National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-08
Senator Gordon,s Amended Biography.

Washington Correspondence Cincinnati Gazette. J
When ex-Confederste generals began to make
their appearance in Congress as members, their
modest department was remarked by all. They
seemed to have an appreciation OF the fact that
an admission to one of these seats was evidence
of magnanimity on the part of q Government
against which they had joined In armed rebellion.
They were then, and are now, the fairest and best
class of the Southern Conservatives in Congress.
Some of them can properly be styled fre-esters;
but, a class they are the best men of those
elected by the old element Of the South since the
war.
In common with their Democratic brethren
throughout the land they were greatly elated
over the elections last fall. When Congress re-
assembled after these successes the heart Of the
Opposition was nightly wrought upon thereby,
and not without reason did they exchange heated
congratulations over the sweeping victory which
had given them control Of the House. number
were quite carried away at the prospects, and the
old style Of talk and the old style OF manners be-
gan to be noticed among the Southern Repre-
seDtatiVes. To them all the Republican party
was as If wrapped in its shroud and awaiting
and the coolest Of them were affected by It, and
IL was altogether natural that they should be.
Senator Gordon belongs to this latter class. And
yet he, with the rest, was carried away by the
results Of the election.
The proofs Of an interesting character. The
Congressional Directory" as is known contains
a shoft Biographical sketch Of each senator ard
Representative. These are furnished by the per-
sons to whom they relate. In the last edition Of
Issued about the time Of the adjournment Of its
first session, and corrected to June Is. 1874 the
following biography of Senator Gordon sp-
"John R. Gordon, of Atlanta, was born in Upsou
county, Georgia, February Q, 1882 was prepared
for college at the high school at Gave Spring in
the same State, and educated at the University
Of Georgia. Studied law, was admitted to the
bar, and located at Atlanta, Ga, but practiced
States Senate at Democrat, to succeed Joshua
Hill, Republican, and took his seat March l.
1873. His term of service will expire March 3,
The reader will look in vain in the above record,
furnished by the Senator for any reference to his
military services in the rebel army.
Before the next edition Of the DIRECTORY" was
printed the fall elections had occurred, and the
Just at hand. The hour seemed to have passed
which called for the exercise OF chat keen sense of
propriety which might suggest to q gentleman Of
tne honor, that having been received into the
National Senate after some years spent in armed
rebellion to the Government, IL might be we'll to
withhold from its ofcial records any reference to
these reasonable services. This was certainly
an evidence Of fine perceptions Of propriety on
the part OF Senator Gordon. 1t is no reflection on
him that When his old allies, the Democrats, had
triumphed throughout the land he should deem
II altogether proper and fitting to complete his
biography BY inserting the full history Of his
ton Of the DIRECTORY" issued after the fall cleo
lions we find the following:
John Il. Gordon, OF Atlantis. was born In Epson
Gated at the University Of Georgia; was admitted
to the bar, but practiced law only q short time;
at the beginning OF the war he entered the Con-
federate army as captain Of infantry and was
promoted major lieutenant colonel, colonel, brig
adler general, major general and to the command
CT the Second army corps; commanded one wing
Of General Lees army at AppomattoX Court
House; was wounded in battle eight times; was
the Democratic candidate for Governor of Georgia
in 1868 and his party claimed his election by q
large majority, but his opponent, Rufus H. Bull
lock was declared elected; was a member of the
National Democratic Convention of 1872; was
elected Presidential eIecor for the State at large
on the Seymour and Blair ticket In 1868, and the
Greeley and Brown ticket In lST2:l was elected to
the United States Senate as Democrat to sue
coed Joshua Hill, Republican, and took his seat
March 4, 1873. His term Of service will expire
March 5, 1872"
The insertion Of the portion between brackets,
in the above biography, may fairly be attributed
to the results of last falls elections. That the
charge is without significance, those whose poll
tics of that old-fogy stripe that prefer to re-
member the war will agree.