Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-01-22
SCHUYLER C0ifax.

whose sudden death was reported last
week was one OF the most active and
best known of our public men. For the
past thirty years he has stood before
the people In thevarious capacities of
congressman. vice president and lee
turer. Genial, fsir-minded, enthusiasts
tic, he won his way easily to preferment
in the Republican party. and an un-
swering fidelity tohis party has been
one of his characteristics as public
man. Like most politicians he met
with some bitter disappointments in the
course of his career, and was at one
time the subject Of much severe criti-
cism. Although he had previously
announced his Intention of retiring
from public life, his failure to receive
the nomination for second term with
Grant was severe blow to his pride.
His alleged connection with the Credit
Moblier brought down upon him storm
of criticism and abuse. but he ALWAYS
maintained that be was guiltless of any
wrong intention ~ the matter. Be the
merits of the case as they may, this one
episode aside, his course has always
been honorable. and we cannot do less
than take the charitable side of the
question and forget that one fault
(if such it be) in the remem-
brance of all his faithful service
to his country. On his retirement from
political life, be entered the lecture
field, where he showed the same energy
and enthusiasm that had characterized
his public labors Political misfortunes
had not soured or embittered him.
Throughout his life he kept the genial
sympathetic nature which won him so
many friends. and which makes his
death come to many with sense of
personal loss.
He dropped deaf at the Omaha de-
pot on the morning of Jan. ID, while
waiting for change of cars to take
him to Huron, Oak, where he was to
address the Territorial Association of
Odd Fellows. He had just walked
over from the Milwaukee depot, or dis
lance of three quarters of mile, with
the thermometer 80 degrees below zero
His sudden death is attributed to over
exertion in the extreme cold followed
by the extreme heat of the depot The
remains were taken in charge by the
Odd Fellows and by them forwarded in
a special car, appropriately draped, to
his home in South Bend Indiana. where
his funeral was held on Saturday. The
following on his life and public services
we gather from various sketches that
have appeared since his death;
Schuyler Colfax. seventeenth Vice
President of the United States, was
born in New York City March %. 1928.
His grandfather Captain Colfax, was
an officer of the revolutionary army,
and the commandment of Washington s
body guard. His father died before
Schuyler was born. and when he was
10 years old his mother married again,
and for the next three years he was en-
gagged in his stepfather's store In
1886 the family emigrated to Indiana,
and settled in New Carlisle, St. Joseph
county. During the five following
va Gahnula.. olarI-
store. 1871 his stepfather. Mr.. Mat
thews, was elected County Auditor, and
removed to South Bend. Schuyler was
appointed his deputy, and began to
study law; but after serving two years
as Senate reporter for the Indianapolis
State Journal he established IN 1916 a
weekly paper at South Bend called the
st. Joseph Valley Register, of which he
was both proprietor and editor. In
politics it supported the Wing party,
and in 1913 Mr., Colfax was sent as a
delegate to the Wing National Conven-
ton at Philadelphia, of which body he
was elected Secretary. In 1850 he was
member of the Indiana State Con-
stitutional Convention, in which he
spoke and voted against the cause pro.
hibiting free colored persons from en-
tering the State. LII 1851 he was can
didate for Congress, and was defeated
only by a majority of 2l6. though his
district was strongly Democratic. In
1852 he was delegate to the Wing
National Convention at Baltimore,
which appointed him its Secretary
Two years later he was elected Re-
preventative in Congress by the newly
formed Republican party. and was re-
elected for the six following terms. In
1856 he supported Mr.. Fremont for
President, and during the canvass a
speech made by HIM in Congress on
the extension OF slavery and the aggres-
sion of the slave power was circulated
| to the extent of more than half a mill
lion copies.
In the Thitty-iifth Congress Mr.. Col
fax was made Chairman of the Com
mittee on Postoflices and PostroaGs,
which places he continued to occupy
until his election Dec. z, 1868, as
Speaker of the rhirty-eighth Congress.
He was reelected Speaker again in
| 1865, and again in 1867.
In 1865 be made journey across the
continent TO the Pacific coast and in
Nav, 1868, the Republican National
Convention at Chicago nominated him
| for Vice Presipent of the United States,
with General Graut as candidate for
President. He received 522 votes of
the $50 that were polled by the conven-
| ton, and was elected in November; and
on March 4: 1860. he was inaugurated
| Vice President and took his seat as
| President of the Senate. In 1870 be
wrote letter. which was published,
| declaring his intention TO retire from
public life as soon rs his term as Vice
| President had expired. He was subse-
ouently led to change this determine
| ton. and at the Republican National
| Convention at Philadelphia, in 1872, he
was a candidate for the nomination as
| Vice President and received 3145 votes.
1914 being gwen to Henry Wilson, of
| Massachusetts, who was accordingly
| nominated on the first ballot and chosen
| in The subsequent Presidential election.
In the summer of 1872, during the
Credit Mobilier investigation, while
| public excitement ran high and the
popular Judgment was clouded by the
ardent desire to bring everyone, even
remotely connected with the unsavory
lob, to stern Justice, the name of the
yice-president was unpleasantly men,
| toned as enc of the benefieiaries of the
scheme. The strictest and most search
| ing investigation that has ever been
made by congress developed nothing
directly eliminating Schuyler Coifax.
and his innumerable friends think to
| tho ,,resent tlay that the suspicion at