New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-04-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

w ASEINGTON, March 70, 1883.
The black drapery that had been
around the columns Of the National
Post Office Department in mourn
ing for the late ex-Postmaster Gen
eral Jewell was only removed last
week, and now it must be replaced
for Postmaster General Howe. The
venerable Timothy 0. Howe, of
Wisconsin, is dead. There has been
singular fatality among the heads
Of this Department within the last
two years. Mayard, Jewell, and
Howe, three Post Masters General
have passed away. General John
A. Rawlins, Secretary Of War,
who died September Z, 1869, was
the last cabinet minister to die in
office until this death Of yesterday.
He died also Of an affection of the
lungs, and, like Mr.. Howe, was a
comparatively poor man at the time
of his death.
The deceased cabinet officer was
born at Livermore, Maine, on the
24th Of February, 1916. After re-
ceiving common school and aca-
demic education he studied law at
Winthrop and at Ellsworth. In
1889 he was admitted to the bar
and at once began to practice at
Readfie(d. At that time Mr.. Howe
was an ardent whig and a devoted
admirer Of Henry Clay. In 1s45
he was elected to the legislature as a
whig, serving with William Pitt
Fessenden. He took an active part
in discussions in the legislature,
and was considered to be young
man Of unusual promise. Late in
1845 Mr.. Howe removed to Wiscon.
sin territory and opened law office
at Green Bay, small village then
separated from the more thickly
settled parts Of the territory bv a
long aud vide belt of forest. Upon
the admission Of Wisconsin to the
Union in l848 he became the viii g
candidate for congress, but was de.
feated. In 1850 he was elected a
Judge of the circuit courts OF the
state. He held this position until he
resigned in 1855, and during part
Of his term was chief justice Of the
supreme court.
When the Republican party was
organized in Wisconsin, in 1854,
Mr.. Howe published hearty ap
probation of the new movement.
In 1857, two years after retiring
from the bench, he was Il candidate
for United States senator, but fail.
ed to receive the nomination be
cause he would not subscribe tt
certain state rights doctrines ther
popular in Wisconsin, In 1861, Ii,
was elected, and he was twice re
elected. During the eighteen year,
he was in the Senate Mr.. How,
was member Of many importan
committees, and was one of tn
earliest advocates Of emancipation
universal suffrage. and the RICH
and expediency of establishing ter
ritorial governments in the South
He took an active part in the oppc
sition to President Johnson's poll
cy. One of his most marke
speeches during his last term was
vigorous protest against the Haye
policy of cancellations
/ Early in 1881 President CARTEL
appointed him as one Of the con
missioners to the Paris monetal
conference
1t was a great sacrifice whe
Senator Howe, during his last ser
atorial term, refused the Office (
Chief Justice of the Supreme Cou1
of the United States, rendered hi
; by President Grant. Speaking
the matter on later occasion, M
Howe said: "Rather than surrel
der the seat I hold III the Senate
a Democrat, | have already tram
pied on the only real ambition | ey
er had = The offer came at a thu
when, by combination of railws
; and granger influences, the sta
legislature had fallen into the han.
OF the Democrats, and he We I'D n,
entertain for moment the ide
] leaving an Office to which he ha
i been elected by the Republicans