The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-07-01

800 .'.'-'- 49,. -.-.-- -------
NON: WlLLIlN III. EM6LIs1, 81 OF
INDIANA. .sS:s*.
Few men in the country have lived moro
earnest and active lives than William II.
English, Of Indiana. Mr.. English 4 native
1udianian. He was born In Scott county,
August 81, 1922. At the village Of Lexing.
ton, and has literally grown With BIZ native
State and strengthened With her strength.
Born At time whom school houses in In
LLAMA were few and far between, he mastered
the rudiments of an education at an early
oge and took position In public Affairs
when others more favorably situated wese
dallying with problems no had solved. Mr..
English studied law aud Was admitted to
practice in the circuit court at the early age
Of Is years; he was subsequently, admitted
to the supreme court Of his State, and, in
the Esd year Of his age, to the highest iu-
dicial tribunal in the country, tho supreme
court OF the United States.
Several years before he was of ago be was
chosen delegate from his native county to
the Democratic State convention ct Indiansp.
oils which nominated Gen. Tiglman A. How
ard for governor, and he commenced max
ing speeches in that memorable campaign.
At the ago of twenty years he Was appointed
postmaster of Lexington, his native village,
then county seat of Scott county. In 1s43,
when twenty one years of age, he Was chosen
principal clerk of the house of representa-.
tives. Soon after the close of the session of the
legislature the great campaign of 1914 began.
The standard-bearors of tho opposing par.
ties were James X. Polk AID Henry Clay.
Mr.. English took an active part in that cam.
paign, and as recognition Of his valuable
services he was rendered an appointment in
the treasury department at Washington,
which he accepted, and continued to dis
charge its daties during Nj. Folks admin
istration.
LATER POLITICAL RECORD.
In the year 1850 the people OF Indiana
called convention to revise the constitution
ne tho State, which was adopted in 1885,
when the State was admitted into the union.
The convention assembled in October, 1850
and Mr.. English, then 20 years of age, re-
eeived the distinguished honor of being
chosen its principal secretary. In this posi-.
ton MIR. English added largely to his rcpu-
tation, and the fact was recognized that his
abilities were of a character to command q
rvider sphere of usefulness to the party and
10 the country. In 1851 Mr.. English was
elected to the State legislature against en-
opposition majority and over compstitor
considered tho strongest and most popular
man of his party in the county. This
was the first meeting of the Legislature under
the provisions of the now constitution. and
judgment and discretion were required of
the members to put the new State machin.
cry into harmonious ond Successful opera.
ton. 1t was considerable honor, therefore,
for Mr. English to be elected to take part in
the deliberations of such body, but it was
u still greater honor to be elected, as he was,
speaker of the House, though but twenty
nine years Of age, aud his first appearance
as member of legislative body. Mr..
English has in an eminent degree that
force and energy of character which leads to
successful action. and has left his imprcaa
upon every association, company or delibera-
tive body to which hs has ever belonged. In
word, he has all the elements Of bold,
aggressive and successful leadership.
With the close of the long session of the
legislature of 1851, in which Mr. English
had earned golden opinions of men Of all
parties, he was justly regarded as one OF the
foremost men of their State, and the Demo
Gratis of his district, with great unanimity,
selected him for their standard bsarer in the
race for Congress. In October, 1852, when
fust thirty years of ago, he vas elected to the
United States House of Representatives by
1888 majority. Mr.. English entered Con-
gress at the commencement of Mr.. Pierce'a
administration, and gave it's political meas
ures warm and generous support. 1t was
memorable period in the history of the ooun-
try-a time when questions OF far-reaching
consequences had their birth and which
few yesrs subsequently tested to the utmost
limit the strength Of the Republic.
KANSAS AND NEBRASKA BILL.
Mr.. English served four terms in Con-
sress-in all eight years-immediately pre-
ceding the war, and that during the entire
period as stormy as the national legislature
ever experienced. Yhe Kansas Nebraska
bill and questions growing out of its intro
duction were among the most prominent and
important measures that were ever submit
ted to Congress. With these measures Mr..
English was conspicuously identified, aud
the comprehensive craftsmanship then dis
played gave him national reputation which
subsequent events have not obscured. Mr..
English, at the time the Kansas Nebraska
bill was introduced, was member of the
House committee on Territories, which was
charged with the consideration of the sub
jet. Passing by the question of
area and other questions OF secondary
Importance, the real question at issue was
Popular Sovereignty" the right Of tho
people to determine for themselves the char
ter of their Territorial and State institutions
And this great question, which underlies
the Democratic idea OF government, was first
Sharply defined in the discussion of the
"Kansas- Nebraska bill'' for the organization
of the Territories bearing these names and
now sovereign and prosperous States. Mr..
English, for prudential reasons, did not con-
cur with the majority of the committee on
Territories in bringing forward the Kansas
Nebraska bill, but majority of the commit
tee decided to report it, Whereupon Mr..
English, on the 31st Of January, 1854, made
minority report. Both the House and
Senate bill, at the time Mr.. English made his
minority report, contained provision "that
the constitution and all laws of the United
States which are not locally inapplicaple
shall have the sams force and effect within
the said Territory as elsewhere in the United
States" and then followed this important
reservation:
Except the eighth section of tue act prepare
tory to the admission of Missouri into the
Union, approved March, 6, $780, which was 81.
perseded by the principles Of the legislation of
ures and is hereby declared imperative.
Mr.. English proposed to strike ont this
exception and insert the following:
Provided that nothing in this act shall be SO
construed as to prevent the peOple Of eaid terri.