Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-01-25
MR. SHERMAN's BIOGRAPHY.

-ESs-G>pS(
MR. SHERMAN'S BIOGRAPHY.
The Washington correspondence of the
New York Post gives the following biogra-
ply of Hon. John Sherman
As Mr.. John Sherman is pretty sure to
be Speaker of the House of Representatives,
slight sketch of the man may be welcome
to your readers.
Mr.. Shermanis young man-but thirty
six years Of age. He was born in Lancas-
ter, Ohio, his father, Judge Sherman, be-
ing one of the pioneers Of Central Ohio
He died in 1929, leaving large family
and very small property. John, his son.
had few educational advantages. The
schools and academies of his native country
were open to him until he was fourteen
years of age, when he commenced the earn
est work of life. Ohio was then engaged
upon an extensive system of internal i'm
provements. The Muskingum Improve
ment was under the charge Of Colonel Cur
It's, now one of the Republican members of
Congress from Iowa. Young Sherman at
tached himself to the engineer corps under
Colonel Curtis, and for two years retained
his connection with it. He afterwards re-
moved to Mansfield, Ohio, his present res
idence. Here he studied law, and was
admitted to the bar in 1874, the day he
was twenty-one years old. He soon won
lucrative practice
Mr.. Sherman was a warm supporter Of
Gen. Taylor, and afterwards General Scott,
for the Presidency. During the political
excitement of 1854, which followed the re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise, he be-
came candidate for Congress in the thir-
tcenth district of Ohio, which, previous to
that time, had given heavy Democratic
majorities. He was the nominee of con-
ventiOn composed of Wings, Democrats
and Free Sellers. and after spirited cam
paign he beat his competitor three thousand
votes
Mr.. Sherman's Congr ssiOnal career has
been singularly successful Few men in
that body have attained 50 great promi-
nence in so short time. His eoolness,
courage and prudence as member of the
Kansas Investigating Committee. and the
admirable method and vigor of the report
Of the Committee, which was written by
him, at once placed him among the leading
men in Congress. That position he main
tanned in his connection with the Committee
Of Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Ma
val Affairs, and the special Committee to
investigate frauds in the letting of naval
contracts. No member has given the ad-
miniStrations of Mr. Pierce and Mr.. Bu-
chanan harder blows than Mr.. Sherman
His Kansas report fixes the responsibility
of the Kansas outrages where it belonged
upon the corrupt administrations which
conrived at them. As membero Of the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, his defence of
Commodore Paulding's course at San Juan
was perfectly conclusive against the unjust
reflection of the Navy Department which
sought to avoid the responsibility Of its
own formal instructions.
Mr.. Sherman's report last winter, as
chairman of the committee to investigate
the naval contract fraud, laid barea system
of corruption, wholesale plunder and pratt
san favOritism Of which the country before
had no adequate conception. The mine he !
opened is by no means exhausted. and this
accounts for the desperate hostility Of the
administration to his election as Speaker. |
1t is a significant fact that his cOmpeti-
tor. Mr.. Bocock, was member of the last
named committee and the author of the /
majority report, which, while admitting all /
the material facts contained in the report |
of the minority, attempted very illOgically |
to exculpate the Secretary from participa-
tion in the admitted frauds This invests /
the contest for Speakership with additional
interest, for the administration is on trial !
for corruption, and it is not surprising that
it should make frantic efforts to obtain
verdict Of acquital by the election of Mr..
Bocoek.
Mr.. Sherman's personal fitness for the
Speakership has been demonstrated BY his
past course. While adhering with un-
wavering 6rmness to his conviction of po-
Itical duty, he has accorded to his oppO-
nents every consideration which courtesy
and forbearaece could demand In every
emergency he has exhibited coolness, promp-
titude and sound Judgement To thor
Ough knowledge of parliamentary law he
unites an unusual degree of self possession
and unobstructive self-relianee. and dig
nifed presence and demeanor
The man who would shine in conversation, |