Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-03-07

to the Chicago Convention. and constituted one
OF tire committee to proceed to Springfield with
official notice of Mr. Lincolns nomination He
was also one Of the Presidential electors. Nor
was his visit to Springfield the first time he
had met that distinguished gentleman. While
In Hartford, year or more since, they formed
a somewhat intimate acquaintance, which re-
suited in the warmest mutual friendship and
confidence; so that Mr.. Lincoln has, in the se-
lection, no doubt acted as much upon his own
personal knowledge and estimation of the man
as upon any solicitation Of prominent New
England Republicans.
MONTGOMERY BLAIR, POSTMASTER GENERAL.
The State of Maryland will be represented
IN the Lincoln Cabinet by Judge Montgomery
Blair, who resides at Montgomery Castle near
Silver Spring, Montgomery county, Nd. Judge
Blair is son of Francis P. Blair well known
in Gen. Jackson's time. He graduated at West
Point, went to the State of Missouri, practiced
law in Missouri, was made Judge, and was ap-
pointed by President Pierce one of the Judges
of the Court of Claims, from which place he
was removed by President Buchanan. Mr..
Blair is now in the prime of life and mental
yigor, and there is no man south of Pennsylya-
MIA who is more devoted to Republicanism, or
who is more popular among the radical Repub-
licans all over the North and West He is a
son-in-law of the late Hon. Levi Woodbury., of
New Hampshire, and brother of +. p. Blair,
jr., CoDgressman-elect from the ST. Louis dis
trict
c: B. SMITH, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
Mr. Smith is well known in Indiana, and is
reputed to be possessed of vigorous intellect
and considerable administrative tact and abil-
lty. He has been in Congress, and was Com
missioner on Mexican Claims In regard to
his political faith, it is not certain that he has
made any decisive declaration, but it is yery
generally presumed that he is moderate Re.
publican.
EDWARD BATES, ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Edward Bates was born on the 4th of SEN
tember, 1893, on the banks of James river in
the county of Goochland, Virginia, 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 NJ. Wood
son. 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 forms Of that simple and yiT
tuous people, in the year III; but in 1871 the
father lost his membership in the Society of
Friends, by bearing arms at the siege of York.
town-a volunteer private soldier under La
fayette. In 1905, Thomas F., the father, died
leaving very small estate and a large family.
Left at an early age an orphan, and poor, the
son was fortunate in what is better than a pat
rimony, a heart and will to labor diligently
for promotion. Besides, several of his brothers
were industrious 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 a collegiate education,
being prevented by an accident-the breaking
of leg-which stopped him in the middle Of
his course Of study, and confined him at home
tor nearly two years. In childhood he was
taught by his father, and afterwards had the
benefit of two years instruction of his kins-
man, Bepjsmin Bates, Of Hanover, Virginia, a
most excellent man, who, dying, left behind
him none more virtuous and few more intelli-
gent. In 1872, having renounced service in
the navy, and with no plan of life settled, his
brother Frederick, (who wa, Secretary of the
Territory Of Missouri from 1907 to 1920, when
the State was formed, by successive appoint
ments, under Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe,
and was second Governor of the State invited
him to come out to St. Louis and follow the
law, Offering to see him safely through his
course Of study. He accepted the invitation,
and was to have started in the spring of 1873
but an unlock ed-for event detained him for
year. Being in his native county of Gooch-
land, a sudden call was made for volunteers to
attack by the British feet, and he Joined
company in February, marched to Norfolk,
and served till October of that year, as private,
corporal, and sergeant, successfully. The
next spring he set out for ST. Louis, and crossed
the Mississippi for the first time on the oath of
April, 1914 Here he studied very diligently
ia the office of Rufus Easton, a Connecticut
man, a good lawyer, regularly educated at
Litchfeld, and some time q delegate in Con-
gress from Missouri Territory. He came to
the bar in the winter Of 18I6-'17, and prac-
tlced with fair success as beginner. In 1853
he was elected Judge of the Land Court of St.
Louis county, and after serving in the Office
about three years he resigned and returned
again to the practice of law. He acted as
President of the River and Harbor Improve
ment Convention which sat at Chicago, and in
1852 acted as President of the Wing National
Convention which met at Baltimore. In 1850
he was appointed by President Fillmore and
confirmed by the Senate secretary of War,
but declined the appointment for personal and
domestic reasons. Mr.. Bates was com plimented
with the honorary degree of LII. D., in 1853,
by Harvard College. Some years ago he had
heen honored with the with same degree by
Shurtleff College, Illinois.