Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-23
Hon. JoHN suERnrAN.

We present below short biography of
Hou. John Sherman, copied from Wash
ington letter in the N. Y Post, that our
readers may know something of the man
the Republicans have been, and are vet.
trying to elect Speaker of the House of
Representatives.:
Mr.. Sherman is ungman-but thirty
six years old. He was born in Lancaster,
Ohio, his father, Judge Sherman. being
one of the pioneers of Central Ohio. He
died in 1929, leaving a large family and o
very small property. John. his son, had
few educational advantages. The schools
and academies of his native county were
open to him until he was fourteen wears of
age, when he commenced the earnest work
of life. Ohio was then engaged upon an
extensive system of internal improvements.
The Muskingum Improvement was under
the charge of Colonel Curtis, now one of
the Republican members of Congress from
Iowa. Young Sherman attached himself
to the engineer corps under Colonel Curtis,
and for two years retained his connection
with it. He afterwards removed TO Mans
field, Ohio, his present residence. Here
ne studied law, and was admitted to the
bar i'll 1874, the day he was twenty-one
y
ticc.
Mr.. Sherman was a warm supporter of
Gen. Taylor and afterwards Gen Scott for
the Presidency. During the political cx-
citement of 1854, which followed the re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise, he
became a candidate for Congress III the
Thirteenth district of Ohio, which previ-
Gus to that time had given heavy demo-
cratic majorities. He was the nominee
of convention composed of wings. demo-
Gratis and free-soilers, and after q spirited
campaign he beat his competitor by three
thousand votes
Mr.. Shcrman's Congressional career has
been singularly successful Few men in
that body have attained so great prom-
nence in SO brief time. His GOODNESS.
and prudence as member of the
Kansas Investigating Committe, and the
admirable method and vigor of the repore
of that committee, which was written by
him, at once placed him among the Lead
ing men in Congress. That position he
in his connection with the
Committee OH Foreign Affairs, the Com
mittec on Naval Affairs and the special
committee to investigate the frauds in the
letting of naval contracts. No member
has given the administrations of Mr. Pierce
and Mr.. Buchanan harder blows than Mr..
Sherman. His Kansas report fixed the re-
sponsibility of the Kansas outruges where
it belonged-upon the corrupt administru-
ton which cOnnived at them. A member
of the Committee on Naval Affairs, his de-
fence of Commodore Paulding'S course at
San Juan was perfectly conclusive against
the unjust reflections of the Navy Depart
mcnt, which soughtto avoid the RESPONSE
bility of its own formal instructions.
11,'-
chairman of the committee to investigate
the naval contract frauds, laid bare sys-
TEN of corruption and wholesale plumber
and partisan faVOritism of which the
country before had no adequate conccp-
ton. The mine he opened is by no means
exhausted. and this accounts for the dcs-
pcrate hostility of the administration to
his election as Speaker. 1t is sgnif-
cant fact that his competitor. Mr. Bocock,
was member of the last-named commit
tee and the author of the majority report
which, while admitting all the material
facts contained in the report of the minor
ity, attempted worry illogically to excul-
patio the Secretary from participation in
the admitted frauds. This involves the
contest for Speakcrship with additional
interest, for the administration is on trial
for corruption, and it is not surprising
that it should make frantic efforts TO OBJ
tain a verdict of acquittal by the election
of Mr.. Bocock.
Mr.. Sherman's personal fitness for the
Speakership has been demontrated by his
past course. While adhering with un-
wavGring firmness to his convictions of
political duty, he has accorded to his op-
Ponents every consideration which cour-
tesy and forbearancc could demand. In
every emergency he has exhibited cool
ness, promptitude and sound Judgment.
To thorough knowledge of parliamentary
law he unites an unusual degree of self
possession and unobtrusive sclf-reliaucc,
and digniied presence and dcmcanor.
The old Raleigh tavern at williamsburg,
w 1rns. dnstrnred hr frn n cl,nri liz