The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-07-16

ana course ~ three years study AZ the
south Hanover College. He sfudie Law and
was admitted 20 practice Ia the aircuif rourr
az the early age ~ eizhte m years he wa.
subsequently admitted % the supreme Ci1ufr
81 his State. md I'm the twenfy-fhfrd year ~
his aee 10 the highest lud cial tribunal IL IN
country, the supreme Court ~ the United
Stafos.
Al nm errly nge Mr. Enailst's incllnnfions
turned 20 a political life. His youth al nnhl-
ton 10 win success. and Opp9rfunfirY which
then presented themselves. comb ned O. IA re-
him In this dire tin ~ cfor. Ho~erer IA
the calm reflection uf later years and Ia The
full realization Of these aspirations. be- laid
down the hOnOrs ana cfn a iincnfs ~ 0fhre 10
seek ln the walks ~ bu line "A more cong
nial vocation. lie identified hlnseif win the
Dcmocraic pa q. and took prominent pnrt
IN the political contests - his county. even
b. fore he arrived al his majority.
several years before h. was 81 are be was
chosen a dccgate from Scott County 20 the
Democratic state Convention. AZ indianapolis
which nominated G encrai Tiiehman A. Howa q
for Cove nor. Thrre was NJ railroad tonnec-
ton with IN tapiInl "a that time. and the
roads were IN sn dcpl'rahe condition that
u took him six days horseback riding 20 make
the round trip. Hc commences max Ing
speeches w that campaign. md continued ia
active politics Tor many years.
This was the celebrated log cabin and hard
cider campaign" witch resulted In the cleo
ton 81 General Harrison 20 The Presidency
But "Tippec tnoe nnd rs len. TOO did 4 prove
as harmonious "a the parry lhn had sung and
hurrnhcd them into power anfcipa I'd Har-
risnn could not. IN his Oh are; stand The worry
and strain Of the position. and died soon after
Inauguration. Tyler. who then became Presi-
dent. separated from the patty that had elected
him. and the Democrats were soon again in
Under the Tyler Administration Mr.. English
1as appoinef Postmaster of Lexingffn. his
native village. then the county seat " Scott
County
In lss3. he was chosen principal Clerk a fhe
House ~ Representatives ~ his state over
several distinguished ana wOrh ny comp iitOrS-
After The election ~ Mr.. Polk - the Prt-si-
dency 10 which Mr.. English largely c0afrib-
uted a. an active and Efficient politician in his
section OF the country. be was ten 1erel an ap-
pnnfmcnf IN the Treasury Department N
Washington. which heacccpted and continued
TO discharge its duties during that Admlnistrn-
tiun. He WIS not the man - disguise his prin-
! ciples. or make an effort 10 keep place under
nm Administration ne bad opposed He voted
for the nomination Of Cass In the Nafi0nsl
Convention. and had stsenunnsly opposed the
election ~ General Taylor. He. therefore on
the day preceding the inangurati.n- sent 20
Mr.. Polk "A letter " resignation. which WAS ex-
tcnsiyeiy copied by the Democratic press.
with comments approving the independent
spirit Of its author.
But Mr. English was not permitted 10 re-
nsin hong OUT Of public Life His abilities we're
universally recognized
He was clerk ~ the Claims Committee IN
the United States senate during The mem Dra-
lie session Of the Compromise Of ls5l heard
Calhoun and Csiss. Clay and Webster. benton
and other great statesmen Of the are, IN those
ahle forensic efforts which obtained - much
celebrity and led 10 the results gratifying -
every American patriot
county IN the State Legislature against nm op-
position majority. and over competitor CON
sidered the strongest and most popular man
81 his party IN the county This Wa the nr-f
meeting Of the Legislature under the proyis-
ions of the new Constitution, and Judgment
and discretion were required o. the Legl-la-
turc 70 put the new State machinery into bar
m0niOus and successful operation II was.
therefore. NO small compliment for ~ young
a. Mr.. English 20 have been chosen
over 20 many older and more experienced
But stIn greater honor awaited him. for.
notwithstanding he was N nn hut tweufy-nlne
years Of age. and II was his first session a
member. and also that there were many old
experienced and distinguished men In that
Speaker was held. he received fwenty-twn
votes 10 thirty-one for Hon. John W. Davis
who had been long memoer and speaker q
AMI had also been Minister 90 China.
with the close Of the long session OF the
Legislature Of ISL. IN which Mr.. English had
earned golden opinions frnm men Of all par
ties. he was justly regarded as one ~ the fore
most men Of the state. and the Democrats of
him 10 tccnme their standarsi-b -arer In the
race for Congress. He was n0minsfed- and m
October. is,1. he was elected ~ - majority
over his very worthy competitor. John ~.
Ferguson. now deceased. with whom NJ WAS
always on terms of the ~arfnesf personal
friendship
MIR Enylish was elected second time 20
Congress. and then. although b. requested his
constituents 20 maze some other choice. was
During this Congress application was maze
10 admit Kan .aS a. State unuer whnf VA
snown a. the Lecompton Constitution. ~hich
did not lronibit slave y. and THIS was Inv urta
~ the South and also BY President Buchaf-
, ans Admin sfrafiOn. but wa opposed Ivy Mr..
! English and others mainly on the ground that
there had been no satisfactory vote ~ rht
people of Kansas In ifs favor. There was ~
, much excitement and violence In Kansas n
J this time. and % much thar was irrrgnlar and %
. determine what had been properly done. what
WIS regular and lawful. and what not
Mr.. English acquired his widest reputation
during This Congress hy his course upon The
, Kansas policy ~ the Admin strnfion. hs
/ steidily and firmly opposed the ndmlssimn q
I Kansas under the Leo lmpton CONSTITUTION
! until II had been ratified BY a vote Of the pec
\ pie.
this question. which has seldom before beer
elualed in bitterness and was really the pre-
? Jude 70 the terrible civil war. Mr.. English new
y err departed from his position. - part,
. had sprung up among his political frien A
upon this question. and 10 relieve the Al MN
i-tration and the south from the position the,
had taken. which Mr. English. In ms heart
J. considered fmpnfflc and dangerous
He was :" anti-Lecomp on. but MT 81 thos
. who wished 20 cripple the Administration q
The senate saw proper TO pass blu admit
1 ting Kansas under the Iecumpton tun<ffu
ton without limit or condltio hut this bill
although Il comm snded the favor ~ the Pres
idcnt aud his Cabinet. failed 20 rcceiye fh'
4 sanction OF the House ~ Representative
The House. On the other baud. PASSED btll q
+ a substitute for fhaf ~ the senate hut fhf
the senate would not acceTt. or the ExecufiN'
approve. Thus was an issue formed fffwrel
great coordinate branches ~ the Coy ern "a t'ni
whose joint and harmonious action cuul'
alone remove the dangerous cue stiun an'
give peace 20 the country.
In this stage OF the proceedings when m
| whole country had about abandoned the mop
OF a settlement ~ disagreement t~twccn IN
two Houses. and the angry cunte-1 was Ike
I, 90 be adjourned for further and prutrncfe'
\ agitation before q people already infiant.
\ with ctsonal anim0-ities. Mr.. English tool
: the responsibility ~ moving 20 concur IN IN
proposition OF the senate asking Tor Com
, mitice or Conference. The excitement upoi
tho occasion had scarcely ever been egnale