The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-04-02
For The COURIER.
Sketches Of the Character of
Hon. Schuyler Colfax.

Thirteen years ago, tho subject q
this sketch, was sitting in little o.
nee, in small Western town writin,
editorials for the official paper Of tn
county scarcely heard Of beyon,
the limits Of few counties, withou
wealth, yet bearing namo that wa
historic by right Of birth. From
his mother he received mine Of NOR
al wealth, which he has kept so far
and today makes him the delight o
civillife, besides, he has the integrity
OF character, which secures the con-
| fidcnceof friends and gives him tha
cheerful temperament so essential t,
success. ] never saw him dispon
dent, his cheerful courage, and daunt
less ambition made it real pleasure
to him to be hopeful. Despite hi
lack Of early education, he entered
upon the duties Of this generation
with determination and purity o.
purpose, which gave promise of fu
ture success. When he took hold o.
the South Bend Register, it was an
obscure paper, Of small influence
but under tho power Of his wonder
ful energy, it soon became newspa.
perof merit, and acknowledged abil.
ity and but few editors exhibit greater
familiarity with the resources. and
interests of tho whole country. His
clear intellect, great working power,
and loftiness of purpose, soon gained
for him the confidence of the public,
and he several times represented st.
Joseph county, in the State Senate.
In this new sphere of action, Colfax
displayed increased talent and ener-
gy; his enthusiasm for correct Legis-
lation was so earnest, that it render
ed all flattery and solicitation vain,
to move him from his place He has
faith in those truths of human rights,
which underlie the good of our coun-
try, and as a firm, invincible expo.
nent Of the great principles of the
Republican party, he has no superior
in the nation.
In the year 1856 the writer enter
ed the law office of Hon. Norman s.
Eddy, of South Bend, at that time q
Representative in Congress, from
Golf ks old district. 1t was during
the spring session of that year; that
the great Kansas and Nebraska ques.
tien was agitating Congress and the
country, Nebraska was looming
grandly up on the sunlight ofliberty,
but not SO with Kansas; she was the
scene of conflict between slavery
and freedom, the Lccompton scheme
was being forced upon the Free
State people, and it was to learn
the feelings of his people upon that
question, that caused Mr. Eddy to re-
turn to.oJnth Bend; While Mr. Eddy
was at home, CT TX met him sever
al times in our Office, and discussed
the Kansas question and it was du-
ring this time, that the mind Of COL
fax, imagined that the narrow walls
Of his newspaper Office stretched
away into the stately halls" of Con-
gress; he had determined to enter the
next Congressional canvass, upon the
distinct issue of no more slave-terri-
tory under tho red and white bars of
our starry flag. MIR. Eddy, remark
ed Colfax would you vote for the
admission OF Kansas into the Union,
as Slave State? Certainly sir, said
Eddy, if it was so expressed in her
constitution, so strong is my belief
in the doctrine Of popular sovereign
ty, or the right of people of a Ter
ritory deciding their own local ques-
tions, that l would vote for the ad.
mission of Utah, with Polygamy, il
her people SO desired, continued Ed.
dy. Every element of Colfax char.
acter spurned such doctrines; Of the
people, and with the people, it was
impossible for him to be purely Sec
tional in his sympathies or in his
ideas of Legislation. Well ground.
ed in the belief that slavery was in.
imical to the best interests Of the
whole country, he determined to
resist the spread of 1t over Ter.
ritory already free. Mr. Coliax Sc
cured the nomination for Congress
and fought the campaign, mainly up
on the Free State issue; Eddy wal
his. opponent, and all through tn,
canvass, found Colfax in advance ii
popular enthusiasm; the result wal
that the election of Colfax was SO
cured, and he entered the halls O
Congress, with sagacity of intellect
and executive gifts, which Ameri
cans admire.
I fro BE CONTINUED