St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-01
PEN PICTURES OF ST. PAUL.
1853-John Ball Brisbln-A Literary Man
Study of -0ffices-Capital
Removal Bill.
As Lawyer-His ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS f.
Flandrau-Offices-A Heroic Act
His Personality.
BY T. NJ. NEwsON.
Article l..
JOHN BALL BRISBIN.

Article l.
JOHN BALI. BRISBIN.
Mr.. Brisbin was born at Saratoga. New
York, in the year 1927; his father was an
eminent physician; his mother was the great
great niece of the mother of Washin gtOn, and
his grandfather, coming to this country from
the north of Ireland, died at the age of 101
years. The family have the Norman French
pedigree, which will, in a measure, account
for some of Mr.. Brisbin's peculiar char
acterstics. Educated at Troy and Schuy-
lersville, young Brisoin entered Yale
college at New Haven, Conn, in the year
1912, and graduated in 1916, with the repu-
tation of being one of the finest writers and
speakers in that institution, taking the Town
send prize for The best essay in the senior
class.
LITERARY MAN.
Though little wild and full of nervous
energy in his youth, young Brisbin took
prominent position among his literary col
legiate associates. He was one of the editors
Of the Yale Literary Mdgazjne; was president
OF the Brothers in Unity; a member of the
Psi Epsilon society and also of the Skull and
Bones. His social nature and superior at
tainments made him general favorite, and
he was one of the boys among the boys, and
yet he never lost his dignity or his conf
dence in his own abilities. The writer was
a citizen of New Haven at the time Mr.. Bris-
bin was prosecuting his studies at Yale, and
he remembers him as a small, slender, ele
gantly dressed young man, straight, digui-
fled, and while affable, yet positive in the
expression of his opinions.
THE STUDY OF LAW.
After graduating he read law with Henry
W. Merrill, of Saratoga, aud subsequently
with Judge Cady, and Cady, Van Vechton
aud McMartin, of Albany, and was admitted
to the bar in l849; practiced at Schuylerville
until 1858, and then removed to st. Paul.
OFFICES.
Mr.. Brisbin, on arriving in this city, took
an active part in the ranks of the Democratic
party, and has ever since been a strong, I'M
flinching G, determined and able advocate of its
principles. He was member and President
Of the Territorial Council Senate, in 1861;
a member of the House of Representatives
unanimous vote, in 1851; city attorney in
1856; Supreme Court r porter; in 1859 was
candidate for Attorney General; in 1864 was
Chairman of tine Minnesota delegation to the
--ational Democratic Convention which nom
mated ieorge B. McClelland for President;
was, for several years. Chairman of the State
Democratic Hantral Committee, and has,
for long period past, de
voted his time in writing and
in speaking for the Democratic party, no
matter whether the principles of that party
were popular or unpopular. In this respect
Mr. Brisbin has been pre-eminently con
spicuous. He married Miss Almira George
in 1850, who died in 1868, and then Il irried
in 1865, Miss VI. Jones, of this city, a native
of New York, who still lives.
THE CAPITAL REMOVAL BILL.
Probably no one man did more in the leg
islature of 1857, TO prevent the removal OF
the capital from st. Paul to st. Peter, than
did John B. Brisbin. He was fortunately
president Of the senate, and By his ruling his
determined efforts, and his influence, he held
the opposition together and they won. The
bill had passed both houses ana had gone to
the committee on enrolled bills, of which Joe
Rolette, of Pembina, was chairman, anG he,
OF course, put the document in his pocket
and cleared out. Not making his appearance
for several days, Mr.. Balcombe, member
from Winona, offered a resolution that the
next member Of the committee enroll copy
OF another bill and report to the Senate, and
upon this he moved the previous question,
when Mr.. Setter moved n call of the house;
and then occurred that gladIAtorial parlia-
mentary battle which has never since been
4 4 4. -
for the motion and nine against it, and |
Brsbin, the President, decided that two /
thirds of fourteen not voting for the motion,
il was lost, Balcnmbc strcnuously declaring, |
however, that nine was two thirds OF fourteen, |
but "Bris'' insisted that his decision was
correct, So the Senate continued under the |
call Of the house, but no Rolctte made his /
appearance. And here Is where Mr.. Bris- |
bin showed his tenacity Of purpose aud par /
lameutary knowledge, for the Senate could 1
not adjourn under the call, and II members |
on the opposite side abscnted them selves, /
then the bill could be killed, so LIQUID and /
solid refreshments were sent to the cham I
Der, and both parties ate, and drank, aud .
slept, and camped on the floor OF the I
Senate. This continued for a number Of /
DAYS and nights, when another COPY
OF the bill was procured. enrolled, reported, I
passed aud sent to Mr.. Brisbin TO sign, which /
he refused to 10, claiming that the bill was l
not legal; nor would the Speaker Of the /
House sign it, but Governor German put his I
signature 10 it, and subsequently, when the /
matter had been carried 10 the Supreme Court 4
for adjudication, the decision was in favor /
OF the position taken by Mr.. Brisbin, and St |
Paul still continues 10 be the Capital Of Min |
uesota. Joe ROlettc was in one of the upper I.
rooms in the old International hotel PLAYING I.
cards, while the Council continued In con
tinuous session FIVE DAYS and five nights,
waiting for the Sergeaut-at-arms 10 produce I
the member OF the committee (Rolette). who :
had the bill in charge. He came just as the .
gavcl OF President Brsbin had declared the .
senate adjourned, and in a hilarious and .
grotesque manner, presented the bill as du'y .
enrolled! And though % years nave passed .
since then, yet to the writer 1t appears al (
most as an event Of yesterIaY-almost .
ircaml
A. LAWYER.
Mr.. Brisbin ranks high as lawyer, cs-
pecially as an advocate AZ the bar. His for /
ensic efforts are peculiar, yet effective, car
-ying con victiou aud bringing out many fine I
points OF AS. When addressing a jury he /
usually com meucss slowly and as be warns 3
10 he throws his whole soul into the case,
pushes up bis coat sleeves, sometimes al !
most above the elbows; splits iu small but /
frequent quantities - moves HIS head TO 4
one side, gives a coDvulsiye witch Of the .
body, sud marches rapidly forward in his .
argument, never moleratiug or ceasiB- until
he reaches the end. He becomes so intensi-
ivd In bis speeches. that be seeks % break
i1wu all opposition. aud gruws electrically
eloquent. He likes the rostrum better than
he Office. and yet be may very justly be
ermed 4 successful advocate. a. tar1ugh his
Irsin poEer he has accumulated fuc. com
ortablc property. As a political speaker be