The National tribune., 1882-04-29

OHNA 'ifc n''lilc Iodu DF Nnlc!l breckenridge 5
troops fell back before Lauman's and Am
mems brigadcs. General Hurlbut was as
signed to command Of the Sixteenth Army
Corps and Of the district 1f West Tennessee
in February, 1863, where he remained until
March, 1854. In September OF The same year
he was placed in command cf the DEPART
ment of the Gulf which command he re-
tanned until the close OF the war; in May,
1863.
Entrusted with great and important COM
monds, nc was prompt iH emergencies brave
and skllltul IN the command Of troops IN the
field, while his splendid administrative
ability fitted him peculiarly fer 4 command
of department like that ot West Tennessee,
at all times liable 30 confederate raids. BE
was brave, wise, ana patriotic
At the close of the war Genera, Hurbut
returned to his bcmc in Illinois and soon
made his mark as politician.
A winning manner. united with bold
aggressive, and always powerful mode of
stating his case rendered him valuable
auxiliary to the Republican ranks. He was
one of the first to see the importance of
uniting The surviving soldiers of the war by
4 bond Of common brotherhood, and his
sympathies were early enlisted III the organ
ization of the Grand Army OF the Republic.
One of his most eloquent speeches, which
though not reported and consequently never
printed, was delivered on the occasion of the
organization Of the National Council OF the
Grand Army at indianapolis in 1865. The
recollection of this mastery effort will linger
with those who heard it to their dying day.
He rose with the grandeur of bis theme, in
tones Of thrilling eloquence portrayed the
heroic struggles of the citizen-soldiery of
America TO save the life Of the Nation, and
now that through their devotion to the prn-
ciples Of freedom the Nation mad emerged
from the storm OF civil war, he cNhorted
them to stand fast TO the principles through
which victory had been gained.
General Harlbut represented this Govern
ment rs minister resident 10 the United
States OF Colombia from 1869 to 1872. He was
elected to the Forty-third Congress in 1873.
where he at once took rank among the lead /
ers of his party. He served on Committees /
on Civi! Service, Railways and Canals, and !
Mississippi Levees.
1t was here that the warm friendship was |
begun between General HurIbut and Mr.. |
Blaine which was destined to continue una
hated through all the vicisSitudes of party |
triumph and defeat to the end Of General
Hurlbut'S life. He was reelected TO the
Forty-fourth Congress by respectable ma
iority over Gen. FarnSworth, the candidate
of the opposition, and resumed his position
on the Civil Service Committee, and was
appointed on the Committees on Military
Affairs and the Texas Frontier.
General Hurlbut was in the truest sense
an American. To insure the growth and
prosperity of the whole country was his
highest ambition. To accomplish this great
end he was untiring in his zeal upon all
measures of Interstate commerce, and in his
plan for deepening the mouth of the Missis-
sippi By means of jetties Capt. Eads found
in him On ardent supporter. There was
nothing narrow in his ideas of public policy,
and any scheme which locked to the ad-
vancement Of the public good found in him
an enthusiastic advocate. He was fearless
and outspoken in his views upon political
subjects and too independent to be the bond
slave of the caucus, but through all preserved
his tealry TO the principles Of the Republican
party and at all times received the highest
evidence of its unbOunded trust
The devotion of General Hurlbut to Mr.
Blaine caused him to be his warm adherent
at the Cincinnati convention, where it was ]
generally understood that in case of the sue {
cess Of his candidate General Hurlbut would
be appointed Secretary of War.
The defeat of Mr. Blaine remanded Gen.
HuIlhut TO private life at the close of his
second congressional term.
In the manipulation of political affairs in =,
Illinois Gen. Logan espoused the cause of
ex-President Grant for third term and
Gen. Hurlbut clung to his former chief. 1t !
is generally conceded that his opposition
prevented Logan from wheeling the State of
Illinois into line in support of his favorite, .
and that his activity in the canvass which
ensued had potent influence in the election :,
of Garfield.
Immediately upon the formation of the ,
new Cabinet Gen. HurlbuG was appointed !
minister resident to Peru. The delicate and {
difficult duties to he pericrmed NJ that point ,
rendered it a matter Of extreme importance
that the United States should be represented
by clear headed man of incorruptible in {
tegrity who WAS in full accord Witt the,ad-
ministratinn. Peru had but just emerged !
from disastrous war with Chilli In ac- I
cordance with the policy prevailing every
where the right of the victor was entitled TO I
respect. Upon frivolous pretext our own g
country had made war upon neighboring !
State and seized territory Of imperial extent
to indemnify us for expenses. Il
Germany had in more recent times cut ont t
from France the provinces Of Alsace and !
Lorraine In her position as mediator the q
United States Government could not protest ,
against tho dismember,nent Of Peru. but !
could ask for terms more liberal than Chilli
seemed likely 10 grant The position of '
United States Minister nj either capital was /
therefore hampered by the example of his /
own countr.. no fdd, if possible, TO the diff /
cultics Of the situation the Peruvian govern :,
nent was unsettled. and there was no one I
whose position would entitie him 10 speak a