The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-06-21
Editorial correspondence.

WASHINGTON, June 14th, 1866.
One of the most useful, independent,
and able representatives in Congress from
our State is the Hon. William D. Kelley,
of the Fourth District He was born in
Philadelphia 1914, and obtained in the
schools of his own native city a fair
English education. He commenced life
as a reader in printing Office spent
seven years as an apprentice in jewelry
establishment removed to Boston and
followed his trade there for four wears,
devoting some attention to literary mat
sers; returned to Philadelphia, studied
law, and was admitted to the bar in l84l,
and held the Office for some years of Judge
of the Court of Common Pleas in Phila-
delphia. He was elected representative,
from Pennsylvania, to the Thirty Seventh
Congress, serving ss a member of the
Committees on Indian Affairs, and Expen-
ditures, and on Public Buildings. He
was reelected to the Thirty Eighth and
Thirty-Niuth Congresses, and has served
his constituents and his country with
eminent distinction and fidelity. The
Judge grew up in the Democratic school
of politics, and like many others, aban-
doned that fold i'll time TO save his credit,
and to be of use to the country. Democ-
racy with him meant something. 1t meant
liberty and equal rights for all. Not for
the fetc, but for dR-for the black man as
for the white man. When he saw that
the Democratic party, as organized and
under its then leadership, had resolved to
hold three millions of men, women, and
children in the most vile and abject
slavery that was ever tolerated upon the
face of the earth, he left the party, with
as much haste as righteous Lot left
Sodom since which time he has devoted
his time, his talents, and all his energies
to the cause of human liberty. Judge
Kelley is not man of pretentious show
and unmeaning professions. He does not
employ words and phrases only which are
significant of freedom, but he means all
he says, and his heart and all he earnest
ness Of his nature are given to the cause
he espouses. With him patriotism is not
a mere sentiment, but high and holy,
religious conviction, permeating the mind,
heart, and bringing all his powers, purpo-
ses, and activities into harmonious action
in behalf Of country and of mankind. As
clear, headed, sagacious, far seeing, hard
working man and representative, Judge
Kelley has but few equals and no super;ors.
He is almost always in his seat, and both
in Congress and out of it, labors unt:r-
iagly for his country and his constituents
He watches every question, and has clear
understanding of every measure that comes
before Congress. Nothing escapes his
criticism that needs to be ventilated, and
every proposition of doubtful merit or no
merit at all is sure to meet his censure
and reprobation. He is often seen quietly
in his seat writing, and apparently taking
no notice of what is going on about him.
but when the proper moment comes, he
will spring to his feet and show by few
Well-timed remarks that he thoroughly
understands the subject under discussion
As speaker, indeed as an orator, he sur
passes almost all his peers in the House.
For rhetorical beauty, clearness of enun-
citation, exact argument, and concise
reasoning, he stands prc-eminent, but his
shining qualities are his devotion to prin-
eiple, his love of liberty, bis hatred of all
oppression and wrong, and his power and
fearlessess in defen ding what he believes
to be right.