The offices he did accept, it might well be said, were thrust upon him.

He was born great and above office and unwillingly descended to it." So much by way of preparing the reader to meet the great commoner in these pages.

One thing more is necessary to a proper understanding of the final scenes in the book--a part of his letter written to Judge Fine just before the Baltimore convention of 1844, to wit: "I do not feel at liberty to omit any act which may protect me from being made the instrument, however honestly and innocently, of further distractions.
"Within a few days several too partial friends have suggested to me the idea that by possibility, in case the opposition to the nomination of Mr.Van Buren should be found irreconcilable, a compromise might be made by dropping him and using my name.

I need not say to you that a consent on my part to any such proceeding would justly forfeit my standing with the democracy of our state and cause my faith and fidelity to my party to be suspected everywhere....

To consent to the use of my name as a candidate under any circumstances, would be in my view to invite you to compromise the expressed wishes and instructions of your constituents for my personal advancement.