Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-07-15
WILLIAM II. ENGLISH.


THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF OUR Mex
vICE-PREsIDENT.
William H. English, Democratic nominee
for Vice President, is native Indianian. HI
was born in Scott county, August q, 1872
at the village of Lexington, and has liter
ally grown with his native State and strength
ened with her strength. Born at time
when school houses in Indiana were few ano
far between, he mastered The rudiments Of
an education at an early age, and took posi-
tion in public affairs. Mr.. English studied
law and 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 23rd year OF
his 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 a delegate from his native county to
the Democratic State Convention at Indian.
apolis, which nominated Gen. Tilghman A.
Howard for Governor, and he commenced
making speeches in that memorable cam.
pagn. At the age of 20 years i've was ap-
pointed postmaster Of Lexington, his native
village, then county. seat Of Scott county.
In lS43, when 81 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 1874
began. The standard, bearers of the opposing
parties were James K. Polk and Henry Clay.
Mr.. English took an active part in that cam.
paign, and as recognition Of his services was
rendered an appointment in the Treasury
Department at Washington, which he &C
cepted, and continued to discharge its duties
during Mr.. Folks administration.
In the year 1850 the people of Indiana
called convention to revise the constitution,
of the State, which was adopted in 1916,
when the State was admitted into the Union.
The convention assembled in October, 1850,
and Mr.. English, then 2s years of age, was
chosen its principal secret 7. In this posi-
tion the fact was recognized that his abilities
were of character to command wider
sphere of usefulness. In 1851 Mr.. English
was elected to the State Legislature against
an opposition majority and over competitor
considered the strongest and most popular
man of his party in the county. This was
the first meeting of the Legislature under the
provisions of the new constitution, and judg-
ment and discretion were required Of the
members to put the new State machinery into
harmonious and successful operation. 1t was
a considerable honor, therefore, for Mr. Eng
lish to be elected to take part in the delbera-
tions of such body, but it was still greater
honor to be elected, as he was, Speaker of
the House, though but 29 wears Of age, and
his first appearance as member of a legisla-
tive body.
With the close of the long session of the
Legislature in 1851, Mr.. English was regard
ed as one of the foremost men Of his State,
and the Democrats of his district selected him
as their standard bearer in the race for Con
gress. In October, 1882, when just 80 years
of age, he was elected to the United States
House of Representatives by 4SS majority.
Mr.. English entered Congress at the COM
mencement of Mr.. Pierces administration,
aud gave its political measures warm sup
port.
Mr.. English served four terms in Con
gress-in all eight years-immediately pre-
ceding the war, and that curing the entire
period as stormy as the National Legislature
ever experienced. The Kapsas-Nebraska bill
and questions growing out Of its introduction
were among the most prominent and impor'
tant measures that were ever submitted to
Congress With these measures Mr.. English
was conspicuously identified He, at the
. time the Kansas Nebraska bill was introduced,
was a member of the House committee on
Territories, which was charged with the con.
sideratior of the subject. Passing by the
question of area and other questions Of sec.
ondary Importance the real question at issue
was popular Sovereignty" the right of the
people to determine for themselves the char.
acter Of their Territorial and State insitu
tions-and this great question, which under
lies the democratic idea of government, was
first sharply defined in the discussion OF
the kansas Nebraska bili'' for the organ
ization of the territories bearing these names,
and now sovereign and prosperous States.
Mr.. English, for prudential reasons. did not
concur 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.. Eng
lish, on the 31st of January, 1854, made a
minority report Both the House and Sen
ate bill, at the time Mr.. English made his
minority report, contained a provision "that
the Constitution and all laws of the United
States which were not locally inapplicable
shall have the same force and effect within
the said territory as elsewhere in the United
States" and then followed this importan
reservation
Except the eighth section Of the Act pre-
paratory to the admission of Missouri into
the Union, approved March 6, 1920, which
was superseded by the principles Of th'
legislation of 1850, commonly called th'
compromise measures, and is hereby declared
imperative"
Mr. English proposed to strike out this ex
ception and insert the following:
"Provided that nothing in this Act shall
be so construed as to prevent the people o
said territory through the properly constituted
legislative authority, from passing such law
in relation to the institution Of slavery, no
inconsistent with the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States, as they may deem best adapted
to their locality and most conducive to the
happiness and welfare and so much OF an.
existing Act Of Congress as may conflict will
the above right of the people to regulate thei
domestic institutions in their own way be
and the same is hereby, repealed"
In the history of this subject, given in tn
first volume of Mr.. Horace Greeleys "Ameri
can Conflict" the opinion is expressed tha
this proposition of Mr.. English could not hav
been defeated on a call of yeas and nays, ant
the author goes on to explain and condemn
the new and ingenious parliamentary maneu
vre resorted to at that time, which cut off al
amendments but the substitution of the Senat