Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1880-07-10
OUR NEXT VICE PRESIDENT.

more earnest and active lives than Will
liam II. English, of Indiana. Mr.. En-
glish is native Indianian. He was born
in Scott county, August 81, 1922, ar the
village of Lexington, and has literal
ly grown with his native state and
strength hened with her strength. Born
at a time when school houses in Indiana
were few and far between, he mastered
the rudments of an education at an ear
ly age and took a position in pubic af-
fairs when others more f.vorably situat-
ed were dallying with problems lie had
solved. Mr.. English studied law and
was admitted to practice in the circuit
court at the early age of eighteen years;
he was subsequently admitted to the Su-
preme Court of his State, aud in the
twenty-third year of his age to the high
est judicial tribunal in the country, the
Supreme Court of the United States.
Several years before he was of age he
was chosen a delegate from his native
county to the Democratic State 'ecnven-
ton at indianapolis which nominated
Gen. Tiglman A. Howard for Governor,
and he commenced making speeches ii.
that memorable campaign. At the age
of twenty years he was appointed post
master of Lexington, his nltive village,
then the county seat of Scott county. In
1913, when twentv-one years of age. he
was chosen principal clerk of the House
of Representatives. Soon after the
close of the session the great campaign
of 1874 began. The standard-bearers of
the opposing parties were James X. Polk
and Henry Clay. Mr.. English took an
active part in that campaign, and as IL
recognition of his valuable services he
was rendered a. appointment in the
Treasury Department at Washington,
which he accepted, and continued to dis
charge its duties during Mr.. Polk's ad-
miniStratOn.
In tie year 1850 the people of Indiana
called a convention to revise the conSti-
turion of the State, which was adopted in
1916, when the State was admitted into
tho Union. The convention assembled in
October, 1850, and Mr.. English, then
twenty eight years of age, received the
distinguished honor of being chosen its
principal secretary. In this position Mr..
English added largely to his reputation,
and the fact was recognized that his
abilil les were of u character to command
a wider sphere of usefulness to the party
and to the country. In 1851 Mr.. English
was elected to tho state Legislature
against an opposition majority and over
q competitor considered the strongest anil
most popular man of his party III the
county. This was the first meeting OF
the Legislature under the provision OF the
new constitution, and Judgment and dis
cretiun were required of the members to
put the new State machinery into har
monious and successful operation. 1t
was Il considerable honor, therefore, for
Mr.. English to be elecIed to take part in
the deliberations Of such body, but 1t
| was still greater honor to he elected, as
he was, Speaker of the House, though but
20 years OF age, and his first appearan &c
as member of legislative body.
With the close Of the long session OF
| the Legislature of 1851, in which MIR. En-
glish had earned golden opinions OF me'
of all pa, ties, he was justly regarded a.
one of the foremost men of their Stat
and the Democrats cf bis district, witt
great unanimity. selected him for the'1
standard-bearer in the race OF Congress
1852, when just thirty years ago, he wa
elected to the United States House
REPRESENTATIVES by 4S6 majority. Mr.
English entered Congress at the com
meucemeut of Mr.. Pierce's admi2istra
ton, and gave its political measures
'warm and generous support. 1t was'
memorable period in the history of tn
county sine when 1Dse,-ons o. IA