Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-06-06

temperance reform, ana were consequently
seldom pitted against each other in these
debates. The attachment formed at this
early day between tbose gentlemen still con.
tinues with undated fervor. In 1S4S, Mr.
Colfax was chosen as delegate, and elected
as Secretary of the Convention which romi.
mated General Taylor for the Presidency. In
1850 he represented st. Joseph county in
the Convention which framed the present
Constitution of Indiana In this Conven-
ton he opposed, with all his ability, the
adoption OF the clause prohibiting free color
ed men from settling in the State His Cd.
position to this measure was the cause of
his defeat the following year, when nomi.
mated for Congress, in opposition TO DR..
Fitch. But, with all the ability, tact. and
shrewdness of this old political wire worker,
he only distauccd his young competitor two
hundred votea, in district which had been
strongly Democratic for years.
In 1862 he was again a delegate to the
Whig National Convention. He took an
active part in the campaign which followed,
speaking often and writing much. In 1854,
when the great deep" of Indiana Democra-
cy was broken up, and the old Hunkcrs
laid in grave from which it is hoped they
may never be resurrected, be was re-nomina.
ted and elected to Congress, and was subse-
experience as debater, and familiarity with
State and national politics. rendered him an
overmatch for his opponents, whom he was
always anxious to meet in an open and fair
discussion before the people, where he was
always certain OF a victory. In 1856 he was
again nominated for Congress, and rc-elcct-
ed by handsome majority. His entrance
into Congress was in the midst of the great
struggle over the Locompton swindlc. A
writer says of his maiden speech in the
House,--"lIis first speech in Congress went
forth to repel the tide of terror which was
sweeping over struggling Kansas, and clear.
ly showed that even then he was one of the
best debaters in the Lower House." Over
five hundred thousand copies of this speech
were printed aud circulated--a compliment
perhaps never before received BY any mem.
Der of Congress.
He was first chosen Speaker of the Thirty
eighth Congress by vote of l0l to 81. He
has been thrice elected to the same position,
each time by an increased majority. He
was appointed Chairman of the Committee
on Post Offices and Post Roads on the or
ganization of the Thirty seventh Congress,
and did much to extend mail facilities
throughout the West. He was one OF the
first ad vocates, and is still one of the warm-
he takes q warm interest in any movement
looking to the development of the bound
less resources of the great West 1t was,
doubtless, tho interest he feels in this sec
ton of the country which induced him to
take his celebrated trip "across tho Conti-
nent." His trip was perilous one, but his
welcome at ''thc other end of the limo" was
so spontaneous, truly genuine and heartfelt,
that it more than repaid him for all the
dangers and hardships he passed through.
This trip prepared him for one of the
most entertaining lectures ever delivered in
this country. 1t has been listened to with
wrspt attention by 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 q mark
ed trait in his character, the entire proceeds
of lecture have as often been donated to
some charitable object as they have found
their way into his own pocket He has
now served in succession fourteen years in
the House. He was urged, but he declined,
to accept seat in the United States Senate,
preferring his presiding chair in the House.
As presiding officer, ,he is the most popu-
lar the House has had since Henry Clay. A
writer in Putaams Aagazine truly Observes
that Mr.. Colfax "has no eccentricities, but
and executive, rather than deiberative. He
would make good appointments and adopt
sure policies. He would make better Pre-
sident, or Speaker of the House, than Seua-
tor. He knows men we'll, estimates them
correctly, treats them all fairly and candidly.
No man will get through his business with
you in fewer minutes, and yet none is more
free from the horrid 6rusqueaess of busy
men. There are heart and kindness 10 Mr..
Colfax's politcness. Men leave his presence
with the impression that he is at once an
able, honest and kind man. Political oppo-
neuts like him personally, as well as his po.
litical friends. We have never heard that
he has any enemies. The breath of slauder
has been silent towards his fair, spotless
fame. The wife of his youth, after being for
a long time an invalid, sank to fnalsrest
several years ago, leaving him childless.
His mother and sister preside at his recep-
tions, which, for many years, nave been, not
the most brilliant, but the most popular OF
any given at the capital. Socially, Mr..
Colfax is frank, lively, jolly. 1t may be that
he feels his oats in some degree, but dignity
hasn't spoiled him. The everlasting I-hood
and Us-ness of great men is forgotten in his
presence"
His manners are not quite SO familiar as
those oil DIT. LlnCoiu, Out ucaiiy 81. lucy
are gentle, natural, graceful, with bird like
or business like quickpess of thought aud
motion. But they are very far from the
high and mighty style of Sumner, or the
judicial coldness of Fessenden, Sherman and
Trumbull. Though manly, they are genial
and winning. American mothers believe in
Schuyler Colfsx. There are more babies
named for him than for any public man since
Mr. Clay. The intimacy and confidential
relations of Mr.. Colfax with Mr.. Lincoln are
well known. They labored hand in hand as
brothers 10 the cause of the Union, holding
frequent and protracted interviews ON all
subjects looking to the overthrow OF the
Rebellion, for there were no divisions be-
tween the executive and legislative branches
of the government then as there are now.
During the darkest hours Of that bloody
drama which shall ever remain reproach
upon the people of one section. of the ma
tion, they were ever cheerful and hopeful.
Confident in the justness of the war waged
for the preservation of the Union, and pla-
oing Christian reliance in that providence
which guides and shapes the destiny OF ma
tions, great revsrses, which caused others TO
fear and trembis, at times almost to despair,
seemed only to inspire them with great zeal