Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-04


The President has recently summoned to
his assistance in the Executive Department
of the Government, three gentlemen in the
places Of Messrs. SPEED, HARLAN and DEN-
N1soY. We give below brief review of
their lives, previous public services and
claims to the public confidence.
Hon. HENRY STANBERY, Attorney Gen
eral Of the United States, was born in the
city of New York, in 1903; but since 1914
he has constantly resided in the West, his
father having emigrated to GAINESVILLE, Ohio,
in that year. He received his collegiate
education at the Washington College, Penn
sylvania, where he graduated in 1919 He
was admitted to the bar Of Ohio in May
1924, and began the practice Of law in Ian
caster, where he continued in the successful
exercise of his profession until 1916. In
that year the Legislature Of Ohio created
the Office of Attorney General of the State,
and Mr. STANBERY having received the
honor Of the first election thereto by the
Legislature, remoyedto Columbus to assume
the duties of the new office.
In 1850 he was a prominent member Of
the Constitutional Convention of Ohio.
In 1858 he removed to Cincinnati, where
he continued in the practice Of his profession
until called by President JOHNSON to his
present important position.
Although Mr.. STANBERRY has never held
any political Office, State or National, yet
the influence of his talents learning and
character has ever been given to the men and
measures that, in his opinion, would most
conduce to the interest and honor Of the
whole country. He was, from first to last,
a member of the Wing party, and, true to
the teachings and traditions of that patriotic
organization, uniformly an ardent and en-
lightened supporter of the cause Of the Union
and the Constitution.
Mr.. STANBERRY's residence is about three
miles from Cincinnati, in the beautiful and
fertile country on the Kentucky side of the
Ohio river, behind Newport He is now,
and has been since 1853, citizen Of Ken
lucky.
Hon. ORvILLE II. BRoWSING, the new
Secretary of the Interior, was born in Har-
rison county, KY. His father being a farmer
there, he labored on the farm during his
boyhood and early youth, attending at in
tervals the schools Of the neighborhood, and
thus obtaining a respectable English educa-
ton. Thence he went to Augusta, Ken
lucky, and resided for four years in the
family of Gen. JOHN PAYNE, Clerk of the
Circuit and County Court Of Bracken coun-
ty. He was employed in the Clerks Office,
but at the same time attended Augusta Col
lege and distinguished himself by assiduity
and ability in academic studies. The writer
of this well remembers him at this period
taking a prize in Professor MACLEoD's
Education class for the best analysis of
MARK ANToNY's Grafton over the dead
body ofCEsAR. He studied law under the
direction of the Hon. WIN. Brown, an emf
nent lawyer of Cynthiana, and Immediately
after being admitted to the bar, in the spring
of 1868, he emigrated to Illinois, and settled
at Quincy, where he still resides. He soon
pushed his way by diligence and talent to a
large practice, and laid the foundation of
that repute as q lawyer which enabled him
to reap the rewards and honors of the pro-
fession.
In 1882 he volunteered for the Black
Hawk war;" andserved as private through
the campaign. In 1886 Mr. BROWNING was
married to Miss ELIZA CALDWELL, daughter
of Major ROBERT CALDWELL, of Richmond,
/ Kentucky. In the same year he was elect
ed to the Senate of Illinois, in which he
served four years. On the expiration of
this term he was elected to the House of
Representatives, and served two years, and
refused a reelection. He has since held no
other Office except that of United States
Senator. Mr.. BROWNING was a consistent
Wing in old party divisions. He was
member of the Chicago Convention in 1850
that nominated Mr.. LINCOLN; and though
not agreeing with the late President in all
his measures, he gave to his administration
a steady and unfaltering support He
earnestly sustained the war for the suppress
sion of the rebellion from the beginning to
the close.
Mr. BROWNING has heretofore steadily
refused to accept official position under the
General Government, and has yielded now,
with great reluctance, to the wishes of his
friends
He will bring to the discharge of the du-
ties Of Secretary of the Interior a robust and
highly disciplined intellect, versed in public
affairs, and strengthed by study and expert
ence, a character for integrity above re-
proach, unusal powers of application and
habits of industry, and personal address at
once afiable and dignifed.
Hon. ALEXANDER WILLIAMS RANDALL,
the new Postmaster General, was born in
Montgomery county, in New York, in 1919,
and is forty-seven years Of age. When
very young his parents emigrated to Wiseon-
sin, where he aherward studied law and was
admitted to practice. In 1887 he was a men,
Der Of the Territorial Convention that
framed State Constitution for Wisconsin,
and in 1856 was elected Governor of that
State, being the nominee Of the Democratic
party. He continued in Office as Governor
until 1861, and having joined his fortunes
with the Republican party, was soon after
ward appointed by President LINCOLN
American Minister 70 Rome, whittier he
went in 1862, and held the position for a
short time Returning home in 1864, he
was appointed First Assistant Postmaster
General.
AN IMPORTANT LEGAL QUESTION.
Attorney General STANBERY has under
consideration a question Of importance and
of vital interest 10 the present nominees who |