The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-07-06
William III, English,

cmiSTatSu W luuiatla III 1910 anu during
long and honored life filed several po-
sitions of Important trust in the gift of
the people and OF the Government
Major English was one Of fourteen chill
dren; his wife, Mshala Eastin, a Ken
tuckian by birth, but of Vlrginian de-
scent, had sX cen brothers and sisters
she still survives at the age of eighty
two Their son William, after obtain
ing such educational advantages as the
common schools Of that newly-settled
region sfforded, took a three years
course of study at South Hanover Col
le2e. studied law and was admitted to
practice in the Circuit Court at the early
age of eighteen Politics, however, had
for him more attraction than his profess
sion and as early engaged his attention,
for while in his teens he was delegate
from Scott County to the Democratic
State Convention at 1ndianapolis-the
round trip in those times, when there
we're no railroads, occupied six days
aud in the famous ''harl.cider and log
cabin" campaign of 1S40 he took = very
active part as sump speaker. Under
Tyler the Young politician Obtained his
first office-the post Office Of his native
Evillage, Lexington In 1913 he was
chosen Clerk of the Indiana House Of
Representatives, and after the election
of Polk spent four years in the Treas.
ury Department at Washington D.
mocracv. it may be said, was hereditary
in the English family: the father and
uncle of Mrs. English were vice-Mesi-
dents In the National Convention Of lS4S
and two other uncles delegates, all fonr
brothers heing members OF legislatures
in different. States
In 1880 Mr. English was elected Sec
retary of the Constitutional Convention;
later he was sent to the first Legislature
that met under the provisions of the
constitution theE adopted, where a sig
ma hospr awaited him. In the Demo
cratic caucus on the Speakership Mr..
English received % votes to 81 for John
w. Davis, s,Eyho had been Speaker OF the
Twenty ninth Congress, and whe few
days later7Dr: Davis resigned owing to
disagreement with: the House, his
Young rival was chosen as his successor,
and discharged so well the duties Of his
office that. though it was the first session
hefi Iin der the provisions of the new
constitution, not single appeal was ia.
kken from his decisions In 1852 Mr.
EEpgish was elected 10 Congress, defeat
i&e John D. Ferguson by 4SS votes; be-
jng reelected in 1854, defeating Judge
Thomas C. Slaughter by 5SS, and again
in 1856 and 1876 HE majority on the
l3st occasion that he consented TO run
being 1872 sci
\, Tue eight years during which Mr..
Englist satin Congress were crowded
with excjl g and important events, and
lie had ti5sfnll share in the work Of maxi
ing history AS member of the Com
mittee on Territories at the time of the
introipetion of the Kansas Nebraska
bill. be submitted minority report con-
tanning the popular sovereignty" idea
which Mr.. Greeley says in his "Ameri
can Conflict" could not have been de-
feated but for the parliamentary mane
uvre which cut off all amendments but
the substitution Of the Senate bill Mr..
English, it may be added, was one of
the three or four members from the Free
States who survived the storm that de-
scended Gu the supporters of the bilk-
Later he steadily and frmlv opposed the
admission of Kansas under the Lecomp-
ton constitution until that instrument
had been ratified by vote of the peo-
ple,aan at the time of the dead-lpc be-
tween the Senate and House <mEveditee
resolution TO concur in the proposition
pfStAe Senate for committee of free
o6nference, which was carried by the
casting vote of the Speaker The COM
mittee was composed of Mr.. English,
Mr.. Alexander H Stephens and the late
w. A. Howard, of Michigan, on the
part Of the House, and Of Senators
Greene, Of Missouri, R M, 7. Hunter
and Seward. The conference resulted
in the adoption of the Kansas comprom-
ise measure commonly known as "the
English BILL" which finally passed both
houses of Congress and became the law
On the eve of the Democratic split in
1860 Mr.. English, who was member
of the National Campaign Committee,
though not delegate to the Charleston
Convention, made an earnest appeal for
harmony and concession. But the rup
ture came, followed by secession, and he
retired from political life, declining a
denomination to Congress, to engage in
private business.
At the close of the Thirty-sixth Con-
gress, and when in the full meridian Of
success. never having been defeated be-
fore The people, and with fair prospect
of being advanced to still higher polt-
ical honors, he retired from Congress
and active political life as an Office hol
der AS chairman OF the Committee on
Resolutions at the convention of 1864,
which nominated his friend, Michael G.
Kerr, for Congress from his old district,
Mr.. English prepared and reported
resolution, which was adopted, declar-
ing:
THAT we are now, as we ever have
been, unqualifiedly in favor Of the Union
of the States under the Constitution,
and stand ready, as we have ever stood
heretofore, to do everything that loyal
and true citizens should do to maintain
that Union under the Constitution, and
to hand it down to our children unim-
paired as we received it from our faith.
ers."
To these sentiments of loyalty to the
Union Mr. English firmly and consist
emily adhered throughout the struggle.
His fidelity never wavered, nor did bis
doubts ever gain an ascendency over his
convictions that the Union would be
preserved.
At the close of his useful and honor
able Congressional services Mr.. English
was confronted with the fact that new
departure in his business life was newt.
able He had abandoned active politics
and declined officia position. He had
grown rusty in the law, but his native
energy forbade that be should remain
quiet At this juncture be concluded to
embark in the business of banking, and,
in connection with j. F. D. Lamer, of
New York, and George W. Riggs, of