The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-05-22
THE HON. SCHUYLER COLFAx.
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOE WcE-pREs1DEN
"A SKETCH OF BUS LIFE.


The Geographic announc cement published this
morning that the Hon. Schuyler Colfax has been
nominated for the Presidency at the Chica'
20 National Republican Con vention, will give in
tepst to the following sketch of his life, which
iSmadeS up from biography published in
Northern Radical paper:
Schuyler Colfax was born on the 23d OF
March, 1923 in New York city. His father was
an officer Of one of the New York city banks,
and died four months before the birth OF
SCHUYLER. In the veins OF the Speaker runs
the blood Of the revolutionary fathers; his
grandfather, General William Colfax, having
been the commanding officer OF General Wash
ington's life guards throughout the Revolution
ary War. Speaker C01fax received an ordinary
common school education, and then obtained q
clerkship in store. After three years, ser
vice he removed to Indiana, and settled in
st. Joseph county. For four years young
SCHUYLER served as clerk in store IN the lit
tie village OF New Carlisle, and when seventeen
years old, upon receiving On appointment IS
deputy county auditor, repaired to the county
seat, South Bend, whore he has since resided.
AT an early age MIR. Colfax commenced to take
ar, active interest in political matters, and fre-
ouently published his views upon the ques-
tons OF thej day in the local newspaper. He
soon ACQUIRED reputation as an able writer,
and, in 1916, became proprietor and editor
Of the st. Joseph Valley Register, pub
Gshedin South Bend. Though commencing
with small means and small subscription
list. the paper, by its general interest and
the editorial ability displayed, soon became
remuneratiye. Mr.: Coafa1 was Wing as long
as there was WING party, and at ita death he
Joined the Republican party. In the Wing par
ty he had risen to some prominence, having
been delegate to and one OF the secretaries OF
the convention which nominated Gen. Taylor.
Mr.. Colfa1s first nomination to Congress was
IN 1s5i when he was beaten by 200 votes. At
The time OF his second nomination, the Nebras-
ka bill was the most exciting issue before the
country, and the representative from the dis.
tricG having voted for it, against the desires OF
his constituents, the anti i-Nebraska men inl-
rnedately selected Colfax to take the lead in
punishing the delinquent, and elected him BY
1000 majority.
Mr. Colfa1 has been successively elected by
large pIsjorities. MIR. Colfa1 was an enthusi-
astic 81 pporter Of Mr.. Lincoln in the campaign
OF 1850, and ong as the latter lived he loved,
respected ant ,1Tsted Mr.. Colfax, in whose
Judgment he placed such implicit confidence
that it has been said he rarely took any steps
affecting the interests Of the nation without
making his intentions known to him.
In 1858 MIR. Colfax was chosen, and has
since remained, Speaker Of the House Of Rep
resentatives, and has acquired high reputa-
tion as shrewd and kindly chairman, and
skillful pariamentarian.
A writer in Putnam's Magazine speaks Of
Mr.. Coliax as follows:
He is pure in his personal and moral habits,
hasa broad, outspoken and catholic sympathy
with every good work OF reform, whether po-
litical, moral, intellectual or religious, and has
the warm and enthusiastic confidence Of Chris
tians and temperance reformers throughout
the country. He attends and, we believe, is a
member of the Reformed Dutch Church, and
is a thorough teetotalist. Without being edu-
Gated as scholar, industrious reading has
given him much Of what ID valuable in scuolar-
ship, unalloyed by it's pedantry. ITS clannish-
ness, or it's egotism. Without being bred
has taught him all that is moet valuable in law,
freed from the conservatism and inaptitude for
change and reform which rest like an incubus
on so many of those minds which are bred by
the habits Of the legal profession TO look for
precedents which show what the law has been,
rather than to broad principles which settle
what the law ought to be. Yet Mr.. Colfax has
frequently shown the happiest familiarity with
precedents, especially in questions OF parlla-
mentary practice.
As an orator, Mr.. Colfax is not argumenta-
tive, except as clear statement and sound judg.
ment are convincing. He rides no erfatlc hob
bies. He demands few policies which the ave-
rage sense of intelligent men cannot be made
to assent to on q clear statement Of bis POSI-
ton. He is eminently representative. a
glance at his broad, well-balarced, practical
brain, indicates that his leading faculty is the
sum OF au the faculties-judgment-and that
what he believes the majority of the people
either believe or can be made to believe.