American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-07-10

county In the State Legislature against an OPP
position majority, and over n competitor CON
sidered the strongest and most popular man
of his party in the county This was the first
ions of the new Constitution, and judgment
and discretion were required of the Legisla-
ture to put the new State machinery into flar-
monious and successful operation. 1t was,
therefore. no small compliment for 50 young
a man Mr.. English to have been chosen
over 50 many older and more experienced
citizens.
But a still greater honor awaited him, for,
Notwithstanding ne was then but twenty -nine
years of age and it was his first session .,
member, and also that there were many old,
experienced and distinguished men in that
Legislature, when the caucus t. nominate a
speaker was held, he received Twenty-Five
votes to thrty-one for Hon. John w. Davis,
VINO had been long Il member and Speaker of
the United States House of Repre- scntatives,
and had also been Minister to China.
With the close of the long session of the
Legislature of ls5l, in which Mr.. English had
earned golden opinions from men of all par
ties, he wits justly regarded as one of the fore
most meI of the state, and the Democrats of
his district, with great uianimity, solicited
race for Congress. He was nominal cd, and in
October, 49,, he was elected by 4SS majority
oyer his very worthy competitor, John d.
Ferguson, now deceased, with whom he was
always on terms of the warmest personal
friendship.
Congress, and then, although he reques ed his
constituents to make some other choice, was
elected to q third term.
During this Congress application was made
to admit Kansas rs S,ute under what was
known as the Lee compton Constitution, which
did not Prohibit sltv.iy and this was favored
by the South, and also by President Buchan-
ans Ad ninistration,b but was opposed by Mr..
English and others, mainly on the ground that
there had been no satisfactory vote 10y the
people of Kansas in its favor. There was so
much excitement and violence in Kansas at
this time, and so much that was Irregular and
unlawful, thar ft was 81 lhcuIt, sometimes, to
determine what had been p o2erly done, what
was regular and lawful, and what not.
Mr.. English acquired his widest reputation
during this Congress by his course upon the
steadily and firmly opposed the admission of
Kansas under the Lee impton Constitution,
until it had been ratified by a vote of the peO-
pie.
During the long and exciting CON est over
this Que ition, which has seldom before been
egualcd in bitterness, and was really the pre-
er departed from his position. As party
man he was anxious to heal the divisions that
upon this question, and to relieve the Admin
istration and the South from the post on they
had taken, which Mr.. English in his heart,
considered impnlitic and dangerous.
He was "anti-l.econp on, but not of those
who wished to cripple The Admins: ration, Or
break up the Democratic organization.
The Senate saw proper to pass u bill admit
ting Kansas under the Lecomp.On Constitu-
ticn without limit or cond ton; but this bill,
although it commanded the favor of the Pres
ident and his Cabinet, failed to receive the
sanction of the House of Repl esenlativcs.
The House on the o; her hand. passed a bill as
a sIbStitu; @ for that of the Senate, but this
the Senate would not accept, or the Executive
II
great coordinate branches of the Government
whose joint AMI harmonious action could
give peace to the country.
In this stage of the proceedings, when the
whole country had about abandoned the hope
of a settlement Of Il sagreement between the
two Houses, and the angry contest was Likely
to be adjourned for further and prOtracted
agitation before a people already 1ntlamed
with sect onal amino ties, Mr.. English took
the responsibility of moving to concur in the
proposition of the Senate asking for a Com
Conference, excitement
the occasion had scarcely ever been eQualed
In the House of Representatives: Upon adopt.
but the speaker voted in the aft native, and
the motion carried. The managers on the
none of " hich, however, were acceptable to
the members on behalf of the House. The
Senate Committee then asked the members
from the Hou g il they had fny compromise
to offec, to which Mr.. lglish replied that he
had none prepared, but he had u plan in his
mind, blse |, however. up N the p; inciple of
submiss ON of the question of admission UNI
der the LecnMpion Constitution and an
amended ordinance to n fair vote of the PEP
pie of Kan a; and if The Comm ttee thought
il worth while, he would prepare It, and submit
it to them at ihe,r next meeting They told
him to do SO. This is the inside history OF the
origin of the great Kansas compromise meas
IRE commonly called the .EngIish bill. which
finally passed both branches of Congress, and
became the law.
This law WIS, in effect. to place it in the
power of the people of Kansas to come into
the Union under the LecOmpton Constitution
or not, as they might themselves determine at
n. I
rect as Mr.. English himself preferred, but WIS
the best he could get under the complications
then exis ing and WIS IL substantial indication
of the doctrine of popular sovereignty" adj
vocated in his minority report on the Kansas
Neb; aska h Ii in the Thirty Third Congress.
At the opening of the rebellion Mr. English,
who was sill in Congress, sill favored pacifi-
cation, If possible, and every measure tending
was ms firm and bid in opposing the views of
his former pc itical associates from the South
as he had bean in opposing the admission of
stitution. He denounced it from the begin
ming, and made every effort to induce South
era mem5c. to abandon it. In II speech in
the House of Representatives, ne plainly told
the South that The great Democratic party.
hat has so long and so justly bDastcd of its
Nationality, must not degenerate into mere
sectional pa ty, or n party that toer-
ates the sentiment of disunion; if it does its
DAYS are numbered, and its mission ended"
Mr. EngIi sh was offered tine command Of a
regiment by his personal friend, Governor
Mort ton, but declined, and in per son took no
active part in the war; but he was a firm and
supporter of the Union cause.
In 1888 Mr.. English founded the First Ma
lional Bank of indianapolis, and until July,
1877, he was engaged in various financial en-
terpris rs in that city. At the time mentioned
Mr.. English has a fine residence in Indian
lpols, fronting upon a beautiful circular
called because originally designed as the site
for the residence of the Governor of the
state. His wealth is large, and has been accu-
nulated by the business tact which has char
lctcrized him throughout his career. HI is
understood to be worth several million dol
ars.
He was married to Miss Emma Mardulia |
Jackson, of Virginia, on the 18th day of No |
vember, 1917, in the City of Baltimore. Md, |
he Rev. Henry Slicer Chaplain of the United |
states Senate performing the ceremony, and |
10 union could have been more felicitOus aud |
lappy than this WIS during its long continu- |
'nce. This estimablc Ia ly died ut 1ndianapo- |
is November II, 1875. universally loved and |
by all who knew her.
Two children were the issue of this mar |
'age, son and daughter. The son is the |
Hon. w. f. English, Member of the Indiana |
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