The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-09-23

IL
Ten ysars sgowe first became, acquainted viii
the gentleman whose aams stands At the hea.
Of this article, and 10 now the Republican can.
didats Tor Attorney Generafof Iowa. A sl,or
sketch OF his personsi history % we'll 70 polit.
ical antececsnts will interest our reacsrs.
Mr.. Rice was born in western New Yort
and is now we believe, ii his 18th year. IN early
life be removed, along with hs fatlserss Fam.
ily, {" Belmont county, Ohio, where he con-
tinued to reside unfil be secured Tor himself q
home in Iowa. It was there We made his ae-
quaittance, ata fine when he was fitting him.
self for the duties be Mas since 90 hOhorably
discharged. His facilities for acquiring the
education he was determined to secure, were
extremely limited, and il it i al ali creditable
to be "self-m man, J" that credit in its full.
est sense belongs 20 Samuel Rice. Rejec-
ting in favor Of others, the assistance his fam
lily could render him, he entered upon his pur-
pese dependent on himself alone. Inst pur-
pose he achieved. BY engaging in such man
ual employment % he could obtain. and thus
Asfrayins the expense. Of his tuition ont at the
earnings OF his own hard labor. he succeeded
In acquiring . liberal education, and finally
graduated with high honefs ct ULion College,
N. T., in 1840. t 81 s
After two years more q close application to
the study law, be was admitted to practice in
1851, and the same year removed to Iowa and
settled at Oskaloosa Since that time his prac.
tice has stesdily increased, and be now ranks
- one VI the foremost lawyers OF the State.
In the canvass OF 1854, Mr.. Rice was one OF
the krmest and most active opponents OF the
Kansss Nebraska in;qnity, sht did much to re-
deem Iowa from the thraliom Of Locofoco mis-
rule In which she he'd 90 long been sunk. In
the fall OF the same year he was elected Prose-
cuting Attorney II Mahaska county.
The first Republicans State Convention in
Iowa was held in February, 1856. BY that
time Mr.. Rice had become we'll snd favorabiy
known to the entire southern part OF the State,
and his name was brought forward BY the del
egates from that section, for the Office Of At
torney General. On the first bailot he was
nominated by an almost unanimous vote and
was elected in August following. by q majority
Of thousands over James Baker. the Do,nocra.
tic nominee. The duties devolving upon the
Attorney General of tbs State have been mach
greater during his term than 2rev,onsly, but
hssr all been discharged with IN ability and
fsithfalnass before unknown to the Office
His official opinions have been given without
regard 10 friend or foe, and we helieve in every
case where doubted, have been confirmed.-
So ably and satisfactorily has he filled the
Office, that at the late State Convention he was
aft.r an informal ballot. renominsted by &C.
eiamation. And such nomination he well ds-
Severved.
Few men have attained, at Mr.. Rice's age,
no enviabie a nosition, but to rs it is not un-
expected. When he was struggling unaided
years ago. we frequently heard il said that he
would yet win distinction, and achieve an hen
erable fame. The predictions Of his friends
have tkls far bern fully verified, aud we have
sure confidence they will he more fully con-
firmed in future. We confidently expect the
voters of Iowa to roll up. in October, next, AZ
in 1855. a majority OF thousands for Samuel A
Rice. II vinton Eagle. " 90