Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-08-04
| WHOLE NO. 4O4.

State Senate of Indiana; a delegate and a
secretary in the National Convention that
nominated Gen. Taylor, in AS; again in
the Convention sud secretary at the
nomination of General Scott. in '52: elect
ed delegate to the Constitutional Con-
venticn of Indiana, in 80; unanimously
nominated to Congress in 81, when Just
past the Constitutional age, ami defeated
with illegal votes by The pitilul adverse
majority of something like two hundred,
offered the nomination, which he declined.
in '32. and the district went full regi-
lnent Democratic; elected TO Congress,
after the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise. ia 81. where he has since
remained, faithful earnest worker, and
WHITTIER. cannot doubt he will
triumphantly return--always unanimously
nominated always inspiring his opponents
with respect, carrying his district when
no other man could have done it, and it
looked "forlorn hope"--such is
meagre outline of his political life; a clean.
unsulied record. without blot or crasure,
'honor bright" on every page.
Perhaps the speech be delivered on the
bogns laws Of Kansas in Sc, and of
which more than half million of copies
were scattered over the land, was the first
effort which gave him anything like
national reputation. A scene, that somo
of your readers will remember. during tha
delivery OF that sheech. is worth rev:ving.
Among the laws which Mr. Colfax
unearthed. wa, one. providing ball and
chain as a reward for free speech, and
prescribing the size of the trirket. Mr..
Colfax caused such ball to be procured,
aud at the desired moment, it was brought
upon the floor, and he held it up as he
spoke, the splendid ornament devised for
a free people. Alexander II. Stevens,
who sat near. asked Mr.. Colfax for tho
ball, as if to test its weight Having
satisfied his curiosity. he offered to return
it. but Mr.. Colfax, loking down at hin,
with a smile, requested him to hold it till
he finished his speech, and Mr. Stevens
complied. That globe of iron was q
delicate locket of fine gold, to the mill
stone that the reluctant, nervelcss Vice
President OF rebels bas hung about his
neck
The career of Mr. Colfax has been
swiftly ani steadily upward; there has
been dtrecthesS about il so like himself
that there is no mistaking the owner.
No man has stronger friends; few men
have feebler enemies. His story, when
fully told, will present splendid exam
pie of an honorable manhood, attained
through untiinching purpose. untiring in
dusty, unwavering principle. and, in
these battle years, unloubtel loyalty.-
With mind alert AMI acute rather than
grasping and profound. yet Of that grow
ing sort which can make room for eacl,
new truth and duty; with head and heart
no Sabbath-day's journey asunder. he is
emphatically that man. produced no
where save in the new world, filter for the
forced march and the skrmish line of life.
1t is hardly safe. they say, tor declare
what any body will do, till he has done
doing. bat | think the words were said,
many year ago. that he can truthfully
take up when his public life shall be end
ed Il have fought the good fight; have
finished my course; l have kept the faith!'