Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-27
lailp Natlonal1rmotrat.
Sketch of the Life of the late Hon. D. ID.
Baker.

Pennsylvania, ond thence 10 Illinois. lie
was self educated, and at an early age ac-
ouired distinction at the bar. He took hand
in the Black Hawk war, distinguishing him
self for the rapidity of his movements, for
GOODNESS and bravery. In lS45 he was cleo
ted to Congress as Whig-from the only
Whig district of Illinois. President Polk
suddenly startled the States by the official
announcement that by the act of Mexico we
were in a state of war. Illinois was called
on for three regiments. Mr.. Baker proceed
ed to Washington and obtained permission to
raise a fourth Regiment Returning, the reg
iment was soon raised from Central Illinois,
proceeded first to the Rio Graude and entered
ihe command of Gen. Taylor. From Mata-
saoras they were ordered to Tampico, three
einl srked for Vera Cruz, arriving in season to
Partici pate in the sege
There are gentlemen in town who were
with Baker in Mexico. One of these tells us,
that Just before the battle of Cerro Gordo he
heard Baker swear, for the only time, terri
ble oaths, for he was terribly enraged Word
was brought him that Shields brigade, to
which his regiment was attached, was or
dered to remain as reserve while others
were granted the privilege of the attack.
Riding hastily to the headquarter of General
Shields, Baker told him the news. Then, sit
ting down together, they wrote letter to
General Scott complaining bitterly Of their
enforced inaction while SO much was astir.
Baker said his regiment had been eleven
mouths in the field. and if they were never
to be permitted to smell gunpo wder-he put
the case strengly-Oey would be ashamed
to return to Illinos. General Scott seeing
their anxiety, countermanded the first order,
azd Shields was perplitted to make the at
tack. ColoPeI Bakers regiment was given
the righC, and headed the attacking column.
A grapes shot through the lung disabled Gen.
Shields. and the command devolved on Baker
How gallantly he conducted it We need not
stop to say, for the facts have entered into
history and the world knows them
After this affair Colonel Bakers regiment
stopped some weeks at Jaapa thence marched
back to Vera Cruz, the work being done,
aRd they were mustered out of service at N New
Orleans.
While on the Rio Grande a mutiny broke
cut on board steamer where were four
Georgia regiments. Colonel Baker, with a
detachment Of twenty men, was at the grave
of comrade. The remains had Just been
buried and the detachment had fired round
of blank cartridges, when a request was
brought to the Colonel to 20 down and quell
the mutiny. With his twenty men, he in
stantly set off, reached the bank and ascend
ed the steamers deck. The mutineers rushed
upon them and one of them thrust his bayo-
net into the ColoneHs neck. Like one of
Homers heroes, the Colonel on that occasion
- felt the cold steel between his teeth" They
hustled him overheard from the deck upon
the earth bank. He was conveyed to q suit
lsrs tent close 10y, and ia few weeks re-
covered. The mutiuy was quelled, however,
before his men LEFT the steamer
Baker all this while was member of
Congress. While his meu were in camp at
CsaIargo. he got leave of absence. went to
Washington and from his seat, and in uni
form, delivered the telling speach of the ses-
sion. He pleaded the want of the soldiers
his plea was successful, and from that time
forth there was no lack of clothing or sup
plies for the men, who, in Mexico, were de-
monstrating the proves Of American arms
and fighting battles that were but one un-
broken series of victories.
After the war Baker returned TO Illinois.
en- '"'o 90" @f the strongest Democratic
Districts of the State. and though a wing ,.s
before, was elected again to Congress.
In 1851, we believe it was. that Col. Baker
went 10 the fsthmus of Panama, having the
military command of the laborers on the
Panama Railroad. lie returned to Illinois
sadly out of health from eight or nine months
residence in that low tropical region In
1852 he removed with his family to Caifor-
MIA.
lie was one ofthe early Republicans Of this
coast and his eloquence in behalf of an ua-
popular cause charmed alike those who were
ready to mob him and the growing company
of his admirers lie ran for Congress on the
Eeps bleas ticket three years since and of
course was defeated. On the death of Brod-
creek he delivered = ewlogy which was re
printed at the East as one of the 6nest efforts
Of its kind In the summer of 1860 he re
moved TO Oregon and stumped that State,
which was currently supposed to belong to
10 Lane at the time, not exactly for Lincoln
b~t rather as against 80 Lane The opposi-
tion-owing as all believed more to the in
fuence Of Colonel Baker than of any other
man-carried Oregon, and the joint Anti
Lecom2ton and Republican majority in the
new Legislature elected Colonel Baker to the
United States Senate. When lie reached San
Francisco again on his way to Washington,
his friends gave him an ovation. and he gave
in return the finest political Grafton that was
ever delivered west of the Rocky Mountains
The scene at the American Theatre on that
t,ONnsluc Wfti ucNcI bS lotRBUNcu Oi dUy OI
the immense Assembly who witnessed it
The Colonel began rather tameiy, as if under
the impression indeed he said, that he was
probably about to make the poorest speech
he ever made in his life, just when he ought
TO make the best But as he warmed, his
house warned, and he held them delighted
for more than two hours. At one point fol-
lowing an outburst that made the house
ring with terrific cheers, an enthusiastic list
Fer on the stage rushed to the footlights, and
with extended arms and veheulence excaim
ed "lt is truel 1t 10 true, gentlemen we
are slaves compared with the rest Of the
world. The Colonel is right" then, pale as
aghost, staggered back to his seat We
have heard good deal of eoouehce in our
day, but we have never heard anything that
more thoroughly thrilled an audience than
one of the CoioneFs concluding passages
"As for me-" said he. concluding passage of
exceeding beauty and force, "as for me,
dare not. l will not be false to Freedom -
Where the feet of my youth were planted.
there, by Freedom, my feet shall ever stand
j will walk beneath her banner; | will glory
in her strength. have watched her in his
tory struck down on a hundred chosen fields
Of battle. | have seen her friends fy from
her; her foes gather around her. | have
seen her bound to the stake; l have seen
them give her ashes to the winds But, when
they turned to exult, have seen her again
meet them face. Respondent, in complete
Steel brandishng in her right hand a fam
ing sword, red with insufferable light. take
courage. The people gather around her
Genius of America will at least lead her sons
to Freedom"
The Colonel was one of the shrewdest of
iawyers-with merciless ridicule he has
launched manu dnsnnrn1n onnns n,,4 &c Conrt