The New York herald., 1879-07-12
OBIT u A r Y
WILLIAM ALLEN.

Ex-Governor william Allen. OF Ohio. died suddenly
at his home. Chillicothe. in State yester-
day morning. Governor Bishop. of Ohio. last
night issued proclamation eulogistc of ex- Cover
Allen recitng his public services and directed
that the flags the Capitol be displayed at half
mast until the funeral, and that the offices be
closed on that day.
William Allen was born In Edenton N. c., in
1907 but spent the most of his boyhood in Lynch
burg Va At the age of sixteen years he found him.
self alone in the world in that city. and he deter
mined to "go West to seek his fortune. He had
nothing excepting what he wore and such educa-
tion he had obtained in the public schools Ohio
then rapidly growing in prosperity and having
half sister who lived with her husband in Chilli
cothe he resolved to join them. 1t undertak-
ing before which many men would have hesitated.
to the Blue Ridge foot in the winter but he
had no means to travel otherwise. and with q
chance compsnion he started. 1t was
tolsome journey. and Aliens companion.
Kentucky mountaineer tell once. exhausted in the
snow. but the boy kept up. and building a huge
fire. the two camped out for the night. Further on
the way he crossed the Ohio River in boat hired of
a negro who consented to risk the dangers of float.
ing ice when the ferrymsn refused to do Several
days later he became lame. and only finished his
journey through the kindness of some people by the
way who loaned him q horse. At Chilicothe he was
kindly received by his sister and his brothern-law
(the parents OF Allen G. Thurmanl and placed at
school. After two years he began the study of law
III the ONCE OF Judge Scott, famous lawyer in the
State. He soon changed to the Office of Colonel King
u son OF Rufus King OF New York and admitted
to the Bar at Portsmouth just before the completion
OF his twenty-hrst year. He soon became Colonel
Kings partner and within q short time was recog-
nized as one of the most promising young lawyers
in Ohio. BY winning an unexpected victory for
client trial for murder in 1892 he established his
fame and position at the Bar beyond further ques-
ton.
He then entered political life. He has said him
self that he was democrat from his early child
hood, and used to tell OF seeing and talking with
Thomas Jefferson and General Jackson in their room
in town in Lynchburg when he was nine years old.
He and another youngster to their rooms out
OF curiosity to see the great men, and pleas
anty and kindly received. He was a Jackson demo-
crat from that day. and. after winning the murder
trial spoken Of be was complimented with a nom
inaon to Congress in district that had always cast
q whig majority of !. 500 or 1000
At this time stump speaking was almost unknown
in Ohio, but Allen. becoming more and more conf
dent the canvass advanced travelled all over the
smiths shop, soliciting the support of every man,
woman and child he met and. i'll short. doing every
thing he could by personal effort to secure votes.
In one forensic encounter with William s. Murphy.
his abest opponent in the canvass he came Off VIC
torious and really his election for he received
majority of vote out OF over ten thousand
cast. His election contested. but without
collecting testimony or arguing his case he showed
at the last moment that the notice of contest had
been served on him before he had received his GER
titicate OF election, and this technical point he
finally secured his seat He soon obtained a promi-
against the position which John Quincy Adams had
taken the Ohio boundary line question. became
recognized one OF the leading democratic orators
in the House. At the conclusion Of that speech.
Horace Bnney. of Pennsyivania.1who was ON the
the floor. came over to him. shook his hand. and
said MIR. Allen. have not the pleasure of know
ing you. but am convinced that you are right on
this question"
The first year that Mr.. Allen was in the House. the
first session OF the Twenty-third Congress is cee-
brated as the ''panic session.. 1t in that year
that the great battle was fought over the removal of
fha OOy frpm IIni ifad MT
Bank. and before the close OF his term the downfall
OF that institution was accomplished. When
removal of the deposits it in opposi-
tion to the opinion OF q majority OF his
tary of the Treasury. refused to comply with the
Presidents request. Mr.. Duane was removed in
consequence and Roger b. Taney appointed in his
directions. Early in the first session of the ensuing
Congress Mr.. Clay moved series OF resolutions in
the Senate condemning the policy OF the admins
tration, which was passed. but became nu ugatory in
effect. While the Senate bitterly hostile to the
policy of the administration the House was warmly
in its favor. series of resolutions offered
in the latter body beginning with the propositions
that the Bank of the United States ought not to be
re-chartered and that the pubfc deposits ought
to be restored to the bank. With his vote in favor
OF these sound financial propositions Mr.. Allen
began his public career.
His record in the House Of Representatives was
honorable one. Thomas Ewing and Thomas
Sias Wright from New York. John Quincy Adams
from Massachusetts, and Polk from Tennessee. and
score Of others whose names are written i'll the
history OF the country. Jackson then
President. and was in the midst of his
fct with the money power. He had vetoed
the bill to recharter the United States Bank aud
had removed the deposits from the vaults 1t was
of the giants in the political arena and the
beardless youth they called him who represented
the Scioto district was among the foremost in the
battle. He took the side of Jackson. whose knee
he had sat eighteen wears before and had the salts
faction OF seeing and helping that man to victory.
1t then the contest OF the people against =
monopoly. of the taxpayers against the taxeaters.
and he was with the people and triumphed.
At the end of his Congressional term q choice for
United States Senator was to be made in Ohio. and
his friends and admirers at once named him for the
post. The democrats carried the Legislature by one
majority. and Mr.. Allen was nominated and elected
Hon. Thomas Ewing. who then in the
Senate. Thus in two instances Mr.. Allen adj
vanced on the political road by one majority. He is
said to have been the youngest man ever elevated
to the United States senate; He reached
Washington on the Sd of March, 1887, and
the 4th. which the Inauguration
day of Martin Van Buren. he took his seat
ator Allen re-eected-this time by q decided
majority-and served until the 4th of March. ls49--
chairman OF the Committee on Foreign Relations
a position which he filled with signal ability. He
an early friend Of Cuba. and abored in all proper
ways to obtain the separate nationality and indie
pendence OF that Island. When he entered the Sem
ate the same question which first met him In the
House, but in different shape-a bill providing for
the keeping of the public moneys and hard money
currency-was among the first measures to
gage the attention OF Congress-. MIR. Allen on that
0
but opposed the striking out of the hard money clause
whch of the friends of Mr.. Van Buren, = ad-
ministra,on desired to make a separate measure,
thus approving himself u political economist OF the
strctest and Benton school, On the slavery
question Mr. Allen refused to adept the extreme
notions of Mr.. Calhoun. but while asserting the
stituonai power of Congress its existence both
IN the District and in the Territories he voted to
deprecate its abolition. Though pursuing the
line of policy as that so eminenty exemplifed by
Mr.. Benton MIR. Allen was no mtator. but man of
independent thought and action. In respect at
least he showed unusual wisdom and sagacity.
Foreseeing the aggressions OF the senate in times of
political dsscntion and disturbance owing to it's
elusive power executive appointments and in
the ratification of treaties. he sought to disrobe its
special sessions OF their secret character "a unnecee
sxry aud unwarranted by the constitution.
In the discharge of public duties. while In the
Senate and House, he strictly and rgidly con-
scientious. lie steadily rel used constructive mile
age. and after his retirement from the Seuate the
Whig Congressman from his district offered to pro-
cure and forward to him $4,000 due him on that
not touch the amount The whole subject