The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-06-21


and some Of you, hereafter occupy a
large space in the eyes Of mankind.
Ia this FREQ country, where tho humb-
l0st citizen Of times becomes the first
man Of the Republic, it may not be
puinlerosting iha. | should pause and
review for 4 short time, the lives and
characters Of some Of cur American
statesmen, who arc and were the arch
itectS Of their own fortunes. The man
to-day, who tills the highest position
in the world, was few years ago, un-
known to fame and unknown to history.
BY the Whirl Of revolution and the
turn ofthe wheel Of fortune, be today
occupies the Presidential chair Of these
United States. Prior TO our civil war,
be was only known in the peighbor-
hood in which be lived, asa mechanic
-allhborer, q tanner Of leather, who
carried his bread in the sweat Of his face;
butIby bis indomitable will, bis perse-
ysrance. his courage and bis patriot.
ism, he to-day Is the hOnored head Of
a Nation. composed Of thirty eight
sovereign States, and populated BY
more than forty millisns Of freemeu.
We have also, ia the person Of Vice
President oftho United States. prac-
teal example Of what poor young
man may do, by industry aud sobriety
The Vice President when boy We
are informed vas put out to learn the
shosmAking trade. and for time made
his living BY his "sNls and ends"
As he sat on bis bench sewing his
leather, no had book opened bsforo
him, and as be drove q peg, be read a
sentence.-By constant study and APP
plicatiOn, by the time ho was twenty
one years Of age, he was prepared %
enter the political arena. The people
Of bis State appreciating his merits,
elected him 10 all the State Offices in
their gift. He was subsequently, elect
ed to Tie lower House Of Congress-
then u tho Senate, Of the United
States and again reelected. At the
last Presidential election. he was plac-
cd on he Vice Presidential ticket aud
electedlto the second office in the gift
Of the American people. And 50 it's,
we havein the persons Of the two
highes Offices Of our government, q
tanner and a shoemaker, There lived
some years ago in the State Of Tonnes-
sec, u poor boy who was appronticed 20
learn the trade Of tailor, as he 50. by
the sid ofhis master sewing together
the slips Of cloths which the master
had etcarpated from the goods Of bis
customers, he decided that no would
not always occupy 50 humble a posi-
ton. So ho bought him a spelling
book and learned to spell, then q read.
or and learned 10 read, next he learn
ed to write aud then 10 cipher. This,
in thai day in Tennessee, was about
the extent ofa young mans education.
Whenlhe had served out bis time, he
was q candidate for constable and elect.
cd. He discharged the duties Of this
office %, the satisfaction Of the people.
Subsequently be was a candidate fol
tho Legislature and elected, two OIL
three tciaS,-Thc people were so
pleased with his legislation, that they
took him up and elected him TO The
lower Houie Of Congress Of the United
States. He served in that body two
, or three asssions-then he was elected
to the Senate Of the United States
Subsequently he was made Governor
Of the State. Of Tennessee and dis
charged the duties Of that position Il
The approval fthe people, at mos
5 delicate and trying time in our coun'
try's history. BE was afterwards
elected Vice President Of the United
! States. and the President dying, b.
by virtue ofhis Office under tho Con.
. stitution, became the President. and
! discharged the duties Of that Office fol
i four years. At the end Of the term,
, be retired to his home, and last win.
I ter the people Of Tennessee looking
about for suitable person to repre-.
. sent them in the Senate Of the United
States, elected this same tailor boy to
i tho United States Senate. Il is The
first time in our history that man
| after filing the Presidential chair, has
: been elected to the United States Sen.
ate. Another name just here which
I figures largely ia our eountry's histo.
. ~, occurs to my mind. A poor boy
lived in South oarolins-he had q
/. widowed mother to provide for. he
I was industrious and ambitious; willis,
he provided and worked for bis moth.
ers support aud comfort hc lost no
time 10 studying and reading bis
. books. About the time he arrived TO
years Of manhood, 90 Indian war
, broke out. in the Carolinas, Georgia,
, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and
, Florida. The Indians had broken
| faith aud violated their treaty stipula.
tons with the white people. They
stole their cattle and hOrses-killed
men and women and carried Of their
children. This poor young man was
called upon by his government. to
take command Of an army, aud Chas-
tise these Indians for their crusltiol
aud wrongs. Hs accepted the place,
and pursued them aud fought them
many bloody battles, until they were
driven west Of tho Mississippi. Soon
after this, general Indian war broke