The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-03-21

Judge, and was appointed by President
Pierce one of the Judges Of the Court Of
Claims, from which place he was removed
by President Buchanan. Judge Blair is
now in the prime Of life and mental vigor,
and there is no man south of Pennsylvania
who is more devoted to Republicanism, or
who is more popular among the radical
Republicanism all over the North and
West. He is son-in-law Of the late Hon.
Levi Woodbury., Of New Hampshire, and
brother OF Frank p. Blair, Jr, Congress
man elect from the st. Louis district
C. B. SMITH, SECRETARY OF THE INTE-
RIoR.
Mr. Smith is well knowp in Indiana,
aud is reputed to be possessed Of Z vi9or-
Gus intellect, and ability. He has been
in Congress, and was Commissioner on
Mexican claims. In regard to his political
faith, it is not certain that he has made
any decisive declaration, but it is very
generally presumed that be is a moderate
Republican.
GIDEON wELLEs, SECRETARY OF NAVY.
Mr Gideon Welles, of Connecticut, is
the Northern Postmaster-G General. Mr.
WelIes has been for upwards Of thirty years
a leading politician IN Connecticut, and
for much Of that time has been connected
directly and indirectly, with the public
press, welding partizan pen, and always
exhibiting evidence of unquestionable
hostility to his opponents, in the advocacy
Of his opinions, political or Otherwise
He for some time held the Office OF post
master Of Hartford, under Ar y an Bu-
ren's administration, and left the Office
soon after the election Of Dir. Harrison,
in 1910. During part OF Glr. Poik's
administration he occupied an important
position in the Navy Depl tment. Like
many other prominent Northern Demo
Gratis, Mr. Welles disagreed with his party
on the subject Of the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, which breach was still
further increased by the Kansas policy of
the Pierce and Buchanan Administrations.
The Territorial question being the chief
one at issue, he became identified with the
Republican party soon after It's organiza-
ton, and has since been one Of It's leaders
taking prominent part in its Conventions,
State and National. He was delegate
from the State at large TO the Chicago
Convention, and constituted one OF the
committee to Springfield with the official
notice OF Mr.. Lincoln's nomination. He
was also one of the Presidential electors.
Nor was his visit to Springfield the first
time he had met that distinguished gen
tleman While in Hartford, a year or more
since they formed a somewhat intimate
.cauaintapce, which resulted in the warm
est mutual friendship and confidence; SO
that Mr. Lincoln has, in the selection, no
doult acted as much upon his personal
knowledge and estimation of the man as
upon any solicitation of prominent New
England Republicans.
EDWARD BATES, ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Edward Bates was born on the 4th of
September, 1898, on the banks Of the
James river, in the county of Gooqhland,
Va. about thirty miles above Richmond.
He was the seventh son and youngest
child of a family of twelve children, all Of
whom lived to a mature age, OF Thomas
Bates and Caroline II. Woodson. Both
| of his parents were descendants OF the
plain old Quaker families which had lived
| for some generations in the lower counties
! Of the Peninsula between James and York
rivers. They were married in the Quaker
meeting, according to the form OF that SIM
pie and virtuous people, in the year III /;
but in 1871 the father lost his member
ship in the Society OF Friends by bearing
/ arms at the siege Of York town-a volun-
t teer private soldier under General Lafay-
cite. In 1905, Thomas T., the father,
died, leaving very small estate and q
large family. Left at an early age an or
phan, and poor, the son was fortunate IN
what was better then patrimony, heart
and will to labor diligently fer promotion.
Besides, several Of his brothers were IN
dustrious and prosperous men, and treated
the helpless with generous affection One
of them, Fleming Bates, OF Northumber-
land, Virginia, took him into his family as
a son, and did fathers part to him. He
/ had not the benefit Of collegiate educa-
ton, being prevented by an accident-the
breaking of a leg-which stoppeg him in
the middle OF his course OF study, and
confined him at home for nearly two years
In childhood he was taught by the father
aud afterwards had the benefit Of two
wears instructions of his kinsman, Benja-
min Bates, of Hanover, Virginia, a most
excellent man, who dying, left behind
him none more virtuous and more intelli
gent. In 1872, having renounoed ser
vice in the navy, and with no plan o.
life settled, his brother Frederick (whc
was Secretary of the Territory of Missou
ri from 1907 to 1920, when the State wa;