New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-28
HON. O, III. BREWSTER,
From the Monroe Intelligencer.

Ell From the Monroe Intellgencer.I
1t is we'll known to our readers that we
&are not in the habit of praising our friends
&or censuring our enemies unless for cause,
Ebut when we see public man striving year
latter year in the cause of equal rights and
Hevery step, because he puts in practice the
principles he advocates, we feel that we are
Justified in approving his course
We propose to give to our readers brief
sketch of the life of the man whose name
heads this article.
o. II. Brewster, the newly elected
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
was born in Chatauqua county, New York,
in the year 1882. and at the age OF six years
was taken by his parents to the State of IL
Id linois, where he remained, with the excep-
# ton OF a few years spent in the Rocky
a mountains, until the commencement of the
# late war. Immediately after the first bat
III tie was fought he left his family at his resi-
81 Sence in Montgomery county, went to
81 Springfield and enlisted as private in COM
d pany X, Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, was
III wounded twice during his service, and 50
81 completely disabled that it was found neces-
sary to give him discharge.
81 On his return home he was elected first
Fl lieutenant, and Immediately after advanced
ii to the rank of major of regiment,
81 which was held in readiness by the Gov
81 ernor of Illinois, to be used in case OF in
vasion or disturbance at home. This posi-
ton he held until the close of the war,
when he determined, according to desire
q he had long felt, to make his home in the
South He accordingly came to Louisiana
in the fall of 1865, and engaged in planting
the following year on the Culbertson place,
Walnut bayou, Madison parish in connec-
ton with his brother-in-law, jerome lay
lOr Esq.
Our planters remember well how dis
astrous the year proved to the planting in
terests, and it left Mr.. Brewster, like thou
sands of others, with scarcely dollar to
call his own. But while struggling with
the inclement season, the children on that
and the adjoining plantations were not for
gotten. One Of his first acts was to secure
s the services of first class teacher and
open free school-the first ever estab-
lished in that parish for colored children:
Finding himself unable to secure supplies
and pay the rent demanded for another
year, he concluded to remove to Texas, but
while waiting in New Orleans for boat he
became acquainted with one of the most
esteemed citizens of MOrehOuse parish,
Robert Mailman, ESQ.,, and was induced by
4 him to take charge of his plantation, located
five miles from Bastrop, where he removed
with his family early in 1867. The untimely
death of Mr.. Waltman, only few months
after, terminated the engagement, and MIR.
| Brewster then took up his residence In
Ouachita parish.
Reduced to extreme poverty, but not dis
cOuraged, he went to work with determin-
alton, well-known to many of our citizens.
The thought of taking part in politics had
never entered his mind, and his only ambi-
ton was to secure a comfortable home and
living for himself and family.
The first election under our present con-
stitution came on, one of the candidates for
Representative being killed in Morehouse
parish, and, on the morning of the election,
Mr.. Brewster's name was placed upon the
ticket, and men were voting for him in all
parts of the parish before he was even
made aware of the fact. When informed
what had been done, he positively declined,
giving as reason that an older citizen
more able than himself should have the
honor, and it was with the greatest re.
luctance that he allowed his name to re-
main upon the ticket. After calling to mind
the fact that the Democratic party was run
ming colOred man who was unable to read
or write Henry Burns) he concluded to let
the work of his friends remain, and was
consequently, elected by an overwhelming
majority.
Soon after taking his seat he was appoint
ed chairman of an important committee, and
has ever since been one of the most active
members in the cause of honesty and justice.
Holding to the good old principle that legls-
ne has constantly used his influence for the
good of all, without regard to friends or
foes, race or party.
1t is impossible to give anything like a
complete history of his course in the Leg
stature, but We can not refrain from Civ
ing few extracts from his speeches,
which we have found in looking over the
debates and journals of the House. In
one of his first speeches in the House of
Representatives, Mr.. Brewster laid down
the following excellent principles for his
guidance
Mr. Speaker, have always been mem
Der of the Republican party, and, as we
have majority IN the General Assembly,
feel very anxious that we should succeed in
establishing the following important OBJ
jects:
-First-To raise and maintain our State
credit.
''Second-The completion of our levee
system.
'.Third-To establish complete system
CT free schools
Let our credit be second to no State in
the South. Let our levees be rebuilt and
Kept in repair. Let us set our courts in
working order, so that the good and the
innocent may be protected, and the guilty
punished. And. above all, let us enact a
school law that will enable every child. no
matter how poor or humble or black, to
receive an education at the expense OF the
State. If the Republican party is instru
mental in bringing about these four great
objects, it will be entitled to and will al
ways have the support of the best people in
the State
A short time after, in speaking of bills iu-
troduced tor the purpose OF apprOpriating
money, he gave to the House the following
rules, which would have saved the State
millions of dollars had they been lived up to
al a1xv h1-a nf 7 IL
as they have been by himself.
"Mr. Speaker, ask the consent of the
House to say a few words upon this bill.
and will give you my views in as brief
manner as possible.
when bill is sent to us, which pro-
poses to take moneyafro the State Treas
TRY, | always ask, first, will it injure the
State credit! Secondly, will the money 60
into proper hands, and be properly used
And, thirdly, will it benefit the State
@'If it can not be shown that the appro-
priation will not in lure the credit of the
State, or if there is any doubt in regard to
the honesty and ability of the men to be
trusted with the use of the funds. or the
effect upon the welfare Of the people, then,
sir, the further consideration of the act
should be indefinitely postponed"
When one of the Chattanooga railroad
bills was before the House, Mr.. Brewster, in
his remarks, used the following language:
II wish to state that we have given to
this corporation more than to any other
We have given railroads, in the northern
part of the State, $4,000 per mile, while we
have given TO this road $l2, 500 per mile.
Now, Just at the close of the session, the
company asks for still further privileges
- I