In the national field he had been senator of the United States, Secretary of State, minister to England, Vice- President, and President.

No other man in the country has held so many great places.

He filled them all with competency and with power, but marred his illustrious record by the political episode of 1848, in which, though he may have had some justification for revenge on unfaithful associates in his old party, he had none for his lack of fidelity to new friends, and for his abandonment of a sacred principle which he had pledged himself to uphold.
[* NOTE .-- An error of statement occurs on page 72, Volume I, in regard to the action of the Whig caucus for Speaker in December, 1847.

Mr.Winthrop was chosen after Mr.Vinton had declined, and was warmly supported by Mr.Vinton.

The error came from an incorrect account of the caucus in a newspaper of that time.].