The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-04

The new aspirant for Vice Presidential honors
was born in Lexington, KY, May %. Ise6. He Il
the namesake OF Benjamin Gratz. prominent and
wealthy citizen OF Fayette county. and the son OF
Judge Mason Brown, Secretary OF state during
Governor c. I. Moreheads administration In the
'dark and bloody ground" He graduated at the
Pennsylvania University in 1s45 and ut Yale College
In 1s47, studied law at Louisville and about twenty
two years ago he took up his residence in St. Louis
Mo. He was then young man OF sound education,
full of talent energy and pluck, and possessed OF
all the qualifications necessary to make stir
in the political arena, into which he imme-
diately entered. Bold and confident in his powers
with the nerve to follow his own convictions, he
burst at once through the trammels OF wing edu-
cation and soon made himself felt as one OF the
leaders of Old Billions body guard. He was men,
Der OF the Missouri Legislature from 1852 to 1885,
and in 1857 he delivered speech in the Legislature
which was the initial movement In behalf OF eman-
cipation in that State. resolution had been
offered to the effect that "the emancipation OF the
slaves held as property in this State, would be not
such an object IN view,- would be inexpedi-
ent, impolitic, unwise and unjust, and should,
nv t hs nsnne Of ss
Mr.. Browns denunciation Of this resolution and
the pro-slavery party was remarkable effort Of
eloqucnce. AS editor OF the st. Louis Democrat,
which he established in 1854 he and Frank Blair
subsequently led the Benton democracy through all
it's phases Of freesoilisn, and finally expanded 1t
war broke out he volunteered and raised a regi-
ment, which assisted in the capture of Camp Jack
son, and which he commanded during its term OF
service He subsequently commanded brigade of
militia during an invasion of the State: His efforts
in behalf of freedom were continued during the
progress of the rebellion, and he was foremost in
organizing the movements which resulted in the
ordinance OF emancipation In 1864. He was elected
Senator in Congress from Missouri for the term
commencing In 1853 and ending in 1867, serving on
the Committees on Military Affairs, Pacific Rail
road, Indian Affairs, Public Buildings and Grounds
and Printing. John Brown, formerly Senator
from Kentucky, was his grandfather. Supported
by his former Journal the st. Louis Democrat,
the State and national administrations, he was
elected Governor of Missouri in 1870, beating the
r regular nominee OF MS party ana breaking
ton in Missouri The following personal
description of him when he became member of
Congress will give fair idea of his present appear
ance: He Is about the medium height, very slender
In figure with a pale lace and fiery red hair and
beard. These words do not exaggerate, and
scarcely convey an adequate idea OF the brilliant
hue Of his abundant locks. They are ''real raving
red" nor could his most ardent admirer call them
anything else. If he were lady, this wealth OF
auburn curls would be, in the present fashion of
that hue, great ornament; but as lis, it makes
him certainly striking though asSuredly not hand
some. His style of dress is neat and quiet; his
manner of speaking calm at first, though rising
a1terward to warmth and earnestness One cannot
be long in his company without discovering much
irmness and resolution of character, combined with
an activity peculiar to men OF his complexion and
lightly built Frame" He was the acknowledged
leader of the large party of republicans in Missouri
who rev0lted at the attempt OF President Grant to
interfere with the State election couple OF years
ago. His inaugural address as Governor placed
him in high favor with the democrats, as they re-
garded its views in keeping with the great interests
ocrats and republicans of the West the name of
Benjamin Gratz Brown is considered tower of
strength. On October A. 1871, his proclamation
against the Ku KuX klan was Of the most stringent
and emphatic kind.