The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-22
WASHINGTON, March II, 1866


with short biography of Hon james G.
Blaine. Mr.. Blaine was born in Wash
ington' county, Penna., in 1880, and is
therefore thirty-six years of age. His
paternal grand Col. Ephraim Blaire,
of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was distin-
guished officer Of the Revolutionary War.
1t viii be seen that he comes of a good
stock, anu right manfully does he MAIN
tain the sterling patriotism of his distin-
guished ancestor. Mr.. Blaine entered
Washington College when but lad, and
graduated in l847. On leaving College,
he studied law, but we believe he did not
practice that profession long, as we soon
find him in the editorial fraternity On
his removal from Pennsylvania to Maine,
In 1854, the same year, and we believe
the same month that we removed from
Maine to Pennsylvania, he became the
leading editor of the Kennebec Journal,
the editorial chair of which was once
filled by that well known and able jour
nalist Luther Severance. Mr.. Blaine
afterwards edited the Portland Daily Id
Uerttser. As a newspaper writer, he has
not many equals, and but few superiors !;
and had he continued in the profession, he
would soon have attained to the very fore
most rank Of political writers. He was
for some four or five years member of
the Maine Legislature, and was twice
elected Speaker of that body. In this
position he gave eminent satisfaction to
all parties, always discharging the duties
Of the office with ability and impartiality.
Mr.. Blaine made his first appearance in
the National Legislature as a member of
the Thirty-eighth Congress; and was re-
turned by even a larger majority to the
Thirty ninth, and should his life be spared
will continue to be returned, if he desire
1t, till his fellow citizens shall call him to
other and higher positions. He takes
high rank in the House. has clear and
almost perfect knowledge Of the rules and
orders, an accurate appreciation and un-
derstanding of parliamentary laws, is a
ready and able dehater, and seems to pos
sess an almost intuitive perception Of
every question that comes before Con-
gress His knowledge of men, and of
public measures both in the past and the
present, is truly wonderful and this use
ful information, which is the result,
doubtless, OF much study and reflection,
gives him great power. He has clear,
keen, analytical mind, which enables him
at once to comprehend questions that to
other minds require p-otracted examina-
tion and study. Mr.. Blaine is in the
prime Of life, with future before him of
which any young man might we'll be
proud. Great eminence, as public man
and statesman, he is sure to attain, if he
move on in the orbit in which God and
his own exertions have placed him. He
gives every indication that he is master
of the situation. He is the author OF the
amendment to the Constitution changing
the basis of representation, known to the
country as the "Blaine Amendment"
which passed by more than a two-thirds
vote, and only lacked two votes of the
requisite number in the Senate. Mr..
Blaine resides in the beautiful city of
Augusta, Maine, the capital of the State,
whero he is universally respected and
esteemed
There is another member Of this House,
who, perhaps, on account of his position,
we should have noticed at first, and more
at length than we can now do in this con-
nection. We mean Hon. Schuyler Col
fax, the Speaker both of the Thirty-eighth
and Thirty-ninth Congress. OF Mr.. Col
fax's early life, We know but little, but
his public career is before the country,
and the world and it is such as does
honor to himself, and is immensely valu-
able to his country and 10 mankind. He |
has always been found on the side of |
right, OF liberty, and OF justice. His |
fellow citizens all have confidence in him
not only ia his ability, but in his in
.egrIty, his honesty, and his steadfast ad-
herence to true principles. Whoever of
Dur public men or statesmen may fail US
ia tho trials hour, it will not be Schuyler
Co!sz. As the Speaker of the National
House of Representatives, he is thorough
= nj home. His uniform politenoss, good .