Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-02-12
Matt. III. Carpenter.

We condeuse from the New York
Tribune, the following sketch of the U.
S. Senator just elected by our Legisla-
ture, to succeed Mr.. Doolittle in the U.
S. Senate:
Born near Waterbury, Vermont, in
1926. young Carpenter, when about
II years Of age, aud then q youth Of
extraordinary brightness and promise, at
tracted the attention of the Hon. Paul
Dillingham;, one of the first LAWYERS of
that State. and since its Governor. Mr..
Dillingham; adopted him, and from that
time forth treated him with as much
kindness and affection as any Of his own
children. The lad could not have fallen
under better tutorage. One of the
soundest and most thorough of New
England lawyers, Mr.. Dillingham; be
longed to tina: broad and generous school
of his profession which has furnished
the country with so many eminent states
men, and from his youth the protege of
such a master, became imbued with no,
bic ideas of the profession he has since so
much adorned.
Through the influences of Mr.. Dilliug-
ham, young Carpenter was appointed to
West Point, where, however, he remain
ed but two years. At the end of that
time he accepted the opportunity, pro-
cured by Mr.. Dillingham;, of enjoying
the advice and direction of Rufus Choate
in his professional studies--an opportu-
nifty not to be sighted. The influence
of the teaching and example of the bril-
liant and all-accomplished Choate was
very preceptible in the early legal and
political course of Mr.. Carpenter. less so
of late years. His political predictions
had been strongly directed by the teach
ings and influence of Mr.. Dillingham;, a
stanch old fashioned Democrat, whose
fidelity to his conviction was strongly
tested in State " hopelessly Wing"
Il was, however, the sort of Democracy
that hesitated not second about the
choice when the fall of Sumter disclosed
the issues of national life or death.
Thus crcumstanced in the forming
period Of his life and thoroughly ground
ed in the elementary principles of the
law; filled with a glowing emulation of
the examples held daily before him, and
an accomplished bellies lettres student; he
had not much more than attained his
majority when he determined to try his
fortunes in the vigorous and growing
West. He removed in lS4S to Beloit.
The prospect of the young lawyer was
full of promise, when, after few
months residence in Beloit, he was sud-
denly and unaccountably afflicted with
disease of the eyes, which resulted for
several weekc in total blindness. For
eighteen months he was under treatment
in this city-poor, almost hopeless of
cure, and with no other resource than
the help of his constant fiiends--Mr.
Dillingham; and Rufus Choate. Nearly
three years were thus lost-so far as
professional advancement was concerned
before be was able to return aud re-
sumo the practice of his profession in
Beloit.
Still Democratic on his return to Be-
lott, he became known more widely by
occasional speeches in various parts Of
the State, while his professional success
grew with remarkable steadiness. So
strong had he become in few years in
lis own county, that he received the lie
gal majority of votes cast for District
Attorney, although his party was beaten
by over 1900 voter His opponent re-
ceived the certificate, but Mr.. Carpenter
appealed to the court and indicated both
his right and his legal ability before the
supreme tribunal of the State with equal
success.
In 1857, there came before that tribu
nal, case unique and unprecedented in
our jurisprudence, in which Mr. Carpen-
ter first had fair opportunity of show
ing his power as an advc cate. 1t was
the case of Bashford against Barstow.
The latter was the Democratic Cover
nor, and ran for reelection against the
former. Barstow received the certificate
of re election, was sworn in as Governor,
and acted as such until put out by order
of the Court. Mr.. Carpenter was re
tanned as one of the counsel for Gov.
Barstow, and with him were associated
Mr.. Arnold, the accomplished .facite
princeps of the Milwaukee bar. and
Judge Ofton. On the other side was
the giant of the Wisconsin bar, Mr.. Ry-
an: Judge Howe, now Senator, and Mr..
A. w. Randall, since Postmaster Gen
eral. Mr.. Carpenter was on the losing
and unpopular side; he was the young
est and then the least known OF the re-
ally strong men with whom he had to be
compared, but the daring and eloquence
of his defense of bad and desperate
case are to this day remembered by the
Wisconsin bar.
Although always in request as po-
litical speaker, he was never an Office
seeker, only running for the District At
torneyship of bis county because he
thought the office would help bin as a
lawyer, and refusing again and again to
run for Congress or State offices. In
the Nebraska excitement he was the
staunch political and personal adherent of
Mr.. Douglas. The " State Rights dis
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