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

to the House, and took an active part in the
revision Of the State laws
From that time till the present, he has held
no political office. and sought none taking
little or no part in local politics, bat often
freely expressing his views uPco constellation
al questions and national politics, in public
speeches and in newspaper essays
In 1888, he was elected judge OF TIC land
court Of st. Louis county, and. after serving
the office about three years, he resigned, and
returned again TO rho practice OF law. He
acted as President Of the River and Harbor
Improvement Convention which sat at Chicago;
and In 1856, acted as President Of the Wing
National Convention, which met at Baltimore
In 1850, be was appointed by President
Fillmore. and confirmed by the Senate, Secre-
tary of War, but declined the appointment
for personal and domestic reasons.
Mr. Bates was complimcntcd with the hon
orary degree of Ii. d. in 1855 by the Cam
bridge University Some years before, he
had been honorud with the same degree by
Surtlef College, Illinois
Such, in brief, is history Of the carly life
and public services Of ono of the most distln-
guished and able statesmen Of the West
From youth, he has been accustomed to self
dependence, and his life has been one Of ha-
bitual labor and comparative poverty 1t has,
for the most part, been spent in private, in
the faithful discharge ofhis professional duties,
and is therefore devoid Of that Aexbility and
adaPtcdnoss, which nothing but official dis
cipne can largely give.
In personal appearance, Mr.. Bates has a
noble aud commanding air. In stature he is
of the type Of Mr.. Webster. Ills hair brings
4 L. ! ....H
intelligence from beneath massive hrows, and
his face is marked with deep thought. His
manners are those of polished gentleman OF
the last generation.
In his domestic relations, he is fond hus-
band. and kind and ndulgent father. lie
married, in 1923, Julia D., one of the five
daughters Of David Coalter, late Of South
Carolina. lie had by that marriage seventeen
children, only eight Of whom survive six
cons and two daughters.
Though he was born and has always lived
in slave State. yet he has never sought to
live upon slave labor. lie formerly owned a
few slaves, whom he kept as domestic ser
wants, but he emancipatcd the last of them
some years ago. His aged mother, who died
in 1876, set free by will the few remaining
slaves she had, and last spring, his sister
odIah balcs, cnanclpatcu by uccu thlItl -tNe
slaves, all that remained to her, having before
that set free six or eight by separate instru-
monts.
Grape Hill, the residence of Mr.. Bates
situated about four miles from the city, is
brick mansion, surrounded by nicely cutiyat
ed gardens, and arbors. and shrubbery, among
which the grape, which gives name to the
place, is prominent. Though not cxtrayagant
he lives in a comfortable and substantial style
BETTING the man who has a national reputa-
ton like his.
His private character is eminently oxempla-
ry. Tho pious teachings Of his youth have
become the settled principles of his manhood
Beyond the decent respect and yeneration ioi
religion which politicians almost universally
affect in their outward lives, he chershos, by
daily acts Of devotion in his family, and othei
ordinances Of religion, the sentiments of con
sistont Christian piety. With the virtues o
head and heat which characterized some o
the carly statesmen of the Republic, he il
equal to any station in the Government which
his c Itrymen may assign him.