The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-07-18
GheQatelldqe
SCHUYLER CoLFAx.

AuS heENeu III -NASAeNDLuJlUuhEy "dE as
captain OF Washington's guard, and
having afIerward married a cousin OF
General Philip Schuyler. The union Of
Yankee shrewdness, activity and
"push" with Dutch suavity composure
may, perhaps, account for some of the
characteristics of the grandson, al
though the biographer seems to attach
no Importance TO the fact. Born in
New York on the goth of May, 1924
fact which we learn. not from Mr..
Moore, but from the Campaign Lille
the natural mental activity of young
Colfax was quickened by the life of the
great city, into which he entered as
clerk Mt the early age of eleven. Even
! then his political bent WAS indicated by
his taking down on election day the re-
turns. at the polls of the Third ward,
where the great struggle of the day had
been, and announcing them$in Brook
| Ign. At the age ofthirteen heremoved
to Northern Indiana, which has ever
since been his home, becoming Deputy
County Auditor, by appointments of his
step.father, when he was eighteen.
While occupying this position he
showed his tendency to public life both
by his interest in moot legislature,
held for the purpose OF cultiyatlng skill
in debate and in parliamentary law,
and by frequent contributions TO the
newspapers. Before he was twenty
one, aays Mr.. Moore, "Mr. Colfax had
passed two winters in attendance at
Indianapolis upon the legislature, as
Senate reporter for the State Journal.
This was not lucrative position, as it
yielded but two dollars day. 1t had,
however, other advantages highly es
teemed by the editor of the Journal,
though not SO highly priced by the re-
porter: for, seeking an increase of his
per diem, the proprietor demurred. He
thought that the acquaintauceship
which the reporters berth gave with
public men, and the prospects 1T afford
ed one of becoming ultimately sue.
cessful candidate fer Congress, made it
good thing. The young reporter hui
morously offered to sell out all his
chances for Congress for an additional
dollar per diem, but the proprietor of
the Journal was immovable."
In 1915 Mr.. CoIfax became the editor
and proprietor of the 81. Joseph Valley
Register, Il paper which he founded.
Under his management the new paper
became widely known IN Indiana and
the adjacent States, and was spoken of
as lone of the best in the State" and
its editor as having ga thorough &C.
ouaintance with political subjects"
as Zone of the best writer's IN the
State" and as "clear, sound and SEN
sible; besides having big and honest
heart" With such reputation The
Register came to be the largest paper
and one of the most widely circulated
weekliea in the State. Its columns were
kept clear from demoralizlng or sensa.
tional paragraphs, it's editorials were
high-tOned, its selections were taken
from the best contemporary literature.
and the letters "from the ever journey
ing editor" were fresh and lively. Pc.
litically it was Wing, with decided
anti slavery proclivittes.
He sustained the nomination of Gen.
Taylor to the Presidency In an editorial
which Ia largely applicable to the gen
eral whose name heads the ticket on
which he is second. He wrote then, of
the former: "He will go there Ito the
Presidency man of The people, de-
sirous only to administer their affairs
IA judiclously In the Cabinet IA he has
led their armies in the field, conscious
that the measure of bis fame Is full. ana
only anxious that no act of hia rs Pres
ident may mar his honor or impair the
confidence of his countrymen." By his
pen, and as a member of the National
Convention, Mr.. Coliax supported Gen.
Taylor, and thus began his connection
with national politics. tl
In ls4o he became memheTof a con-
ventlon to revise the Constitution of
Indiana, the necessity for which he had
long urged in his paper. In this con-
venIion he took an honorable Audfuse.
full part. Says Mr.. Moore = Previous
to his election he had advocated a gen
eraI banking law for the State, in
opposition 10 exclusive chartered mo-
nopolieE; d general banking law, how
ever, which should provide the ampIest
guarantees for the security of the bill.
holder; 8 general law, too, which should
not in It's turn become a monopoly,
but which should be open to suoh Inn
provement as experience, a great
teacher in political as we'll as social
life might point out as safer and better.
In the convention the bank question
was one of its most exciting questions.
Mr.. Colfax was the author of compro-
mise. section authorizing general
banking law that harmonized conflict
ing views. TO have been the pacifcator
of this important measure, said the In
dianapolis State Journal of that date, SIS
certainly creditable to Mr.. Colfax, and
is evidence of his high standing and
| influence in the convention He also
| took decided ground against the section
| in the old Constitution Which prohibit
| ed the further Immigration of negroes
and mulattoes, and prohibited those
who were in the State from buying real
estate. The effort was vain one, but
showed the sincerity OF Mr.. Colfax q
anti slavery views, which were held
! and advocated by him against an over
| diana. '7a
| In 1851, when but three years past
| the age required by tho Constitution,
he WINS the Wing candidate Tor repre-
! sentative of his district -in=Congress.
His opponent was DR.. Graham N.
Fitch, then a Democratic member OF
| Congress, an able politician, a popular
stump speaker, and since. then. United
States Senator. The old and the young
| politician ''stumped" the district to.
| gether, meeting seventy appointments
| Tor speaking. The first encounter was
in part OF the district where DR.. Fitch
was we'll known and Mr.. Colkax a
| stranger. The former made the open
ing speech and tried to overwhelm his
young competitor with ridiculs, adj
| vising him, 'instead of attempting &c
get seat In Congress, 70 larry at Jert-
ono until his beard WAS Grown;n an al
| fusion which raised a roar of laughter,
"Before, {" says Mr.. Moore, "that deri-
sive laughter had died, away he was
called upon to come forward and begin
his first speech in his first canvass fol
Congress. Stepping forward quickly,
| and CHANGING around with his keen,
/ searching eyes, he took the hearts Of his
| audiance captive, as with the readiness
| ola practised debater, and with just