The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-07-02
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRATs.
WILLIAM n. ENGLusll.


ing long and honored life filled sever
al positions of important trust in the
gift of the people and the Government.
Major English was one Of fourteen chill
dren; his wife, Mahala Eastin, q Ken
tuckian by birth, but of Virginian do
scent, had sixteen brothers and sisters /;
she still survives at the age Of eighty
two. Their son William, after obtain
ing such educational advantages rs the
common schools of that newly settled
region afforded, took three years
course of study at South Hanover Col
lege, studied law and was admitted to
practice in the Circuit Court at the ear
ly age of eighteen. Politics, however,
had more attraction for him than his
profession, and as early engaged his at.
attention, for while in mis- teens he was
a delegate from Scott county to the
Democratic State Convention at Indi-
anapolis-the round trip in those days,
when there was no railroads, occupying
six days-and in the famous "hard
cider and log cabin" campaign of 1910
he took very active part as stump
speaker, Under Tyler the young poli-
tician obtained his first oilice-the post
Office of his native village, Lexington.
In lS43 he was chosen Clerk Of the In
diana House of Representatives, and
after the election of Polk spent four
years in the Treasury Department at
Washington. Democracy, It may be
said, was hereditary in the English
family. The father and uncle of Mrs.
English were Vice Presidents in the
National Convention Of lsIS, and two
other uneles delegates. all four brothers
being members of Legislatures in diff,
feient States.
la 1880 Mr. Eogliah Mas elected
Secretary of the Constitutional Cuuven.
tion. y year later he was sent to tle
fist Legislature that met under the
provisions of the constitution then
adopted, where signal honor awaited
| him. In the Democratic caucus on the
sPeakership Mr.. English received 30
votes to 81 for John W. Davis, who
had been Speaker Of the Twenty-ninth
Congress, aud when a few days later
Mr.. Davis resigned, owing to disa-
greement with the House, his young
rival was chosen is lis successor, aud
discharged 10 we'll the duties Of his
office that, though it VAS the first sen
sion held under the lauvisions Of the
new constitution, not single appeal
was taken from Ills dreisiots. In 1852
Mr.. English was elected 10 Congress,
defeating John d. Ferguson by ass
votes being reelected in 1854, defeat
ing Judge Thomas c. Slaughter by 5Ss,
and again in 1856 aud 1858, his major.
ity on the last occasion that he consent
ed to run Icing 1872.
The eight years during which Dir.
English sat ia Congress were or. wded
with important events, and he had his
full share in the work Of making histo.
ry. a meinber Of the Committee on
Territories at the time Of the introduc-
ton Of tie Kansas Nebraska hill, he
submitted minority report containing
the popular sovereignty" idea which
Mr.. Greeley says in his "AmeriOan
Conflict" Ooald not have been defeated
but for the parliamentary maneuver
which cut off all amendments but the
substitution Of the Senate bill. Mr.
English, 1t may be added, was one oI
the three or four members from the
Free States who survived, the storm
that descended on the supporters Of th'
bill. Later be steadily and firmly op
posed the admission of Kansas undeI
the Lecompton constitution until tina
instrument had been ratified by q vot'
of the people, and at the time Of tn,
deadlock between the Senate ant
I House moved the resolution to concu
in the proposition of the Senate for
committee Of free conference, which wa
carried iy the casting vote of th
Speaker, The committee was compose,
of Mr.. English, Mr.. Alexander II
Stephens and the late w. A. Howard
of Michigan, on the part of the House
and of Senators Greene, Of Missouri
r. NJ. 7. Hunter and Seward. Tn
: conference resulted in tho adoption G
the Kansas compromise measure, con
monty known as "the English bill,
which finally passed both Houses {
Congress and became the law. ~ cor
sider," wrote President Buchanan to Il
author, Il consider the present occasio
one of the most fortunate of your lifi
= 1t will be your fate to end the DANCE
Gus agitation, to confer lasting benefit
on your country and to render -you
" .S character historical. l shall remain a
o. ways your friend"
On the eve of the Democratic split {
p 1869 Mr.. English, who was a 7 mdmibe
E E + Of the National Campaign eOmmitte
s though not delegate to the Charlie