But
for the signing of the treaty, the War with Mexico was over in the fall of 1847. The American forces had smashed Santa Anna's troops and forced him to
renounce his Presidency. It was a
great day for military bravado. The
West Pointers had proven their worth and silenced the critics who questioned the
need for a national military academy. And
now great expanses of new territory were the undisputed domain of the United
States. Manifest destiny was alive
and well.
Yet
the victory had been dearly purchased. Although
there were less than 13,000 U.S. casualties (over 11,000 of them dying from
disease), the cost of the expansive military and naval campaigns approached one
billion dollars. The greatest price
of the war, however, was borne by those Americans who were troubled by the way
the U.S. manipulated its inferior neighbor out of the way.
The weight of guilt hung about their necks like a millstone. And scores of hobbled veterans returning to their communities served as
constant daily reminders of the shameless aggression they had helped to finance.
The
war had been costly in terms of politics as well. Although "Jemmie" Polk had promised to serve only one term as
President, his party was made to suffer for the brash, conquest-motivated
decisions of his administration. As
a consequence, even before his leaving office, the Whigs had gained enough seats
to take control of the House of Representatives. In the fall of 1847, with only one more year until the Presidential
elections, the Whigs were already positioning themselves for the election of
their next Presidential nominee. Most
believed that Henry Clay's time had finally arrived.
When
James S. Griffing wrote to his "much esteemed" Augusta on November 13,
1847, he had just arrived in Westchester, Connecticut, after completion of his
fall term at Wesleyan University, and was preparing to teach a select school for
four and a half months. He had
taken some books with him from the University [1] to help occupy the long winter evenings in the months ahead. By the light of his flickering oil lamp, on two cold December evenings,
James took out his journal and wrote:
Wednesday,
December 8, 1847. Have commenced reading Washington
and his Generals by [Joel
T.] Headley [which has just been published]. The style is truly interesting.
Have read the life of Washington, Putnam, Montgomery, Arnold -- and am now
reading Stark -- he died at the age of 94.
Sunday
eve, December 20, 1847. How do I find myself this evening, this Holy Sabbath evening
after the blessed privileges of the day? Although deprived of attending our own
meeting in this Society, yet through the kindness of Br. [Hiram Griswold] Buell (whose many
favors I ought long to remember), have been permitted to attend church in
Colchester. Although the church is small and the members somewhat scattered, yet
they appear to appreciate their individual responsibilities and are endeavoring
to live as Christians ought to live. And it really seems that there would be a
powerful work of grace among them the present winter if there is only a union of
effort among the brethren. The building of an India Rubber Factory has brought
among them a great many young people, many of whom are religiously disposed. And
as the leaving of home is a critical period in a person's life, it seems just as
if many might be gathered into the fold of Christ. If the worth of their soul
was only presented before them in the light it should be, can such a worm as I
be instrumental in doing any good? May I be instrumental in the hands of God of
leading even one poor soul to embrace Christ.
Heard
Br. [Augustus] Bolles [2] preach from Jer-30-22, "And ye
shall be my people and I will be your God." The sermon was lengthy and
delivered with much feeling and by having the great deep of his own soul stirred
up, he moved others. The old gentleman seems to have the worth of souls resting
upon his heart and preaches accordingly.
When
James returned to Wesleyan University upon the close of his select school in
Westchester, he was once again a half term behind his class. As one might imagine, the records of the Philorhetorian Society do not
show any activity on James' part during the spring term, and there were no
letters (at least none remaining) that suggest he had any idle time in bringing
himself up in his studies. The
first notice of social activity in which James became involved was during the
week of spring examinations.
On
May 1, 1848, the Constitution of the Theological and Missionary Lyceum was drawn
up and adopted. Although a
"Missionary Society" of some form or another had been in existence at
the University since 1831, the society was being rejuvenated in 1848 and James
was determined to play an active role. According
to the new constitution, "the objects of the society shall be to promote in
its members, and as far as possible in others, the Missionary spirit and to
incite to a more diligent study of moral and Theological subjects." Every Monday evening during the college term, the Missionary Society met
to "collect missionary intelligence, also books that will be useful to the
religious student, and natural and artificial curiosities from countries visited
by missionaries, and to revive and increase among themselves a personal interest
in this great and holy cause." The
meetings were characterized by "lectures, conversations, and prayers, and a
library and museum were kept." [3]
When
the summer term began following a two-week vacation, the records of both the
Philorhetorian Society and the Missionary Society suggest that James was an
active participant. The minutes
from the Missionary Society on May 27, 1848, reveal plans for a new room in
which to conduct their meetings:
Wesleyan
University, May 27, 1848
The
Theological & Missionary Lyceum met pursuant to adjournment in Recitation
Room [4]
was called to the chair. By vote, the devotional exercises were dispensed
with. The roll was called and the minutes of the last (special) meeting were
read and accepted.
