The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-07-02
VICE PRESIDENCY.
OF INDlANNA, COMPLETES THE DEM
oCRATfC TICKET.

Lexington, in Scott county, in the southern
part of Indiana, on August 81 1922. He
was the son of the late Major Elisha G.
Engish,s native of Kentucky, who removed
10 Scott county about 1918. AS one tf the
pioneers of that section he always enjoyed
the respect aud confidence Oft the people, and
for nearly twenty years was member of the
legislature. Mr.. Euglish's father was one
of family of fourteen children, while his
mother, Mahala Elstin before her marriage,
was one of the seventeen, and still lives at
the venerable age OF eighty-two.
Mr.. English's education was such as could |
be acquired at the common schools of the
neghborhood, and a course of three years
study at the South Hanover College. lie |
studied law, and was admitted to practice in
the circuit court at the early age of eighteen |
years. lie was subsequently admitted to
the Supreme Court of his state aud, in the
twenty third year of lis age, to the highest
judicial tribunal in the country, the Supreme
Court of the United States.
Several years before he was of age,he was
chosen delegate from Scott county to the
democratic state convention at Indianapolis
which nominated General Tighman A. How
ard for governor, There was no railroad
connection with the capitol at that time, and
the roads were in such deplorabe condi
tion that it took him six days horseback
riding to make the round trip. He COM
menced making speeches in that campaign,
and continued in active politics for many
years. This was the celebrated clog cabin
and hard cider" campaign, which resulted
in the election of General Harrison for the
Presidency.
Under the Tyler administration, Mr..
English was appointed postmaster of Lex
ington, his native village, then the county
seat of Scott county.
In ls43 he was chosen principal clerk of
the house of Representatives of his state
over several distinguished and worthy COM
pctitors. 1t was at this session that the Hon.
Jesse D Bright, then the lieutenant COVER.
nor and President of the Senate, by casting
his vote postponed the regular election OF the
United States Senator until the next session,
which resulted in his own election.
james d. Williams now governor of In
dianna, was then for the first time, a MEM
Der of the house, and he had several times
public mention of the fact that Mr.. English
then performed the same duties, and most
satisfactory, too, with the aid of one assis-
tant, that in these later years half dozen
are paid to perform.
In the Presidential campaign of 1912,
Mr.. English took an active part in prom O.
ting the cause of Mr.. Polk, and during the
whole of the latters administration he was
an officer in the treasury department at
Washington, and a clerk in the United
States Senate during the memorable session
of 1850 when the compromise measures
were adopted. He was principal secretary
of the convention that framed the present
constitution of Indiana, member of the
house of Representatives from Scott county
in 1851. and was elected its Speaker at that
session.
With the close of the long session of the e
legislature OF 1851, in which Mr.. English
had earned golden opinions from men of all
parties, he was justly regarded as one of the
iOreuost ueu Vi tue state, anu tne ueulO-
crsts OF his district with great unanimity so
licited him to become their standard bearer
in the race for Congress. He was nomina-
ted, and in October, 1852, was elected by 4S:
majority over John ID. Ferguson, now deceas
ed, and with whom he was always on equa
terms of the warmest personal friendship.
He was an active participant in the can
vass which resulted in the election of Frank
lin Pierce, over General Winfield Scott.
Mr. English entered congress at the begin
ing of Pierca's administration and RENAME,
in the house until the end of Buchanan
term, retiring from public life at the clos
of the memorable session of 1861. He bein,
particularly prominent as the author of tn
English bill," which passed congress afte
long and bitter controversy betwee
the political parties of the day. The bill
was compromise, removing an angry issu
between the senate and house of repr esenta
tives, and placing it in the power of tn
people Of Kansas, by vote, to either pre-
vent or secure admission as state under th
Lecomptou constitution, without limit O
cOuuitiou Dut tnis uiiii diluoubu ~ Coih
manded the favor of the President and hi
cabinet, failed to receive the sanction of tn
house of Representatives. The house o.
the other hand, passed bill as substitut
for that of the senate would not accept G
the executive approve. In this state of tn
proceedings, when the whole country ha
almost abandoned the hope of settlemer
of the disagreement between the houses, AN
the angry contest was likely to be adjourne
for further and protracted agitation before
people already inhamed with sectional AM
mosities, Mr.. English took thel responsibiit
of moving to concur in the proposition c
the senate, asking for a committee of fre
conference. The excitement upon the occa
sion has scarcely ever been equaled in tn
house of representatives. Upon adoptin
this motion the vote was los to l0S, but tn
speaker voted in the affirmative, and III
motion was carried From this committe
Mr.. English, reported what is known as th
"English bill," which became the law afte
a struggle of unparalleled bitterness. Unde
this law the question of admission under th
Lecomptlon constitution was in effect refer
red back to the people of Kansas, and the
voted against it, just as Mr., English an
every one else expected they would do. Eve
Mr.. Greeley admitted in his book, that tn
vote cast on the proposition submitted b
the English bill twas, in effect, to reject tn
Leconption constitution" This was tn
result accomplished which Mr., English ba
contended for from the beginning, and ther
was no Inconsistency in his record upon thi
subject. Ga the final vote which admitte
Kansas as a state he was still member an,
voted for her admission.