New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-05-22

| duties soon claiming his entire attention TIA
Register prospered, and soon became source of urof
to its proprietor 1t ably edited and was a modal
of courtesy and dignity. Every paragraph, however
small seemed TO have passed under the suporyision
of and to reflect the mind and elevated thouebts of
ITS editor. He continued his connection with this
paper until three four years ago wrtins
a regular weekly letter for it's columns
during his first two terms in Congress IL was
during the early days Of The Register that Mr..
Colfax was laying the foundation for thu
reputation he has since attained as debater. de-
batting club was formed. which held regular weekly
meetings during the Winter season, and IA
was rare occurrence indeed to find Mr..
| Colfax absent from of these stated gath
erings Politics, the temperance reform, and other
subjects were often as ably debated in this society
as kindred questions in many deliberate bodies Of
much greater pretensiOns of the present day. Tho
| Hon. John d. Defrees now Superintendent of Gov
eminent Printing. and for many years editor and
proprietor of The Indianapolis Journal, TO which MIR.
COfax also attached Senate Reporter for some
time after be commenced the publication of The Re-
gister also participant in these debates They
were both Wings both ardent and sincere advocates
of, and believers in the temperance reform, and
were consequently seldom pitted against each other
| in these debates. The attachment formed at this
with undated sfervor. In 1913. Mr. CoIfax was
chosen as delegate. and elected Secretary of tho
Convention which nominated Gen. Taylor for the
Presidency In 1850 he represented ST. Joseph
County in the Convention which framed the present
Constitution of Indiana In this Convention he OBJ
posed with all his ability the adoption of the clause
prohibiting free cOlOred men from settling in tho
State. His opposition TO this was the cause
of his defeat the following year when nominated for
Congress- in opposition TO DIR. Fitch. But, with all
the ability tact, and shrewdnes of this old political
wire-wOrker, he only disanced his young competitor
900 votes in district which had been strongly Dem
Ocrac for years In 1852 he was again delegate 70
the Wing National Convention. He took an active
part in the campaign which followed speaking often
aud writing much In 1854. when the :" great deepT
of Indiana Democracy broken up, and the old
Hunkers laid in grave from which II is hoped they
may never be resurrected, lie was renominated and
elected to Congress, and was consequently moro
active than ever before. His experience as debater,
and familiarity with State and National politics.
rendered him an Oyermatch for his opponents whom
he was always anxious to meet in an open and fair
discussion before the people. where he was always
certain of victory In 1856 he again nominated
for Congress and reelected by handsome majority.
His entrance into Congress in the midst of tbs
great struggle over the Lecompton swndle. writer
saws of his maiden speech in the House His first
speech in Congress went forth TO repel the tide OF
terror which was sweeping over struggling Kansas,
and cleary showed that even then he Was
one of the best debaters in the Lower House"
Over 10000 copies of this speech were printed
and circulated "a compliment perhaps never
before received by any member OF Congress-
He was first chosen Speaker of the XxAVlllsh
Congress by vote of 1O1 to 81. He has been thric4
elected TO the same position, each time by an IN
creased majority. He was appointed Chairman OK
the Committee on Post Offices and Post-R Roads on the
organization OF the XXXVIlth Congress, and did
much TO extend mail facilities throughout the West
He was one of the first advocates and is still one OF
the warmes friends of tho Pacific Railroad. Indeed.
he takes warm interest in any movement looking
10 the development of the bOundess resources of the
great West 1t was doubtless, the interest he feels
in this section of the country which induced him to
take his celebrated trip Across the Continent
His trip was perilous one, but his welcome at the
other end of the line' was 30 spontaneous
truly genuine and heartfelt that it more than repaid
him for all the dangers and hardships he passes
through This trip prepared him for one of the most
entertaining lectures delivered In this country
1t has been listened 10 with wrapt attention by the
people of almost every city in the North. Pecunary,
however has profted him but little. for with thas
character, the entire proceeds of lecture have e.
often been donated to charitable object as they
have found their way into his own pocket. He bsA
now served in succession IL years in the House. He
was urged but he declined to accept seat in the
United States Senate preferring his presiding char
in the House. As presiding officer he is the most
popular the House has had since Henry Clay.
writer in " Putnams Magazine truly observes THAI
Mr.. Cofax has no eccentricities, but great tact
His talents are administrative and executive rather
than deberative He would make good appoint
ments, and adopt sure policies He would mako q
better President or Speaker Of the House. than Sen
ator He knows men well, estimates them correctly.
treats them all fairly and candidly No man viii goo
through his business with you in fewer minutes, and
yet none is more free from the horud brsqaeness OF
busy men. There are heart and kindness in Mr. Col
fax's poteness. Men leave his presence with the
impression that he is at once an able. honest ana
kind man. Political opponents like him personally.
as well as his political friends We have never heard
that he has any enemies. The breath OF SANDER has
been silent toward his fair, spotless fame. Ihs
wife of his youth, after being for long
time an invalid, sank to her final ress
several years ago, leaving him ohildless His
mother and sister preside at his receptions WHICH
for many years have been not the most brilliant bs
the most popular Of any given ut the Capital 30
cially, Mr.. Colfax is frank lively jolly. 1t may 10
that he feels his oats III some degree, but dignity
hasn't spoiled him. The everlasting l-hooa
and Us-ness Of great men Is forgotten IN ~
| presence. His manners are not qui'e 90 -
miliar as those of Lincoln but nearly So
They are gentle natural, graceful, with oira-
like or business-like quickness of thought and mo-
ton But they are very far from the high and mighty
style of Sumner, or the judicial GOODNESS OF Fessen-
den, Sherman. and Trumbull. Though manly they
are genial and winning American mothers oeievs
in Schuyler Colfax. There are more babies nauee