Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-14
SCHUYLER CoLFAX.

SCHUYLER Colfax, of Indiana, is dead.
Hewas born in New York, March %, 1928.
lie was the grandson of General William
Colfax, who commanded Washington
Life Guards in the American Revolution.
Mr. Colfax's opportunities for intellectual
culture in youth were exceedingly linn
tied, and he was debarred the usual COM
mon school education. He located in
northern Indiana in 1886. lie was an
active man, not afraid to labor, and full of
energy and nervous vigor. His leisure
hours he devoted to study and to reading
law textbooks lie made such rapid
progress that he was soon qualified for adj
mission to the bar, but he had not pur-
sued his course of reading for that pur-
pose In 1S45 he established at South
Bend. Ind, the 81. Joseph VoVy Register,
Wing paper, which he edited for
many years with mastery ability.
s. He was Secretary of the National Conyen-
ton that nominated Zachariah Taylor for
the Presidency in 184S, and Secretary of
the Wing National Convention of 1852, He
had seat in the Constitutional Conven-
ton Of Indiana in 1850, and first drew
marked attention to himself by his vigor-
Gus ard brave opposition to the clause pro-
hibiting the settlement Of free colorcd men
in Indiana He was nominated for Con-
gress BY the Wings in 1851 Though in q
strong Democratic district, he was beaten
by bu, 2l6 votes. In 1854 he was elected
as Republican to Congress from the Ninth
District Of Indiana He held the seat
with honor and distinction up to the time
he was elected, as a Republican, Vice
President of the United States in 1868.
Soon after his entry into Congress
he delivered his famous speech upon the
Kansas question, of which it is said over
100000 copies were printed and distrib-
uted lie was thrice elected Speaker of
the House Of Representatives. 1t is ad-
mitted on all sides that he was peculiarly
fitted for that important post, and he be
came exceedingly popular. He went out
of public life under a supposed cloud in
the Credit Mobilier Investigations, but
which would not have affected him had he
been holder in facing denunciation His
moral purity had never been questioned
his character stood among the highest, but
the accusations, despite clear
ance bv the Judiciary Committee
of the House, made seemed to deeply
wound his sensitive nature, and indispose
him TO resist them with the courageous
vigor with which other men turned like
shafts aside. He was man of broad
capacity in the discharge of administra-
tive functions, and as an executive officer
has had very few equals. He was the
friend Of freemen from youth up, and
never stood at any sacrifice to advocate the
claims of human liberty. He was man
of warm sympathies and generous i'm
pulses. and in northern Indiana no man
was more beloved or respected. His recep-
ton in California in 1865 was most enthu-
siast:c and took on the character
of great ovation. We cannot
class him as statesman in the full
ness Of the term, but he was a patriotic
representative Of the people, and a de-
fender of human rights. His personal
magnetism was great and his influence
over the people of his district phenomenal,
He was one of the most afable and cour-
teous OF men A large share of his life
labogs was given to philanthropic and
humanitarian schemes, and were directed
toward the unity of men in the bonds OF