Ralza
M. Manly, Recording Secretary [5]
In June 1848, James received a letter from
an old acquaintance, seven years his senior, from Tioga County announcing his marriage to a mutual
friend. The letter was hand-delivered to him from Professor Joseph Holdich. It read:
Lake Ontario
June 7, 1848
Dear James,
Through the
politeness of Prof. Holdich, I have an opportunity of saying to you that I am
well and enjoying myself well. When I left home which was the 1st
inst. your friends were in usual health. I have been visiting Niagara Falls a
few days and now on my way home. To give you an idea of this mighty catarach
would be beyond my ability and so I defere. I hope you will answer my last
letter soon.
We have
Conference in Owego this year. Rev. [William H.] Pearne is very well liked and we would be
sorry to loose him but as he will leave according to our rule of doing business
perhaps it will be for the best to have a change. I hardly know what to write
and in fact all I have written is unbroken sentences.
As for myself
as self has something to do in our communications I am about as usual, sometimes
sick a little & sometimes well a little and would like very much to know how
you are getting along. Perhaps you would like to know how I became acquainted
with Prof. Holdich. To tell you in short, Br. S. A. Eddy of Cazenovia gave me an
introduction to Prof. [Joseph] Holdich and Mrs. Kelley gave me an introduction to Br. Eddy, he
being an old school mate of hers. If you would like to know who Mrs. Kelley is, I can
say my dear Sir that it was Miss M[aria] J[ane] Agard. We were married on
the first instant at 8 o’clock A. M. and left immediately for the
aforementioned place. Mrs. K sends her respects to you. Pardon this dear James
and believe me your sincere friend, -- A[ppleton] S. Kelley [6]
Illustration Credits
[1] As a member of the Philorhetorian Society, James was
entitled to "draw" books from its library. The "Librarian's Book" reveals that James used the library
at an average rate. It shows
him withdrawing four "books taken for vacation" during the winter
of 1847-48. Washington and
His Generals was probably one of these books.
[2]
Augustus Bolles, son of David Bolles and Susanna Moore, married 1st Fanny
Trowbridge, 27 November, 1798, by whom he had seven children. She died 9 April,
1841. He then married Esther (Baker) Wheeler, widow of Nathaniel Wheeler of
Montville, 27 February, 1842. She died at Montville. He was a Baptist Minister,
and died at Colchester. Source: History of Montville, Connecticut, by
Henry A. Baker, 1896. PP 120, 162.
[3] Reuben H. Loomis, B.A., tutor in mathematics at Wesleyan University at the
time.
[4] Dr. Stephen Olin, President of the University during James' college years
until 1851.
[5] Rev. Ralza Morse Manly. Born
Jan 16, 1822, in Dorset, Vermont. After
graduation from Wesleyan University in 1848, he returned to Vermont where he
was a teacher, principal, and minister in Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a chaplain in the War Between the States.
Following the war, he relocated to Richmond, Virginia where he worked for
the Freedmen's Bureau. The picture at right was taken during the Civil War
while he served as chaplain in a New Hampshire volunteer regiment.
Photo provided through the courtesy of Anne Hanlon.
[6] This letter was written by Appleton S. Kelley (1815-1851) who came to Owego about 1835. His death notice in the Owego Gazette reads: DIED, In Nichols,
on Tuesday, January 31st of 1851, of consumption [tuberculosis], Appleton C.
Kelley, late of the firm F. Slosson & Company, aged 36 years. Appleton's
wife, Maria Jane Agard (1820-1881), was the daughter of Rev. Horace Agard.
After Appleton's death, she was preceptress at Genesee Seminary in Lima, New
York, (1854-1856) and was invited by James Harlan (then President of IWU,
later Senator from Iowa and Lincoln's Secretary of the Interior) to Iowa
Wesleyan University, where she was preceptress and chair of the English
Literature department. Source: Mike Kelley correspondence.
