The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-23
OBITUARY..
Hon. Anson RnrIinRnmc.

Hon. AnsOn BurIingame.
Dispatches published in another column an-
nounce that Hon. Anson Burlingame, Minister
Plenipotentiary from China to the Western
powers, died yesterday in st. Petersburg, where
he was engaged in the negotiation of a treaty
similar to those concluded with the United
States and the European Governments for the
admission of China into the great family of
civilized nations.
Mr.. Burlingame was born November II, 1922.
at New Berlin, State of New York. His auces-
tors early came to this country and originally
settled in Rhode Island, and thence emigratcd
to the interior of New York. The Burlingames
figured in the French wars on the American
continent about the middle OF the eighteenth
century, and, subsequently, in the American
Revolution of 1776. They were conspicuous
for their patriotism and devotion to the cause
of independence participating in the service of
the American navy and sharing in many OF its
gallant exploits. Mr. Burlingame's father
was born in New Berlin, and his mother,
now deceased, in Providence, X. l. His
mother was a Miss Angel, descendant Of
Colonel Israel Angel, the famous fighter of
General Greenes Revolutionary army. When
but an infant Mr.. Burlingamc was taken to the
West by his parents, who emigrated to the
Wyandotte Indian country, now known as
Seneca county, in Northern Ohio. For several
years the father was engaged in supplying the
army and the people of the Territory of Michi-
gan with cattle and horses. While the father
was thus occupied young Burlingame assisted in
driving the cattle, and necessarily led life of
adventure being oftentimes exposed to the hos
tility of the Indians The family next settled
at Detroit Young Burlingame here started out
in life. AS boy he accompanied surveying
parties as chain carrier and in other useful
capacities. He sat as boy in the Indian
councils at Maelsinac and elsewhere. He wit
messed treaties with the Chippewa Indians.
Thus, in the primitive fields of diplomacy the
present Poo-Tajen of the nation having the
lessons in diplomacy.
While in the academy at Detroit he was O
hard student. On leaving the academy he at
tended the branch institution of the University
of Michigan. Here he went through regular
course and took several prizes for proficiency in
his studies. He closed his career at the Uni
versity by graduating before he was twenty-one
years of age.
Having selected the law as his profession in
life, Mr.. Burlingame Immediately set to work in
its study. His friends, however, recommended
HIM to attend the law school of Harvard. In
1S43 he entered that institution. Here Mr. Bur
lingame became an LID.
short time after Mr.. Burlingame took up
his residence in Boston he commenced the prac-
tice of law, in which he was successful. He
shortly after engaged in politics and distin-
guished himself so that in 1852 he was elected to
the State Senate. In 1858 he was a member of
the convention to revise the Constitution of
Massachusetts. He was elected Representa-
tive in 1854 to the Thirty-fourth Congress. In
1856 occurred the outrageous assault on Senator
Sumner by Preston N. Brooks of South Caro-
lima, which, created such an intense excite
ment in all parts of the country. Brooks
threw out a general challenge to any ''Yankee
mudsill' who might be disposed to take up the
quarrel This challenge was accepted by Mr..
Burlingame, who appointed the Canada side of
Niagara Falls as the place of meeting. On this
prompt offer to fight him Brooks SUBJ
sided like a bully that he was, and de-
clined the meeting, giving as his reason
that it would necessitate journey through n
'hostile country" The conduct of Mr. Burlin-
| game on this occasion made him more popular
than ever at home, and he was elected by large
majority to represent Massachusetts in the
| Thirty-ifth Congress. During this term he
served as a member of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs and devoted much of his time
| w ObbsiihAh6 bhpiOu9u hIOWltuB6 Oh all the
| international relations of the United States. He
was one of the most efficient members of the
committee, and he was appointed to serve upon
it again in the Thirty-sixth Congress, to which
he was elected in 1858.
Upon the Inauguration of Mr.. Lincoln as
President of the United States in 1861. Mr..
Burlngame was named Minister to Austria.
Having started for his post at Vienna he re-
ceived notification on the way that the Austrian
Government would not receive him, for the
reason that he had taken too prominent a part
in raising Sardinia from second to a first
class mission. AS the United States at the time
was about entering upon the great duty of sup
pressing treason at home, this indignity was
quietly passed over by appointing Mr.. Burlin.
game as United States Minister near the Court
of the Emperor of China. Towards the end Of
1861 he arrived at Pekin, and opened relations
with the Chinese Government. After thoroughly
studying the China question, and dis
covering the abuses which had found
their way into the line of policy fol
lowed by outside nations towards the Govern
| ment OF China, Mr.. Burungame at once tool