The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-21

lDlN StuuleS lOT COllcBt NJ luc CcleDTulcu
Exter Academy, and, entering Bowdoin
college, he graduated there in 1927. He
Immediately entered upon the study of law
and was admitted to practice in 1880 AL
lying himself with the democratic party,
then and for years afterwartls-in fact,
until he himself, broke the link-the party
in power in the state, he took an immedi-
ate interest in politics, and SO prominent
did he become therein and such was his
standing at the bar, that in two years
thcreaiter--in 1S32-he was elected men,
Der of the legislature. Only two years
more clapse before he was appointed by
General jackson, then President Of the
United States, district attorney of the
United States for New Hampshire this
office, having been rcappoincd by Prest-
dent Van Buren,, he continued to hold until
1912 The mere dates obviate the ncces-
sity of any attempt to consider his legal
requirements, his ability as lawyer, or
his profound knowledge of the law The
Office of attorney of the United States, for
an entire state, is not lightly given, es-
pccialy in a state which borders upon the
ocean, having within its limits an import
ant seaport-nor is it apt to be sought by
one who Is not possessed of proper
professional qualifications. 1t is true that
it is too often perhaps, nearly always
heretofore-conferred as reward for po-
litical services but never so far as we can
now recall, has it been bestowed upon an
ignorant, incompetent lawyer. When we
say conferred as a reward for political
services, we mean that the appointec is
selected, among other reasons, on account
of his being in political accord with the APP
pointing power; not, necessarily, that he
has performed extraordinary labor for the
party in power Whether John p. Hale
sought the office or not, we are unin-
formed, but the remarkable fact remains
that in New Hampshire renowned, above
all things, for the ability and learning of
her bar, the great majority of whom, as
well rs of the people, were democrats
John p. Hale should have been appointed
United States district attorney, by General
Jackson, within four years after his admis-
sion TO the bar. We challenge the produc-
ton Of II similar instance in the history of
the country, unless. perchancc, it may
have been made in some new state, on the
borders of civilization, from very neccs-
sity and for want of proper men. Even
here. we doubt if it can be paralcllcd That
it was satisfactory to the bar and the domi-
nant party Of the state, and that he prop
crly performed the duties of his position,
is evidenced by his disappointment and
long continuance in Office. With these
facts and dates before us, his standing and
reputation in his chosen profession are
more prominently brought out, than could
be done by the most critical discussion or
laborcd essay.
We have occupied more space in calling
attention to this remarkable fact in his his
tory than we intended but it illustrates,
more than mere words, the manner of man
he was. \ change Of the political COM
plcxion of the national administration threw
him out of the district attorneyship, but
the next year. 1913, he entered Congress,
where he served single term of two years.
1t was during these two years that he laid
the foundation of, if he did not actually
gain, Il national reputation. By instinct
upon most questions by education, by the
accident Of birth and rcsdence--for these
have much to do with mems politics, re-
lgion, creeds and belieGs-by political as
sociation, fellowship and utilization, he was
an ultra bunker democrat. AS such he was
elected to Congress; as such he entered
Congress, and, we doubt not, that he, then,
always expected to live and die as SUCH
Man proposes, however, bat God disposes
Near the close of his term in Congress, the
Texas question was sprung upon the coun-
try, and its support was made cardinal
doctrine of democracy, and the advocacy
thereof, or opposition thereto, determined
an individuals standing in the party. John
p. Hale rose superior to party and above
personal considerations, and denounced the
measure on purely anti-slavery grounds.
As men looked at the result, he had sound
ed his own political death knell. Popular
with his party, tie rising man of his party
in New England, he had sealed his own
doom, because he dared place principle
above party. He had, if we rcMember cor
rectly, been nominated for reelection, but
another man was nominated and elected in
his stead he had, as he said in Rutland,
"agtatcd himself out of Congress" But it
proved the commencement of an "agita-
ton" which only ended with the abolition
of slavery and the making Of white and
black, the free born and those who haa
been held to servitude, free and equal be-
fore the law and each and all entitled to
call themselves "ctlzens of the United
States" and, as such, entitled to the right
of suffrage. Ii was on the contamination
Of the first step Of the reactonary ''agita-
ton (which had arisen from that which had
= agtated him out of Congress, and then
"agitatcd him into the United States Sen
ate, " that he visited Rutland, as we stated
in the outset.
llcnceforward his course is historic
For two years, nearly sngle-handed and
alone, he fought the battles of freedom
against the combined forces of the south
and their northern allies. 1t is true that
there were men, good men and true, who
stood by him, in the Senate, in these con-
tests, but they were no. sent there on that
issue. Two years thereafter, he was re-
inf)rced By Seward and Chase, and after
wards by Foot and Sumner and Colamer,
then still by others, and the work went
braycly on until its final consummation.
Henry s. Foote, Of Mississippi, who had
n ion 70, IL. -. /