The New York herald., 1864-12-07
THE CABINef.


SKETCH OF The NRw ATTORNEY 0RNERAL.
Judge james g. Speed, Of Kentucky, the newly ap.
pointed Attorney General 10 resilient Of Looisve Ky
and was that city. His father one OF the
most farmers and slave owners In Kentucky
HIS mother who 10 sti living At the advanced age Of
nearly ninety years. n Louisville. has had twelve chill.
dren one OF whom Joshua Speed elder OF tns
subject Of this sketch, for many years bosom
friend and for short time the partner President Ian
coin This gentleman s also still living 1t Louisville
where be enjoys enviahle character able
and iunuential, sotesprisng citizen.
James s. Speed has promiscuously before the
country as politician. In ls49, during the attempt 70
smancpate the slaves IN Kentucky make the state
free one Mr.. Speed took prominent part the ON.
test a. an smancipationist. His party was badly de-
feated and having expressed 10 which
were obnoxious TO the large majority OF the voters
Of Kentucky, Mr. spssd had declined 70 attempt 10
attain any political Since that period has
therefore. confined himself the practice Of law has
long been recognized among the ,awy OF bis
uatve State ranking with Rousseau several others
who have agursd promsnenty than himself during
the About three years ago Mr. Speed freed ali his
slaves. committing himself entirely the policy OF
emancipatop.
In the beginning OF the rebellio1 Mr. Speed with bis
brother Joshua, General Rousssaa. Judge Hasian aod
c,hers assumed determined 10 opposition 10 the
neuira position forced upon Kentucky by conduct
her authorities, but confined birseh quiet though ear
nest efforts TO stay the which fast carrying
State out OF the Union On August IT, 1861 opportu
nifty offered Itself 70 the Union to take action
against the secessionsts and Judge Speed the Union
leader determined to take advantage OF IT, The seces
souists OF the city had called a meeting OF sympathy
win the South, and had early mustered their strength
at the Court House. Their leaders we're on the stand
: "a' handsomely decorated with white Or .pe,cen
a. -. -. IL" nall by their friends, a.d
s5mcwhat ANXIOUS al the appearance o. 49,
known rnonsts or "aboAtionists," ss tLsF were
called ~ the rceei sympahizers kveFyi yihn9 W, "a
readiness oren peace meetnr, James frshue
the principal leader, risen 3 cal the AS
semny 10 orocr, ~hen Judge Specd quietly walked apor
tue ard Gna approached the desk preIarea he
Chairman He called the attention OF the house BY rap
pg on the stand with ns cane knocked ASIDE stn an
ar o ctrempt The peace flags" on either side oi hm.
and soout 10 when he interrupted BY tie
clsnor II tie rebel leaders. who INSISTED hogse
was theirs ana that tue meeting wa- e b. addressed ~
them. AMID the excitement and above tie w1ch
ensGed Tas heard The sentorisn voice q General J.
koussein proposing iuoee Nteed ss president Of The
nleetns. lie immeaiately PIT the que.on t.
vote. deefeninr aye" drowned the 'Noes"
OF the rebess, aud. perfectly calm and cool,
Mr.. speed reacbeG forward. removed the white
Gags from the stand, and unfured small sp.n
gcd banners IA their stead In an instant. ~ ny IRE
concerted arrangement, from different o. tue hall
large ard small United states nass INJURED, sad
ten minutes afterwards the eecesionists mad lett the
hal. amid the groaps OF be loyal citizens Iutges
Speed and II ran, and Nessrs Wolfe Rousseau and
others followed strong Uniuu antLIeoral speeches
aud the meeting sdoped severa very e,foug
Next 10 General Rouesesu's establishment Of Cnion
recrui,pg camp opposite Louisville, this affair the
~ determined step taken by the unonsts o. nucsy
70 Keep the state tbs Union shortly afterwards
| followed by Rousseaus Occupation ef the ctiy win
i Df igadc, aod the OF the fRcc 0f keu
| tUcky neutrality. since this prricd Judge speed
has been engRged IN ng the cause OF the
private cittzer ard 10 his influence rnse TO
Kentucky the ADMINISTRATION OF Mr.. Lincoln much W.
de0ted Tor The support waich 10 received 10 the late
election.
NJ speed IL about Gfty years Of agc and 10 yet the
vgor Of his powers he ts snort stature ard thou.h
squarey butt ~ some what thu 10 Appearance 1be
reputation a. a lawyer which he had provrusy won,
and bis nnaoGce with the military powers vt fouEvis,
have ~ late very much augmented hs business ic
ormed copsrtnershp Va tbe law business Win samuel
r. smith, which Is still continued IN their opt aafnes