Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-05-25
L HE FL Err AID.
Benjamin III. Bristow-Sketch of His
Life and Public Service.

ptepdieu Wy aIkci ". CnauQler,
Esq, of Boston, from material furn-
ished by Chancellor Bowman, Ken
lucky University and other high au.
th critics
The near approach of the Cincin-
natl Convention creates a demand
for information touching the life and
character of any one prominently
named for the Presidential candidacy.
Among these is the Secretary of the
Treasury, of whom few facts from
the most reliable sources are here
given.
Benjamin II. Bristow was born at
Elkton, Todd County, Ky, in 1882.
From both father and grandfather be
inherited devotion to his country and
hatred Of slavery. His grandfather,
staunch old pioneer of those rugged
times, was emphatic in his denuncia>
ton of the institution, and served his
generation faithfully in the cause of
national and human freedom. From
the pastorate of church, he went in
to the service, in our second war
with Great Britain, leaving to his de-
scendants the discharge of a brave
soldier.
His father, educated in log
school-house of the west, added such
scholastic and professional studies as
ranked him with the first lawyers of
the State. He was active in public
affairs, was member of the State
Constitutional Convention, personal
friend and co-laborer of Henry Clay
in the old wing party, and by sheer
force of character and high personal
quality was elected to Congress in the
stormy times of 1860-61. Inheriting
slaves through his wife, he accepted
the trust to serve the oppressed, Civ
ing freedom to any who desired aud
caring for such as remained.
When the war broke out, he stood
by the Union, was driven from his
home and suffered persecution and
loss as only patriot can. He died
in the midst of the struggle, rich in
years and heroic in faith.
Benjamin, the oldest son of this
father, graduated with credit in 1851,
studied law with his father, and he
settled in the practice of his profess
sion when the Rebellion assailed the
government.
This brought the test Of his pat
riotism not as in the North and not as
in the South, but in that fierce antag-
onism of political and social interest
of border State. But there was no
parley. With a loyalty born of gen
erations of conviction, and duty, he
was soon at the front, his regiment
literally cut to pieces in engagements
at Fort Henry, Fort Donaldson, Pitts
burg Landing, and Shiloh. The sub
sequent year be was found at the
head of fresh troops, raised through
personal effort, and everywhere the
cool and valiant leader.
In 1868 he was called from the
field to the not less trying and impor-
tant service of the state Senate. In
the conflict of counsels threatening
the integrity Of that distracted COM
monwealth, he was brave and wise.
AT the most critical period of that
intense contest between fanaticism
and fidelity, says the distinguished
DR.. Robert J. Breckenridge at
was Bristow who laid the keystone of
the arch which for all time would
sustain liberty and freedom in Ken
lucky" No man did more than Col.
Drscf ~ rollx, hn (o.t.no.
of Unionists, when the Emancipation
Proclamation so nearly sent the State
over to the enemy. He accepted the
Emancipation, sustained the constitu-
tional amendments, advocated the
arming of the freedmen, and took the
stump for the reelection of Abraham
Lincoln.
AT the close of the war, In 1865, he
resigned his position as Senator and
resumed the practice of law in Louis
vile. In this he was able and sue
cessful. After filling for time the
office of Assistant District Attorney
in 1866, he was appointed in 1867
District Attorney for Kentucky. In
this capacity, in contact with the still
defiant rebel element, State rights and
the death struggle of slavery, he had
opportunity to show both pluck and
ability, and the records of no times
exhibit an official career truer to the
people or more honorable to the Gov
eminent. He was the first United
States civil officer who officially an
nounced and put in force the edict
that slavery was indeed dead. With
a courage characteristic of the man,
he also boldly championed the rights
of the black race to a common share
in the public education which, alone,
would fit them for free citizenship.
BY every act and speech of his life,
before the war, during the war, and
since the war, he has proved himself
a patriot and statesman.
Three years in the office of district
attorney, with frequent changes in
the revenue laws, give him such mas
terry of the subject as has since been
invaluable in helping him grapple
with the stupendous frauds found in
this branch of the civil service.
He resigned this office IN 1870, to
be again called, in 1871, from private
life and professional success to the
riewly-created post of Solicitor
General of the United States. Two
years of distinguished services in
cases before the Supreme Court and
he is found returning to his profess
sion with the confidence and esteem
of those with whom he had labored.
In 1874, when President Grant found
the Department Of the Treasury in
need of more than an administrative
head, for thorough organization and
control, he found no filter person to
assume so grave trust. How Sec
rotary Bristow has met the duties Of
this vast responsibility the country
knows pretty well and would know
still better but for the persistent and
diabolical war upon him and his
methods of dealing with them, by that
powerful OrpaniZation-tho Whisky