White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-01-14
HON. JAMES @. BIREEY.

The death Of this gentleman, which had been
for some time expected, took place on Tuesday
evening last, at his residence in Eagleswood,
near Perth Amboy, Nj. Mr.. Biney was born
in 1893 at Danville, Ky. His father was a ma
tive of ireland, who acquired in this country a
handsome competence by his own talents and
industry. His mother was an American lady,
of the name of Reed, celebrated for her beauty
and accomplishments. Mr.. Birney, after pass
ing through his collegiate studies with distin-
guished success entered the law Office OF Mr..
Dallas, in Philadelphia. In 1914 he commenced
the practice Of law in his native State, and when
only twenty-five was elected member of the
Legislature. He then married, and shortly after
emigrated to Alabama, where he became
planter and the owner Of slaves. He was soon
where his talents and eloquence gained him
great popularity. He soon, however, got tired
of Alabama, and returned to his native State
He there began to give practical effect to the
strong anti slavery sentiments which had carly
taken hold of him. To carry out his views he
entered warmly into the plans Of the colonial
tionists, and in 1894 he caused deed of eman-
cipation for the six slaves be brought with him
from Alabama to he entered at the Office Of the
County Court, for the county where he resided.
Not content with this, he proposed starting an
anti-slavery newspaper in Kentucky, but not
finding printer bold enough to undertake the
mechanical arrangements he commenced the
publication in Ohio. On the death of his father
Mr. Birney librated and made comfortable
provision for all the slaves on the paternal es'
tate. The death of his wife occurring soon after,
he paid visit to England in 1910 and took
prominent part in the anti-slavery agitation
there. In the following year he married r sis
ter-in-law of the Hon. Gerritt Smith, a lady OF
the Fitzhugh family. In 1874 Mr.. Birney was
brought forward as a candidate for President by
the "Liberty Party" Owing to the celebrated
Raleigh letter of Mr.. Clay against the annexa-
ton of Texas, the sentiments Of which the dis
tinguished writer subsequently disavowed, Mr.
Birney got many Of the votes which would have
been recorded for the former but for that letter
The 60 1853 votes polled for Mr.. Birney could
have given Mr.. Clay clear majority over Mr..
Polk of q, All. Although Mr.. Clay could not
have secured the whole of those, it is unques-
tionable that the Northern votes which he lost
through his Raleigh letter would have gained
his election. After this contest Mr.. Birney re-
tired almost entirely from public life. The
state of his health for the last twelve years has
unified him for any exciting occupation. Ere
quent attacks of paralysis combined with heart
disease left him latterly complete wreck. He
has nevertheless continued to take warm in
terest in the political struggles of the day, and
during the last Presidential canvas he recorded
his vote for Fremont. 1t is only within the
last few years that he took up his residence in
EagleswoOd. N. J., where he peacefully breath
ed his last, surrounded by his family anil friends
who we're all warmly devoted to him. His men-
tai faculties continued unimpaired to the mo-
ment of his death