The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-23
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HON. HENRY WILSON.

vice-president OF the United States, calls |
for a sketch of lite which has been useful
to his fellows and the republic he so long
and faithfully served of one, who from
the lower walks of life, arose by his own
unaided efforts to the higher ranks of |
craftsmanship, to cit in the second chief |
place in the land, benefactor of his race
and who proved himself ever man with
out guile, and upright az citizen and
legislator.
Henry Wilson was born at Pennington,
New Hampshire, on the 10th of February,
1919, being nearly "a years of age at his
death. A son of poor parents, his early
life was spent upon a farm, having few
advantages of the school. He early learn
ed the trade of shoemaker at Natick,
Massachusetts,, and accumulating little
money thereby he studied for while at
the academies at STAFFORD, Wolfsborough,
and Concord, New Hampshire. He re-
sumed work at his trade of shoemaking at
Natick in the spring of 1888, and made
that town his future residence. His first
public appearance in political life was in the
presidential canvass of 1910, in which he
took an active part, making upwards of
sixty speeches for Harrison. In the next
five years he was elected three times as
| representative from Natick to the general
| court of Massachusetts,, and twice sena-
tor from Middlesex county. An active
and Jealous opponent of slavery, he made
| an elaborate speech on a resolution intro
| duced by him in the legislature declaring
| the unalterable hostility of the common
wealth of Massachusetts to the further ex-
tension and longer continuance of slavery
| in America.
He early took ground on the slavery
question and would brook no compromise
on this question, either in debate or con-
vention. A delegate to the wing national
convention of 184S, on the rejection of the
anti-slsvery resolutions introduced into
that body, he withdrew from it and took a
prominent part in the organization of the
free-soil party. He then bought the Boston
Republican, daily newspaper, which he
edited for two years. In 1851 and 1862 he
was president of the senate of Massachu-
sets. He was president of the free-soil
national convention, held at Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, in 1862. He took promi-
nent part in the Massachusetts constitu-
tional convention of 1858, and was the
free-soil candidate for governor, but was
defeated
He was elected to the senate of the
United States in 1866, in which, from the
first, he took a prominent and leading posi-
ton. He was in utilization with the Amer
can party for brief period, but, on the
adoption of pro-slaveiy platform by its
national council, he withdrew from it and
took an active share in organizing the re-
publican party. He has taken a coDspicu-
Gus part in all important debates in the
senate, and made elaborate speeches on
the Kansas question, the treasury note bill,
the expenses OF the government, the tariff,
the Pacific railroad, and large number OF
other important topics. The speeches de.
livered by him in 1859, in defense of tree
labor, in reply to Senator Hammond OF
South Carolina, attained an immense circu.
lation through the free states. In March
1861, he was appointed chairman of the
committee on military affairs, a position
which the civil war rendered one of great
labor and responsibility. During the ses
sion of 1S61-62 he introduced the bills
abollshing slavery in the District of Colum
bia and the abolition of the black code.
, In the autumn of 1861 he raisedIthe 22t
T Massachusetts regiment, of which he wa
for few months colonel. In 1862 hi
brought in the bill for the employment o.
colored soldiers. He was the author o.
and introduced many important measures
, to organize and develop the resources o
the military arm of the country during thu
civil war and delivered about one hundret
! speeches at various places in support of tn
Union.
+ In 1872, Mr.. Wilson was nominated b,
I the republican national convention, as th
candidate for vice-president. He was in
, augurated March 4, 1878. His health ha
+ been precarious since entering upon tn
Y duties which have prevented his occupanc
h of the chair as presiding officer of the ser
f ate, only at intervals. He labored labor
i, ously upon new volume upon the slav
}, power. Last summer he spent at SaratOg
with the hope of restoring his wastin
energies-but in vain and he has fallen
victim to over-work.
His wife and only child, son, die
some years since.
i He has been diligent and voluminou
author. In 1864 he published 'Histor
Is of the anti-slavery measures of the ST
8 and 3Sth congress" In 1866 "Militar
u measures of the United States congress,
vo." 1866, "History of the RECONSTRUCTED
measures of the 30th and 10th congress
y and in 1878 "Rise and Fall of the Slay
Power in the United Stated"