Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-06-14
Henry Wilson.

birth or culture in carly life. He was born at
Pennington, N. H, on the 10th day OF feoru-
airy, 1872. Hs psrentage was Of the humble,t'
for he was barely ten years Of age when he was
npprenticed to farmer in the vicinity for eleven
years. His MASTER was q kind and generous
man, Who sent the young hsrd-woFking boy 10
school in the intervals Of agricultural labor, and
here he coon developed great taste for resding.
He hungered after knowledge, and his evident
desire TO learn induced lawyer OF harrington
to offer him the free use Of his library, when
was fortunately 8 very extensive one. Here me
statesman in embryo reveled, and. in after lie,
be has declared to friends that he oelieves ne
read during those eleven years hundfed VOL
umes year When be became twenty-one ne
Asd exhausted the library. His indentures
were now completed, and, if he had chosen to be-
come a farmer. opportunities Of advancement
we're not wanting, for everybody liked the shy,
awkward youth, with his brosd, high foreheSd,
his honest eyes and his immense but somewhat
desultory stores Of Information But ne hsd re-
solved upon quitting Pennington and seeing the
world. Putting his few clothes and his oooAs,
his only treasures, into bundle, he slung II
across his shoulder and walked gayly on 10
Nstick in Massachusetts,, where he hired MN
.elf to shoemaker. with the resolution Of work
ing at this trade until he hsd accumulated a fund
sufficient to maintain him in some good academy.
1t took two years TO do this, when he returned TO
New Hampshire and studied for time In the
academies at Stafford, Marlborough and Con-
cord. Most unfortunately the man to whom he had
coniided his little heap o. savings became insol-
vent. go Henry Wilson was obliged to return to
the shoe-maker's bench at Nstick. He was now
twenty-six, and noted everywhere in the neigh
borhood as 4 modest, well educated young man,
with great turn for debating tie delighted
in discussion, and was 90 redoubtable an OPP
ponent that 10 one in the academies or among
his comrades at Natick cared to enter into an
argument with one who wss so logical, so keeniy
alive to the weak points Of others, and who bad,
moreover, SO powerful flow Of language.
EVERYBODY predicted that at the next election
the people would hear of Henry Wilson They
did. In 1910 Gen. Harrison was the Wing can
dilste, and young Wilson's feelings were warm
IL enlisted on his side. He spoke with great
eject at Natick in bic favor. and stterTard IN
other towns Of Massachusetts, and New HSmp-
thire lie was at once recognized as genuine
orator and his services were engaged by the
Wing Party. io- whom be delivered no less than
sixty speeches during that campaign. In the
next ave years he was himself elected three times
az member Of the Legislature Of Massachusetts,,
and was twice State Senator. Here he quickly
distinguished himself as bitter hster Of slavery.
and, when 4 State Senstor from Midd!etex
County, vas selected to carry the great protest
Of Massachusetts against the evils Of slavery and
sga;as, the annexation Of Texas, to Washington,
be was chosen. The poet Whittier WAS connected
with him in this characteristics embassy. He
was delegate to the Wing SstionSl
Convention Of 1873, being now thirty
sx, AMI he took the opportunity Of
proposing and presenting to the Convention
leries Of Snti-slsyery resolutions which we're
declared by many authorities to be the most
comprehensive sai the Host unspsrlng
thst the brain Of Ian could deSite. The Con-
yention, however, vas too timid TO accept them,
Sad Henry Wi.Ion, on their rejection, at once
Withdrew sud devoted himself to assisting IN
the formation Of the Free Soil Party. Believing
that the public mind wanted educating on the
subject, he purchased the Boston Republican,
and for two years sgitatel the question without
fear or finchng. In $40 he was chosen Chair
man Of the Free Soil State Committee O.. Msssa-
chusct,s, Ehisk pest he held for four years 10
1850 be Esl sent to the State Sensie, knd unAn-
imous'y elected President Tso YSIgs alter
wards be vas elected by reclamation President
Of the great Free Soil Convention, which Was
held il Iit;sburg, enn., when he electrified the
members by the most wonderful displays of eio
queuce The Free Sellers put him up aS can
dldAte for Representative in Congret', aai
though defeated, be ran ahead Of his ticket by
thousands Of votes Next year the came party
put liL. " for Governor, but he WAS again de-
ieatei. though SILL running largely ahead Of his
ticket Two years Afterwards ihirss changed,
AMI the Free Sellers being in tie ssceGdau.,
Henrv wilson was elected Unitei Ststes Senator
in the place OF Edward Everett. NJ sooner had
be taken bis tezt than he made the Senate
Ch1mter ring with the most eloquent deuuucis-
tiscs G.. slavery. He made a great speech Sdvo-
eating tbs reg1l. e the Fugitive Slave law, and
for the abolition u slavery II the District q
ColumbiS lie next took ACTIVE part IN or
gaming the Republican Party on the bass oil
equal snl exsct justice 20 sll. 10 May, 1896,
Mr.. Sumner, his colleague, WAS Esfti!ei N the
most dastarily manner by Preston Brooks, Of
South Csroiias lie rose 70 his feet and de-
n5uncsi the ssssul, as - brutal, murder
Gus anil ooward.y' The South Carolina
fre-eater sent him 8 challenge, which be ditre-
garlei, on the ground that daeiing WAS rem
naut Of barbarian, branded by the law, snd that
u IL became lawmakers TO violate law 60 gross
IT, - he cane time he iatimatei that should
sny one assault him as bic colleague had been
assaulted. it would be t5en last he believed most
fully in the right Of selt-deiente. The coEei
brave couprehended this, sni left him in peace
And now the whil0m IA rmer-lAd aud shoemaker
Stoned into the frou; rank Of the Senate, and
was recognized By all a. emph.tics.ly a strong
and shrewd man, keen debAter, snd vas = wise
foreseeing stAtesmSn His great speech in de-
tense Of free labor in reply to an attack Of Sens-
tor Hammond, Of South Carolina, was circn.s-
ted il every workshop Of the free States, and
taught the workisg -.-cp to recognize their cham
pion. His term Of Senstorshig Expiring the
next wear, he WAS reelected BY Al immense ma
i1ritv. As the vaci atons Of Buchanan and the
t-sacherv Of the Southern Senators plunged the
country into fercer and feroer troubles Senstor
W;ls9n's value became more and more apparent.
When the Senate assembled in Msrchlof sol, he
was inside ChsirG.sa Ct the Committee on Militia
y Affairs Ia this capacity lie introduced the
act TO authorize the enrolment Of 500 ,UvD Ten
IS an army, besides other matters OF
elusl military Importance. Genera scott
declared thAt no man ever did 60 much work IN
one short session As Senator Wilson, and this
cniy re-echoed the general sentiment Of the coun-
try From .hst date his sections 10 the Senste
have embraced all TIE important work that has
been done by the Republican i'arty. He was re-
elected in 1865. xnd again in 1871, and his
present term and service as Senator will expire
IN 1877. Such is the man the Republican Party
have selected s. . companion with Gen. Grsnt on
their Presidential ticket Thst he will distin-
ruish himself IS Vice President none who know
Henry Wilson sud his record can doubt.
CHANGES OF THE NEW TARIFE,-The total re-