The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-12-23
D. 7. Corbin.

Hon. d. T. Corbin, elected United
States Senator last week by the legislature
of South Carolina, is Vermonter. He
graduated at Dartmouth College 10 the
class OF 1857, and after his graduation
studied law and vent into practice Of
Wells River, succeeding at that place
Charles @. Dewey, late Of Rutland. de-
ceased. Mr.. Corbiu continued in the
practice of his profession until the break.
ing out Of the war Of the rebellion, when
he was one Of the 6rst 10 enlist in the
army and was elected captain ola company
raised in his vicinity, which was attach.
ed to the third Vermont volunteers.
This regiment was commanded BY Colonel
afterwards GeDcraD "3aldy" Smith, and
our townsman, Colonel Pro,tor, was GUAR.
termaster, and Colonel Veazy was captain
and subsequently, major and lieutenant.
colonel Of this regiment. Captain Corbin
par ticipatcd in the Peninsular campaign
of the Potomac army under General
Mcclellan in 1862, and was severely
wounded at the battle Of Savage Station,
the regiment being under the command
Of Colonel Veszy, and in the darkness
Of the evening, which came on before the
battle closed, he was overlooked by his
comrades and left on the field and. the
army having withdrawn during the night,
he~as taken prisoner by the rebels and
carried to Richmond. Nearly half bis
company were killed or wounded in that
battle. After partial recovery from
his wounds be was exchanged, and was
soon afterwards transferred TO the Invalid
Corps, ss it was called, being made up Of
men disabled to perform active service
in the fold, He was finally sent to
Charleston, South Carolina, and was there
when tho war closed, and Immediately
went into the practice OF bis profession
in that city. which has been his home
ever since.
He was member Of the first South
Carolina legislature after the war, was
elected speaker Of the House of Repre-.
sentatives, which was made up almost en-
tirely Of colored men, scarcely any Of
whom could read or write, and they all
looked to Speaker Corbin for all the pen
and ink work and general direction. He
drafted the present constitution of tho
state, in the main, which Henry Ward
Beecher once in a speech pronounced
the best constitution that any people
ever adopted. Captain Corbin was ten.
dered judgeship and various other Off.
ces, but accepted the appointment Of
United States district attorney, which he
has continued to hold to this time. This
position has made him very conspicuous
and prominent in the affairs Of that state
through the years of reconstruction, and
he was the principal legal adviser Of the
board Of canvassers 10 the recent election,
and finally succeeded 10 getting them re-
leased from jail and from the orders and
clutches OF the infamous Moses court.
His election as United States senator is q
merited honor for his fearless. fai,hfa,
and able efforts to build up the prosper.
ity and spirit of loyalty in his adopted
state, and it is also triumph of the
best elements Of the state. With such
men as Corbin in the senate and Cham.
berlain as governor, South Carolina may
soon expect to become transformed from
hot'bed Of secession to condition of
loyalty and prosperity equal TO that OF
Massa achusetts or Vermont.