Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-09-10
. r,eh, Arnin.t Test Oaths.

He was chairman of the Judiciary Com
mittee of that body and did the bulk OF the
labor of arranging the laws OF the old state
10 conform to the constitution OF the new
and the creation OF new laws 10 meet tns
necessities of the revolution. He renamed
I'm the legislature from 1868 to 1867, but
GREAT deal of the time he was in conflict with
The narty with which he had acted every
since he stepped into public life. Toward the
close of the war the Unlonists enacted
many test oath laws, 10 all OF which MI.
Lamb was opposed. He fought the DISC uaii,
fcation of votes and was violently opposed
70 the test oath laws that disbarred lawyers,
preachers, suitors and school teachers from
pursuing their advocations without taxing
The test oath. Soon after the war closed he
made MANY attempts to have this legislation
stricken from the statute book and fought
with great force the enactment OF any new
LEGISLATION Of that character. 1t was IN
these stormy times that / first met Mr..
Lamb and watched his quiet yet firm course
during this fight. He was badly beaten, 1or
the legislature was overwhelmingly against
him. In 1865 he issued public ADDRESS
m the peoplc protesting against continual
tion OF the DISTINGUISHING legislation, but
the feeling in the Union party was with
the majority in the legislature and there
was no marked response to his appeal.
When Mr., Lamb was making this hight
the opposing factions in the Union party,
the conservative and radical had not serious.
" divided it, but this test oath question grew
so important and the conflict over II so oit-
ter that it forced division and the two
wings drifted apart. The radical wing OF the
Union party, took the name Oh kepuo-
lican." The other called itself the Conserva-
tive party, and Mr. Lamb was its leader.
In 1866 he renewed the fight but was steadily
beaten until 1870, when serious breach IN
the Republican party upon this same test
oath question caused its defeat. There Is
no doubt but that many other strong men
like Mr., Lamb were alieRated from the
Republicans by the continued enactment OF
laws that abridged the rights of citizens, The
success of this conservative power galyan-
| lied the old Democratic party and IL soon
took control of State affairs and is likely TO
hold the reins of government Tor some
time to come.
was presented to the legislature, for uited
States Senator in 1871 and he was voted Tor
by the members OF the legislature from
this end of the State, but Henry U. DAVIS
was elected, and Mr.. Lamb has never
| since held public office. =,
After he resigned as cashier OF the North
western Bank in 1863, he resumed the
| practice OF the law and has continued 1t
from that d ay to this. He has often been
| urged TO accept public place butas has often
| refused. He has frequently been Emporium
| ed 10 take place upon the Court Oh Ap-
| peals, position for which his rich legal at
| tainment admirably tit him, but he has
| preferred to remain in his law office. AS q
| LAWYER he is noted for through prepera.
| ton of his cases, as having sound legal
| mind and a perfect knowledge OF the law
| he seeks TO present. He is not an advocate
| but is strong before a court. He is rather
l dull heavy speaker, but careful ana
sound reasoner.
Mr.. Lamb has led in many respects a
| peculiar life and is in many respects a
| peculiar man. Slight Of frame and rather
| delicate in health, he was never had any OF
| those pushing aggressive qualities that force
| men into prominence, but it must not be
! understood that he is a negative man,
| for when his mind is fixed he is positive,
| often times to Stubborness. 1t may be said
| OF him that while he has many negative
| qualities he has still stronger positive ones,
| He was never q pushing, public spirited,
| progressive man. Whatever he is or has
| teen for himself or the community in
which he lives he has gained by an upright
| life; by quiet careful attention to business
| and by creating the knowledge that he
| is perfectly reliable in all things.
and interesting because he is a type.oi man
that rarely achieves distinction, but that is
as essential TO the building up of a great
community as the noisy pushing citizen,
who hazards his money, gets rich and
makes name for himself, often times more
| by audaCious courage than from power OF
! mind. Mr.. Lamb has never been a specu-
| lator more than he has been a politician.
! He is too straight forward and careful to
be either, therefore he has not amassed a
| fortune. He has gathered a competency by
| strict attention to business and now while
| the years OF his life are fast running TO the
shutdown land he lives to enjoy what he
has made, and the respect and confidence Of
all who know him. His very many and use
full years look back over nearly the entire
| history of the city in which he lives.
| Three wars have been fought and won
| since he began, two since he was a man.
| The whole history OF this nation has been
made before his eyes, since it cast off the
| quiet moral and mental or rather blended
them with the physical and material forces
| in such degree as to make power that was
| capable of meeting the requirements OF
new land and pushing civilization.