New-York tribune., 1885-01-14
SErTlu OF Ills CAREER-

SCHUYLER Coiax was born in a house on North Moore
thi. city, March %. 1928 HIS grandfather, WI.
lam ColfaK OF Connecticut, BrIgadier General OF
the Revolutionary army. tho commander OF Washing
toms bod guard and the close friend OF the first Pres
dom: Hs was married to Hester schuyler n cousin Of
General Philip Schuyler and their FIRST son. b whose
christening Washington stood god father. named
Schuyler Colfax Growing 70 manhood he removed
from New Jersey where william Cont had settled after
the war this city. living North Moorc-st. and
curing position teller In tho Mechanics Bank lie
died four months before his son. the subject OF this
sketch was born Young schuyler educated In the
public schools OF Now York last attending ~ the OF
ten the old High school Crosby st. Then for throo
years he worked In the store OF his scpfaher for his
mother married again In $50 the family removed
TO New Carlisle Indiana aud there for four years ho
worked as a clerk. meantime reading and studying dill
gently Ia all hs spare hours and often making Journeys
TO south Bend TO borrow books and papers
In ISii the family again moved, TO South Bend. which
place has since been Mr. ColiaIs home His stcpdthcr
Mr.. Matthews having been appointed County Auditor'
young Coliax made his deputy and then began tho
study OF tho law. lie became prominent In local moot
legislature thus acquiring hi. first knowledge OF parlia
mentary Law usascs and began to take active in
trrest Ia political matters In lsij he became citor OF
The 81 Joseph vaiey Register. n Wbig newspaper pub
shed at South Bend He had previously served two years
Senate reporter for The Hdidndp0I'S Hafe Journal
In Sls he was a delegate tho WING National Conyen
ton AT Philadelphia which nominated Gencfh Taylor
tho Presidency and appointed secretary OF that
body In the following year he was leading member
OF convention to revise tho constitution OF lndanland
earnestly opposed the clause prohibiting negroes from
settling IN the state and those already there from
purchasing land. 1851 he Wing candidate for
Congress- and defeated by majority OF only no.
although hs district was strongly Democratic In 1852
hc a delegate TO the WING National Convention at
Baltimore and acted secretary OF that body.
Mr. Cofax began HIS Congressional career in 1850
having the previous year been elected To the ANNlNh
Congress by the Free Soil party Tho issue Oh which
the election fought was Douglass kansas.Nebraska
D which Dr. Eddy, tho representative from that dis
rrct, had voted for Eddy sought o-occton but ColfaH
defeated him by the Unprecedented majority OF l,77Ona
strongly Democratic district In juno 1896. Mr. colfaS
mado stirring speech against the Infamous " bogus
laws imposed upon Kansas. lt was printed as cam
paign document and it, author was tlat year among
General FremOnts strongest Supporters for the Pres
dency. In October OF that year he was reelected To
Congress and distinguished himself by his opposition to
the Leconpton Constitution" Again he was returned
in 1883. and made chairman OF tho House Committee
P0st-O1ses and Post Roads In which position ho Sc
cured the establishment OF daily overland mail from
the Missouri to the Pacific lie continued IN that chair
manshp until he chosen Speaker Of the House in
363
Mr.. C0lfsx took part In the campaign OF 1860
and after the election enjoyed the confidential friendship
r M 90 m When sumter Was "e ppyanst the
rebels. "The only ISSUE" he wrote In an editorial "s
to be bet ween patriots and traitors There can be no
noutrals" During te war he worked for the Govern
ment at Washington with one hand and SOUGHT ior VOC
uneers at home with the other and he frequently Wis
tied the hospitals and lid In behalf OF tho siok and
wounded soldiers In tho midst OF these duties great
fell upon him In tho death OF his wife. to whom he
had been nineteen years. and who had been his
playmate In childhood. she loft him chdless
widOwer
December. 1862 saw Mr. Colfax elected. by vote OF
iOl TO 10, Speaker of the House In the hANNll!th
Congress. Tho next April Alexander Long ah ONO
Representative advocated tho recognition or the SOUTH
ern rebels as independent Dation. and Mr.. CoiihI
promptly moved his expulsion as traitor Inc moton
carried by majority. but not by tw0hifus VOTE
and mOdiied inU ono Of ccnsurc. Ihat year tho
Speaker worked earnestly for President iinSoms re-
election and In January 1865, he presidctF0ghcn tho
House passed Joint resolution to amend tue COnsu.
ton rs TO prohibit slavery forever That summer he
made tour through the far West, particular
ly tho Rockt Mountains and on tho taeiac Coast ~