery.-Van Buren one of his Counsel.Rathbun's Conviction.-Scene of his Leaving for Prison.-Van Buren Returns to Penn Yan.-His Success at the Bar.-The Divorce Suit.-Case at Bath.-The Trial before the Magistrate.-R. W. Morrison opposes him.- Van Buren in Danger of Defeat.-Morrison Charged with Blasphemy and the Tables Turned.— Amusing Scene.-Van Buren a Candidate for Senator against William H. Seward. -Van Buren Defeated -William H. Maynard.—Albert H. Tracy.-The Election of 1832.-William Wirt.-The Baltimore Convention.-The Election of 1850.Van Buren as a Public Speaker.-Aids the Whigs.-Public Discussion between him and Mark H. Sibley.—Singular turn of the Discussion.-Van Buren Removes to Chicago.- Elected Recorder of that City.- Amusing Anecdote.-General Characteristics.

EVERT VAN BUREN was born at Kinderhook, in the county of Columbia, N. Y., November 3rd, 1803. He was the son of Barnet Van Buren, a reputable citizen, and a prominent politician of Columbia county, representing it at the Assembly of this State in the session of 1819. Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer was one of his colleagues in this body. Evert having finished his education, entered the office of J. and A. Vanderpoel, then a distinguished law firm at Kinderhook, where he prepared for his admission to the bar. James Vanderpoel subsequently removed to Albany, became prominent in the politics of the State, and at length was appointed one of the circuit judges, discharging his duties with ability and fidelity. In him, the politician was lost in the judge. Aaron Vanderpoel removed to New York, and was appointed judge of the Superior Court of that city.

Mr. Van Buren was called to the bar in March, 1827, and immediately commenced the practice of his profession in the village where he studied.

He continued here however, but one year, when he removed to Penn Yan, opened an office, and commenced practice. He soon took a prominent position at the Yates county bar; although at that time, John C. Spencer, Mark H. Sibley, Dudley Marvin and other distinguished lawyers often appeared there, and thus Mr. Van Buren was obliged to enter the lists at once with antagonists of renown and experience.

It was a custom of the ancient gladiators, while training a young man for the arena, to compel him at once to grapple with formidable adversaries, in order to develop his strength and render him self-reliant. Thus Mr. Van Buren, by early collisions with distinguished lawyers, rapidly gained confidence in his own abilities, while his intellectual powers were developed and strengthened. His practice extended into the surrounding counties, and he soon acquired the confidence of the public, and controlled a substantial law business.

In the year 1836, Buffalo became the theater of a speculative mania, the history of which now seems almost fabulous. Immense fortunes were made in a single day. Men who really were not worth a dollar, boasted of their hundreds of thousands, and talked of their immense real estate transactions, as though such things had been the business of their lives. City lots passed from purchaser to purchaser, their value accelerating with every change, until their price almost exceeded computation. This state of affairs greatly increased legal business, and attracted many lawyers to this Golconda, among whom was Mr. Van Buren, who in the summer of 1836, made Buffalo his home. Having often been engaged there in various legal matters, he was fortunate in making the acquaintance of several leading business

concerns in the city; and he entered at once into a large and extensive practice.

Among those who experienced all the vicissitudes of that day, many of which had almost dramatic interest, was Benjamin Rathbun. This man, who possessed a gigantic business intellect, united with many amiable and high-toned qualities, carried away by the wild speculation which surrounded him, entered into operations too vast, if not for his intellect, for his means; and finding himself amid a sea of embarrassments, sought to aid himself by stupendous forgeries, the discovery of which astounded the public, while it brought ruin and degradation upon himself. So elevated had been his character, such his liberality and honesty with those in his employ—with all the business public to whom his affairs extendedthat upon his arrest there was a deep and open expression of sympathy for him, never before witnessed in a case where the evidence of guilt was so palpable. Such, however, was the nature of his forgeries, that they admitted of a strong defense, which was seized upon, and he prepared to defend himself with earnestness and determination, and a remarkable legal contest ensued, the like of which was never before witnessed in Buffalo.

In this defense Mr. Van Buren was retained with others, and he took a distinguished part in that celebrated trial, and in discussing before the Supreme Court in banc those nice and abstruse legal questions which grew out of the trial. Rathbun was convicted and sentenced to State prison for a term of nine years. The sentence was confirmed by the appellate court, a pardon was refused by the executive, and the princely man of business-the much-loved and distinguished citizen-left the city of Buffalo for his gloomy abode within the walls of Auburn prison. But his departure from the city was more like a triumphal exodus than a departing criminal. The most eminent citizens and business men of the city escorted him to

the depot, and even to the very vestibule of his prison, while his fate was everywhere lamented.

Mr. Van Buren's participation in the defense of Rathbun added much to his professional prosperity, and drew a large legal business to his office. Meanwhile, speculation continued for a time; but at length the revulsion came, and with it a general suspension and stagnation of business. Van Buren continued at Buffalo until 1840, when, at the solicitation of several business men at Penn Yan, he returned to that village, and resumed there the practice of his profession with more than his former success.

Among the many important cases which Mr. Van Buren conducted to a successful termination, while a member of the Penn Yan bar, was that of a man who had commenced proceedings against his wife for a divorce on the ground of adultery.

The action was instituted through the effects of jealousy alone. "Trifles light as air" had assumed the form of verities; and brooding over his supposed wrongs, which were made plain and clear to him by some honest Iago, he determined to rid himself forever of his faithful and undeviating wife. The only witness upon whom the husband relied to establish his case and her guilt, was a man whose deep displeasure the wife had incurred, and who had threatened to revenge himself upon her. He was one of those who never forgot or forgave an injury-never lost an opportunity that led to his revenge. Some time previous to this trial he removed to the western part of Illinois. Upon being notified of the trial, without fee or reward he voluntarily traveled from his far-western home to give his evidence against the injured wife. His testimony was of the most dangerous nature. Concealing his venom under the garb of plausibility and an apparent disinterestedness, he prepared to strike his victim a fearful and terrible blow. He took the stand and deliberately testified to the most damning act of infidelity and guilt. The only favorable matter which