Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-16
b. GRAFT BROWN.

The Man Who was Governor, United
States Senator ahd Candidate for Vice
President.
b, GratZ Brown, whose death was an
nounced in our dispatches Monday, was
born at Frankfort, KY, in 1926, and was
the son OF John Mason Brown, then Score
tary Of State. He was educated at the
Pennsylvania University at Lexington,
Ky, and was the colege-mate OF Senator
George G.. Vest and Justice Harlan, of the
| United States Supreme Court. He came
to st. Louis in 1851 and became the editor
OF the Missouri Democrat and part pro-
prIetor with William Mckee and
Gen. +. +. Blair. He was then a vigor-
Gus Benton man, and in 1856 became in
voIved in a quarrel with Thomas q. Rey-
nolds, who was a violent anti-Benton
man and who held the position Of United
States district attorney. A duel followed,
in which Mr.. Brown was shot in one leg
and Reynolds escaped uniniured. Mr..
/ Brown was elected TO the State Legisla-
/ ture about that time as Free-Soll DEM
/ ocrat. He raised a regiment during the
civil war and served for short time in
the Union army. He was elected TO the
/ United States Senate in 1868 with Gen.
john B. Henderson, and in 1870 was nom
/
! publcans against Gov. McClurg, Radical
! Republican.
The nomination as Governor at this
time was an important political move
ment, the question involved being the re-
enirancbisement OF the men who had
served in the Confederate army. The
convention was held in jefferson City, the
state capital, and its result was watched
with the closest attention by members OF
/ both Urpat pOlttipal nartipa Whnn a
! platform had been presented the adher-
ents of Mr.. Brown walked out of the con-
vention, organized in another portion of
the city, adopted a platform that embOd-
| led liberal ideas of State government, and
favored northumberland of all ex-
! COnfederates. Mr.. Brown was nOmina-
ted for Governor, together with full Re-
| publican State ticket and. being endorsed
| by the Democratic convention which as
! sembled later, was elected by a handsome
majority over Gov. McClurg, who sought
reelection as the Radical, or what was
! stigmatized during the campaign as the
| Hate-ite candidate.
The Democratic Endorsement of the B.
| Gratz Brown ticket was met by Liberal
| Republicans in a cOnciliatory manner
| and the Legislature became Democratic
i'll both branches, and Missouri was made
a strong Democratic State.
/ When Mr.. Brown retired from the Gov
/ ernOrship he returned to st. Louis, and
later on was an unsuccessful candidate
for the United States Senate before DEM
/ Ocratic Legislature. When the Liberal
| Republican party, which was called into
| being by his nomination for Governor, as
sembled in Cincinnati to nominate can
! didate for President and Nice-President,
Mr.. Brown was named for the Presidency
and receiVeda substantial vote on the
! first ballot, the real contest, however, be-
! ing between Charles Francis Adams, OF
| Massachusetts,, and Horace Greeley. of
/ New York. The galleries were constant
! ly applauded for Adams, and it looked,
/ for time, as though he would be the
! successful nominee. when Mr.. Brown
| advanced to the platform he was present.
| ted to the audience by Carl SchurZ, who
was presiding, owing to the temporary
absence Of Stanley Matthews, who was
/ the permanent Chairman of the cOnVen-
ton, and in fervid speech Mr.. Brown
withdrew his name from the list of
candidates for the Presidency, and ad-
vised his friends to support Horace
Greeley. This turned the tide, and Mr..
Greeley was made the nominee on the next
ballot, Mr.. Brown being selected as Wee
Presidential candidate. He took the
stump and made many speeches in the
| East and West. After the result OF the
election became known Mr.. Brown re-
tired from politics and of late years took
a very active part in the prohibition
movement. He had been railroad law
yer here for several years, and was con-
sidered one Of the most careful, reliable
and studiOus members Of the profession,
/ and for that reason was frequently APP
| pointed referee in important cases. He
! leaves wife and nine children, all the
latter being unmarried. His estate is
| said to be quite valuable.