The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-06-25

Indiana \. IL. Stephens, Of Georgia, and
/ W. A. Howard, Of Michigan. On the part
/ Of the senate, J. s Greene, Of issouri; Il.
NJ. T. Hunter, Of Virginia, and w. II.
Seward, OF New York.
This is the history Of the origin Of the
great Kansas compromhe measure, common
ly called the " English ill.," which finally
came the law.
This law was, in effect. to place It in the
power Of the people OF Kansas 10 come into
the Union under the Lecomptou constitu-
ton or not as they nigh. tbemselye. deter.
mine At fair election. 1, was not a submits
sion as direct as Mr.. English himself prefer
red, as hereinafter explained, but was the
best he could get under the complications
then existing, and was a substantial vindica-
ton Of the doctrine of "popu'Or sovereign
| " advocated in his minority report on the
kansss-Nebraska bill in the Thirty-third
Congress,
FOURTH ELECTION TO coNGRE,s.
The popular current In the north was still
| strongly against the Democratic admipistra-
ton, and the " English bill entered into tn
ensuing political campaign, and came in for
the usual amount Of Misrepresentation and
abuse.
Mr.. English had again been brought for
ward for reelection, and the contest in his
district assumed national importance. His
/ political opponents made extraordinary
efforts to defeat him, and there was At one
time some dissatisfaction with portion of
his political friends who thought be ought to
| have voted for the admission Of Kansas I'M
der the Lecompton constitution. This disaf-
| lection finally subsidized, resulting, probably,
in Part, from letters written by the President
himself, in which he spoke in the highest
terms of Mr.. English.
CONGRESSIONAL "REMINISCENCES.
Mr.. English entered Congress with Thomas
A. Hendricks, Elihu b. Washburne and
Johe 9. Breckenridge, and at subsequent
sessions, John Sherman, w. S. Groesbeck
and Geo. II. Pendleton, of Ohio, Roscoe
Conkling, of New York, and Schuyler Col
fax, OF Indiana, became members, SO that II
may be said of Mr.. Engishs colleagues that
two Of them became vice-presidents of the
United States, and six have this year been
prominently mentioned for the high office Of
| president.
Its a sad commentary upon the short du-
ration of human life and the transtory
nature of all earthly hono,s, that Of the two
senator's and eleven members Of the house,
constituting the Indiana delegation in the
Thirty-third congress, which ended in 1854,
all are now dead but Thomas A. Hendricks
and William II. English.
THE GREAT CRIsIs--sECEsslcN.
Then came the movement in the South in
favor OF dissolution. Mr.. English was for
pacifcation, if possible, and favored every
measure tending TO that result. On the sub
iect Of secession he was as firm and bold in
opposing the views of his former political
associates from the South ss he had been in
opposing the admission of Kansas as a state
under the Lecompton constitution. He de-
nounced II from the beginning, and made
every effort to induce Southern members to
abandon it. In aspeech in the house of rep
resentatyes, he plainly told the South that
"the great Democratic party, that has so long
and so Justly boasted OF its nationality, must
not degenerate into mere Southern Sec
tional party, or party that tOlerates the sem
timent of disunion ii it does, its days are
numbered and lis mission ended.
DECLINES COMMAND OF A REGIMENT, But
SPEARS FOR THE UNION.
Mr.. English was offered the command of q
regiment by his personal friend, Governor
Morton, but declined, and in person took nc
active part in the war. but he was firm and
, consistent supporter Of the Union cause.
The following account of Il sneech made
by him at the commencement of the war is
taken from the Madison Courier, paper not
of Mr., English's politics;
"Mr. English spoke for over an hour. He
said that he was opposed TO the Republican
doctrines and should boldly ss:ail Mr.. Lin
coins policy whenever he thought it wrong,
but as naive Of Indiana, thoroughly iden.
| tilted with free state interests he felt that his
allegar ce was exclusively due TO the state OF
Indiana and goverHmen. Of the United
States, and he should accordingly abide in
good faith By their laws, and stand under the
old time-honorcd flag.
ale trusted that the bitter cup of civil Wal
mi hit be passed from our lips, and he would
exhaust every possible means Of maintaining
the peace; but If nothing will do but war
then we must all sand or fall together"
TRYING PERIOD OF MS LIFE.
This was an eyeniful and trying period il
his life. He had abandoned the field of pol
tics and declined employment as an officer If
the army. He had grown rusty in the law
Alter many years Of intense activity, and a
his sge. he could not be satisfied to sit dowr
in his little native village and do nothing. HI
tried it. but before the end tf year worried
himself on account of his inactivity into {
long spell of sickness, and gave up the ere
tired and Quiet life" idea IN despair.
Mr.. English has always been the bold and
fearless advocate of honest money and sound
and conservative principles. Upon this inn
portant question his record is faultless, and
so uniformly consistent that his position !;
never questioned. In a late interview be said
"For myself want our money to rank with
the same standard recognized by all the or al
commercial nations of the world. | want nt
deprecated or irredeemsble paper forced up
ON our people. | want the laboring mar
when payday comes to be paid in real dol
lars that will purchase just s' much of the
necessaries of lifc as the dolls rs paid to the
bondholders and oliiceholders, and with as
great purchasing powers as the best money
in the best markets OF the world. Honesty
in my judgment, Is the best policy in finance
and politics, as well as in morals generally
add If politicians would take half as much
trouble to instruct and enlighten the masses
that they do to take advantage Of their sup
posed preiudices ii would be far better
RESIDENCE, MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN.
Mr.. English has a fine residence in Indian
spolis. fronting upon beautiful circular
park. known as the Governors Circle u
called because originally designed as the site
for the residence OF the governor of th'
state. His wealth is large, and has been &C