The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-29
BENJAMIN H. BristoW's Record.

The following is from the Cincinnati
Gazette of recent date
just at this time the political record of
Secretary Brstow is of considerable I'M
portance. Those who examine it will not
fail to find it interesting. A very brief
sketch of his life will lead to better ap.
probation of his political career.
He was born in July 1882 graduated at
jefferson college, Pa, In 1851 studied
law, and practiced with fair success in
partnership with his father until the break
ing out of the war. His father, though
an owner of slaves, was an emancipation
list, and his servants were early given to
understand that they were free to leave
him whenever they choose. 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. Brlstow heartily es-
poused the cause OF the Union, and as 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-tifth Ken
lucky, a regiment raised among the first of
the three-years troops. He was in the bat
ties OF Donelson and Shilo, and in both
bore himself with distinction. In 1869 he
helped raise the Eighth Kentucky cavalry,
was made its Lieutenant colonel and soon
its colonel. In this position lie served with
great credit until the tall of 1868, when he
was elected to tie state senate. He then
left the field and took his seat in the egis-
lature. Here he earnestly advocated every
principle and measure tended to help the
Union cause, and as a member of the mill
taiy committee rendered valuable service
Reports have been circulated of late that
his course upon the issues arising out of
question of slavery was that of a Kentucky
conservative. No statement could be
further from the truth-and consequently
none more unjust.
He was n 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 10 advocate its adoption and
vote for it in all its stages. He did this in
opposition to the prevailing sentiments of
his district, and against clamors and pro-
tests from all parts of it. In answer to
these his reply was that he would surely
vote his convictions and then resign, as lie
would not insist upon disappearing
them. And this he did. He left the SEN
ate and began the practice of law in Louis
vile. Here his pronounced and radical
unonlsm, and his open advocacy of the
rights of the colored man, virtually shut
him out of much of the society IN which he
had been accustomed to move. The four
teenth and fifteenth amendments received
his hearty support. When the colored
people of the vicinity of Louisville were
much annoyed and embarrassed by their
want of knowledge 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 Uni
ted States attorney by MIR. 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 practical thing In their
state. His prompt arrests and speedy tri-
oils, and numerous convictions, of those
who committed Outrages against the freed
men, were the talk of the state, and were,
indeed, supplemental proclamation to the
whites that the laws of the United States
would be relentlessly enforced for the pro-
lection of colored citizens.
He was equally Incorporating with
vlolators of the civil-rights bill. He not