Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-06-14
HIS POLITICAL LIFE.

HALF A CENTURY IN NATIONAL POLITICS
James A. Bayard was admitted to the
bar at New Castle in 1922, being TWEEN.
ty-three years Of age. The first three
or four years Of his legal life were un.
eventful further than the common.
place routine that charactsrizss :,
ear.!y career of ever v,apr ba,ristsr
lie lrled several aaits Of Importance
and On more than one ocsasion was
highly complimsnted by bar and bench
for the able manner in which he had
conducted his case. AS q pleader he
was considered very powerful at tha,
early period.
About this time Bsyard became en-.
gagged in politics, snd many of the lead.
efs looked upon him as a favorable
man to put up for the sofffsges Of the
psople. When he was twenty. seven
years old he was nominated by the
Democrats to fill an unexpired term In
Congress. The Federals nominated
Kensey Johns and elected him.
To enable the younger readers to fully
understand the state Of Political affairs
at that time little explanation as tc
the condition of thugs few years
previous is needed. 'Iu 1924 the Presi.
dental contest was decidedly apilt up.
The candidates were Andrew Jackson,
W. Il, Crawford, john Quincy Adams
and Henry Clay. Crawford was the
candidate OF ths Federal party, and in
Delaware one of his most earnest
champions was Lewis Mclean. In this
he was warmly follow ed by his former
law protege, James A. Bayard. The
young lawyer made a number o.
speeches in New Castle and Kent
counties during the campaign. The
result was very close and, the election
being thrown into the House of Repre-
sentatives, Adams was elected. Follow
ing this came 3 wonderful split o.
parties. Many Federalists became
Jackson Democrats, and numbers oi
Democrats became Federalists in favor
Of Adams. Among those who then
changed from Federalists to Democrats
was young Bayard and he enlisted
eagerly under the banner Of "Old
Hickory"
In that contest, the memorable Jack
son campaign of 1923, Bayard took o
prominent part. We find him again
nominated for Congress and opposed
W the adversary Of the year before
Kenssy Johns. Old residents still tell
how bitter that campaign was, and how
deeply interested the people of the
State became. In the thickest of the
fight was Delaware's future Senator,
and with great vigor and heated elo
quence ne stumped the State. An
drew Jackson was elected President,
bat James A. Bayard was badly Beaten,
and Kensey Johns again went to Con-
gress with Aging colors. Nothing
daunted at these defeats, and possess
ing an ambition which even public
opinion could not effect he allowed him
self to be nominated for Congress again
in 1880. John J. Miliigan, lately de-
ceased, and who was Judge some years
later, was his opponent. Bayard was
once more defeated, and never ran tor
Congress again.
EAe turned his attention to law dur
iR the next Eve years, bnt OF that
more hereafter. In 1885 United
States Senator was to be elected. The
Democrats, by split in the Whig par
ty in Sussex, succeeded in electing
Thomas Robinson To Congress, and Of
carrying the Legislature by one major
ity. The candidates for the Senator
ship were James A. Bayard and his
brother Richard H. Bsyard. The lat
Ter had BEEN in the Senate since 1885.
The Bouss Of Representatives was
equally divided on the question Of can
while the Senate appeared to
bs in favor Of the Democratic candidate
by two majority. Much clever plan
ming was done by both sides, and the
upshot of it all was no Senator was
elected, for the House refused to meet
the Senate in joint session. And so
the Office remained vacant for that term.
In 184l Richard H. Baysrd Was again
elected, the Wing party having carried
the State.
The Whig party continued in the
until the oampaign pre-
csediug 1850, when the Democrats won
4 victory and elected their Legislative