The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-05-24

politics all the world over, are at times
50 kaleidoscope and startling that one
might incline to the belief that there
was no stability in even principle itself.
In this country, especially, when the
fever Of any government crisis is upon
us there is no telling what an hour may
bring forth; and hence the varying po-
litical characters that constantly pass
in review before us-some to illumine
their path with a permanent glory;
others to scatter around them a few
feeble, lurid rays that are soon lost in
darkness and in night. Without ven
turing to class the subject of our illus
tration with either party, we incline to
the belief that our readers will thank
us for the opportune and early produc-
tion Of the portrait of the above uamed
gentleman.
VIM. II. Robertson was born at Bed
ford. westchester county. New York.
October 10th, 1923. His early studies
were pursued at Union academy, in
his native town, where he soon gave
fair promise of becoming all that his
family or friends could desire. The
law having been selected as his profess
sion. he studied it with such assiduity
and success that he was admitted to
the bar in 1847, and commenced a
career in which he SO distinguished
himself as q lawyer and citizen, that not
only were various public trusts placed
in his keeping, but he was elected to
the office of county judge Of Westches.
ter-a position which he held for three
terms, or twelve years.
In 1S49 and 1850, he represented
Westminster county in the assembly,
and in 1854-55, the ninth senatorial
district in the senate. Subsequently
he was a representative inithe 40th con-
gress, where his influence was ac-
knowledged by the republican party, in
which he belongs. During the war he
rendered most efficient service in rails
ing and organizing state troops under
appointment Of the governor, and he
was for SIX years brigade inspector of
the eth brigade, New York S. N. G.
He was elected to the senate of 1s74-75,
and became president pro tenn. of that
body. He has since been reelected
more than once, and has been chairman
Of the Judiciary committee. He has
also been for several years n member of
the republican, state committee.
In 1879 he was the leading candidate
for the nomination Of governor against
Mr.. Cornell, but he failed to secure the
coveted prize. Last year he was a del
egate to the Chicago convention, at
which 1t was presumed he would act in
harmony with MIR. Conkling in certain
momentous relations, but those who
entertained this presumption were soon
undeceived; for, from whatever cause,
he not only declined to cooperate with
that senator, but adopted a course an
~tagonistic to that of the republican
leader, and became u supporter of the
views entertained by Mr.. Blaine. All
this may, Of course. be capable of ex-
plantation; but whether it be or not, 1t
was not evidently distasteful to the
executive, for in the distribution of
offices, Mr.. Robertson was selected by
the president to I'll that important post
the collectorship of New York. In
this selection Mr.. Conkling chose to
discover an act of hostility toward him
self and his party; and as neither he
nor Mr.. Plat, his colleague-who were
the SOLE representatives of the Empire
State in the senate,-was consulted by
the president before the nomination of
Mr.. Robertson was made, and as the
president refused to reconsider the
nomination, both gentlemen resigned,
leaving New York without any repre-
~sentation in the senate,-with what
final result will, no doubt, be speedily
a~scertained.