Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-08-18

IL is no remedy for any one Of the
evils lamented, and in my judgment
il will aggravato rather than remove
them and, in addition, superinduce
Others of more distressing aud de-
structlve character"
lie was n member of the Committee Of
thirteen, TO which was referred the
famous compromise propositions OF Mr.
CrittendeD, and presented and advo-
Gated bill providing ior submitting
the Crittenden resolutions to II vote Of
tho people of the several States, which
was rejected, but which has since been
regarded by sagaoious men US remedy
which would have utterly crushed
secession. He was II member OF the
Charleston Conventid. "a 1860, where
he took decided ground against the
nomination Of Judge Douglas. Ho was
temporary Chairman Of the Democratic
Convention OF 1864, and voted for the
nomination of General George b. Nc.
Clellan. He was also nominated in the
same year for Congress, and though
defeated received more than his party
vote. He was again u delegate TO the
Democratic Convention OF 1868, which
met in New York. He had the nomi.
nation for delegate TO the Convention
for the revision OF the State Constitu.
ton, but withdrew from the ticket TO
give place to Ex-Governor Andrew G.
Curtin as representative Of the Liberal
Republicans, Afterwards the dele
gates at-large in the Constitutional
Convention reported that they bad
selected him TO fill the vacancy caused
by the resignation of 5, IL Reynolds
In 1874 he was elected n member of
the Centennial Board of Finances, and
the energy and ability which he dis
played in that service are still familiar
to the most OF our people, In Septem.
Der, 1875, he was presented in the
Democratic State Convention at Erie
for the Gubernatorial nomination, and
from the third to the tenth ballot led
all the other candidates, His name
was withdrawn after the tenth ballot
and Cyrus l.. Pershing, Of Schuylkill,
was nominated.
In 1876 he manifested warm in.
terest in the Democratic canvass for
the Presidency, and when the election
was seen to turn upon the disputed
votes Of certain Southern States, he was
requested by Mr.. Tilden to 20 to Lou.
isiana with other prominent and saga.
ptnng napnpppata tn oaa that Tho 80 as
cast in that State were fairly canvassed
and that the result was legally dcclar.
cd. His associates from Pennsylvania
in this duty were Mr.. Randall and ex,
Governor Curtin. Mr.. Bigler went to
New Orleans at a great sacrifice of
personal comfort and business interests,
but IN obedience to profound sense
Of the gravity of the crisis. In his own
words, no felt that he was "a peace com.
missioner" and being such, could not
be influenced by mere partisan consid-
erations. He soon became satisfied
that Louisiana had declared for Tilden
by very large maiority,and could not
for moment believe that the desperate
schemes imputed to them would be
carried out by the Returning Board.
When he saw that he was mistaken IN
this charitable Judgement he was as
founded and fell back upon the hope
that there would be such q manifesto.
tion Of popular Indignation against the
Returning Board as would compel it
to rctrace its steps and prevent the
consummation Of what he believed to
be great outrage. There could be no
better illustration of his strict sense of
justice and his sublime confidence in
the policy OF law and the integrity of
the American people. In all of the
proceedings at New Orleans ho was a
prominent figure, commanding the re.
spect Of both parties, and consulted as
an oracle by those of his own political
faith.
For several years past Ex-Governor
Bigler has given almost his entire at
tention TO the development Of the re.
sources of the county in which he
lived, and was highly esteemed by all
who knew him. He was a man OF the
sturdiest character, honest and faith.
ful in doing all that he undertook, and
whatever of good can be said Of any
man who goes from this life to the one
beyond may be said of William Bigler,
and truthfully.
Ex-Governor Bigler for a number of
years had been affected with valvular
disease of the heart, and for the last
twelve months greatly enfeebled. For
the last three months he has been con
fined to his room. Although every
effort has been made by the best med. |
ical skill he continued to grow worse
and for some time it has been evident
to his friends that his recovery was
impossible, He bore his sufferings
with great resignation, and being fully |
conscious of his condition he calmly |
awaited death, On Sunday he was
very much oppressed with difficulty of
breathing but passed a comfortable
night, and at seven o'clock Monday |
morning gave signs of great prostra.
tion, his pulse being almost gone. Raj.
lying again it was thought he might |
live some hours, but at fifteen minutes
Of nine his head fell back, and with a
few gasping broaths and without a
struggle, he passed away as in gentle
sleep. Although unable to converse
much he retained full consciousness
until nearly the last moment. His
death bed was surrounded by his family |
and many of his personal friends. His
body was deposited in the cemetry at
Clearficld on Wednesday at one o'clock