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the legislative career of General Cruger closed forever. The influence which he exerted in the Assembly and in Congress, has already been alluded to. Much of this was due to the natural suavity of his manners and his popular talents, but more to the consummate skill and ability with which he planned his measures, and the indomitable energy with which he carried those measures into execution.

A measure which became necessary for him personally to carry into execution, was never delayed on account of darkness or the elements. In such cases, sunshine and tempest, day and night, were all the same to him.

The following incident illustrates this characteristic, and evinces a greatness of action which, had he been a military commander, would in times of war have rendered him formidable and victorious in the field.

While in the discharge of his duties as districtattorney under the large district system, he left Bath to attend a term of the Allegany Oyer and Terminer, at Angelica. At that day, lawyers, as well as judges, traveled from circuit to circuit on horseback. In those days Cruger was the owner of a valuable horse, which he called Jingle Foot. He was a large bay animal, with a white star in his forehead, finely proportioned, and, like his master, with whom he was a great favorite, capable of great endurance; he was as fleet as a deer, and as docile as he was fleet.

Jingle Foot had for two or three years, carried his master to all the courts in western New York, and he was therefore almost as famous as the steed of Alexander the Great. On this visit to Angelica, Mr. Cruger, as usual, rode his favorite horse. He reached that village some time in the afternoon on the first day of the circuit.

On his arrival, he found his Democratic friends in a state of great vexation, excitement and chagrin,

owing to an advantage which the Federals had apparently gained over them.

About this time the term of the clerk of the county of Allegany, who was a Republican, was drawing to a close. That officer was then appointed by the council of appointment at Albany, which at that time was composed of Democrats, and of course would appoint any person upon whom the leaders of that party in Allegany county could unite. This council was to meet on Thursday of that week, but as there had been some secret misunderstanding among the Democrats as to the proper person to reccommend, no name had been sent to Albany.

In the mean time, the Federal leaders, who had been on the alert, learned of the troubles in the ranks of their opponents, and that there was likely to be such a disagreement that no person would be recommended to the council by them for clerk, secretly sent forward the name of one of the most bitter, rank, and objectionable Federalists in the county as a candidate for that office; and of course, if there was no opposition, he would be appointed, otherwise the old clerk would hold over. The fact that a Federal name had been sent to the council of appointment had just come to the knowledge of the Democrats when Cruger arrived. The partizan contests of those days were bitter in the extreme. The appointment of clerk was a matter of considerable advantage; and of course this was a serious affair especially as it was now apparently too late to remedy the evil.

Nothing could exceed the chagrin and mortification of Cruger on learning this state of things. In a few moments his room was filled with the leading Republicans of the county. A Federal clerk in the county of Allegany! Good heavens! Why, the matter was not to be thought of. But as the appointment was so soon to be made, no mail could reach Albany in time to prevent it, and the matter seemed already

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decided. For a time Mr. Cruger walked the room in a state of intense excitement. At length he sent for the landlord; that person soon made his appearance.

"Bullock," said Cruger, "have Jingle Foot well rubbed, fed, saddled and bridled within an hour and a half."

He then sent for General Haight, who was attending court at Angelica at that time. When that gentleman appeared, he said:

"General, I want you to take charge of my business during this term; put over what causes you can, and try the rest, for I am going to Albany."

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Going to Albany !" exclaimed several gentlemen at the same moment.

"Going to Albany, Cruger? What can you be going to Albany for?" asked General Haight.

"To prevent this county being disgraced by a Federal clerk," was the reply.

"Why, good heavens, Cruger!" said a gentleman present, "you can't reach Albany in time to prevent that appointment now."

"Yes I can. Jingle Foot will land me safely in Albany between this and Thursday noon, or I am mistaken in him; at any rate, he and I will make a trial to overturn the nice plans of these infernal Federalists," said Cruger.

He then gave the general some further instruction concerning his business, and in due time word came that Jingle Foot was ready at the door.

This was in the month of June. The sun was just going down as Mr. Cruger mounted his horse and rode out of the village. Night and day, over hill and dale, he pressed forward, stopping just long enough for refreshments and a little rest. Jingle Foot seemed imbued with the same determined energy as his master-seemed to gather fresh strength as he sped on his course. Such was his progress, that, just as the old Albany town clock tolled the hour of noon, Cruger drew him up in front of the City Hotel.

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"Take such care of that horse as you never did of any other," said he to the ostler, who came forward as he rode up; and the noble animal was soon safe in the comfortable stables of the hotel.

At the appointed time the council of appointment assembled. As Allegany county was the first on the list, that body was in the act of naming the person recommended by the Federalists for clerk of that county, when Daniel Cruger, to their great astonishment, stood before it. He was not long in relating the true situation of affairs in that remote region, and matters were soon arranged to his satisfaction.

After resting a day or two at Albany, he again mounted Jingle Foot, returned to Angelica, and the Democrats of Allegany county rejoiced in the appointment of a clerk belonging to their own party, having learned a lesson that healed all dissensions among them. This is but one of the many circumstances which, during Mr. Cruger's political career, attest his almost superhuman energy.

In person Mr. Cruger was below the common hight; thick set, though not corpulent; well formed, having one of those figures which bespeak the true gentleman. He was graceful and easy in his manners. His conversation was refined and cultivated. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cruger possessed that hospitality which always filled their house with intelligent and pleasing guests.

During the session of the courts at Bath, their home was always the headquarters of the judges who presided. There Ambrose Spencer, Yates and Van Ness, rested from their labors in the court room; there, too, John C. Spencer, Elisha Williams, Samuel A. Talcott, John A. Collier, David Woodcock, and other eminent lawyers of the day, forgetting the collisions of the bar, were entertained by Mr. Cruger and his accomplished lady, while many an agreeable hour passed by enlivened by pleasing and refined conversation.

It was the custom in those days, when the presiding judge arrived at a county seat for the purpose of holding court, to receive him with public honors; and when the hour for the session to open arrived, the sheriff, in full uniform, attended by his assistants, carrying their badges of office, waited upon him at his lodgings, and escorted him to the court house; and in the court room every thing was conducted in the same formal manner. The dignity of the bench was sustained by the dignity of the bar, and the people were thus led to believe that justice, though incumbered with many formalities, was sacred and awful. Though those customs would not answer for Young America— much older now than at that time-yet a recurrence to them is not without profit and interest.

In the year 1828, Mr. Cruger sustained an irreparable misfortune in the death of his wife. She died at Syracuse, while her husband was a temporary resident of that place. Soon after this event, he returned to Bath, dividing his time between his profession and various other business matters in which he was engaged.

In the year 1833 he was married to Mrs. Shepard, a highly respectable widow lady residing at Wheeling, Virginia. Soon after this, he invested his property at Wheeling, and became a resident of that town. Here he lived in great respectability, occupying a prominent and honorable position in society, regarded as an intelligent and honorable gentleman. Early in June, 1843, while attending a meeting of the directory of the Wheeling Bank, he was stricken down with apoplexy, dying within a few moments after the attack.

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