Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-04-14
BristOM's Record.

just at this time the political record
Of Secretary Bristow is of considerable
Importance. Those who examine 1t viii
find it interesting, A very brief sketch
Of his life will lead to better appre
citation of his political career:
He was born in July, 1882; gradu'
ated at Jefferson College, Pa, in 1851
studied law and practiced with fair
success in partnership with his father
until the breaking out Of the war His
father, though an owner of slaves, was
an emancipationist, and his servants
we're early given to understand that they
were free to leave him whenever they
chose. In will which he had prepared,
all were declared free at his death. The
war, however, set this will aside. The
moment the contest of arms began Gen.
eral Bristow heartily espoused the cause
of the Union, and he was well known in
his section of the state, and popular, his
influence was widely felt. In August,
1861, he was in the field as lieutenant
colonel of the Twenty-fifth Kentucky, a
regiment raised among the first of the
three-years troops. He was in the bat
ties of Donelson and Shiloh, and in both
bore himself with distinction. In 1862
he helped raise the Eighth Kentucky
Cavalry, was made its lieutenant colonel
and soon its colonel. In this position he
served with great credit until the fall of
1868, when he was elected to the state
senate. He then left the field and took
his seat in the legislature. Here he ear
nestly advocated every principle and
measure which tended to help the Union
cause, and as member of the Military
Committee rendered valuable service.
Reports have been circulated of late
that his course upon the issues arising
out of the question of slavery was that
of Kentucky Conservative. No state
ment could be further from the truth
and consequently none more unjust.
He was pronounced advocate of the
proclamation of emancipation, and when
the amendment abolishing slavery came
up for action in the Legislature, he was
one of a small band to advocate its
adoption and vote for it in all its stages.
He did this in opposition to the prevail
ing sentiments of his district, and against
clamors and protests from all parts of it.
In answer to these his reply was that he
would surely vote his convictions and
then resign, as he would not insist upon
representing them. And this he did.
He left the Senate and began the prac-
tice of law in Louisville. Here his pro-
nounced and radical Unionism, and his
open advocacy of the rights of the col
ored man, virtually shut him out of
much Of the society in which he had
been accustomed to move. The four
teenth and fifteenth amendments re-
ceived his hearty and energetic support
When the colored people of the vicinity
of Louisville were much annoyed and
embarrassed by their want of knowl-
edge concerning the extent of their new
rights, he made speeches to them in the
city to explain these things In return
he was almost ostracized by the leading
influences in society.
In 1866 he was appointed assistant
United States attorney by Mr.. Lincoln,
and soon after became district attorney.
He Immediately began prosecutions Of
those who, in various parts of the state,
were denying the colored people the
new rights which the constitution gave
them, and the people of Kentucky,
through these trials, at once became
aware that freedom was to be made a
practical thing in their state. His
prompt arrests and speedy trials and nu-
merous convictions, of those who COM
mitted outrages against the freedmen
were the talk of the state, and were, in.
deed, a supplemental proclamation to
the whites that the laws of the United
States would be relentlessly enforced for
the protection of colored citizens.
He was equally uncompromising with
violators of the civil rights bill, He
not only prosecuted offenders in all parts
of his district, but he explained to the
colored people what their rights were in
public speeches at important points, Nc
men in the state had sufficient position
wealth or social influence to deter Gen
eral Bristow from prosecuting him foi
wrong done colored man. The records
of the United States courts in Kentucky
will bear out all here said in regard tC
his record upon these points,
1t was the persistent prosecution in
the federal court of Kentucky of all of
fences against the rights of coiored men
and the constant bringing of witnesse;
from all parts of the state to Louisville
that, by its inconvenience, exerted q
strong influence in favor of giving ne
groes the right to testify in the state
courts-a measure which General Bris
tow earnestly advocated.
The first colored man offered fedora
position in Kentucky received his ap
pointment upon recommendation of Gen
eral Bristow. He took the oath of of.
flee in April, 1870. Two others were
soon afterward appointed upon his re
commentator, and at all times there
after he urged upon the officeholders in
Louisville to recognize the claims Of
colored men to office, and to appoint
such as were fitted for tt whenever op,
portunity occurred.
Such, in brief, is the political record
of Secretary Bristow. How many o
the prominent republicans of the party
can point to one so radical? To appre
ciate it fully it is necessary to call VI
the prejudices which then met man al
: every step in Kentucky, who in thos,
! i I