College Place

At nineteen I was wavering in my fidelity to the principles of the Democratic Party, which in the city of New York was largely in favor of slavery.

I had just graduated from Columbia College, which was then situated in what is now known as College Place between Chambers and Murray Streets.

At that time many of our prominent and wealthy families lived in Chambers, Murray, and Warren Streets, and I frequently attended festivities held by the parents of the college boys in the old-fashioned mansions which lined those thoroughfares.

Soon after leaving college I became a student in the law office of Benedict and Boardman, occupying offices in D Street near Broadway.