The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-12-28
Hon. Thomas Corwin.

Chtted OtateS TO the Republic OF Mexico,
and formerly Secretary Of the United States
Treasury, Governor of Ohio, Senator and
representative in Congress from that State.
expired at Washington City on Monday the
18TH instant >,s> HE- a
Mr.. Corwin was born in Bourbon county,
Ky, on the 29th OF July, 1894, and conse-
quently at the time of his death Was in his
72d year. The following facts in regard to
his career are derived maialy from the new
American Cyclop@dia. His Immediate an
cestors went from New Jersey to Pennsyl-
vania, from thence to Kentucky, and from
theuce to Ohio His father Matthias Cor
win. for many years member of the Ohio
Legislature, removed with his family TO
what was then the Northwestern territory
IN the year 1898, aud settled near where
the town of Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio
now is. The Corwin family originally
came from Hungary, and in America have
generally been farmers. Thomas Corwin
was reared on a farm, where he was kept at
hard labor, except III the coolest winter
months, until he was about twenty years
old. The winter he employed in a great
measure in studying at school or at home
as opportunity offered. Though there were
no good schools i'll the country, then almost
"a wilderness, he nevertheless, when he ar
rived at the age Of twenty, had acquired,
entirely, it may be said, by his own exer-
lions, much solid information, and what
might well be called good though not fin
ished education. His first teacher was the
late Francis Dunlevy, afterwards one of the
trainers of the first Constitution of Ohio and
then for fourteen years in succession presid-
ing Judge of the Cincinnati circuit. Though
Judge Dunlevy was classical scholar,
Thohas was then too yonng to derive any
advantages from him except in the first be.
ginnings Of letters. His next school was
taught by the Rev Jacob Grigg, an Eng
lish Clergyman Of good education Here,
when about fourteen years of age, Thomas
first began to exhibit that talent for oratory
which has since SO distinguished him. Ex-
cept a short tine afterward, with an Irish
schoolmaster who made great pretentions to
mathematical science the school of Mr.
Grigg closed Mr. Corwins educational adj
vantages; yet he was always engaged in
studying some book or subject, whether at
school or not, when not actually employed
in other business This continued to be his
habit Throughout his early life, and he new
er lost more time in ADJUSTMENTS or com
pany than necessary courtesy required. In
1874 he entered the Clerks office Of Warren
county, then or soon after under the charge
of an elder brother, Matthias Corwin, If.
Here he continued until 1915, when he COM
menced the study Of the law, and i'll May,
1878, he was admitted to the bar. From
his first entrance on the practice of his pro-
lesson he was the leading spirit of the
courts which he attended, comprising in
short time some four or i've counties AS a
lawyer, beside his power as ali advocate, he
was distinguished for keenness Of dscrim-
nation in the use of authorities and the man
agelnent of evidence But, when excited
by any peculiar event in the progress of
trial, his eloquence was unequalled in his
day at the bar in Ohio. In 1922 be was
elected to the House OF Representatives Of
the State Legislature and soon distinguished
himself in speech in opposition to a bill
to restore public whipping as a
punishment for small crimes. Such a law
had been previously in force for few years
in Ohio, and a member from Hamilton coun-
ty, where such crimes seemed to increase
with the growth of Cincinnati, thoufiht the
Old practice of whipping was the only rem>
edy- Corwin successfully opposed the bill
liz speech which is remembered to this
day. After serving in the State Legislature
for some seven years, he was elected to
Congress in 1880. He had supported MIR.
Clay for President in 1924, when he receiv
ed the ELECTORAL vote of Ohio. In the Pres
idential election of 1928 he had been the
supporter of John Quincy Adams During
the administration of jackson and Van Bu
rem he uniformly acted in concers with the
Wings in regard to all controverted politi-
cal questions between those administrations
and the opposition In 1886, and again in
1910, he supported, Gen. Harrison. Hav-
ing been selected III 1910 as the candidate
Of the Wings for Governor Of Ohio, he de-
livered brilliant speech In defence of Gen.
Harrison, in reply to an attack of ten Cra
ry, Of Michigan, which probably suggested
the policy of bringing him into more active
service during the Presidential canvass Of
1910 Accordingly, he made speeches in
almost every county of the State, discussing
the political topics of the day. Immense
crowds througed to hear him, and he thus
contributed more than any other person to
swell the maj ority by which Gen. Harrison
carried the State. Mr.. Corwin was elected
to the Senate of the United States in 1915,
and was consequently member of that
body in 1916 when war with Mexico was
declared, or rather affirmed to exist by act
of Mexico. be boldly denounced the at
tempt to conceal the intentions of the Exc
cutlve and party In power OF possessing
of Mexican territory which they
had failed to purchase by treaty. That
speech on the Mexican war is perhaps the
ablest as it will be the most permanent of
MIR. Corwins efforts In 1913 he supported
Gen. Taylor as a candidate for the Presi-
dencv; and on the death of Gen TAYLOR in
July, 1850 he received from Mr. Fillmore
the office of Secretary Of the Treasury, which
he filled until March 4, 1853, when be re-
turned to Lebanon, Ohio. where he again
engaged in tie practice of his profession In
1858, however, he was again elected by the
7th Ohio district to the House Of Represen-
tatives i'll Congress
Mr. Coru in took an active part in the
Presidential campaign of 1860, making
speeches in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. His
fame as a popular orator attracted large au-
diences, but lie had lost his voice, and thus
while bis arguments were exceeding by tell
ing, and his wit aud humor scarcely less bril-
liant than in his earlier days when, as the
wagon boy" he drew all Ohio after him to
listen to his STUMP speeches it wss easy to
perceive that his day as All effective speak
er had gone by. Upon the inauguration OF
President Lincoln in 1861 mir. Corwin was
appointed Minister Plenipontentiary to the
Republic of Mexico where he displayed sig
nal sag'city in divining the intentions Of
the Emperor Of the French against the III
tcgrity Of thai. country. He Informed ouT
Government oftbe project to subvert the
tie Republic aud to place the Arch Duke
llaximiliAu .upon the throne, before the ar
rival Of the allied forces at Vera Cruz hut
the information Was dis,redited 10y MIR.
Seward rs appears from the dispatches Ut
the latter in reply. Mr.. Corwin resigned
HE position as Minister to Mexico, ana re
turned to Washington. where he opened an
office and recommended the practice Of the
law devotng himself principally to claims
against the Government, III which he COLI