Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-05-08
HON. GEORGE w. JULIAN.

he was born near Centrevile, in Wayne
county, Indiana, May 5, 1917. He is,
therefore, the oldest member Of the present
Indiana delegation, with the exception Of
the Hon. G.. 5. 0rth, who is his senior by
two or three weeks only. The story Of
his life Is that of many eminent men of
the past as we'll as Of the present, Of the
Old as well as of the New World. He is
a seIf.made man, and indebted solely to
his own stroug will and industrious habits
for the proud position to which he has
attained.
His father aud mother we're born and
raised in North Carolina, and were among
the first emigranis TO Indiana, having
settled In the State, then a territory, early
in the present century. The family is of
French extraction. lrving's Life Of Wash.
ington meutions the name of one Of the
family residing near Winchester Virginia,
shortly after Braddock's defeat.
Mr.. Julian's father was man Of sound
Judgment aud excellent practical ability,
and seems to have taken quitea prominent
part In the affairs Of the young State. lie
was a member of the Legislature as early
us 1922 lie died in the following year
leaving family OF six children to an in
heri,ance of poverty aud hardship. At
the line Of his death the subject Of this
sketch was in bis seventh year. lie is
saidsto have been boy of very industri-
Gus habits, aud at an early age TO have
exhibited those sterling qualities of char
acter which have marked his career since
arriving at the aye OF manhood. He was
particularly noted among the neighbors
for bis close application to study, and his
unconquerable resolution. When not en-
gagged 10 labors necessary for the support
of himself and other members OF the
family, he was constantly poring over a
isvorite book which he managed to borrow
from some kind neighbor. His principal
hours OF study were after the other mem
bors Of the family had retired to rest, hav-
ing for his light bright wood fre. IL
was by such means that he soon prepared
himself for school teacher. aud long be-
fore he was Of aye he was engaged during
the winter months at the head OF district
school. In the twenty second year OF his
age, while engaged Ia teaching school ia
the then Iar-od Western State of Illinois
he commenced TO rSnd law without pre-
eeptor, aud 30 diligent was he in It's study
aud So Tetentise Was his memory that he
admitted TO practice the following
year. (lSiO). lie commenced the prpctice
of his Profession in Greenfield, Hancock
county. where he remained about two
years, when lie returned to Centreyille.
where he continued in its practice with but
little Interruption for upwards Of twenty
years. lie gave up large aud remunera-
tive business on bis entrance into Con-
gress in 1860.
La 1915 he was married TO Miss Annie
l.. Finch. OF Cenireyile, gifted aud esti.
mable lady who died Ia 1860, shortly nf.
ter bis second election TO Congress. We
may remark Ia this connection that In
1868 he was married the second time TO
Miss Laura the daughter Of the late Hon.
Joshua II. Giddings, Of Ohio.
La the year Of his frat marriage he was
elected lo'the Legislature as the Wing
delegate from Wayne county. He took a
prominent part IN this body IN advocating
the abolition Of capital punishment, aud
in support OF what was then known as the
"Builcr bills by the passage of which
enc half tho State debt was cancelled.
lie was an incorporating Wing, and
devoiedly attached 20 the cardinal princi-
pies Of that party; but he possessed that
fearless and independent spirit which
could rise above party aud party ties when
its principles were likely TO be perverted
by designing leaders. No party could
ever be made strong enough to hold him in
its ranks for moment after he believed IL
had once deserted the great principles OF
justice aud humanity.
From his earliest connection with the
politics Of the county he abhorred sla.
very and regarded with contempt those who
would cfinge TO its power. Twenty years
ago he ioresaw tho terrible crisis through
which our country has NO recently passed,
and from which it has not yet recovered
aud warned the people of the whole coun-
try TO resist the encroachmeats of The
slave power as the only means Of averting
great national calamity. Ii was doubt.
less this conviction that caused him, in
1913, to spouse the cause Of Van Buren
aud Adams, the Free Soil candidates for
President and Vice President lie was q
Presidential eleetor In that year, and 10 a
aVitttcs WthofttJt WIN tut VI
defeat and the alienation OF all his former
political friends and associates, and In the
opinion Of many without the remotest
prospect OF ever gaining the end a, which
he seemed to aim, bis conduct presented
On enigma which no one appeared to be
capable of solving. But the dngcr Of
time has written its solution In the blood
Of hundreds OF thousands Of our country
men. -
In 1910, Mr.. Julian was tho freesoil
candidate for Congress in opposition TO
the lamented Hon. Samuel w. Parker,
the Whig candidate, whom he defeated
lie received the entire free soil vote, the
bulk Of the Democratic vote of the
District aud tho support Of many Whig'
who yet adhered TO him. Notwithstanding
he owed his election principally TO the
Democratic party, he stood faithfully by
bis lreesoil principles during his enlir,
term in Congress. Ills uncompromisiup
course in opposition 20 slavery tended sliI
further TO widen the breach between hin
and hts Former political associates. He
was one Of The fathers Of the homestead
policy, and Grace Greenwood thus wrote
TO the National Era concerning his speech
on the subject of the public lapds, deliver
cd during his 6fstterm In Congress:
t"'rhis was a strong, fearless, and elo'
quent expression Of liberty y-loviag and
,htlanthroo,e sntrtl II a. lvtn.s hefora nm A