Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-03-24


The death OF John Hickman, which had beer
for some time anticipated, occurred at his resi-.
dence at West Chester, yesterday, at 11.1s
o'clock, A. NJ. Ga telegram announcing the fact
appeared in yesterdays Commercially
Mr.. Hickman was one Of the most vigorous
aud Independent men which the soil of Eastern
Pennsylvania has produced Born in East Brad
ford township, Chester county, September 11th,
1910 the son of plain but ntelligent farmer, he
early showed intellectual force, and was provided
with good education, mainly by the advantage
of private instruction received from a tutor, a
graduate OF the University OF Edinburgh. He
first purposed to study medicine, but ultimately
chose the law. In either profession nature had
qualified him to achieve success. Studying with
Hon. Townsend Haines, afterwards Judge) he
came to the bar in 1882, and soon took promi-
ability as pleader. For fifteen MONTHS he
filed the office Of District Attorney.
In public life, however, and in that stormy pe-
rod of National affairs which was preclpitated by
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, Mr. Hick-
man gained the laurels Of his life The ordeal
OF fire which tested the purity and earnestness
OF the Northern character IN the Kansas Ne.
braska struggle, made him historic figure. He
wae, to begin with, true Democrat, with theories
OF popular rights ingrained in his nature. Attach
ed to the Democratic party, III his youth, he was
nominated by it for Congress, in 1854, and elect
I'd by the large majority of 1866, entering Con-
gresa just as the troubles in Kansas were
developed. He there manfully withstood tho
proslayery pressure in the g Lecompton con-
test, where so many Northen Democrats, at first
showing signs of independence, ultimately
gave way, and when the struggle ended with
Kansas Free State, he stood almost alone
among the " Anti Lecompton Democrats.
ln 1856, the Democrats had renominated and
again elected him, but when he parted company
with Buchanan, they threw him overheard, in
1903, and nominated Chas d. Manley, for Con-
,r1,il tba
John NJ. Broomall. This was Mr.. Hickman's
greatest opportunity and triumph. He went in
to the field, as an independent Democrat, stump
ing the District with wonderful energy and fair
y turning it upside down. He had no party or
ganization at his back, but his troops of friends
organized for him. large body Of the Repub-
leans supported him and the result gave him
the seat again, by plurality of 1901. In 1860,
the republicans nominated him as their can
ddate and again elected him.
MIR. Hickman went out OF Congress in 1868,
and substantially closed his public career. He
served one term in the Legislature Of Pennsyl-
vania in 1856, but this added nothing to his rep
utaton: ln the Chicago Republican Conven-
ton OF 1860, he received large vote for the
Vice Presidency. HIS speeches in Congress
were effective and eloquent. When, in the
bitter contest over the Speakership, in the
House, in December, 1869, Curry Of Alabama,
declared that the 'election of Mr.. Seward, or
Mr. Chase, or any such representative of the
republican party, ought to be resisted to the
disruption of every tie that binds this Confeder-
acy together" Mr.. Hickman replied in speech
OF great force and eloquence, wherein he an
swered tue threats of secession with language
equally strong. This speech created a profound
sensation at the time, and helped to rouse the
slnmbering patriotism of the Democrats.
In debate Mr.. Hickman was quick, terse. cpl
grammatic, and eloquent, not infrequently car
rying conviction with pointed distinctness to
doubling minds. In the habit of his life he
was his own worst enemy. His misfortune of
Incorporate habits finally broke down his con-
stltntion, and shortened and weakened what was
distinguished, and might have been great
caIeer.