Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-06-05

thoughts Ofits editor. He continued
his connection with this paper until
three or four years ago, writing a reg
ular weekly letter for its columns dU-
ring his first two terms in Congress. It
was during the early days Of The Reg
jster that Mr.. COlfaK was laying the
foundation for the reputation he has
since attained as a debater. A deba-
ting club was formed, which held reg
Ular weekly meetings during the win
ter season, and It was a rare occur
renee indeed to find Mr.. Colfax ab sent
from one of these stated gatherings.
Politics, the temperance reform, and
other subjects were often as ably de-
bated In this society as kindred qUes-
tions are in many deliberative bodies Of
much greater pretensiOn Of the present
day The Hon. John d. Defrees, ROW
Superintendent Of Government Prin-
ting, and for many years editor and
proprietor of The Indianapolis Jour
nat to which Mr. Colfax was also attach
ed as Senate Reporter for some Tune af-
ter he commenced the publication Of
The Register, was also participant I'm
these debates. They were both. Wings
both ardent and sincere advocates Of,
and believers in the temperance reform
anu were consequently seldom pitted
against each other IN these debates.
The attachment formed at this early
day between those gentlemen still con-
tinues With unabated fervor. Ia 1913,
Mr.. Colfax was cho-en as a delegate,
and elected as Secretary of the Con-
vention which nominated Gen. Taylor
for the Presidency. In 1850 he rep
resented st. J oseph County in the
9--EN \
Constitution of Indiana. In this Con-
vention he opposed, with all his abih-
tv. the adoption of the clause prohibit
ing free colored men from settlius in
the State His opposition to this
measure was the cause of his defeat
the following year when nominated for
Congress, in opposition to DR.. Fitch.
But, with all the ability, tact, and
shreWdnes of this old political wire
worker, he only distanced his young
competitor 200 votes, in a district
which had been strongly Democratic
for years. In 1852 he was again a del
egate to the Whig National COnven-
ton. He took an active part IN the
campaign which followed, speaking Of
ten and writing much In 1854, when
the great deer" of Indiana DemOcTa-
cy was broken up. and the old Hun
kers laid IN a grave from which it is
hoped they may never be resurrected,
he was renomInated and elected TO Con-
gress, and was consequently more ae-
tive than ever before. His experience
as a debater, and familiarity with State
and National politics, rendered him an
oveTmatch for his opponents, whom he
was always anxious to meet in an open
air discussion before the people,
where he was always certain of VIC
tory. In 1856 he was again nominated
for Congress, and reelected by a large
majority. His entrance into Congress
was in the midst of the great struggle
over the Lecom9ton sWindle. a writer
SAYS Of his maiden speech in the House:
tHis first speech Ia Congress went
forth to repel the tide Of terror
which was sweeping over struggling
Kansas, and clearly showed that even
then he was one Of the best debateFs in
the Lower House. Over 500, GOO cop
les Of this speech were printed and cir
cuIated-a compliment perhaps never
before received BY any member of
Congress. He was first chosen as
Speaker of the XXXRIIIth Congress
By a vote Of I01 to 81. He has been
thrice elected to the same position
6aNH ElBlH UI al AAAQAgela5AA te4A AlLa A-AQ
-Jsas.apnaipted Chairman Of the Com
mitfee on P0st-l) )ffoes and j -41i1ads
on the Organization of tbs XAXVIIth
Congress, aud did much to extend
mail facilities throughout the West
He was one of the first advocates, and
is still one Of the Warmest friends of
the Pacific Railroad. Indeed he takes
a warm interest in any movement look
ing to the development of the bound
less resources Of the great West It
was doubtless, the interest he feels In
this section of the country which in
duced him to take his celebrated trip
Across the Continent. His trip was
a perilous one, but his welcome at "the
other end of the line" was so spontan-
eous truly genuine, and heartfelt that
it more than repaid him for all the
dangers and hardships he passed
through. This trip prepared him for
one of the most entertaining lectures
ever delivered in this country. It has
been listened TO with Wrapt attention
by the people Of almost every city in
the North. Pecuniariiy, however, il
has protited him but little, for with
that liberality which has ever been a
marked trait In his character, the en-
tire proceeds of a lecture have as of
ten been donated to some charitable
object as they have found their way
into his own pocket. He has now
served in succession IA years in the
House. He was urged but he declined
to accept a seat in the United States
Senate, preferring his presiding chair
"a the House As a presiding Off
Ger he is the most popular the
House has had since Henry
Clay. A writer in ''PUtnam's Maya
zine" truly observes that Mr. ColfaX
has no eccentricties, but great tact.
His talents are administrative and ex-
ecutive, rather than deliberatiVe. he
would make good appointments, and
adopt sure policies. He would make
a better President, or Speaker of the
House, than Senator. He knows men
we'll, estimates them correctly, treats
them all fairly and candidly. No man
will get through his business with you
in fewer minutes, and yet none is more
free from the horrid bruSQueRess Of
busy men, There are heart and kind
ness in Mr.. COlfax's pOliteness. Men
leave his prese nee with the impression |
that he is at once an honest, and kind !
man"
Political opponents like him person |
ally, as we'll as his political friends. /
We have never heard that he has any
enemies. The breath oe slauder has |
been silent toward his fair, spotless
fame The wife of his youth, after be- |
ing for a long time an invalid, sank to /
her fnal rest several years ago, leaving |
him ehildless. His mother and sister
preside at his receptions, which for
many years have been, not the most I
brilliant, hut the most popular of
any given at the Capital. Socially, |
Mr.. Colfax is frank, lively, jolly, It
may be that he feels his oats in some
degree, but dignity hasn't spoiled him.
The everlasting I-hood and Us-ness of
great men is forgotten in his presence.
His manners are not quite so familiar
as those Of Lincoln, but nearly so.--
They are gentle, natural, graceful,
with bird-like or business-like quick
ness of thought aud motion. But