Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-21
Death of John p. Hale.

The telegraph announces the death of en-
Senator John p. Hale at his residence in Do
yer, N. H., Wednesday evening at 9 o'clock.
John Parker Hale was born in Rochester,
N. Ii. March 81, 1906, and consequently vas
81 years and months old at the time Of his
death. He received his academical educa-
ton a, Phillips academy, Exeter, and entered
Bowdoin College in 1928 and was graduated
with distinction in 1927. Among his class
mates were ex-President Pierce, Nathaniel
Hawthorne, Prof. Longfellov, S. S. Prentiss
and Prof Stowe. In 1928 he went to Dover,
N. H., to study law, and in 1880 was admitted
to the bar, and at once gained a large prac-
tice. In 1882 he was member of the legis-
lature, and in 1884 was appointed United
States District Attorney by Gen. Jackson,
which Office he held until removed by Presi-
dent Tyler in 1871. In ls43 he was elected
as democrat to the L. S. House of Repre-
eentatves.
At this time the agitation of the slavery
question was just beginning, and although
the preponderating opinion of his party at
home was against him, he took sides with the
anti-slayery men without hesitation. Never
tlieless the democratic convention re.nomi-
him in 1915, but before the election he pub
lished letter taking most decided grounds
against the annexation of Tcvas, whereupon
the party leaders in New Hampshire pro-
claimed him traitor to the party, revoked
the nomination and rut up Irregular" Mr..
Hale run as an independent candidate, but
there were so many candidates that there was
no election during the term-a majority at
that time being required for an election.
In 1916 Mr.. Hale was elected as represen.
tative to the legislature from Dover and was
chosen Speaker of the House. His indepen-
dent defiance of party distinction gave him q
strong hold upon men of all shades of politi-
cal opinion and the same year, by combIna-
sion of men from all parties, he was elected
Uuited States Senator. When he took his
seat, he was the only distinctive anti-slavery
senator, and was the only one not connected
with either of the two great national parties.
But with all the force against him, single
handed, he lifted up the standard of freedom
and defended it at all times. Time and again
attempts were made to intimate him in the
excitement of debate, but his humor and
force of witty and sarcastic retort enabled
him not only to hold his ground but to come
off victor in the most formidable of parlia-
mentary assaults.
In 1851 Mr.. Hale was counsel for the de-
PENDANTS in the trials growing out of the fu-
gitive slave law in connection with the rescue
Of the fugitive slave Shadrack from the U.
S. marshal at Boston.
In 1852 he was the candidate of the Free
SOn party LOT the PRESIDENCY ana received
l57, 685 votes. In 1858 his term of office ex.
pired and Gag" Atherton was elected in his
place. For few years he practiced law in
New York, his family residing in New
Hampshire. On the death of Mr.. Atherton
in 1855, Mr.. Hale was reelected to the Sen
ate, and in the stirring debates of the time
was most conspicuous character. In 1858
he was again elected for full term and dur
ing the war was an unwavering supporter of
the war measures of President Lincoln.
Near the close of the war he was appointed
minister to Spain, which he resigned late in
Mr.. Johnson's term and returned to his home,
broken in health, since which time he has not
appeared in public. Last summer he fell and
broke his hip, so that with his otherwise fee
BILE health, his death was expected at any
time