The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-07-03

Democratic Convention Of 1913, be met
Samuel !. Tildenh delegate from New York.
lie was clerk of the Senate Committee on
Claims, in 1850, where he heard the speech
es Of Clay, Webster, Calhoun, benton, and
Cass in the exciting and protyacted debates
of that memorable scssiu1. He was Secre-
tary Of the Indiana Constitutional Conven-
ton to revise the Constitution of 1850.
In 1851 Mr. English was elected 70 rep
resent his native county in the State Jegis-
lature, and, although only % years old, he
was chosen Speaker. II is said that in the
course Of session covering more than three
months no appeal was taken from any Of his
decisions, although tho questions discussed
were Of the most important and exciting
nature that had come before an Indiana
Legislature in many years. just before his
election as Speaker, TO ell vacancy caused
by the resignation OF Speaker Davis he was
appointed on a committee on
KAssAs AND SLAVERY.
At the close Of the Legislative session Of
1851, Mr.. English was nominated for Re-
preventative in Congress, and was elected
by majority Of ASS over worthy competi-
tor, 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 in.
troduced. Mr.. English was member Of
the Committee 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 Congress
ional records will show that Mr. English
brought forward tie popular sovereignty
idea in minority report presented by him.
The slavery question and other matters in
volved in that question were before Congress
during the years in which Mr.. English was
a Representative. In one Of his speeches
he said: al am a native of a free State, and
have no love for the institution of slavery.
Aside from the moral question involved,
regard it as an injury to the State where II
exists, and, if il were proposed TO introduce
it where ] reside, would resist it to the last
extremity" On another occasion he said:
eve do not like this institution of slavery,
either in its moral, social or political bear
ings, but consider that it is matter which,
like sl other domestic affairs, each COM
munty ought to be allowed to decide for
itself.
Know -SoTRiSGIsN.
In the course of Mr.. English's second
Congressional term Know nothingism as
serted ITSELF and it found in him an able
and fearless opponent. He WIS elected to-
Congress for third time, nothwlthstan nding
bis request that his constituents would sA-
lect another candidate; and tho slavery
question came up again in the proposal 10
aimit Kansas as State under the LecOmp-
ton Constitution, which did not prohibit
slaveholding. Although the proposal was
favored by President Buchanan and by the
entire South, Mr.. English stoutly opposed
the measure on the ground, chiefly, that
there had been no decisive vote by the peso
pie of Kansas in its favor. The Senate
passed the bill admitting Kansas under the
Lecompton Constitutions bst The House re-
jected It. Then the House passed Substi-
tute bill, which was rejected by the Senate.
A conference committee was appointed from
the two Houses, aud Mr. Englsh,as a mem
bcr of that committee, submitted bill which
provided for the submission of the question
of the adntissiou of Kansas under the Lee
compton Constitution to Il vote of the peo-
pie of Kansas. The bill was accepted by
both branches Of Congress, gnd it became q
law.
This act referred the question back to the
people of Kansas, and they voted against
admission under the Lecnmpton Constitu-
ton. After Tie passage of this bill, Presi-
dent Buchanan cifered Mr.. English an inns
portant position in his administration, and
a similar offer was made by resident john
son, with whom Mr.. English had been in
the House Of Representatives but both Of
lers were declined. or the two Senators and
eleven Representatives constituting the In
diana delegation in the Thirty third Con-
gress, only Mr.. English and Thomas A.
Hendricks arc living.
His election for the fourth time in 1882
was by a larger majority than ever, although
few Democratic Congressmen were elected
in the North in that campaign. He attend
ed the Charleston Convention, not as del
egate, but in the capacity of peacemaker.
Before the closo Of the Convention he re-
turned TO Washington, discouraged by the
poor prospect for harmony. In a speech
mad6 shortly after his return he said "I
may be permitted to say, sir, upon this sub
ject Of the Presidency, that have but littla
sympathy with those who imperiously de-
mand Cesar or nobody no sympathy with
that rule ruin spirit which has been ex-f
hbited too much of late in both wings of,
the Democratic party" The movement Of
the South toward secession was OPPOSED by
him as stoutly as had been the proposal to
admit Kansas under the Lecompton Cosisti-
tuition. "phe' great Democ attic party" he
said "thet has so long and 50 justly bossted
of its nationality, must not degenerate into a
mere Southern sectional party, or a party
that tolerates the sentiment Of disunion; Il
it does, its days are numbered and its mis-
sion ended" Again he said, addressing his
words to the Southern Representatives in
Congress:
Looking at this matte. from the particular,
standpoint you oecuay IL rs TO be feared you
have not always properly appreciated the po-
sition Of the free-State Democracy, or the
perils whirh would environ them In the event
OF a resort TO the extreme measures to which
/ refer. Would you expect us In such an event
to 20 with you out OF the UntOng II so, let
INC tell you, frankly, your expectations will
never be realized. Collectively, us states. 10
would be impossible. aud as individuals, mad
missibiei because II would involve innumer.
able sacrifices and severance Of those sacred
ties which bind every mau 10 his own imme,
diate country, and which, as patriots, We never
would surrender
In 1868 he founded the First National
Bank Of indianapolis, one Of the first TO be
organized under the national banking sys-
tenn, and the first tn get its issue in circula-
ton, and became its President, holding that
Office till July, lS77pwhen he retired from
active business. His position in regard 10
question Of the national finances is sufficient
ly set forth in an interview which he gavo
while he was President Of the lndianepolls
bank. He said:
want our money q rank with the samo
standard recognized by all the great CONNER.
eial nations oftke world. l want no depreci-
ated or ppredeemable paper forced upon our
people, I want the laborlng man when pay.
day SOmes TO be paid In real dollars that viii
parchase Just as much OF the neeessaries u
iife as he dollars paid to bondholdeTs or Of
hceholders, and with as great purchasing pow
er as the bost money in the markets ~ tho
world. Honesty, in my Judgment Is the best
IN finances and politics, as uel Is In morals
generally, and, II politicians would take ha
as much trouble TO Instruct and enlighten the
masses as they do to take advantage Of their
supposed preiudioes. it would be far better.
Mr.. English is a first cousin Of Mrs. Nor
yin Green, wife of the President Of the West
ern Union Telegraph Company.
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