Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-03-02
The Life Of the Dead Senator i'm. Mill
waukees

The telegram that told of the death of
Senator Carpenter, Thursday, cast a
shadow of gloom over the hearts of all the
people of this city. He loved them as
citizens of Milwaukee and they all re-
turned his sincere affection. In this city
the best part of the dead senator's life
was passed and here he numbered as his
friends almost every member of its So
ciety. Neither here nor elsewhere had
he personal enemies. Men who crossed
swords with him before the bar, in the
political field or in the senatorial arena
might be his opponents; they could not
choose but be his personal friends.
While his rebuke was stern and his sar-
easm bitter, his manner was so winning
that even the object of the attack forgave
the thrust.
SENATOR CARPENTER CAME TO MILWAUKEE,
and made it his residence in 1858. For
six years before during his life at Beloit
he had occasional cases in the courts of
this city, SO that when at last ne moved
to the Cream City he was well known as
a bright, rising lawyer.
His first important case in this city
and the one that made him renown was
that of Cleveland VS.. the La Crosse and
Milwaukee Railway company. This was
a case in which Mr.. Carpenter battled
against large odds and took what
seemed to be desperate chances
Against him were pitted such
old heads as Ryan and Palmer
but the young giant in intellect argued
his case so clearly and handed his case
so perfectly before the jury that he OBJ
tanned Judgment, for his client, in q
large amount. The decision of this case
made Mr.. Carpenter favorite and gave
him position, among the lawyers Of
the land, that he has never lost.
While this important case was in pro-
gross others OF only little less moment
were occupying the mind that was SO
soon afterward to electrify the northwest
with it's passionate, stirring appeals to
the people of Wisconsin in behalf of the
nations honor.
HIS WAR RECORD.
In 1861 Mr.. Carpenter was War
Democrat and the leader of his party.
When the thunder-cloud of the Rebellion
broke over the north, Mr.. Carpenter left
his Office and his business to stir up
1OydA hCttICS, dIlSl h1AOIC d1IOW III tI0
breasts of the Badger Boys" the hot
fire of patriotism. For months this
noble man neglected everything else to
tell the people that even though it
should cost all the treasure of thenation.
the war must be prosecuted; the honor
OF the country and her standing among
the powers of the world were at stake,
and her sons must make them good.
Many an old soldier of to-day who
reads of the death of this man of
the people will feel thrill of pleas
ure and pride course through his
veins as he recalls the words and man.
ner of the man who twenty years ago
stood on the rostrum in the open air
with the sunlight just touching the man
ly brow, Swallowed by the heavy, straight
brown hair, and told him of his country's
peril. AS the speaker grew earnest in
his work he tossed the tawny hair from
his forehead, and took his audience with
! him to the battle fields Of the south with
the same magic voice and convincing
manner that afterward won for him the
proud title of the The Lion of the SEN
ate. While his country needed his work
he gave it willingly as he did his money;
| and the whole expense of his many trips
that won new soldiers for the army, was
borne by himself.
When his immense law business could
no longer spare him he returned to this
city to take up his burden in the mass