The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-03-21

ministration he occupied an importan
position in the Navy Department. Lik
many other prominent Northern de NJ o
Gratis, Mr.. Welles disagreed with bis par
ty on the subject of the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise. which breach was still
further increased BY the Kansas policy o
the Pierce and Buchanan administrations
The Territorial question being the chic
one at issue. he became identified Will
the republican party soon after its organ
izatioD, aud has since been one Of its lea
ders, taking prominent part in its con
ventioos. State and national. He was {
delegate from the State at large to The
Chicago Convention. and constituted one
of the com wittee to proceed to Springfield
with official notice Of Mr. Lincoln's nom
iDation. He was also one of the Presi
dental electors. Nor was bis visit to
Spring6el the first time he had met tba,
distinguished gentleman. While in Hart.
ford year or more since, they formed
somewhat intimate acquaintance, which
resulted 10 the wsrmest mutual friend
ship and confidence; so that Mr.. Lincoln
has. in the selection, no doubt acted as
much upon his own personal kuowledg ge
and estlm alton of the man as upon any
-olicitation of prominent New England
Republicans.
Edward Bates, Attorney General.
Edward Bates was born 90 the 4th of
September, 1893, on the banks of James
river, in the county Of Goochland, Vir-
giDia, about thirty miles above Richmond.
He was the seventh son and yougest child
OF a Dily of twelve children. all of whom
lived to a mature age. OF Thomas Bates
and Caroline NJ Woodson. Both of his
parents we're descendants of the plain old
Quaker families which had lived for some
generations 10 the lower counties of the
Peninsula between j ames and York river
They were msrried in the Quaker meet
ing, according to the forUs of that simple
and virtuous people, in the year I'LL;
but in l7el the father lost bis member
ship in the Society of Friend. by bearing
arms at the siege of YortowD-a volunteer
private soldier under Lafayette. In 1905
Thomas F., the father, died, leaving
very small estate and large family
Left at sD early age an orphan. and poor,
the son wa fortunate in what is better
than patrimony, heart and will to
labor diligently for promotion. Besides
-everal OF his brothers were industrious
and prosperous men, and treated the bel p
less with generous affection. One of them,
Fleming Bates, of Northu berland, Vir-
gins, took him into his famil y as son.
and did fathers part to him. He bad
not the benefit of a collegiate education.
being prevented BY an accident-the
breaking af leg-which stopped him in
the middle of bis course of study, and
confined hiu at home for nearly two years.
In childho he was taught by bis father,
and afterwards had the benefit of two
years Instruction of bis kins man, Benja-
min Bates, OF Hanover, Va, most ex-
celeDt man, who. dying, left behind him
none more virtuous and few more intelli.
gent. In 1912. having renouuced service
in the navy, and With no plan of life set
tied bis brother Frederic (~ho was Sec-
retary of the Territory of Missouri from
l 607 to 1920. when the State was for bed
by successive appointments under Jeffer-
son. Madison and Monroe, and was sec.
ond Governor of the State) invited him to
coue out to ST. Louis and follow the law,
offering to see him safely through his
course of study. He accepted the invita-
ton, and was to have started in the spring
of 1913, but an unlocked for event de-
tanned him for year. Being in bis pa.
tive county Of GoochlaDd. sudden call
was made for volunteers to march for
Norfolk. to repel an apprehended attack
by the British feet, and he joined COM
pany 10 February, marched to Norfolk.
and served till October OF that year as
private, corporal and sergeant. successive
ly. The next spring be set out for St.
Louis, aud crossed the Mississippi for the
first on the 18th of April, 1914 Here
be studied very diligently in the office Of
Rufus Ea-ton. a Connecticut man, good
lawyer, regularly educated at Litcbfeld, 1,
and some time delegate 10 Congress
from Missouri Territory. He came to
the bar 10 the winter of 16l6-l7, aud
practi,ed With fair success as beginner.
In 1853 be was elected Judge of the
Land Court OF St. Louis county, and af-
ter serving in the Office about three years
he resigned and returned again to the
practice of law. He acted as President
Of the River aud Harbor improvement
Convention which sat at Chicago. and 10
1852 acted as President of the Whig Ma
tioual Con We ntion which met ct Bsltimo ore.
In 1850 be was appoined BY President
Fillmore and confirmed by the Senate
Secretary OF War, but declined the ap-
poiutuent for personal and domestic rea'
sons. Mr. Bates was complimented with
the honorary degree of LID. in 1858,
by Harvard College Some years before
he had been bonored with the same. de.
gree by Shurtlef College, Illinois.
s@Tbe prudent use of time, rather
than extraordinary natural power, has