The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-07

1861 there have been five changes only in his
Cabinet Mr. Stanton for Mr.. Cameron, Mr..
Usher for Mr.. Smith, Mr.. Fessenden for Mr..
Chase, Mr.. Dennison for Mr.. Blair, and Mr..
Speed for Mr.. Bates. The seats in the Cabinet
are now filled as follows -
THE CABINET.
Secretary of fstate,.....,...Wm II. Seward
Secretary of War........,. Edwin M. Stanton.
Secretary of the Treasury. WIN. p. Fessenden.
Secretary OF the Navy. Gideon Welles.
Secretary Of the Interior. John L. Usher.
Postmaster General. ....... William Dennisen.
Attorney General. james S. Speed.
SKETCH OF THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Judge James S. Speed, of Kentucky, the newly
appointed Attorney General, is a resident of
Louisville, Ky, and was born near that city.
His father was one of the most extensive farmers
and sayeowners in Kentucky. His mother, who
Is still living, at the advanced age of nearly ninety
years, in Louisville, has had twelve childIen, one
of whom Joshua Speed, an elder brother of the
subject of this sketch, was for many years the
bosom friend, and for short time the partner of
President Lincoln. This gentleman is also still
living at Louisville, where he enjoys an enviabe
character rs an able lawyer and influential,
enterprising citizen.
James S. Speed has not been prominently
before the country as politician. In 1919, during
the vt,empt to emancipate the slaves in Kentucky
and make the State a free one, Mr.. Speed took
prominent part in the contest as an emancipation
ist. His party was badly defeated, and, having
expressed in the contest views which we're obnDX-
ious to the large majority of the voters of Ken
tuCky Mr.. Speed had declined to attempt to attain
any political success. Since that period he mas,
Therefore, confined himself to the practice of law,
and has long been recognized as among the first
lawyers Of his native STATE, ranking with Rous-
seau and several others who have figured more
prominently than himself during the war; About
three years ago Mr.. Speed freed all his slaves,
committing himself entirely to the policy Of
emancipation.
In the beginning of the Rebellion Mr.. Speed,
with his brother Joshua, General Rousseau, Judge
harlan and others, assuI ed o determined stand
in opposition to the neutral position forced upon
Kentucky by the conduct OF her authorities,
| b { confined himself to quiet though earnest
efforts TO stay the current which was fast carry
ing the State out of the Union. On August II,
1861, an opportunity offered itself 70 the Union
men 10 take some action against the secession
/ lists, and Judge Speed, as the Union leader, de.
termlnCdt to take advantage of II. The secession
lists OF the city had called q meeting ofsympathy
/ with the South, and had early mustered their
/ strength at the Court House.
/ Their leaders were on the stand, which was
/ handsomely decorated with white or "peace'
/ flags, awaiting the filling OF the hall by theiI
| friends, and somewhat anxious at the appearance
| of numerous well. l.known UniOnists or "aboli.
/ tiopists," as they were then called by the Rebe
/ sympathizers. Everything was in readiness Il
open the peace meeting. and James Irabue, the
| principal secession leader, had risen to call the
| assembly to order, when Judge Speed qu etly
/ walked upon the stand and approached the desl
| prepared for the chairman. He called the ten
| tion of the house by rapping on - stand witt
| his cane, knocked aside with an q of contemp
| the "peace flags" on either side Of him, and wal
| aNOut TO speak, when he was interrupted by tn
| Ian or of The Rebel leaders who insisted that tht
house was theirs, and that the meeting was to b.
| a dressed by them. Amid the excitement
| above the clamor which cnsued was heard the stem
| tor an voice OF General L II ROu VBeau prOposlnl
Judge Speed as president of the meeting