Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-12-27
Death of Thomas Corwin.

stricken with paralysis at Washington on
Friday, died Monday afternoon at BALI
past 2 o'clock. Gov. Corwin was born
in Kentucky in 1884, his ancestors being
Hungarians. When quite young, bis pa
rents removed to southern Ohio, where
his boyhood was passed, and where he
worked upon his fathers farm until he
was 20 He had few educational ad,
vantages, but by his own exertions acquir-
ed much solid information He early
manifested a taste for oralory, and in 1915
began the study Of law, and soon after
being admitted TO bar OF Warren comfy,
Ohio, acquired considerable local fame -
/ In 1922 be was elected to the lower branch
Of the state legislature, where be made his
mark and remained for seven years. He
entered congressional lie 10 1880, and
in 1910 was elected governor OF Ohio
In l645 The same State sent him to the
/ Senate, where he remained I'LL the Access
sion of Willard Fillmore to the pre-iden-
cy, when be was made head OF the treas.
nry department Hr was elected repre-,
sentative to Congress in 1858 aud again
/ in 1860 with 40 opposition Of consequence
ut either time. President Lincoln sent
him to Mexico as our minister. hut upon
Maximiian's advent be came home and
did not return, Since then he has prac-
ticrd law in Washington.
The n. Y Herald in its obituary Of Mr..
Corwin has the following good story:
Mr.. Corwin's remarkable eloqu-nce did
net require the stimulus Of excitement,
though something OF It's fir" was paled on
ordinary occasions HIS language was al
ways elegant and refined, full OF an image
ry that largely partook of the poetry OF
the East. He was aware of this pecuIi-
arity Of style, and rather liked to have it
alluded to.
Though Mr.. Corwin- reputation was
chiefly due to his gift Of oratory and pow
ers as special pleader, his force did mo-
consist in these alone. He was admirable
in an argument, quick at repartee, aud
particularly distinguished for his dlscrimi-
nation in the citation Of authorities but
these traits were the reserve forces Of his
greater powers, and are only remembered
as secondary 20 them. He has been drs-
cribed as a dramatic speaker, possessing
in high degree the three Demonsthenian
essentials of an orator-F4rst, action -
second, action; third, action. His power
as an advocate was his fortune. His
reputation as an earnest leader WAS known
all over the country, aud caused him to
be retained for the defence of some Of the
most desperate criminals, 1t used to be a
common remark among criminal lawyers
that TO give Corwin the closing speech in
defence of the viIest criminal was to give
him his case, and was equivalent TO an
acquitiaL Criminal trials wore his forte.
and yet he was not tragic" hwyer.-
His humor would drop DOT" on the most
serious occasions, and often produced. in |
spite Of the orator, an anti-climax which |
would injure his case. An instance of
such result to one Of hi. grand pathetic
appeals occurred few years ago in
Western court. It will be remembered |
that Corwin, in the Senate in 1915 or
1916, arguing seriously against the moral
ity OF the projected war against Mexico,
his appreciation OF broad hu-
NOR to lead him into the extravagant ex-
preston, aft were a Mexican, as am
an American, would welcome you with
bloody hands to hospitable graves" A few
years after, when this Expression had been
lnaed by the newspapers until it had be-
come as familiar as "household word,," Mr., h
Corwin was retained as counsel tor a man
charged with murder, and who be claimed
,cted in self defence. In his closing
peecb to the jury, Corwin pictured the
condition OF his client as endeavoring to
lvoid the difficulty, portrayed the murder
ID man as forcing it upon him, DIGGING
MS steps, denouncing him as a coward, and
II last threatening to strike him. What
lie exclaimed, would you have done in
och an emergency? What, sir;' turning !
o the prosecuting attorney, 'what would s
.ou have done?' '
Done replied the attorney with great t
ravty; 'done-I would bave welcomed '
i'm with bloody hands to a hospitable a
rave +
The jury was convulsed with laughter,
nd Corwin lost his case.