At a private dinner-party at Willard’s Hotel, given by Charles Gould,
Esq., of New York, I met for the first time the Hon. Hugh McCulloch,
then Comptroller of the Currency. An acquaintance commenced, under
circumstances calculated to inspire in me a sentiment of profound
respect for this gentleman’s character and talents. I was much
interested, a few days afterward, in an incident in the career of Mr.
McCulloch, given me by the Rev. John Pierpont, who was an occasional
visitor at the studio, and who, in his hale old age, was occupying one
of the subordinate positions in the Department.
The desk at which Dr. Pierpont was occupied was in a room with those
of a large number of other clerks, among whom the tall figure, and
silvery beard of the poet-preacher were very conspicuous. One day,
just after Mr. McCulloch had entered upon his duties in Washington, it
was announced at the entrance of this room, that the new Comptroller
had called to see “Dr. Pierpont.” The clerks looked up from their
books, and at one another, inquiringly, as Mr. McCulloch took a seat
by the poet’s desk. “I perceive, Dr. Pierpont,” said he, “that you do
not remember me?” The venerable preacher looked at him a moment, and
replied that he did not think he ever had seen him before. “Oh yes,
you have,” returned the Comptroller; “I was a member of ---- Class, in
Cambridge, in 1833 and ’34, and used to hear you preach. Upon leaving
the Law School, purposing to take up my residence at the West, I called
upon you and requested one or two letters of introduction to parties in
Cincinnati. You gave me two letters, one to a Mr. S----, and the other
to a Mr. G----, of that city. Those letters, my dear sir, were the
stepping-stones to my fortune. I have not seen you since; but learning
that you were in Washington, I told my wife, upon leaving home to take
the position offered me here, that the first call I made in Washington
should be upon the Rev. John Pierpont.” As the Comptroller concluded,
Dr. Pierpont put on his spectacles, and looked at him a moment in
silence. He at length said:--“Why, Mr. McCulloch, you are the most
extraordinary man I ever saw in my life!” “How so?” was the reply.
“Why, you have remembered a favor for thirty years.”
Dr. Pierpont told me, on another occasion, that in the prosecution
of a duty once assigned him in the Department, he had to review a
letter-book, containing correspondence with the different officers
of the government. Among the letters was a private note, written by
Secretary Chase to the Secretary of War, calling his attention to a
complaint, made by the colored people of Cincinnati, against certain
orders, or officers of the War Department. The letter closed with these
words:--
“We cannot afford to lose the support of any part of our people. One
poor man, colored though he be, with God on his side, is stronger
_against_ us than the hosts of the rebellion.”