The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-06-21

The poet Whittier was connected
with him in this characteristic EN-
bassy. He was a delegate to th'
Whig National Convention of 1S48
being now thirty-six, and he tool
the opportunity of proposing and
presenting to the Convention a ser
les of anti-slavery resolutions which
were declared by many authorities
to be the most comprehensive and
tie most unspairing that the brain
Of man could devise.
The Convention, however, was too
timid to accept them, and Henry
Wilson, on their rejection, at once
withdrew and devoted himself to as
sisting in the formation of the Free
Soil Party. Believing that the pub
lie mind wanted educating on the
subject, he purchased the Boston
Republican and for two years agitat-
ed the question without fear or fitch
ing. In 1S49 he was chosen chair
man of the Free Soil State Commit
tee of Massachusetts, which post he
held for four years. In 1850 he was
sent to the State Senate, and unani-
mously elected President. Two
years afterwards he was elected by
acclamation President of the great
Free Soil Convention, which was
held in Pittsburg, Penn, when he
electrified the members by the most
wonderful displays Of eloquence.
The Free -Soilers put him up as can
didate for Representative In Con-
gress, and though defeated, he ran
ahead of his ticket by thousands Of
votes. Next year the same party
put him up for Governor, but he
was again defeated, though still
largely ahead Of his ticket.
Two years afterwards things
changed, and the Free-soilers being
in the ascendant, Henry Wilson was
elected United States Senator in the
place Of Edward Everett. No soon
er had he taken his seat than he
made the Senate Chamber ring with
the most eloquent denunciations Of
slavery. He made good speech
advocating the repeal Of the Fugitive
Slave law, and for the abolition Of
slavery in the District of Columbia.
He next took an active part in or
ganizing the Republican party on
the basis of equal and exact justice
to all. In May, 1856, Mr.. Sumner,
his colleague, was asssiled in the
most dastardly manner by Preston
Brooks, OfSouth Carolina. He rose
to his feet and denounced the as
sault as brutal, murderous and cow
ardly. The South Carolina fire.
eater sent him q challenge, which he
disregarded, on the ground that du-
cling was a remnent of barbarism,
branded by law, and that i'll became
lawmakers to violate law so grossly.
At the same time lie intimated that
should any assault him as his col
league had been assaulted, it would
be seen that he believed most fully in
the right of self-defense. The COW.
ed bravo comprehended that, and
left him in peace.
And now the whilom farmer-lad
and shoemaker stepped into the
front rank of the Senate, and was
recognized by all as emphaticaIly a
strong and shrewd man, a keen de-
bator, and 8 wise, foreseeing states
man. His great speech in defense Of
free labor in reply to an attack oi
Senator Hammond, of South Caro-
lima, was circulated in every work.
shop of the free States, and taught
the working-men to recognize theu
their champion. His term of Sena.
torship expiring the next year, be
was reelected by an immense ma
iority. AS the vascnlations Of Bu
chanan and the treaehery of South
ern Senators plunged the country IN,
to fierce and iercer troubles, Sena
tor Wilson's value became more and
more apparent.
When the Senate assembled il
March of 1861, he was made Chair
man of the Committee on Military
f Affairs. In this capacity he intro
, duced the act to authorize the en-
rollment of 100000 men as an army
besides other matters of equal mill
tary importance. Gen. Scott de.
clared that no man ever did so much
work in one short session as Sena-
tor, and this only re-echoed the gen
eral sentiment of the country. From
that date his actions IN the Senate
have embraced all the important
work that has been done by the Re-
publican party. He was reelected
in 1865, and again in 1871, and his
present term of service as Senator
will expire in 1877. Such is the man
the Republican have selected as q
companion with Gen. Grant on their
Presidential ticket. That he viii
distinguish himself IS Vice Presi-
dent none who know Henry Wilson
and his record can doubt.