The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-07-07
WILLIAM H. ENGLISH.

u4Gy-SeFeu years OlO. Ills OSure IS TALL,
erect and well proportioned. He has a
high, broad forehead and regular fea-
lures. His bearing is dignifed and gen.
tlemanly, and he would attract atten-
tlon among other men. He was educated
as lawyer, and has practiced in the
United States supreme court. He has
been speaker Of the Indiana house of
representatives, a member of the Na.
tional House of Representative for four
consecutive terms, and has declined to
accept important Offices within the gift
Of Presidents. He was president of the
national bank that was first to put it's
issue In circulation. After retiring from
the business Of banking he sold his
stocks, and it is said that, although a
man of great wealth, he does not own a
dollars worth Of stock in any corpora,
tion. He retired from active business
in 1877.
" m e. English went from the
common schools of the neighborhood
in which he lived to South Hanover
college, where he was for three years q
student. He studied law, and was ad-
mitted to practice in the circuit court
before he was nineteen years old. In
his twenty-third year he was admitted
to the supreme court of the United
States. He was for some time ASSOC
ciated in practice with Joseph G. Mar
shall Before he had followed his pro-
fession long he accepted an appointment
in Washington, and he never afterward
practiced law. He went into politics
early. Before he attained his majority
he was a delegate from Scott county to
the Democratic State convention that
nominated General Tilghman 4. How
ard for governor of Indiana, and the
journey Of the young delegate to Indian
apolis and back required six days Of
horseback riding. He took an active
part in the campaign, making speeches
in behalf Of the Democratic nominees.
President Tyler appointed him post
master at Lexington, and in l943 he was
chosen principal clerk OF the Indiana
house of representatives, of which
James D. Williams, now governor of
Indiana, was the first time a member.
In tie National Democratic convention
OF I948, he met Samuel J. Tilden, dele-
gate from New York. He was clerk Of
the Senate committee on claims in 1850,
where he heard the speeches of Clay,
Webster, Calhoun, Benton, and Cass in
the exciting and protracted debates Of
that memorable session. He was seere-
tary OF the Indiana constitutional con-
Vention TO revise the constitution Of
1916.
In 1851 Mr.. English was elected to re-
present his native county in the State
legislature, and, although only twenty
nine years old, be was chosen speaker.
It is said that in the course Of session
covering more than three months no
appeal was taken from any Of his de-
cisions, although the questions discussed
were Of the most important and excit-
ing nature that had come before an In
diana legislature in many years. Just
before his election as speaker, to fill q
vacancy caused by the resignation Of
Speaker Davis, he was appointed on q
committee of five to revise the laws Of
the State, but he declined to serve.
At the close of the legislative session
of 1851, Mr.. English WAS nominated for
representative in Congress, and was
elected by a majority Of 488 over q
worthy competitor, the late John D.
Ferguson. He gave the administration
of President Pierce his hearty support.
At the opening of that Congress the
Kansas-Nebraska bill was introduced.
Mr.. English was g member Of the COM
mittee on Territories, and he did not
concur with the majority in the expedi-
ency of bringing forward the measure
at that time. It is claimed that the
congressional records will show that
Mr.. English brought forward the popu-
lar sovereignty idea in "a minority re-
port presented by him.
In the course Of Mr.. English's second
congressional term Know-nothinglsm
asserted itself, and it found in him an
able and fearless opponent. He was
elected to Congress for third time, not
withstanding his request that his con-
stituents would select another candidate.
The Senate passed the bill admitting
Kansas under the Lecon1pton constitu-
ton, but the House rejected it. Then
the House passed substitute bill, which
was rejected by the Senate. a confer
ornnInfHH hC rho