The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-15

anu lawyer
Judge CnuinSrS biographical Sketrll-ConcludC
from yestctdayl
One, well qualified to Judge, speaking O
Hammond's editorial capacity says: "lIt
views Of public affairs were comprehen
slve and liberal founded on principles o
sound philosophy. Amidst the mutations
Of purity, a beautiful consistency rum
through the whole, showing clearly tina
IN enlarged view Of the permanent public
good was his pole.star; as statesman un'
swayed by the any temporary expedients
unHwed by the clamor Of selfish politicians
and without u consciousness Of personal
aspiration in the matter. In fact he owed
his perfect independence us statesman
and politician to the circumstance that he
had not the least desire for, but on the
contrary IN aversion TO Office. 1t was well
known to his family and few friends that
he was offered foreign missions, and seat
on the bench Of the Supreme Court Of the
United States, all Of which he declined"
During the administration OF James
Monroe, we believe, new department
was established, called the "Ilome Blu.
reau," since styled the Department Of tho
INTERIOR" with view 10 his appointment
as the head OF 1t, but he absolutely refused
to accept It when 1t was rendered TO him,
and with n noble disintercstedness urged
tie appointment in his stead Of his friend
and colleague, Judge Alexander Caldwell,
of Wheeling, Virginia. lie found his hap-
piness in the bosom OF his family and in
the circit Of few personal friends, and
declared that day spent there afforded
him more satisfaction than would year
ut foreign court.
In 1916 Belmont county sent him rs her
representative to the Legislature, and in
1917, 1878, 1919 and 1920 he represented
that county in the House Of Representa-
tives and in the Senate OF the State. Here
his great ability was at once made mani.
fest. The acts drafted by him were models
Of perspicuity and brevity. EIo prepared
during his legislative career and revised
the laws regulating drscents and distribu.
tons, together with many OF those refer.
ring to legal aud chanGery proceedings.
Many OF the most important statutes were
amended and revised, removing many am.
biguities and repetitions, and Introducing
into them greater method and order.
He never failed to grow intensely iRdig.
nant ut any unjust exercise OF power, es.
pecially il it wronged the weak. Usurpa-
ton Of authority he would not tolerate,
and this trait was pre.eminently exhibited
on one occasion during his legislative
career when he recorded his individual
protest upon the journal against an act,
which, in his opinion, "assumed the prop.
osition that the General Assembly might
deprive one citizen OF real estate and vest
the title in another at u price fixed by
third persons" He regarded the doctrine
US IA violation Of justice, subversion OF
the principles Of free government, and re-
pugnant to the letter and spirit Of the Con-
stitution."
The act against which he thus protested
authorized the Court Of Coshocton county,
upon the application Of certain bridge
company, to set apart n specified tract Of
land, TO be occupied as an abutment, upon
the payment OF price assessed by three
treehelders whom the Court should ap.
point. But he was not only wary and
Jealous OF the authority, but he was also
active and diIigent in routine business,
and served rs chairman Of several impor-
tant committees. 1t was about the year
1878, that movement was made in the
Legislature to provide for calling Con.
stitutionat Convention. As Chairman OF
the House committee to which the subject
bad been referred, he made report
Astounding in reasons why new Consti-
tuition was demanded. In it he said:
"uatf million of people in their original
sovereignty pcaceably celebrating on the
expediency OF rem0dcling their govern
ment? UtopiNn dreamers have imagined
nothing beyond this, in their visionary
Commonwealth. 1t Isl perfection iii gov
eminent which must fill the heart Of the
patriot with gladness and Of which the
first example may be given in Ohio; for it
is believed that no such proceeding has
yet been had in any Of our sister States"
rs legislator and as an editor he was
an earnest advocate Of general system OF
internal improvement and of thorough
common school system. He took firm.
and decided stand with the friends Of edu.
cation when the first general law for the
encouragement OF schools in the State OF
Ohio was passed in 1921, and in 1886.
While he stood singly and alone among
the political editors OF Cincinnati in yigor-
GUS rebuke OF the abolition riots which
disgraCed the fair fame Of that city by at.
tcmpts to destroy the liberty OF the press,
he WIS foremost among those who Cheered
the self.sacrticinG friends OF education
then laboring for an intelligent revision OF
the school law OF 1926
In the year 1929 he carried out his orig.
inal intention OF removing to Cincinnati,
with tho ayowcd purpose Of "practicing
law" "and," sud he, II shall let politics
and newspapers alone" But such a rcEo.
luton it was impossible for him 10 keep.
He did practice Jaw and was highly sue.
cessful in his profession, but he could not
let politics alone. In 1925 he succeeded
Benjamin Z. Powers as editor OF the
Liberty Han and Cincinnati Gazette, which
was then published as Il weekly. It's motto
was measures not Men," In 1897 it was
Issued as a daily, and Mr. Hammond was
its editor until iSS6 without salary, when
he demanded and received an annual sal.
ary of$l 900 for few years, after which
he received one.thirl OF the profits until
the time OF his death.
The removal OF the public deposits dur
ing the administration Of General jackson,
and the manner OF its accomplishment,
called forth from his pen the most vigor-
oas protest. lie clearly ioresaw and wisely
predicted the peCuniary and financial EN-.
barnssments which so violent q proceed.
ing would producey As thcsequet proved,
his apprehensions on the subject were
more than realized.
Ills editorials were always appropriate,
treating on such subjects us most inter.
tested the public, but were mostly Of pc.
lilical character. The political excitement
Of the times was intense, yet the interests
| ot truth, morality and religion were never
neglected chen occasion offered for vindi-
eating thar CInfms I'm snvaral nrcnSians