Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-11-22
sketch OF prr. WILSON,. Career.

sketch OF Mr. WtIsOn's career.
Henry Wilson was born at Pennington, New
Hampshire, February 16, 1872, the son of poor
parents His education WAS very defective.
After he had worked on farm many years he
removed to Natick, Massachusetts, about 1882,
and learned the trade of shoemaker In 1910 he
was elected to the House OF Representatives OF
Massachusetts by the Wings He afterwards
served four years in the Massachusetts Senate,
of which he was twice elected president, and dis
tnguished himself as a Jealous and resolute op-
ponent of slavery. He took prominent part III
the organization of the Free-Soil party in 1913,
and in that year began to edit the q Boston Re-
publican" He was president OF the Free-Soil
National Convention at Pittsburg in 1852, WAS a
member of the Constitutional Convention in 1858
and was the unsuccessful candidate for Cover
nor of Massachusetts in 1858 and 1854 In 1855
he was elected Senator of the United States to
succeed Edward Everett. He advocated the re-
peal of the Fugitive Slave Law, and the aboli-
tion of slavery in the District of Columbia, and
became in 1855 one of the leaders of the Repub-
lican party, then just organized. In May 1856.
he was challenged by Preston s. Brooks because
he denounced his assault on Mr.. Sumner as
''murderous, brutal and cowardly." He declined
to accept the challenge on the ground that duel
ling was forbidden by the laws of his country /;
at the same tme he notified his challen-
ger that if attacked, his Conscientious scruples
would not prevent him from defending himself.
He was reelected to the Senate Of the United
States about January 1859, and in March of that
year made speech in defence Of free labor,
which attracted much attention.
At the outbreak of the Rebellion, Mr.. Wilson
threw himself earnestly into the work of sus-
tanning the Union cause. His greatest service
was performed as Chairman of the Senate Mill
tary Committee in which General Scott said he
performed more work in a week than all the pre-
yious Chairmen had done in twenty years. He
then exerted his own great popularity in Massa-
chusetts to raise regiment of men, which was
quickly recruited and placed in the field, he SER
wing as its colonel, and subsequently on Gen.
Mc0lellan's staff, until his Congressional duties
required his presence in the Senate. In 1865,
he vas third time elected Senator from Masaa-
chusetts, and in 1871 was chosen again for a
further term of six years. The Republican
Convention held at Philadelphia, in 1872, nomi-
mated him, however, for the Vice Presidency, on
the ticket with General Grant, and he shared in
the memorable triumph of that year, to which
he had largely contributed by his able and effec
tive speeches in all parts of the country.
Mr. Wilson was always most laborious and
active man. His share in the business OF the
Senate WAS large, he had an immense correspon-
dence. and WAS at all times accessible to host of
friends He wrote considerably for the leading
| periodicals, sometimes lectured, and was at the
time of his death engaged in his great work
1.-THE Rise and Fall OF the Slave Powerin Ameri-
ca" two volumes of which have been published.
In 1856, Henry Wilson came to Delaware, at
| the invitation OF Hon. e. @. Bradford, rs the
principal speaker at the first meeting of the
| Republican party ever held in this State. He
spoke in the City Hail. with Lewis Thompson,
| Esq, presiding at the meeting. 1t WAS = notable
| event. and from that time to the present Mr.
Wilson has held high place in the hearts OF
| the earnest Republicans OF this, as of Other
| States
Senator Thomas W. Ferry, of Michigan, is
President pro tenn Of the Senate, and by virtue
| of that office becomes acting Vice President
| during his inoumbency.