Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-05-28
fTom the burlington Tunes,
Hon, Schuyler CoifaN,


Schuyler CollaS, the popular candidate
of the National Union Republican PARTY
Tor the office Of ce-Prcsident, Is 4 ma
tive Of New York city. lie was horn in
North Moore street, March ed ls23, his
father having died but short time pre-
yious, With but limited means, his Wild
owed mother could afford 10 keep him AT
school but a short time, and az the age Of
ton he was placed in a mercantile estab,
lishment, where he remained toF three
years, contributing materially from his
small salary Ia the support of both him
sell and mother, In 1896 he and his
mother in company with others. left their
home in the city, and settled in ST Joseph
county, Indiana, shortly after his an.
rival in the West, he was appointed Dep
uty County Auditor for st. Joseph county,
and employed his leisure hours in the
study of State law, in which hc is said Ia
have become an acknowledged expouuder.
He read law pretty thoroughly during
these leisure hours, but not with view
10 adopting il as a profession. lie had
but little idea of what great benefit tho
information lac was then gaining would
prove 10 him in after years
/ In lsi5 he started weekly journal at
South Bend, the county seat OF ~, Joseph
county, called the ST, Joseph Valley Reg
ster, becoming its sole proprietor and ed
itor, The Register acquired very large
circulation, aud was devoted 10 the inter
cSts of the old Wing party. In lsis he
was selected as delegate Ia the Wing
National Convention, the office of Secre-
tary to'which he filed during its session
Colfax was now twenty-five years Of age
Two years later, in 1850, and at tn,
age of twenty-seyen, he became u member
OF the Indiana Constitutional Convention
and again in 1852, reappeared in national
politics as delegate 10 the Wing Nation
+ al Convention for that year. OF this bod,
as of its predecessor, Colfax was elected
/ Secretary, In 1874, he was elected to i'll
the seat Of Representative in Congress foi
the Ninth district Of Indiana, and at tn,
age of thirty-one, therefore, the Indiana
editor appeared as member Of the Thir.
/ ty-fourth Congress- =
In the Fremont campaign in 1886, Mr.
ColiaN was ardent and indefatigable
/ stumpcd his own State with remarkable
+ thoroughncss for the Republican nomi-
nee and found time as well to be present
at numerous gatherings in other parts OF
the country. Since his first election in
1854, Mr.. Colfax has retained his seat in
4 Congress as "A Representative from lndi'
ana, andlhas, consequently, been identi
fed with nearly every Republican meas
q. L. t,vnars ha.-fpp
been regularly returned by his constitu'
ents at every intervening election. Dur
ing two terms he was the appointed head
Of the committee on post offices and post
roads, giving general satisfaction by the
impartiality of his course in that capaci-
ty; and at the extra session of Congress
after the breaking out of the rebellion, he
was prominently identified with every
war measure, and, in many cases, intro
luced them.
In the fall of 1863, Mr.. Colfax wa,
elected Speaker Of the Thirty-eighth Con
grcss, and, Notwithstanding the turbu
lcnce of the period, presided with sufii
cient grace and dignity to be the recipi
ent of a unanimous vote of thanks for hi
impartiality In April, 1860, he deliver
ed his eulogy upon President Lincoln a
Milwaukee,, Wis, and in May y, lsGl, h
made his overland journey to California
taking Salt Lake City en- route, the results
of which have been embodied in his lee
ture. Mr.. ColfaX remained on the West
ern slope during the summer of that year
but, having been elected TO the Thirty
ninth Congress, bis fifth term, his stay
was somewhat abridged of his origina
intention. Returning, he was elected
Speaker of the Thirty ninth Congress
which position he now fills, having as
snmed his duties as presiding officer i
December 1863 by vote of 100 to 30.
The Tribune thus describes him:
Mr. Colfax is rather under the medium
height, with form firmly and compact
" moulded His hair is brown. now
slightly sprinkle,l with grey; eyes hirc
forehead high and arching, indicatin.
great perceptive faculties, and deep ven
Grafton. His face is open and frank ani
as yet unmarked by age. He possesse,
great vitality, and can endure great
amount of labor with but little fatigue
This, coupled with his temperate habits
has caused him to wear his age SO well
that but few persons would place him
even at forty. He is yet in the prime
and vigor of manhood. with all his care,
and responsibilities as buoyant rs most
people at thirty.