The Leavenworth weekly times., 1873-11-27
heath OF Mox. JOHN p. HALE,

From the Chic-go Jo'.rnal Of Thursday
Another link beiween the present and the
INST was broken yesterday. Hon. John +.
Hale died q. his residence in Dover, n. h.,
las. evening, after long illness. He was
in the sixty-eieh;h year of his age. lie
seemed much older, for his political career
begun in 1882.
Eis now tweniy-siI years since Mr.. Hsie
acquired national repu alton. At that
time he entered the Senate of the United
States under circumstances which gave spe-
c;,I prominence TO his name from the first.
He had been in Congress few years before,
hut did nothing to attract attention. lie
wss Democrat originally, but even before
the Free Soil party came into existence The
was known as an anti-slavery man. He was
the 6rs, politician of note to identify himself
with the Abolitionis.a, ante-dating Messrs.
Seward. Chase and Sumner, in his avoWed
hostility TO slavery. This prominence made
him the fit stsndsrd-bearer OF the Free Soil
uartv in 1852. There was at that time three
Presidential tickets in the field. General
Scott and Senator Graham were the
nominees of the Whig party. The Demo-
cratic leader was franklin Pierce. The
forlorn hope of the Free Soilers was led BY
Jobn p. Hale, with George w. Julian, of
Indiana, for lieutenant. New Hampshire
Tim. furnished two of the candidates for the
Presidency, as Illinois did eight years later.
The analogy does not rest there. Pierce and
Hale had long been pitted against each
other, and once they canvaseed the State TOR
the United States Senate, as Lincoln and
Douglas did Illinois at q later period. In
that Senatorial struggle Hale was the victor,
and il was to that defeat chiefly that Pierce
owed his elevation 10 the Presidency. That
campaign was conducted on the slavery
issue. Hale, then the foremost champion OF
freedom in all the country, triumphed, and
that gave Pierce an especial hold upon the
good opinion of the South. His nomination
was not the accident generally supposed. 1t
va. rather the rerult of sagacious scheme
cunninsiy carried ont.
We have pointed out an analogy In the
circumstances which placed Hale and Doug
las side bv side, face to face with Pierce and
Lincoln: in one element of character, MIR.
Hale strongly resembled Mr.. Lincoln. Both
we're noted for their wit. They alone of the
men named had that gift to any notable ex-
tent. In repar,ee Hale had no equal in the
Senate during all his service in that body.
lie was singing in his retorts. He was not
a very profound reaaoner, nor hard work
er, but he commanded respect hy the bril-
lance and readiness of his wit.
In 1853 the Democratic party had every
thing its own way in New Hampshire. A
friend Of President Pierce was elected to suc-
ceed Mr. Hale. who thereuPon removed to
New York city and entered upon the
practice of the law. 1t was supposed
that his political days were over, but the
Republican party came into existence, and
was 20 very strong that Mr.. Hale returned
to New Hampshire, and in 1850 re-entered
the Senate to "a vacancy. In 1859 he was
elected for four years. Near the Close OF
RI. term ne was accused Of taking Zee icr
the exercise Of his Senatorial influence in
case before one of the departments. Iha'
accusation was - FAR believed that he was
deieat.,! for reelection. He was appointed
Minister to Spain. He ~as then much
broken ia health and spirits. He remained
abroad until Gen. Sickles WIS appointed to !
succeed him. Since his return Mr.. Hale
has livei quietly in his O!i home at Dover.
Ii the charge made against him to which We
have referred was true, it was certainly moi
At all characteristics. As whole his pubic |
life WAS blameless lie never swerved from |
his principles, and among the statesmen
Who wrought the overthrow of slavery he |
deserved 10 rank interior only TO Wn. h
Seward and Abraham Lincoln.