New-York tribune., 1876-05-05
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
sALTER's LIFE OF GRIMES.

connected by q slight thread o. original narrative
and forming pregnant commentary on the pohtlcai
history Of the times during hs public life as wei as
throwing q strong light on BIS personal habits and
character. Mr. Grimes native of llils5orongh
County, New-Hampshire, where he was born Oct
90 1916. He was the son Of a substantial farmer
who sustained through life a high reputation for
integrity of character. devotion to his family,
and kindness of disposition. From early child
hocd young Grimes an eager devourer OF
books aud retained his passion for reading
throughout his lite. He entered Dartmouth Col
lege before the completion Of his sixteenth year. ana
soon after leaving that institution commenced the
study of law In 1886 having nearly reached the
are of twenty. he emicrated to the West, and after
visiting several Of the thriving cities Of Illinois, lie
finally settled in Burlington Iowa, and at once COM
menccd practice as an attorney-at-law. In spite OF
his extreme youth he soon obtained an eminent po-
sition as counselor the firm of which he was
member had large and lucrative practice, ana rap
idly rose to the head Of the legal profession lii Iowa
Although in politics be was Wing from preference
and conviction winch placed him in a minority IN
the county, he repeatedly chosen to the Legisa-
ture receiving the votes of many who were not OF
his own party. He took leading part i'll the halls
of legislation, and from the first was regarded
Us one of the most enlightened and sagacous of the
public men of Iowa. In 1916 he was married TO
young lady of Burlington, and after building a COM
Portable house which he occupied the rest OF his hie
he devoted large part of his leisure time to tie
cultivation Of his garden, and especially OF choice
fruits, in which branch of horticulture be gained
distinguished success For several years specimens
of fruits and flowers from his gardens were cxhib-
tied at the public shows, where they called forth
great edmiraton. He also gave some attention to
the oversight Of "a farm, to the raising of stock and
improving the breed of horses In February 1851
o. to1 Nv InnO Of
Wing party as Governor of Iowa, to which office he
was elected in the month of August following by
majority of about 500 votes. The state of politi
cal feeling in Iowa at that time is shown in letter
to Mr. S. p. Chase, written about two months after
the election
lam astonished at my success in this State
Congresslonal ticket dead weglits one Of nv col
leagues Oh the state tic.et deened becase G was 100
eye proiessedly Wing paper and the wIOe SHeeIWdV
Interest 0Tn o c9sne5 asS. e powers Of darEnes and car
RED handsome majority (ten) OF the Legislature Win
We lost two members by drawing io's "hCre 'neie
The southern half of our State is strongly proslavey
for principles and for disconnecton wlth saver!
The whgs Just now earnmg thai It does no! hnt m
and when the great contest OF 1855 comes on they VII
6e PfeRaTSa R of Tr a aTa S be- to Iowa oeay what
Western Reserve is to the State oi ono No man
can the electoral vote Of Iowa. in 1896 who was
in favor OF tle passage Nebraska bill, and who viii
not favor the repeal Of tne "dqgiye Slave law" Suen
at any rate, is my opinion AT ms tlme'
The reply of Mr. Chase dated Cincinnati, Oct. 81
is not without INTEREST,"
The people are in advance OF the politicians @ ion on & the
your message You have c credit of hghtins, under
fTeedom vet fought. From your State, the extreme
West, viii most appropriately come TIE sl2StsiloLs
oughy pei susded tina if your message snail grappc d.
recty ana boldly with the question and take t1e hs
but sale ground Of consistent principle you VIII do your
Ii the greatest honor and your eontIy the greaG[t
porant and beuehcis effect the events OF 1896. IN
Guiding tie Presidential election Itself lie VINO speaks
clear, st will be best understood aud most honOred
Mr.. Chase wrote again (Nov. 14l:-
nImsy Judge of your forthcoming inaugural by the
part you nave sent me- it VIII 6o an SxeSiiert one; IL
Governor OF Western state, VIII have tue honor oi
being the first TO lay down the great principle Oh wniGL
the slavery question must be finally settled peacefully
settled 1t all AS New-Hanpshne boy and Western
man am proud OF 1t.
During the first year of Governor Grimes's ad-
mnistration, great excitement produced by
an attempt to capture fugitive slave. He was
pursued with bowie knives and revolvers by party
from Missouri and was at last thrown into Burlington
jail for trial. Several personal collisions had grown
out of the affair In describing the scene
in letter to his wife, who absent
on a visit to the East, the Governor writes:
" shall certainly furnish aid to the man-stcal-
ers and it has been determined that the negro shall
release, before any other is resorted to. am sorry
am Governor of the State, for, although can and
shall prevent the State authorities and officers from
interfering in aid of the marshal yet if not i'll Office.
am inclined to think Should be law breaker. 1t
is very nice question with me, whether should
act, being Governor, just Us would if 1 were pri-
vate individual. intend to stand at my post at all
events, and act just as shall think duty may
quire under the circumstances" The result is re-
ported in the same letter as follows:-
The negro free and is bis TO Canada. A great
crowd yesterday in town. sent on Monday to Davids,
via yellow Spring and Huron, and told my friends and
were here ep masse. Marion Hall nied and qua de
stationed at the door, to prevent more people
peared for negro When the decision made, such
. went never heard in that hail before,
building and The whole town reverberated A thousand
followed Dr. James and the negro to the river and
air with their cheers, as the BOAT was nlasned
from mOorfngs and started with Tho poor fellow
his road to freedom. Judge Lowe was brought from
Keokuk Monday IN the night ana wit % haDGas corpus
Ws sued out against the negro stealers for
Kidnapping, assault &C. but untortunaey. & they .s,
satisfied that the would never have been taken
iuto slavery, from Burlington.
friends, Col. Warren and the Rev. W. 4. COwlcs,
showed tnat there marrow in their spinal col
unns-
law Iowa TIE State, the aud tire LeOplc thank
God. arc saved from Disgrace How opinions change
Four years ago Mr.. and myself, and Dot TO exceed
three others In town. the only men who dared eX-
press opinion opposition 10 the Fugitive slave law,
and because we did express such opinions, de
noupeed ike pic pock kets Now / am Governor OF
Stle; three OurtGs VI the reading and rejecting people
of the county agree with me IA sentiments
law aud = slave could not be returned from Moines
County into slavery II blessed thing that tele s
10 oob 10 tue principles and progress o reedom II Is
always hOodtde.
In the course of Mr.. Grimes's correspondence,
ch oh oil inf md tam Ia