The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-04-07
Death of Hon. Edward Bates.

The Hon. Edward Bates, late Attor-
died at St. Louis on Thursday after
noon the 18th inst. He was one of
the ornaments of the legal profession,
a profound jurist, an accomplished
scholar, and agentieman OF refinement
and culture. He was born at Bel
mont, Goochland county, Virginia,
September 18th, 1853, and was there
fore in his 10th year. His father was
a farmer in respectable circumstances,
and q prominent man IL Virginia at
the commencement of the century.
He consequently gave his son an ex-
cellent education. Most Of his instruc-
ton was received at Charlotte Hall,
Maryland, and finished under the care
and guidance of Il private tutor. In
early youth Edward Bates was ten
dered a midshipman's warrant in the
Navy by President Jefferson, which
he declined. He served, however, in
the army during the year 1913, and
in 1914 migrated to Missouri, where
he studied law, and began to practice
in 1916.
He rose rapidly in the esteem ofhis
fellow citizens, and soon enjoyed a
large and lucrative practice. In 1918
he was appointed Prosecuting Attor-
ney for the ST. Louis circuit, and in
1920 was a delegate to the State Con
stitutional Convention, where he great
ly distinguished himself in debate.
The same year he was appointed At
torney General of the State. He re-
signed that office in 1922, and was
elected to the lower branch of the
State Legislature. In 1924 he was
appointed by President Monroe, U.
S. District Attorney for Missouri,
which Office he held until 1926, when
he resigned, and, was elected a mem
Der of Congress, serving from 1927 to
1929. In 1880 he was elected to the
State Senate, and In 1884 again to the
lower house of the Legislature.
In 1885, being enfeebled be seden-
tary labor, he removed to the country,
and for seven years practiced law,
travelling much of the time on horse
back over wide circuits, ON prairie
land. In 1912 he returned to St.
Louis, and continued the practice of
his profession.
In 1850, he was appointed by Pres
ident Fillmore, Secretary of War, and,
although unanimously confirmed by
the Senate, declined the Office. In
1858 he was elected Judge of the st.
Louis Land Court, resigning in 1856.
During the latter year he presided
over the Wing Convention at Balti-
more, and in 1868, he received from
Harvard College the degree OIL. Id.
In 1860, he was a prominent candi-
date for the Presidency before the Chi
cago Convention, which nominated
MIR. Lincoln, but one or two ballots
he requested his friends to withdraw
in favor of Mr.. l.. This was one of
the moves that contributed most to
the defeat of Mr.. Seward. When
LINCOLN was inaugurated President,
he appointed his old competitors at
Chicago to seats i'll his Cabinet. Mr..
Bates was made Attorney General.
Ee filed this Office, with distinguished
ability, re-igning in 1864, on account
of differences of opinion with the Pres
ident. 1t is well known that Mr..
Bates opposed the issuing Of the Enan-
cipation Proclamation as unconstitu-
tional, and that he opposed confisca-
ton, and the arbitrary arrests that
were made during the wal. He was
too good a lawyer to sanction extreme
measures, and, while jealous in his
support of the war, condemned in the
Cabinet, many of the acts of his chief.
Mr.. Bates was a refined gentleman of
the old school, generous to a fault,
and h%ospitable to all who crossed his
threshold.
He was remarkable for his caustic
wit, for which he was second only to
Tom Corwin. No man in the West
was more beloved, and there are none
whose names will be remembered with
more pride and honor than his. But
he has passed away and rests from his
labors. Peace to his ashes.-PMfn
Dtader.