Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-02-10
MATT. CARPENTER.

Eli carpenter rue nominee OF the eau
Gus, is native Of Vermont He is not
graduate, ne believe, ofany collegiate
institution, but after receiving a GOOD
eduoation In the common branches, began
The study of law Fer time he studied
10 the Office of Hen. B. +. Butler. of
Massachusetts, and afterwards with
with Rufus Choate. in Boston On
being admitted to the bar, he removed to
this State nearly twenty years ago and
settled at Beloit. He early attracted no.
tiee as giving promise of eminence In his
profession. His name first came proinin-
emily before the people Of the State by
the argument be made before the
Supreme Court In 1855, as one of the
counsel for Gov. Barstow in the y,,o zyar-
Taato case brought by Gov Bashford to
determine who was properly elected Gov
erner. his argument attracted attention
by the ease and finish of its style. He
continued to acquire prominence in his
profession, and in the several political
canvasses, up to and including that of
1860, he took more or less part as
stump-speaker in support of the Democrat
ic part. He removed to Milwaukee
about nine years since. Upon the break
ing out Of the war, he promptly took the
side Of the country against its enemies,
and during the continuance of the strug-
gle, acting as war Democrat, spoke and
wrote N favor Of a vigorous prosecution
Of the war In 1868, when the Repub-
heans dropped their party name and in
rIkaA Tho norooa,ok,
them on terms of equality on the platform
of supporting the Government in putting
down the rebellion, he declined to come in
to the new organization, but with Colonel
Charles D. Robinson, Judge Macarthur,
A Hyatt Smith j. Il. Arnold, and others,
formed an organization Of the War Demo
Gratis at convention in JaLesyile, and
subsequently supported the nominations of
the Union party, doing valuable service
in the canvass as speaker. In 1864
after the Chicago Convention adopted
platform in favor of disseminating the
war, and relying upon concessions to the
rebels as a means of restoring peace, he
supported Mr. Lincoln, and took an active
part in the canvass. After the war
terminated, he continued to stand aloof
from both parties not wholly satisfied with
the Republicans, but uttell y opposing the
policy of the Democratic leaders in seek
ing to resto the rebels Of the South to
the aseendency in that section. In 1867,
having become satisfied that the Demo
cracy were fatally infected with the virus
of rebel sympathy, and fully approx ing
of the position OF the Republicans, on the
subjects of Reconstruction and suffrage, lie
gave his full adhesion to the Republican
party. and attended the Republican State
Convention in The earl y autumn of that
year as delegate. Last winter he acted
with Hon. Lyman Trumbull as counsel
before the Supreme Conrt of the United
States in the famous MeArde case,
and his argument in that case was widely
commended for its ability and eloquence, at
the East as well as the West. During
the late Presidential canvass, he took a
leading part as a speaker in this State,
and his speech at Chicago was printed b :
the Republican National Committee, and
widely circulated throughout the country
as campaign document.
Mr., Carpenter is in the prime Of life,
between forty and forty-fve years Of age.
He possesses all the qualities essential to
success as an orator !; ine physique, an
engaging presence, a voice of usual fexi-
blllty and sweetness, a ready command of
clear and forcible words, and the impress
sible temperament and personal magnetism
50 essential to sway a popaIar audience.
he is also gentleman of fne literary
taste and Of extensive reading outside Of
as profession. In the Senate, he can
hardly fail to exercise a large influence.
and, IN debate, to take position among
tse leading members of that body.-State
Journal