Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-15
GOVERNOR HOWARD.
His Public Career Written Up by a Man
Who Knows Him.
One oi the Natioa's Best Has Been Ssat. n
Occupy Our Executive Office.
THIS Article also Contains Some Kindly
Words for the Governors wiz.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, April @, 1873.
Editors Press & Dakotaian:
Surprising the citizens Of Dakota would
like to know something about the Hon.
VIM. A. Howard, of this city, appointed by
President Hayes, ard confirmed by the
senate as governor Of your territory, I beg
10 send this brief, but truthful sketch Of the
gentleman referred to.
Mr.. Howard is not far from 60 wears Of
age. a native Of Vermont, aad a graduate of
Middlebury college, where he prepared
himself for the. ministry Of the Presbyts.
rian church. Soon after he graduated, he
changed his mind and commenced the study
Of tthe Law, aud about the year 1888 removed
to Detroit, 10 this state, and entered upon
its practice. He soon became one of the
leading members Of the bar, not only of
Wayne county, but Of the state, and held
such important positions az prosecuting
attorney, state senator, postmaster of De.
troll, etc etc. He also represented the
first district in Michigan. in congress for
six years, commencing with about the time
of the organization of the republican party
in 1856, and continuing there until after the
Inauguration of Lincoln. During Mr..
Towards congressional career, he earned
. national reputation, As chairman of the
well remembered kansas committee"
having as his associates Hon. NJ. Oliver, of
Missouri, and Hon. John Sherman (now
secretary of treasury he made a repor, that
fairly electrified the couatry, and did very
much in the way Of securing freedom to
that now prosperous state, and incidentally
OF course, to all Of the then vast territories
ofthe west. The people Of your neighbor.
ing Kansas will not soon forget Mr.. How.
ards determined efforts to toll the {" Border
Ruttians." not only in his exhaustive report.
but on the floor Of congress. He vas, also,
one Of the celebrated "Lecompton Confer
ence Committee" consisting of II. NJ. T.
Hunter, Of Virginia Green. Of Mississippi;
Easlish. Of Indiana; A. II. Stephens, of
Georgia; and Seward, from the senate, and
it is not saying too much when it Is asserted.
that to Mr. Towards ssgacity, and his de-
termination to stand by the people. against
the ~"Lecomiton Constitution" that polit.
ical chimera was knocked in the head,
During Mr. Towards entire period of
service in the house, he was always a mem.
Der OF the committee on ways and means
the leading committee of the hnuse-,he
duties of which are onercus and perplexing,
and requiring the very best talent. He
was on the committee of thirty. three, known
as the Conference Committee" made up
OF one from each state, which committee
was raised at the opening of the session Of
1901, when the southern states were
seeding and preparing for their great re.
bellion against the government. He was,
also, chairman of the special committee on
Public Safety" consisting, besides himself,
of Dawes, OF Massachusetts,; Reynolds, of
New Jersey; Cochrane, of New York and
Branch, of North Carolina. 1t was one of
the mos important committees ever raised
by congress, during the rebellion, and
clothed with extraordinary powers. In
fact no such power could be conferred
upon a committee, unless, in the opinion of
the house. the republic was in imminent
danger. This committee was appointed by
the then Speaker Pennington, and was au.
thorized to sit at any time, in whole or in
part. 1t bad the full confidence of the
house, and all business it desired to bring
before 1.-THE house-had preference. 1t
was raised at the special instance of the
loyal members Of the cabinet of Buchanan,
and the amount of information it was en-
abled to obtain, with reference to the
Vaccinations Of the secessionists, was of
incalculable benefit to the union cause. III
the writer is not mistaken the records of
congress will show that Mr.. Howard
was a member Of more committees, special
and otherwise, during bis six years term,
than any other member.
Upon retiring from congress he was ap-
pointed postmaster at Detroit, by Lincoln.
and upon the accession of Gen. Grant to
the presidency, MI. Howard was rendered
and accepted the appointment Of minister
to China, which position he subsequently,
IeSIRueu, vi ACCOuut VI IIi.u6AIt0. 10 1861
Mr.. II. was rendered the position of land
commissioner of the Grand Rapids and H.
diana railroad, which he accepted, removing
from Detroit TO Grand Rapids, where be
has since made his home. He resigned the
land commissionship in July last, though
still acting as attorney for Gen. Geo. w.
Cass and Thomae A. Scott, trustees for the
bond holders Of the Grand Rapids and In.
diana railroad.
These are som Of the more important
places Mr.. Howard has filled with eminent
TO the people and to those for whom
he acted. Mr.. H. has been q prominent
leader Of the republican party from its foun-
.dation, and his reputation Is a statesman is
national. He was for many years chairman
the Michigan republican state central
committee; has been = member Of the ma
ional republican committee. aud q delegate