The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1868-06-04

his ready tact and quick perception,
however, aud great anxiety to econo.
mise, for his means were yet very limi-
! ted, he soon mastered the art sufficient.
ly to help out Of the drag" but he
never attained to any great proficiency
In the business, his editorial labors, the
business OF the Office and other duties
soon claiming his entire attention. The
Register prospered, aud soon became u
source OF profit to its proprietor. 1t was
sy and dignity. Every paragraph,
however small seemed tO have passed
under the supervision Of and to reflect
the mind and elevated thoughts Of its
editor. He continued his connection
with this paper until three or four years
ago, writing u regular weekly letter for
Its columns during the first two terms
In Congress-. 1t was during tue early
days of The Register that Mr.. Colfax
was laying the foundation for the repu-
tation he has since attained rs n deba-
ter. A debating club was formed,
which held regular weekly meetings
during the winter season, and 1t was u
rare occurrence indeed to find Mr.. Col
fax absent from one Of these stated
gatherings. Politics. the temperance
+
Is ably debated in this society as kin
dted questions are in many deliberate
bodies of much greater pretensions of
the present day. The Hon. John ID.
Defrees, now Superintendent of Cow
ernment Printing, aud for many years
editor and proprietor Of The Mdiandp0-
Hs Journal, to which Mr.. Colfax was
also attached as Senate Reporter for
some time after he commenced the pub
lication of The Register, was also par
ticipant in these debates. They were
both Wings, both ardent and sincere ad.
vOcates of, and believers in the temper
ance reform, and were consequently sell
dom pitted against each other in these
debates. The attachment formed at
this early day between those gentle
men still continues with unabated fer
vor. In l34S, Mr.. Colfax was chosen as
a delegate, and elected as Secretary Of
the Convention which nominated Gen.
Taylor for the Presidency. In 1850 he
represented st. Joseph county in the
Convention which framed the present
constitution OF Indiana. In this Con-
vention he opposed, with all his abiti
ty, the adoption of the clause prohibit-
ing free cylored men from settling in the
State. His opposition to this measure
was the cause Of his defeat the follow
ing year when nominated for Congress,
in opposition to DIR. Fitch. But, with
all the ability, tact and shrewdness Of
this old political wire-worker, he only
distanced his young competitor 300
votes, in a district which had been
strongly democratic for years. In 1852
he was again delegate to the Whig
National Convention. He took an ac
tive part in the campaign which follow
ed, speaking often and writing much.
In 1854, when the great deep of In
diana Democracy was broken up, aud
the old Hunkers laid in u grave from
from which i. 10 hoped thoy may never
be resurrected, he was nominated and
elected to Congress, and was consequent
~ more active than ever before. His
experience rs debater, and familiarity
with State and National politics, rem
dered him an Overmatch for his OppO-
nents, whom he was always anxious to
meet in an open and fair discussion be-
fore the people, where he was always
certain OF victory. In 1856 he was
again nominated for Congress. and re-
elected 10y Il handsome majority. His
entrance into Congress was In the
midst of the great struggle over the Le-
compton swindle. A writer says of his
maiden speech in the House "His
first speech in 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 debaters in the Lower
House." Over fifty thousand copies Of
the speech were printed and circulated
"a compliment perhaps never before
received by any member Of Congress-
lie was first chosen speaker of the
NNXNI1Itb Congress by Il vote Of lOl
4s oil fnl fn
the same position, and each time by an
increased majority. He was appointed
Chairman Of the Committee on Post
Offices and Post. Roads on the o,ganiza.
tion of the XXXVIIth Congress, and
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 looking to the developement
OF the bOundless resources Of the great
West. 1t was, doubtless, the interest
he feels in this section of the country
which induced him to take his celebra-
ted trip ACROSS the Continent" His
trip was u perilous one, but his well
come at the other end of the line was
so spontaneous. truly genuine. and
HEARTBEAT that it more than repaid him
passed through. This trip prepared
him for one Of the most entertaining
lectures ever delivered in this country.
1t has been listened to with wrapt at
tention 10y the people Of almost every
city in the North. Pecuniarily, how
ever, it has profited him but little, for
with that liberality which has ever
been marked trait In his character,
the entire proceeds of lecture have as
often been donated to some charitable
object as they have found their way in
to 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, pre-
ferring his presiding chair in the House.
As a presiding officer he is the most
popular the House has had since Henry
Clay. A writer in "Putnam's Maya
zine" truly observes that Mr.. Col
fax "has no eccentricities, but great
tact. His talents are administrative and
executive, rather than deliberative. He
would make good appointments, and
adopt such policies. He would make
better President, or Speaker of the
House, than Senator. He knows men
well, estimates them correctly, treats
them all fairly and caDdidly. No
man will do his business with you
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