Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-02-24

SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE HON.
EDWARD BATES

The following sketch Of the life of the Hon.
Edward Bates has been forwarded TO us by
correspondent in Crawford county, Ponnsyl-
vania, with a request that VIC publish it in
our paper. He says, in private note, that it
was prepared from materials furnished from
st. Louis, for publication in a local paper, in
which we presume it has already appeared
FRtgSD HAYS: | observed in your last
weeks issue an article setting forth the quail
ihcations of the Hon. Edward Bates for the
Presidency Being familiar with his early
life, and some Of the leading events in his
subsequent career, / have thought 1t might be
a matter Of interest to have them made public
As he has not held or sought office for quar-
ter OF a century, his life is not 80 well known
to the country as that Of many a man Of less
commanding talents
Edward Bates was born on the 4th Of Sept.
1903, on the banks of James river, in the coun-
ty Of Goochand, Va, about 80 miles above
Richmond lie was the seventh son and young
est child of family Of twelve children, all or
whom lived to a mature age, Of Thomas Bates
and Caroline NJ. Woodson Both of his pa
rents were descendants of the plain old Quak-
cr families which had lived for some genera
tons in the lower countries Of the peninsula
between James and York rivers. They were
married in the Quaker meeting according to
the forms of that simple and virtuous people
in the year III. But in 7Sl the father lost
his membership in the Society of Friends by
bearing arms at the seige Of York, volunteer
private soldier under Lafayette.
In 1905, Thomas b., the father, died, leav-
ing very small estate and a very large family
Left at an early age an orphan, and poor, tn
son was fortunate in what is better than %
patrimony--a heart and will to labor dill
gently for promotion. Besides, several of hi.
brothers were industrious and prosperous men
and treated the helpless with generous aifet
tion. One Of them, Fleming Bates, of Nortl
umberland, Va, took him into his family as a
son, and did fathers part by him.
He had not the benefit of a collegiate edu
cation, being prevented by an accident, (thr
breaking of leg,) which stopped him in tn
middle Of his course of study, and confined
him at home for nearly two years. In child
hood he was well taught by his father, aud
afterwards had the benefit of two years in
structions of his kinsman, Benjamin Bates,
of Hanover, Va, a most excellent man, who,
dying left behind him none more virtuous,
and few more intelligent.
Coming under the protection Of his brother
Fleming. he was sent in the fall of 1909. to
Charlotte Hall Academy, st. Marys county,
Maryland, where he remained three years,
and then left by reason of the accident above
mentioned, without being prepared to enter
Princeton College, where his brother intend
ed TO send him.
Thus baffIed in his hopes of getting a thor
ough education, he gave up the idea of follow
ing any "learned profession" and set his heart
upon midshirman's warrant in the navy
In the mean time. he served as youngest ap-
prentice in the office Of his brother, who was
a Court Clerk, employing all his spare time in
eagerly devouring the contents Of pretty
goou library, but without direction or advice.
In the winter of 1Sll-'l2, his kinsman,
James Peasants then a member of Congress,
and afterwards Governor of Virginia, procur-
ed him the offer Of warrant in the navy, the
special object of his ambition-the thing
which above all others he desired.
Here again he was doomed to dsappoint-
ment. His mother refused her consent--re-
monstrated, entreated, wept; she was willing
that all her sons should march, whenever
needed to repel an invasion, but was still too
good a Quaker to agree that any child of hers
should follow arms as profession, and war
for livelihood He declined the warrant.
with what feelings we can well imagine and
upon for so great an effort of moral courage
as therejecton of that warrant required. He
could never have made it successfully, if he
has not,been taught from childhood. and ae-
'epted as a settled truth, that the boy who
thwarts the wishes of a wise and
yirtuous mother is not likely, ever afterwards,
TO do much good for himself or his country.
A similar event in the life of Washington will
be suggested to every mind. May we not
hope that the consummation of the parallel
may prove equally fortunate for our common
country;
In 1912, having renounced service in tho
navy, and with no plan of life settled, his
brother Frederick (who was Secretary Of the
Territory of Missouri from 1907 to 1920,
when the State was formed, by successive ap-
iointments under Jefferson, Madison, and
Monroe, and was second Governor of the State)
invited him to come out to 81. Louis and fol-
ow the law, offering to see him safely through
lis course of study
He accepted the invitation, and was to havo
tarted in the spring Of 1918; but an unlock
for event detained him for year Being
n his native county Of Goochland, sudden
all was made for volunteers to march for
Norfolk, to repel an apprehended attack by
he British feet, and he Joined a company in
february, marched TO Norfolk, and served till
october of that year, as private, corporal and
ergeant, suecesiyely.
The next spring he set out for st. Louis,
nd crossed the Mississippi'for the first time
N the 29th Of April, 1914. Here he stud
I'd very diligently in the Office of Rufus Eas-
on Connecticut man, good lawyer, resu-
lrly made at Litchfeld, and some time dell
gate in Congress from Missouri Territory
lie came to the bar in the winter of lSl6-17,
nd practiccd with fair success as beginner.
In the fall of 1920, the State Government
'ing put into immediate action, without wait
q to be told by any other power whether
no 1t was State, or had a Constitution,
, was appointed the first Attorney General
the State, and exercised the office both bea
re and after its admission into the Union
10 resigned the office of Attorney General in
s22 and was chosen a member of the House
Representatives of Missouri. aud served
such. In 1924, he was appointed by Pres
ent Monroe United States Attorney ior tho
issouri district.
lie was elected member of the United
ates House of Representatives in 1926, and
rved through the Twentieth Congress as