Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-05
SAMUEL j. TILDE\.
IA sketch of the Life of the NobIest of Them
All.

Samuel J. Tilden was born ut New Lcb-
anon, Columbiana county, New York, i'll
the wear 1914, and at his death was
Iseventy-two years Old. One of his anceS,
tors, Nathaniel Tilden was Mayor of the
kitty of Tenterdcn, Kent, England, i'll 1923.
lHe was succeeded in that Office by his
cousin John. rs he had been preceded by
3his uncle John in 1855 and 1000. He re.
moved with his family to Scituatc, in the
icolony of Massachusetts, in 1884. His
brother Joseph was one of the merchant
adventures of London who fitted out the
,Mayfowcr. This Nathaniel Tilden married
Hannah Bourne one of whose sisters mar.
Iried Il brother OF Governor WinSlOw. and
.InOthcr Il son of Governor Bradford.
Governor Tildcn's grandfather John
rildcn, settled in Columbiana country. The
Governors mother was descended from
William Jones. Lieutenant Governor OF
the colony OF New Haven, who in all the
histories of Connecticut is represented to
Ihave been the son OF Col. John Jones' one
,of the rcgicide Judges OF Charles l., who is
aid to have married Il sister OF Oliver
Cromwell and cousin of John Hampden.
The Governors father was father and
merchant of New Lebanon, and is said tC
lnavc been man whose advice in politics
WAS highly valued by Martin Van Barren
3ind other men OF note.
Governor Tilden entered Yale College in
/ So. when in his eighteenth year. He
had received political education from hiS
Father. and before reaching his majority
wrote out his views on an attempt Al
coalition between National Republicans
md anti-MasOnS" to defeat Jackson ana
i Van Buren. His father was 50 mach
pleased with the paper that he exhibited il
Ito Van Buren, and il was subsequently
lldopted rs an address from 4 number OF
Reading Democrats and published.
Tilden soon left Yale COLLEGE on account
3Df health, but resumed his studies in l~l3,
I At the Univer ity of New York, where he
completed his academic education. While
Vet student ne achieved success and dis
2tinction, as his partisan friends claimed in
IN imprOmptu debate with United States
senator Nathaniel !. Talmagc who had
<eperated from the Democrats on account
sof the financial policy of Van Buren.
. The Wings hadinyited any Democrats who
might desire to reply to the Senator to cy-
4 press their views. Tilden was pushed
Into the bl zach by some of his fellow
students, who were in the rear part of the
hall.
Tilden studied law in the office of John
aW. EdmundS. OF New York City. and at
,the same time continued his pursuit o!
politics, making a special study OF the
financial questions of 1887. His next
notable speech was at New Lebanon on
the Sd of October, lSlO, in defense Of the
Presidents financial scheme
Upon being admitted to the bar Tilden
opened law office on Pine street, New
sYork. and in the Polk campaign in lSii,
lin connection with John l.. O'Sulivan,
bounded a newspaper called the DdHy Nerry
lin 1Si5 he was sent to the Assembly from
j New York City, and while 4 member OF
|that body was elected TO convention tC
remodel the State Constitution.
After the defeat of Silas Wright in 1916
ITilden devoted himself % the legal proieS'
sion, inheriting no fortune, as a recent
says, and depending upon hi'
;own eXertionS for support; and discerning
3the importance of pecuniary independence
for the successful prosecution of political
career. The first notable case Of which
mention is made was his successful conduct
.ofa case in which the election OF AZariat
3C. Flagg as City Comptroller of New York
was contested by the Know Nothing
candidate, 1S55. Tilden was retained by
Flagg. and is declared TO have been sue
t-eSSful in the face of great difficulties. HI
snext figures conspicuOusly and successfully
Hin the celebrated Burdell-C ll-Cunningham con
TESTED will case 4 historian says
There is probably no case in which Mr..
fTilden has been employed that required
sthe exercise of so high n range of meta
physical powers, or in which his penetra
\ ition of character appeared to greater Ell
Vantage His defense seemed almost
tcreation. and the result produced the mos
profound impression Is it removed what
ever doubt existed in the minds of the Peo
3 pie As TO Mrs. Cunningham participation
lin the murder of Burdell."
4 Among the subsequent heavy cases II
fTilden's practice was his defense of thI
Pennsylvania Coal Company in its sui
/ with the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com
lpany. He was also engaged in the case o
the Cumberland Coal Company in Mary
Hand. against its directors, and has yerl
Extensive practice among the great railway
seorporations of the country.
Tilden's position at the outbreak Of thi
,rar ySas rs follows.
TIL the war came Governor TildeI
made every effort to avert the rebellion
when his efforts. combined with those o
7Other prominent patriots, had proved abOr
tive, his convictions of duty were decide,
: and clear. They were TO maintain the in
4tegTity Of our territory and the supremac!
Of the constitutional authorities- He hai
been educated in the school Of jackson
, and had been diligent student of the les
ssons taught by the notification cOntrover
sy Of 1888. He had studied carefully ans
profoundly the relation of the Federal ani
State governments, and of the citizens o