Recollections of a Busy Life - Including Reminiscences of American Politics and Politicians, From the Opening of the Missouri Contest to the Downfall of Slavery; To Which Are Added Miscellanies; "Literature as a Vocation," "Poets and P... #228264

I at first flatly declined to furnish. On mature reflection, however, I perceived that he had proffered me Opportunity to commend to many thousands, Of mainly young persons, convictions which are a part of my being, and conceptions of public events and interests which might never so fairly invoke their attention if I repelled this opportunity; and that, therefore, I ought not to reject it, Hence, I soon re called my hasty negative, apprised him that I would accept his offer, and immediately commenced writing, as I could snatch time from other pressing duties, the Recollections herewith printed. That they are less personal and more political than Mr. Bonner would have wished them, I was early aware; yet he allowed all but two of them to appear, and to have the post of honor in successive issues of his excellent and widely circulated periodical. I have added somewhat, however, to nearly half of them, in revising them for publication in this shape; but the reader who may note the discrepancy will be so just as to attribute it to the proper source. In a single instance only, was I requested by Mr. Bonner to change an expression in one of the num bers he published; and therein he was clearly right, as I instantly conceded.