Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-06-12

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contributing materially from his small
salary to the support Of both himself and
mother. In 1886, he and his mother, in
company with others, left their home in
this city and settled in st. Joseph County,
Indiana. Shortly after his arrival in the
West, he was appointed Deputy County
Auditor for st. Joseph County, aud en-
ployed his leisure hours in the study of
State law, in which he is said soon 10 have
become an acknowledged expounder. He
read law pretty thoroughly during these
leisure hours, but not with view to adop-
ting il as a profession. lie had but little
idea of what great benefit the information
he was then gaining would prove to him in
after years. Ia l545 he started weekly
journal ut South bend. the county seat of
81. Joseph County, called The 81. Joseph
7 Vofey Register, becoming its sole proprie-
tor and editor. A writer in the lRdi
annapolis journal corrects mistake into
which The public has fallen relative to Mr.
COlfax's connection with the printing bus
mess Mr. Lanman, in his Dictionary of
Congress. says: "He was bred printer"
II never was arprenticed to the printing
business, and knew nothing of the practi-
cal part of the "art preservative Of all arts
until after he had commenced the publica
tion Of Tie Register. With his ready
tact and quick perception, however, and
great Anxiety to economise, for his means
were yet very limited, he soon mastered
the art sufficiently 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 9TH
er duties soon claiming his entire attention.
The Register prospered, and soon became
source Of prof to its proprietor. 1t was
ably edited aud was u model OF courtesy
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 con-
tinued his connection with this paper un-
I'll three or four years ago, writing regu
lar weekly letter for its columns during
his FIRST two terms in Congress. 1t was
during the early days Of The Register that
Mr.. oliax was laying the foundation for
the reputation he has since attained as a
debater A debating club was formed, which
held regular weekly meetings during the
Winter season, and il was rare cccur-
renee indeed to find Mr. Colfax absent
from one of these stated gatherings Poll
ties, the temperance reform, and other
subjects were often as ably debated in this
society as kindred questions are in many
deliberate bodies of much greater preten
sions of the present day. The Hon.
John ID Defrees. now Superintendent of
Government Printing and for many years
editor and proprietor Of The indianapolis
journal, to which Mr.. Coliax was also at
tsched as Senate Reporter for some time
after he commenced the publication Of
The H'gisfer. was also a participant in
these debates They were both Wings,
both ardent and sincere advocates OF, and
believed in the temperance reform, aud
were consequently seldom pittcd against
each other IN these debates The attach
ment formed atthis early day between those
gentlemen still continues with unabated
fervor. In 1913, Mr.. Colfax was chosen
as delegate. aud elected as Secretary of
the Convention which nominated Gen.
Taylor for the Presidency. La 1850 he
represented st. Joseph County in the
Convention which framed the present Con
stitution of Indiana In this Convention
he opposed. with all his ability, the adap
tion of the clause prohibiting free colored
men from settling in the State. His op
position tn this measure was the cause of
his oeieai the following year when nomi-
mated for Congress, in, opposition TO Dr.
Fitch. But with all the ability. tact. aud
shrewdness Of this old political wire-work.
er he only distanced his young competitor
geo votes, in district which bad been
strongly Democratic for years. In 1852
be was again delegate to the Whig
National Convention. lie took an active
part in the campaign which followed,
speaking often and writing much. In
1884 wi eh the great deep Of Indiana
Democracy was broken up and the old
llunkers laid in grave in which il is
hoped they may never be resurrecied, he
was renouinated and elected TO Congress
aud was consequently more active than
ever before His experience as u debater,
and familiarity with State and National
politics. render him an overmatch for his
opponents, whom he was always anxious
to meet in an open and fair discussion be
fore the people where he was always GER
tain Of o victory. In 1856 he was again
nomina'ed for Congress, aud re elected by
handsome majority. His entrance into
Congress was in the midst Of the great
struggle over the Lecomton swinde A
writer says OF his maiden speech in the
House: ellis FIRST speech in Congress
went forth to repel the tide of terror which
was sweeping over struggling Kansas, aud
CLEARLY showed that even then he was one
of the best debaters in the Lower House"
Over 300 600 copies of this speech was
printed and crculated--a compliment per
haps never before received by any mem
ber Of Congress lie was first chosen
Speaker of the XXXVIIIth Congress by
vote Of l0l TO 81. lie has been thrice
elected to the same position, each time
b. an increased majority. lie was ap-
pointed Chairman of the Committee on
Post Offices and Post. Roads on the organi.
cation of the XXXVlIth Congress, and
did much to extend mail facilities through.
out the West lie was one of the first
advocates. aud 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 bound
less resources of the great West. 1t was,
doubtless. the interest he feels in this
section of the country which induced him
TO take his celebrated trip "Across the
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