Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-29
DEATH OF JAMES W. NYE.

~
yuished man whose name heads this
article. He died on Christmas day at
the historic village of White Plains,
now one of the north eastern suburbs
of New York.
We have not Mt hand the data from
which to compile an accurate biograph-
ical sketch OF the deceased statesman.
OF his early life we know little, and
hat little derived from neeting recol-
lections of his own inimitable anecdotes
and "reminiscences. He was, we be-
lieve, born in Central New York, dur
ing the wal Of lSI2-l5. He had no ad-
vantages of early education other than
those furnished by the then very I'M
perfect common school system of his
native State. His boyhood was passed
in alternate labor, frolic and study.
At one time he drove a stage, at an
other he was clerk in a country "store."
Shortly after arriving It mans estate
he obtained employment in an attor-
ney's Office. After some years he was
admitted to the bar. In his profession,
however, he never acquired more than
a local reputation. The law is a jeal-
u mistress and young Nye vas OF
too mercurial a temperament to de-
vote assiduous attention TO her. At an
early age he interested himself in
politics, enrolling himself in the ranks
of the Democracy. He was an active
supporter of Polk in 1874. In 1913 he
was a member of the Barnburner Con-
vention, at Buffalo, which nominated
Van Buren, for the presidency. In the
reputation as a ready and effective
stump speaker. 1t was not until 1857
that be rose into national prominence.
He had in 1854 participated in the or
~ganization of the Republican party in
New York, and In 1856 his wit and his
wonderful eloquence contributed large
ly to secure the success of his party In
the Empire State. AS q reward for his
services he was in the spring of 1857
appointed Police Commissioner Of the
city Of New York under the Metropol-
itan Police Bill, q Republican measure
to which the New York City Demo-
Gratis were bitterly hostile. The con-
flict between the new police and the
old city guardians was long and severe,
attaining at q time almost the pro-
portions of a civil war. In this con
test General Nye established among
all classes a high reputation for firm
ness, moderation aud executive ability.
During the presidential campaign OF
1860 his services to the Republican
party were very great and were ac-
knowledged by President Lincoln by
his appointment as Governor of the
new Territory Of Nevada. Governor
Nye arrived In Carson in the summer
of 1861 and entered upon the duties of
his Office. These he faithfully dis
charged until the fall of 1864, when,
the Territory merging in the State OF
Nevada, he turned over the executive
office TO Governor Blasdel. Governor
Nye aud VIM. NJ. Stewart were the
first United States Senators elected by
the Legislature Of Nevada. Nys drew
the short term, expiring March 4th,
1867. By the State Legislature which
convened in January, 1867, he was 70.
elected to the Senate for the full term
Of six years; his principal opponent in
the contest for the honor being Charley
De Long, who has so lately passed
from among Is. With this term in the
Senate ended his public life.
Upon retiring from the Senate he re-
established himself in New YORK city.
But his career of usefulness and activ'
ity was ended. The convivial habits
which he had formed in early life bore
at length their legitimate fruit. Within
a year he was attacked with softenine
of the brain. Every remedy hat skill
could devise, every care that affection
cOutQ IeuuoTs were utNOtou 10 us To-
covery, but it was too late. Something
over a year ago his mind passed en-
tirely from him, and the last days OF
his active life were passed in intellec-
tual darkness. 1t is q consolation for
his friends to know that ths close OF
his mental life and the months of dark
ness before death seized on lis physi-
cal frame were passed in tie tender
care OF his only daughter, to whom he
was passionatsly devoted, and who
gave him in return the love Of a heart
as big as his own. 4
We have not time to-day, nor indeed
have we the heart, to give . fair esti-
Of the services and character Of
Senator Nye. We have tried in vain
10 pass Judgment upon the politician,
the orator and the statesman. We
cannot divest our mind Of the magic
presence of the man. Even as we
write, his genial laugh..resounds In our