Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-11-27
HENRY WILSON.


From Washington, the telegraph con-
veys the mournful intelligence Of the
death of Henry Wilson, Vice President
OF the United States, on the morning Of
November 22d. Although severely al
fitted for long time, the later phase, Of
the disease seemed to encourage the hope
that he would again rally and the county
he blessed with his services for time
longer. His death therefore, was unex-
pecied at this time, as the attack which
recently prostrated him did not threaten
serious results. Senator Ferry, OF Mich
igan, as President pro tenn OF the Senate,
is now Vie President by virtue Of his
position, aud il i, stated that he was elected
President pro tenn by the Senate with tie
express view OF meeting the cont.n-
gency that has now occurred. From the
San Francisco Chronicle we copy the
following account Of the late Vice Presi-
d nt's career:
Henry Wilson, our late Vice President,
wa, born at Farmingham, New Hamp-
shire, February l6, 1872. At ten years
o. age he was appreuticed to Il iaIIher III
Farming. lam, his pa ents being very
poor. lie continued to work at farming
for eleven years, during which time he
was sent to school at irregular intervals.
lie wa II great reader in his carly day,
and gathered more solid instruction from
the books which he borrowed and read
in spa,e moments than from a the teach
b. h.4. 4
hi, majority he lett flaming CHAM and
walk d ~ NatIck, Massachusetts, all his
word v possessions being IN II pack on
Lis shOu der. Here he hired himself 10
shoemaker until be had learned his trade,
when, having accumulated some money,
he returned to New Hampshire, and
studied iOr IA while in the academies OF
Stafford, Wouls borough, and Concord.
In l5o6 the person to whom LIE had
entrusted his earnings failed, and he was
forced t. leave school and return to
Natick, where he again went to work ut
his t.ade Of shoemaker. In 1910 he
took an active part in the presidential
CduNas>, and made upwards Of sixty
speeches in behalf Of General Harrison,
the WING caudidqte. During the next
nve years he represented Nutick thee
l,nes in the Massachusetts Legislature.
Here he Was soon known as a firm and
energetic opponent Of slavery, and in
lS45 he AID the poet Whittier were select
ed to carry TO Washington the great anti
slavery petition from Massachusetts
against the annexation Of IeXa.. lie
WAS delegate to the Wing National
Convention of ISIS, and, when that con
veuti0n rejected the anti-slayery plank in
it, p.atlorm withdrew and became one
Of the foremost leaders in the " Free SOuN
movement. At this time he purchased
the Boston KepHbtica3i, IA paper which he
edited for two years in the interest OF the
"A 70 ition party. In 1896 he was chosen
S.ate Senator, position which he filled
for two years, and during that time occu-
plcd the seat of the President Of the
senate. In lS55 he was elected to succeed
Edward Everett in the United States
Senate, and shortly after bis election made
II speech advocating the repeal OF the
Fugitive Slave Law, and the abolition OF
slavery in the District Of Columbia and
the Territories. From that time until
1872 he was conspicuous IN the Senate rs
an earnest advocate Of antl-slaVery meas
urc,, until slavery was finally killed.
When, in May, 1856, his colleague, Chas.
Sumner, was assailed by Brooks, OF
South Carolina, Mr.. Wilson, in "a speech
To the Senate, denounced the act as II
" brutal, mulderous, and coward.y y
ASSAULT For this language Brooks
challenged Senator Wilson, but he refused
10 accept The challenge on the ground that
dueling is barbIrous practice which
The law of the land has branded n Il
.','ne. bat stated at the same time that
he believed in the right Of self defense in
IL DtJadest sense, On the assembling Of
the Senate in March, 1861, Mr.. Wilson
was made Chairman of the Committee
on Military Affairs, post which the war
ma L. one OF unprecedented labor and
responsibility. In this capacity he intro
d ced and carried through Congress,
during the extra session OF 1861, the acts
to authorize the employment Of 500, 600
volunteers to increase the regular army,
10 recognize the military system, and
vtrlcus others Of neal ly equal importance.
NJ Cameron. the Secretary OF war, said
ni him: No man, in my opinion, has
done more TO aid the War Department
IN preparing the mighty army now under
M" In the regular session Of 1861 2
MI. Wilson Introduced the bill abOlishiug
avery in the District of Columbia and
also the measure for abJlishing the "blacll
code" On the 9th OF June, 1872, the
Na'io1al Republican Convention assem-
J. ell in PnilHdei phia, nominated Henry
Wilson Il, Vice President OF the United
states and General Z. s. Grant ms Pre,i-
d Ut. The ticket was elected in Novem-
,rr Of that wear, and on the 4th OF March,
! Y, Mr.. Wilson WIS formally inaugur-
s,t"d a Vice President. His record since
that time is well known. lie was a
staunch friend to freedom in its highest
sense the unwavering Genelactor OF the
oppressed firm advocate of temper
1uce in all things and take him for all
j a Il we shall not soon look upon his like
again.