The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-07-31
Speech of Hon. Joseph Holt.

Speech of Hon. Joseph Holt.
On our first page will be found the
great Union Speech, of Hon. Joseph
Hall, at Louisville Kentucky. Mr..
Holt has filled several important pos
itions in the Government, with credit
to himself and the country. His speech
should be read by every body We
clip the following from the Scientific
american, published by Mum & Co.,
of New York. which will better enable
the reader to learn who Mr.. Holt is,
and the various positions he has
filed -
It is stated that Hon. Joseph Holt
will be nominated to the seat on
on the Supreme Bench vacated
by Judge Campbell, of Alabama. The
name of Mr.. Holt is familiar to all
cur readers, as having been formerly
Commissioner of Patents, but few
more words about this noble citizen
will be interesting to our readers
Mr.. Holt is still in the prime OF
life. He was born in 1907 in Brock
inridge county, Kentucky. His pa
rents were poor; but, like many wes-
tern youth, BIO managed, by industry
and economy, to secure to himself as
good an education as Kentucky col
eyes afforded. He commenced to
practice law ut Il izahethtown, Keu-
tucky, in 1928 removed to Louis
vile in 1881 aRd the following year,
as delegate TO State Democratic
Convention held at Harrodsbnrg,
male speech which at once gave
him the reputation Of m eloquent
orator among a people who are pro
verbally fond of pu lie speaking.
In 1888 Mr.. Holt was appointed
States Attorney for Louisville and
Jefferson counties, where he added
greatly to his reputation both as
shrewd, clear headed anu very in
dustrious lawyer and Gne speaker.
An honored merchant of Louisville,
who was q member of the first grand
jury that assembled under the Attor-
ney Generalship of Mr. Holt, re-
marked to rs not long ago, that his
address TO the jury on that occasion
was a model Of ability and eloquenee,
and Furthermore that he was !. per-
feet terror to evil doers."
In 1885 he removed to Port Glib
son. Mississippi, and thence in 1886
to vi .ksbnrg, where he soon secured
a very large practice, which brought
him an ample fortune. In 1912 he
returned to Louisville travelled in
Europe in l848, and in 1856 removed
to Washington In 1857 he was ap-
pointed Commissioner of Patents. in
which Office he gave great satisfaction
to inventors. On the death of Post
master General Brown, in 1859, he
was placed at the head of that De-
partment, which be managed until, in
January of the present year, he was
called to the head of the War De-
partment, from which John B. Floyd
had just been driven by the discovery
of his treachery. How faithfully, en-
ergetically and wisely fulfilled the
duties of that important post during
the short time he held it, the whole
counsry knows. Since his retirement
he has devoted himself to the estab-
lishment of sound Union sentiment
in Kentucky; and many Of our read
ers will remember his admirable letter
to James b. Clay on the powers of
the $g0varnment and the duties of
citizens.
Mr.. Holt is now 10 Kentucky, HIS
native State. On Saturday, the 18th
inst, he addressed an audience in
Louisville. densely packing the lar
gest hall in the City, in an uncondi-
tional Union speech, which was re-
ceived with rupturous applause.
We have the pleasure Of knowing
Mr.. Holt well, and we regard him as
one of the most thoroughly upright
public men in the country, he is,
moreover, clear headed, loyal hearted,
an able iurist, and an honest man.
His appointment to a vacancy on
the Supreme Bench would he con-
vincing proof ofthe conservative views
of the Administration.