New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-25
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.

Matthew ii. Carpenter was born IN MOrctOwn.
VT, in 1924. In his twelfth year ho was adopted
by Paul Dillingham;, aferward Governor OF Yer
mont 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 Bos-
ton. 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 remark
ably successful. He acquired good reputation Z
a practitioner before the Supreme Court of the
United States, and he was for several years a DIS
trict-Attorney for the State Of Wisconsin,
Originally Mr.. Carpenter was Democrat In pol
itics, but upon the breaking out of the Rebellion lie
did not GO with the extreme section of his party.
His argument before the United States Supreme
Court in 1868 IN defence of the cOnsttutiOnaty Of
the Reconstruction acts of Congress attracted much
attention In January. 1860, he was elected a
Senator of the United States for Wisconsin, in the
place of James r. Dooitte, who had lost the sup
port of the Republican party through his aiiatiOn
wthsthe Administration of President johnson.
Here Mr. Carpenter entered upon that political
career by which he is we'll known to tho whole
country. He served on the Committees tho
Judiciary. Patents, and the Revision of the Laws,
and for a considerable time he president pro
tenn. of the Senate. He had remarkable abilities as
a speaker-several of his speeches attracting much
attention, and one of them ecitng q marked and
| public encomium from Mr. Sumner. The brilliancy
of his abilities was never questioned His intellec.
tual force was admitted but he failed to win en-
tirely the confidence Of the new party with which
| he now associated himself. He was the champion
of and the apOlOgst for the Credit MObiler opera
| tions. He defended what il known as 1.-THE Salary
Grab"
Mr.. Carpenter was not reelected to the Senate at
the close of his term in 1875. BY a union of Re-
Dublcans, Democrats and Liberals, Angus Gam
erOn was chosen in his place. Mr.. Carpenter al
ways held, and perhaps believed, that he struck
down because he was the champion of the people
against the monopolists. and particularly the rail-
way monOpolists but 1t 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 reelection. Mr.. Carpenter retired to
private life and to the practice of his profession
Washington and Milwaukee, trying. as he said in a
letter to The La Crosse Republican, to pay his taxes
and support his family" But his political ambition
was by no means extingushed. In February 1877,
be appeared before the Electoral Commission as an
advocate OF INC VI Hli' AbuOh w ChO
Presidency giving his attention particularly to the
Louisiana election He disclaimed all political
sympathy with Mr.. Tden, saying that he had voted
against him and would do so again if he were can
didate. but he "believed that he was elected and
therefore appeared in the case"
In 1870 Mr.. Carpenter became again candidate
for seat In the Senate. The struggle which res uted
in his election was severe one, over 100 ballots
being taken in the Republican caucus before the
nomination was secured by Mr. Carpenter His
career in the Senate during his late incumbency has
been n quiet one He servedupOn the Judiciary Com
mittee and on the Committee OH Foreign Relations
In his professional business. as has been SAID, Mr..
Carpenter was highly successful, and his practice
particularly in the Supreme Court of the United
States, was large. He is said to have been fond OF
reading and to have collected handsome library
Lie married the daughter of Ex-Governor billing