Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-24

above the joints.
Persons who have not visited the agricultural
districts of California, have little idea Of the ex
tent and perfection to which farming has been
carried by our husbandmen.
From The Albany IN. W Argus Of May 10.
Death OF John G. Spencer.
John c. Spencer, who for SEINE months past
has been gradually sinking TO the grave, died
during Thursday night, in the 6Sth year Of his
age. Probably there is no man, now living, who
has been during SO long period as Mr.. Spencer,
actively engaged to an equal extent with him, in
the public affairs of this State. He may be said
TO have been born in the midst Of the conflicts of
politics, and to have drank in with the earliest
sociatons of his youth, love for the tolls and
excitement of public life. His father--Hon.
Ambrose Spencer-was not only one OF the ablest
men, but one of the most jealous politicians of
his day, and the industry and temperament of the
son made him an apt learner in the school in
which his early life was spent. The politics Of
the early part of this century seem to have had
intensity of love and hate (more especially the
latter,) which have become obsolete in latter
years, and which we by no means desire to see
revived.
Talents and industry like those of John c.
Spencer could not long remain in obscurity or
fail to attract the notice of the active politicians
OF that day. Mr.. Spencer at an early period took
up his residence at Canandaigua, and engaged in
the practice of lava profession for which the
peculiar cast of his mind and his untring industry
especially qualified him. After having held the
less important positions of Private Secretary to
Governor Tompkins in 1907, Master in Chancery
in 1911, Postmaster at Canandaigua in 1914, and
District Attorney for the Western District in 1885,
his first prominent officaltrust was that ofmember
OF Congress for the Ontario district, to which he
was elected in 1917. He was a prominent men,
Der of the famous committee Of investigation
against the Bank Of the United States
At the legislative session Of 1879, and while
yet in Congress, he received the votes Of the
Clintonian branch Of the Republican party which
was Just then dividing into Clintonians and Buck
tails, for the Office Of United States Senator, the
Bucktails voting for Colonel Young, and the Fed
ernlists for Rufus King, then the incumbent of
the office. No election was effected at that SEES
sion, and at the next Mr. King was reelected
He was member, from Ontario county, of the
Assembly which commenced its session in Janu-
airy, 1890, and was elected Speaker of that body
Aaron Clark, of New York, was clerk. He was
also a member of Assembly the next year-lS2I
He was elected to the State Senate in 1921
his term commencing in January 1885, and con
tinuing for four years. During this period, Gov
ernor Clinton was in the gubernatorial chair, ex-
cept from the time of his death in February, 1923,
to the close of that year
In 1875 law was passed for the revision Of the
statutes, and appointing to that important duty
John Duer, Benjamin F. Butler and Henry
Wheaton. In the spring Of 1927, Mr.. Wheaton
resigned his place in consequence of receiving the
appointment Of Charge 'Affaires to the Court of
Denmark, and, on the 2lst Of April Of that year,
Governor Clinton appointed Mr.. Spencer to fill
the vacancy. Mr. Spencer took leading part
in that great work, for which his sound Judgment,
his legal knowledge, and his industrious research
had admirably qualified him. The people of the
State owe to his memory grateful regard for the
service which he rendered the cause Of urispru-
dence as a member of that commission.
Great excitement was produced in the western
part of the State by the alleged abduction of Nor
gan, and provision was made by law for the APP
pointment of a special prosecuting attorney to aid
IN detecting and convicting the offenders Mr.
Van Buren,, during the brief period of his occu-
patton OF the gubernatorial chair in the early part
OF 1929, appointed Mr.. Spencer to this duty,
which he entered upon and pursued with his
usual persevering industry and ability, but at
length abandoned, because he did not deem his
efforts properly sustained by the State authori-
ties These occurrences threw him into associa-
ton with the Anti-Masonic party.
In 1881 he was member of Assembly from
Ontario counAy, and also in 1888. He rendered
signal service in the modification of the laws so
as to abolish Imprisonment for debt
In 1889, the Wing party having come into power,
ne was elected by the Legislature to the Office OF
Secretary Of State. His labors in that Office, as
In all other positions which ever fell to his lot
knew no cessation. He was particularly vigor-
Gus in his attempts TO improve the Common
School department, and his efforts induced the
passage OF the law providing for County Superin-
tendents. Indeed, he was accused by his politi-
cal opponents of doing the work and regulating
the action of several Of the State departments be-
sides that legally assigned TO him.
In September, lS4l, he accepted the post OF
Secretary of War under President Tyler, and re-
manned in Mr.. Tyler's cabinet till 1874, since
which time he has not occupied any official posi-
ton.
Although MIR. Spencer has always displayed
consummate ability in the public Offices which he
has filled, the legal profession has been the field
OF his greatest achievements and his truest fame
As an able lawyer, in the most comprehensive
sense of the term, he had no superior His power
OF grasping, celebrating, and exhaustinr the most
difficult and complicated questions, has sedem
been surpassed. II is very rare that lawyers, en-
gaging as much as he in political life and employ
ments are able to keep up, and especially to aug
ment Their knowledge of their profession But
his official duties were not discharged in way TO
dissipate his legal requirements or unfit his mind
Tor professional investigation. Office with him
was no sinecure, bat he steadily grappled with
the principles, well as details, Of the action
which il involved, and came forth from il with an
intellect enriched by additional discipline, rather
than enfeebled by an efIeminate exercise Of its
powers.
His time, since his retirement from public of
nee in 1874, has not been spent i'm enjoying the
leisure to which most men would have deemed
themselves entitled in the evening Of such a la
borous life. His interest in the learning and the
practice of the legal profession and in all matters
of State and National legislation, never tagged,
and constantly prompted him TO the performance
Of much labor which was not induced by any OK
pectation of pccuniary compensation. Seldom
has session Of the Legislature passed, without
frequent applications TO him by senators and
members for advice in framing bills which in
volved difficult legal or constitutional questions,
and i was always readily given, and frequently
aborious service was performed.
Mr.. Spencer's triumph's in the battle Of life
we're those Of the intellect. He won and held
strong holds as concession TO his power and in
1omitable will, rather than the arts Of intrigue,
he wiles of diplomacy, or the graces and seduc-
ions ofpersonal and social attractions.
The Kinney Case.
PHLADELrHrA, May 2l.--The case Of the Uni
ed States VS.. Colonel Kinney was resumed this