The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-07-03
SCHUYLER coLFAI.
A PEN PICTURE BY fowHsEND.

oSho1LEh COLFhAs ..
A PEN PICTURE BY TowHsEED.
We quote the following from Mr.. George Al
fred TOwnsend's Warrington letter to the Clsve-
land Leader. '
In what be called his "dsn, found Sohuy-
Ter ColfAI, some days ago, . little closet room.
lighted by one basement window, under the
capitol. II was aouriosity shop OF manuscripts
and documents, order reigning through superb
cial confusion. Here the Speaker hides himself
away from pages and hsrpies, and works un-
assisted at his speeches and bis correspond.
enoe, tho latter Of itselfa drudgery as great
and exciting assny accountants But light
house never grows old; after, the hundred years
Its flame is as youthful a. when It began. The
pure, unaffected. radiant cheerfulness OF Mr..
Colfax keeps him - rosy and hopeful - boy.
Here be sits. smoking his cigar, surprised In
the midst ofa smile. for oil his thoughts are
good companions, 1took seat before nim;
and while he answered some questions had
brought, tried to make out his face and char
sctsr-a very difficult type were both OF them,
for country Of which the Speaker 10 30 repre-.
sentative, and yet Of temperament 30 uncom-
mon.
We ere Q sober-minded people, with lines Of
thrih and anxiety In our faces like the marks
Of whip and burden. We 20 to law and 60 to
church with tho same countenances. We want
to make money fast, and on the way and after
the end We have remorses, aches, wounded self
worry and hurry Of American life provincial
Ire the American hard, repellsnt. dreedfully
over-earnest man, With skin, stomach, and
soul equally dyspeptic.
Out Of this population grows, nov and then,
like eloverhead out VI o stook-yard, oil fresh
ness and color, anil quick to feel the earliest
breeles. This Is Mr.. Colfsx. His life Is peren-
nial hopefulness. having good conscience for
Its compass, and for It's ballast temperament
that 10 equal ss an hour glass. Full OF the
elasticity Of the Empire City. O Widows son,
born forty five years ago with patronage
reaching back on one side the Schuylers, on the
at ten years Of age his schooling ceased and he
had found new father. At thirteen he quit
ted New York and his step-father's store for
homo In Indiana, At twenty he was m editor;
twelve hundred dollars In debt. At twenty
seven be was candidate for Congress, already
a young widower, made sadder but manlier by
q deserved love At thirty he was Congress
man, as he has been ever since. and three times
elected Speaker Of the House. the third posi-
full career We find neither wealth, chicanery nor
patronage, but good citizenship, faithful pub
lie services, steadfast self respect and cheer
full temper. II 10 quiet career OF success un-
der Republican institutions, with steady tai
ents. ouick perceptions and excellent conf
depoe. His model In the state had been Henry
Clay, whose manners were like his own, and he
confesses to have modelled his Speakership
upon Clay's career - Speaker OF the House.
standard, Il has ever been before my mind,
as the sculptor studies the model OF the great
master of his art" In this position he has new
er been traduced till Of late, when during the
impeachment trial the majority OF the House
has connived at certain quarrels, but the
Speaker himself has aimed. In his own lam
pnage, "to make all forgetful OF the asperities
which should perish With the occasion that
eyokes them" Mr.. COlfax Is q member Of the
Dutch Reformed Church. and total abstinence
Is one Of his private principles. He is o smok:
or, however, and loving traveller by foot and
stage. His oratory 10 fervh and horid to-
gether, and has served his party handsomely
in trying times, while his judgment Is guarded
yet decisive a. his mode Of speech. Of his
speeches I have collected some illustrations
from varions parts Of the globe.
Thus he said Of the employment OF negro
do not call negro soldiers better than white
ones. III were to express my own opinion II
would be that those Of my own color are bet
ter and brayer. For I have always told you,
In spite Of charges to the contrary, that be-
leve the Anglo Saxon race wAs In every way
superior to any other that walks the footstool
ofGodg'
So he said Of moral faithfulness In legisla-
lation:- .,
!, whether travelling In the valley Of humilia
ton or disaster, or keeping my eye liked on
the heavens, I believe God reigns don't be-
iieye his blessings will fall on the Confederscy.
Gods ways are sometimes dark. but sooner or
later they reach the shining hills Of day."
lie firrt announced the Republican platform
after the breach with Mr.. johnson, thus,
"Let US make haste slowly, and We can then
hone that the foundations Of our Government
when thus reconstructed on the basis OF indis
putable loyalty, will beas eternal rs the stars.
In like manuer, on April IL, 1865. when he
made solid but manly issue nth johnson, no
said Of the Civil Rights bill, inthe hrst mo-
ment Of Its enactment:-
s'That law, misreprcsented As II has been by
It's opponents In Congress, will never be re-
pealed, and in the years that arc coming 1t
will be the proudest recollection and the crown.
ing honor Of those men who stood up 10 the
national councils, that they gave to that Amer
lean Magma Charta their cordisl support!
lie treated In this way taunt ofthe Democ-
raoy:- ,,
'The new nickname flung st us 10 'Radicals
I had rather be called radical than rebel, at
any time. I am Radical for right against
wrong; for liberty against slavery; for JUS.
ltice against tyranny-a radical friend OF my
country and radical hater OF everyhater ofmy
native land. believe In q Radical government
of the people by the people the world over.
and my sympathies 60 out toward the Radicals
Who are trying to initiate our free institutions
In Greece. Italy. France. Ireland and Mexico.
I wish to see belt Of Republics eucircle the
globe"
Here Is another curt passaCe,-.
81 an for leveling up rather than ievenng
down. God do 90 to me and more also, u 90
aught more to crush any man down lower"