Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-08-06
Death uf John Jay Crittenden--
The Patriot and Statesman.

]
the latter years Of his service in that
body, had gained the eminent distinction
Of being called the Patriarch of our Ma
tional Senate.
Mr.. Crittenden died at his residence in
Frankfort, Kentucky, on Sunday last,
the 26th inst. He was born in Wood
ford county, Kentucky, in 1885. When
he was a child, his father, who was farm
er, was killed by the fall of tree, and
his mother left with slender means to
bring up large family. He studied law, :
and commenced its practice at Hopkins
vile, but soon removed to Frankfort,
where he speedily won distinction. In
1916 he was elected to tho Kentucky
House of representatives, and COM
menced political life. His first term in
the United States Senate, which was but
for two years, commenced with the first
term of President Monroe. In the Sem
ate, in his advocacy of various import
ant measures, he moved the reimburse
ment of fines under the sedition law of
1898, which he pronounced unconstitu-
tonal.
From 1919 to 1885. Mr.. Crittenden
practiced law in Frankfort, occasionally
representing his county in the State Leg
islature. In 1885 he was again chosen
United States Senator, served full term
and was re elected, but resigned in 1S41,
having accepted the post of Attorney
General under President Harrison. This
office he resigned in September, 1871
lie was Immediately elected t o the United
States Senate Senate for the remainder
of Mr.. Clay's term, who had resigned
March 81, 1912 Upon the expiration
Of this term, March 8, 1913, MIR. Crit
tendcn was re elected U. S. Senator for
the full term. In 1S4S, be resigned and
was elected Governor of Kentucky; and
was Attorney General in President Fill
more's cabinet. He was again elected to
the United States Senate, and served u
full term, which expired March 4, 1861.
On the expiration Of this term, he was
elected to the House of Representatives,
and served III the memorable session Of
the last Congress.
Had Mr. Crittenden lived he would,
doubtless, at the ensuing August election
have been almost unanimously chosen to
| represent his old district in the next Con-
gress. 1t is now forty-six years since he
took his seat iu Congress as member
of the Senate, and until within a few
months past, he was hale and vigorous,
retaining in his public speeches and in
/ legislative debates the fire and spirit of
! his youth.
An enumeration even of the great pub
lie measures which Mr. Critteuden has
advocated or opposed would extend
this notice to too great length. 1t
would, however, be objectionable to pass
by unnoticed some portion of the latter
part of his career, which will live in his.
tory and cause John j. Crittenden to take
rank with the most illustrious patriots
and statesmen of modern times
In the memorable session of Congress
of lS6O-6l, Mr.. Crittenden labored with
the courage, energy and devotion of the
most earnest patriotism to avert the cal
amity of civil war which he saw impend-
ing, All will remember the celebrated
"Compromi>e Measures" or resolutions
he introduced into the Senate, proposing
that the Constitution should be SO amend
ed, that Congress should have no power
to abolish slavery in the District of Col
umbia SO long as slavery should exist in
Maryland and Virginia; and that it should
have no power to abolish slavery in any
of the places under the special jnrisdc-
tion within the Southern States. 1t is
not too much to say that this plan, w hich
met the approval of several State Legis-
latures, would, with some slight modili
cations, have been acceptable to major
ity of the people of the United States,
and have averted civil war; But it was
postponed from time to time in Congress
until the session expired.
In the House of Representatives at the
extra session of July, 1861, Mr.. Crit
tenden introduced his famous resolutions
on the Object of the War, which are too
5 well known to need repetition here
They passed that body by vote of 12l
yeas to 2 nays, and were aiterward sub
stantially adopted in the Senate by ote
SO yeas to five nays. Had the spirit of
4 these resolutions been adhered to with
the self-sacrifcing and patriotic spirit OF
their original mover, the prospect of a
reunion of all the States unie the same
: old flag if not already realized, would
g have been much nearer than it is now.
:, During the remainder of his Congres
u sional career, Mr.. Crittenden's course
was conservative and patriotic, opposing
! all hasty and radical legislation which
= would tend to widen the breach between
s the two sections of the country rnd rem.
. der reunion more and more hopeless.
+ In speech in Congress in the session
e of lS6l-62. on the bill for the Abolition
- of Slavery in the District of Columbia
3 Mr.. Crittenden used the following mem
e orable words:
y "The weary rebels who are now faintiue
J. under the defeats which our brave army has
r inflicted on them, will feel new desperation
. with every new assurance tina, peace Will only
a bring the spoliation of their property of ali
y descriptions. 1t will inspire an instructive
: spirit Of hostility and desperation. Such is
: the nature ofman."
n The warning words of the venerable
: patriot and statesman were not needed
then; will they not be heeled by hi
n countrymen now that he is numbered
with the departed fathers and founders o
II the American Rspublic?-Statesman.
|. "WHAT under the sun can be the cause
4 of that bell ringing at this time of ths