The State guard., 1848-05-02


 He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1909, with high reputation; and so bril- liant was his career, that as early as 1924 his Alma Mlter bestowed on him the degree of IL. D.
 After studying law in the celebrated school of Judge Reeve, the author of the treaties on "Domestic Relations" and other legal works, he was admitted to the Bar in lsl2.
 This was the period of our last war with England, and one of intense politi- cal excitement. The whole nation was arrayed on one side or the othel. Public meetings were held, heated and violent speeches were made, and addresses written and extensively circulated among all clas- ses of society. The young and ardent Woodbury did not hesitate, in this hour of darkness and otdanger, to take sides for his bleeding country and her violated honor. At meeting held in Ware, in the coun- ty of ilillsborough, soon alter the declara- ton of war, resolutions drawn up by him were adopted, spirited and eloquent, sus- taining the war, which produced dcc;. ded effect upon the public mind, and infu. enced the subsequent course of that county.
 This was his first step in political life. True to his country and her cause in ear ly youth, all his subsequent career had been but constant and consistent exem- plitication of his confidence in this choice of political principles. Devoted to the cause of popular rights, he has always beer favorite with the people that knew him. "rhey loved him because ho first loved then.''
 This was proven by the fact, that as soon as his party obtained a majority in New Hampshire (lSl6) he was selected as Secretary of the State, and, in January following, was elected one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, the highest judicial tribunal in the State.
 To young man of only 26 years of age, this elevation was almost unprece- dcnted. and the fears of some were cxcl- ted lest the crmine of justice would prove too weighty for ono so young and inexpe- rienced. But these fears were idle for h active and wei disciplined mind, like well tempered steel, only proved its quail. iy, us weight and resistence presented. The acuteness ofhis mind, his quick per ception of the truth, the extent and variety of his knowledge, as we'll as his grea- tirmness and moral courage, has, even at this day, caused his elevation to the bench to bc regarded as most fortunate to the State, and his course as a model of judi. cill department From this bench, in 1893, Mr. Woodbury was elected Govern. oc of the State of New Hampshire. In 1925, we find him in the Legislature as its Speaker, at which session he was elected Senator in the Congress of the United States. Here seems to be the proper element of his genius and talents. For six years, there was no event in the history of our republic in which his name does not bear conspicuous part. His laborious and patient research for truth and facts, his system and arrangement of material when collected, his power and cloquence when presenting these truths in debate, always caused him to be listened to with profound re poet by his assoc;t s. and commanded tnc applause of his audi ente. The best evidence of this respect is, that he was, for four successive ses- sions, Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, one of the most important Committees of the Senate. in, n,olvng, as it does, the whole commercial interest ot the nation. He was also Chairman of a Select Committee, of which Webster, Van Buren, tlayne and Harrison were members. What galaxy of talent !! Two of them since have been President. the others have filled the nation with their fame.
 When his term of service had expired in $50, such were the sacrifices of domcs- tic comfort by these repeated separations from his family, as well as other causes, he addres ,ed letter to the Governor, de- clining reflection. He, and his numcr- our friends, had hoped, that, in the peace. ful pursuit of his profession, he would en- joy, not only professional emoluments, but domestic happiness at home. In this they were not gratifed. The talents of Mr. Woodbury, and his strong devotion to Republican principles, had attracted the eye of that man of this age," Andrew Jackson: and on the reorganization of the Cabinet in 1880, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy. No one was bet ter calculated, by his admirable system of detail-his familiarity with maritime mat ters-his mild, yet firm, demcanor--to preside over this important arm of our na- tional defence. In him Gen. Jackson found an able coadjutor--a devoted and sincere friend. In all the anxious and ex- citing scenes ofthat administration, the whole of whose glory still sheds light and honor on our couniry's history Judge Woodbury was honor to have called Cato a friend, Judge Woodbury has as great an honor,--for to his: last hour, he posses sed the esteem, love and confidence of Gen. Jackson so much so, that the hall of the Hermitage, in the Hero's retire. ment, was considered honored by the bust ofbis faithful coadjutor and friend.
 In 1884, Judge Woodbury succeeded Mr Fancy as Secretary of the Treasury. | a