The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-09-27
Hon. Charles Il. BuckaleMs.
The statcsman aud Political U.rormer.
His Life and Public Scryicr.
A SKETCH,
MS BIRTH AND EDUCATION.


good principles worth in the hands OF
bad men? The maxim that should be
laid down and followed In these times
IL, Good principles and good men to en-
force them. 1t was evidently the rec
ognition Of this great truth that led To
the nomination of the Hon. Charles IL.
Buckalew, for tho ollico OF Governor OF
Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Buckalow was born ia Columbia
county, Pennsylvania, on the 2Sth OF
December, 1921, and Is consequently
now in his fifty first year. In common
with many Of tho most distinguished
men of the country, he Is, In the strict
est sense of tho term, self-mado man.
Ills education, so far as IL depended on
the assistance of tutors, was begun in
the common school and completed at
Harvard Academy, in Susquchannah
county. After lea wing school he was
several years engaged in teaching, and,
while thus employed, was fitting him
self for the graver tasks and higher po.
sitions of his subsequent life. Tho bent
of his mind inclining him to the legal
profession, he studied law with M. II.
Jackson, ESD, Of Berwick, and was
admitted to the bar of Columbia county
in August, 1913. 1t was quickly per.
ceived that he had not mistaken his
pursuit. Capacity, industry and integ-
rity soon opened for him the road to
success.
On the 18th of February, 1910, he was
married to Parmelia, daughter of Rev.
Il. Wadsworth of Town Hill, Luzerne
county. No event Of his life has con-
trihuted so much to his good fortune as
this happy marriage. Carefully trained
| in Christian doctrine and duties, and
becomming in her youth a commune.
cant of the Methodist Episcopal church,
she has, by temper in which natural
| ability and religious devotion are beau.
| tifully blended, constantly cheered and
| strengthened her husband and amid all
the varied scenes of private aud public
| duty i'm which he has been an actor, at
home and abroad, she has been his in
separable companion. When not alb
sent from the country the family, con
sisting of the parents and two children,
has resided at Bloomsbury, Columbia
tcounty and if the esteem in which
each and all are held by their lifelong
neighbors could determine the matter,
there would be no room for doubt as to
the result of the pre- sent contest for the
chief magistracy of the Common
wealth.
HE ENTERS PUBLIC LIFE.
In 1S45 Mr.. Buckalew was appointed
prosecuting attorney for Columbia coun.
ty /; and after discharging the duties OF
the Office with marked efficiency for two
years he voluntarily resigned. In 1850
he was elected State Senator for three
years, and was reelected in 1858. In
1854 he was appointed by the President
of the United States, special commits
sioner to exchange ratifications of the
treaty with the Republic of Paraguay.
| Although affairs had then become some.
what complicated between the two gov
ernments, he performed the duty of his
appointment with entire satisfaction to
both countries. Returning in safety
from this long and porilous voyage, he
was chosen Presidential electer, from his
Senatorial district, in the fall of
| 1856.
In 1857 he was third time elected to
| the State Senate and in the winter of
| that year was appointed by the Cover
| nor, and confirmed by the Senate, as one
| of a commission of three to revise the
| criminal laws of the State.
lie RENDERS IMPORTANT SERVICE TO
THE STATE.
| Mr.. Buckalew was an acknowledged
leader of his party in the State Sen.
ate and was particularly prominent
and influential in the advocacy of ques-
| tions of reform, and of all attempts to
secure equal, Just and beneficial logisla.
| tiOn. He was the author of the act,
passed during the session of 1851, and
still subsisting, which prohibits the sale
of intoxicating drinks to the insane, to
| minors, and to persons of known intem-
perate habits and prohibits the cele-
bration of the marriage ceremony when
either of the parties is in state of in
toXication. The penalties annexed to
the violation of this law are fine and
imprisonment and any member of the
immediate family, or other relative of
an Incorporate person, may forbid any
liquor.seller to furnish to such intoXica-
ting drink. He was also the author Of
most of the constitutional amendments
that were proposed at the session of the
general assembly in 1867. AS examples
of these may be instanced that which
prohibits the contracting of any new
State debt teXceeding the amount of $780,
900 that which forbids the incurring
of municipal indebtedness by subscrip
tiOns of stock or loans of credit to in
corporated companies that which pro.
vides for the creation of a sinking fund
for the payment of the existing State
debt and that which prevents the di-
vision of counties except by the popu.
lar consent expressed at an election
held for the purpose OF ascertaining the
popular will.
REFORM IN REPRESENTATION.
On the question of cumulative or free
voting he has long cherished profound
interest, and is the author of several
local acts favOring that mode of elec.
tion and of the general statute which
applies the principle of the free vote to
the election of cOuncilmen in all the
boro6ghs of the State subject to general
laws. But upon no question of State
policy has he manifested so much con-
Germ as that of constitutional REFORM
A Convention for this purpose will con-
vene next November, and the amend
ment he proposed last winter which
contemplates the removal Of - elec
tion of the State Treasurer il,n the
Legislature and the placing of il - the
hands of the people will unquestion-
ably then be adopted.
ACCEPTS A DIPLOMATIC MISSION
In the summer of 1858, Mr.. Buckalew
resigned his position as State Senator
and Commissioner torevise the Criminal
Code, for the purpose of accepting the
appointment of United States minister
resident to the Republic of ECUADOR
Here, as in Paraguay, he discharged
MS uciNdlo uulieS Win pfuueICG anu
fidelity. The climate of the country
proving favorable to his health and that
of his family he remained three years,
and returning to his country in 1861, he
found his countrymen armed and arm.
ing for the. suppression of the great
rebellion.
CHOSEN UNITED STATES SENATOR.
On the 18th of January, 1868, Mr..
Buckalew was elected to the United
States Senate for the term of six years
from the 4th Of March following. An
insignificant man is in pitiable posi-.
ton, and shows very badly by compari.
son, in this the most talented and au.
gust assembly of tho nation. But the
new member from Pennsylvania soon
won the respect ofhi5 brother Senators,
and the party in this State which OPP
posed his election, equally with the par.
ty that elevated him to the high posi-
| tion, felt grateful for the honor which
his reputation there reflected upon their
grand old Commonwealth. La the
Senate Mr.. Buckalew served on the
most important committee among