The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-03
Death Of Hon. Mat. n. Carpenter.


Hon. NJ T. Carpenter, representing in part
the State of Wisconsin in the Z. S. Senate,
died at his residence in Washington on the
Oath, of Brights disease of the kidneys. He
had been in bad health for a year or two past.
but not until recently were serious apprehen-
sons entertained for his life. He assurround-
ed by his family and friends at the time OF his
death, and retained his faculties and was en-
tirely conscious of his condition, until death
overlook him. The following brief sketch OF
his life will be read with interest:
Matthew H. Carpenter was born in More
town, Vt, in 1924 In his twelfth year he was
adotped by Paul Dillingham;, afterward Gov
ernor of Vermont. During the years 1913 and
| 1874 he was at the West Point Academy, but
| left that institution without finishing the
prescribed course. He then entered the office
of the Hon. Rufus Choate of Boston, and
there completed the study of the law and was
admitted to the bar Mr. Carpenter removed
to Wisconsin in 1913, taking up his residence
at Beloit, and there entering upon the practice
of his profession, in which he was from the
first remarkably successful. He acquired a
good reputation as practitioner before the Su-
preme Court of the United States, and he was
State of Wisconsin.
| Originally Mr. Carpenter was Democrat in
politics, but upon the breaking out of the
Rebellion he did not go with the extreme sec
ton of his party. His argument before the
United States Supreme Court in 1868 in de-
tense of the constltutionality of the Recon
struction acts of Congress attracted much
attention. In January, 1862 he was elected
Senator of the United States for Wisconsin,
| in the place of James r. Doolittle. who had
lost the support of the Republican party
through his utilization with the Administration
of President johnson. Here Mr.. Carpenter
entered upon that political career by which he
is well known to the whole county. He served
on the Committees on the Judiciary, Patents;
and the Revision of the Laws, and for con-
siderable time he Wss president pro TEN. of the
Senate. He had remarkable abilities as
speaker-seyeral of his speeches attracting
much attention, and one of them eliciting a
marked and public encomium from Mr. Sum-
ner. The brilliancy of his abilities was never
| questioned. His intellectual force was admit
ted; but he failed to win entirely the conf
dence of the new party with which he now as
| ISOLATED himself. He was the champion of and
the apologist for the Credit Mobilier opera
tions He defended what is know as "the
| Salary Grab"
| Mr.. Carpenter was not reelected to the Sen
ate at the close of his term in 1875. By a
union of Republicans Democrats and Liberals,
Angus Cameron was chosen in his place. Mr..
Carpenter always held. and perhaps believed.
that he was struck down because he was the
champion of the people against the monopo-
| lists, but it was not thought that he took the
Granger side from any particular devotion to
Granger principles For all that he had done
which was entitled to credit he received full
share of the appreciation of the public and the
press.
Failing of a reelection, Mr.. Carpenter retir-
ed to private life and to the practice ofhi pro-
fession in Washington and Milwaukee trying
as he said in letter to The La Crosse Republd-
ca1a "to pay his taxes and support his family"
But his political ambition was by no means
extinguished. In February, 1877, ne appeared
before the Electoral Commission as an advo-
cate of the legal election of Mr.. Tilden to the
Presidency, giving his attention particularly
to the Louisiana election. He disclalmed all
political sympathy with Mr.. Tilden, saying
that he had voted against him and would do
so again if he were candidate, but he ''believ-
ed that he was elected and therefore appeared
in the case"
In 1879 Mr.. Carpenter became again can
didate for a seat in the Senate. The struggle
which resulted in his election was severe one,
over 100 ballots being taken in the Republi-
can caucus before the nomination was secured
during his late incumbency his been a quiet
one He served upon the Judiciary Commit
tee and on the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions.
In his professional business, as has been
said, Mr.. Carpenter was h ghly successful, and
his practice, particularly in the Supreme Court
ofthe United States, was large. He is said to
have been fond of reading and to have collect
ed a handsome library. He married the
daughter of ex- Governor Dillingham;, of Yer
mont, and leaves behind him daughter anda
son. In person, Mr.. Carpenter was portly
tall, and with something Of what is usually
called a Websterian manner. Though ma
tive of New England, he had caught some
thing of the Western ways. He had for some
time been in i'll health and his death was not
unexpected. Personally Mr.. Carpenter was
man of genial and winning personal traits, and
few men have had more devoted friends.