Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-02-16
STILL ON THE EARTH.

some Forgotten Men Who Have Rep
resented New York city in Com
grcss.
The generation OF budding statesmen who
are IN the front rank of politics In this city to-
day, saws The Ne,O York Grdoh c, know little
about the men who preceded them IN party
management. Every year some OF the old
timers drop away from the active participa-
tlon I'm the struggle for place and prominence
The oldest man now living who once rep
resented this city in congress is Hamilton
Fish, 1t was away back I'm 1913 that Mr. Fish
who was a whlg in those days, ran against
John McKeOn for congress and beat him a
couple of hundred votes. lie only staid two
years in the house aud then was a member OF
the state senate His after record as governor
of the state, aud United States senator, and
Gen. Grants secretary OF state, has become
a part of the history Of the country. Eighty
years of age aud yet full of vigor, he Is pass.
ing the waning years of his life in the retire
mcut that he has earned by his services to the
nation.
Every one OF the men who served in con
gress with Mr.. Fish from this city at that ses-
sion aud all OF those VINO were elected from
the same districts for the next SIX years have
passed % their account.
In 1851 Emanuel Hart was sent TO con-
grcss b, the democracy, and IL Is one OF the
truthful Legends handed down 10 us that the
sturdy old fellow, now ~ years of aye, was
then one Of The dandlest militia coOnels in
this region, and made the CANVASS for his
place in full reGimentals. But Emanuel al
ways had an eye To- the main chance, and ac
cepted the place of surveyor of the port from
President Buchanan after the completion OF
his term in congress. He has been employed
in cultivating that main chance ever since,
and If one keeps an eye on the list of referees
and commissioners appointed by the judges
Of the supreme court in this city Mr.. Harris
name will occasionally be found cropping
out.
One OF the queerest looking and heartiest
old boys about town is John Wheeler, who
served one of our city constituencies in the
house for four years-frOm 1888 TO 1851. II
all accounts be true the jovial dried-up old
gentleman, whose face reminds one OF an
empty paper match box, would accept nom
ination to-day aud whoop things up for the
Washington bloOds, Notwithstanding he is
nearing three score and ten.
IL seems like very old times TO talk OF the
the days when Dan Sickles aud John Coch
rane were In congress together They were
both elected in 1857 aud served together sfor
four years. John is getting fast into his up
per seventies but is still among the sachems
OF Tammany, and is as bright aud sparkling
a talker as he was when he used to run the
biz east side district with the music Of his
mellow voice. Only the other dav Dan Sick
les who viii never be out Of politics until the
coffin Ill is screwed tightly over him, was
made president OF the state cvl-serYice com
mission. He has been before the public so
long that most people believe him TO be very
old, yet he has several years vet before him to
reach the age when most men seek rest But
Dan Scliles will never seek rest.
Frederick A. COnkling and James f. KERR
gan went into congress together in july, 1861
when the war clouds were lowering over the
country, aud both of them served out that one
term and then bucllled on their armor and
went into the army Since those days the
career Of the two men has not been alike.
Mr.. COnkliug's life-ways have been laid
through pleasant places aud he has passed In
elegant leisure the latter years that have
crowned his forehead With the blossoms OF
seventy-two sunny seasons
Col. .Kerrigan's career has been n romance
and one full Of adventure aud dangers that
would have long since terminated q life less
sturdy than his. No struggling people who
needed his aid have been denied the aid OF
his quickly springing sword, and he has given
his time and his services TO many weak
cause without hope of gain or fear of danger
A bright, brave, nOble-hearted fellow, who de-
spite his Fastening years would HE himself
away TO morrow TO the ends OF tue earth in aid
of any people struggling to be free
Col Ben Wood was serving his first term in
congress at the same time with Mr.. COnkling
and Mr.. keTigan, but he remained two years
longer. anu "A lew years dIO served aNOLuei
term from the old Battery district. 1t is not
very likely the colonel cares To visit Washing
ton in representative capacity again, though
IL he did he would have no difficulty in get
ting there for the influence which he exer-
cised twenty years agO among the boys of the
lower wards has not diminished with the lapse
of time. But he is getting close TO seventy,
and loves his pleasant, quiet life.
Morgan Jones is another oid-time congress
man, whose genial cOumtcnance vet shines
upon the Sixth ward. IL was I'm 1864 that
Morgan ran for congress, and the fight in the
district was one OF the biitcrest known for
many q year. His opponent was William
Walsh, the father Of the present warden OF
the TombS. All the clans were on the war
path, and the politicians of the ancient times
down there tell to this day with gleeful tones
how heads were cracked and ewes blackened
when the contending forces met each other
on Chatham square and among the narrow
lanes Of the East side
just twentv years ago John Fox and Thomas
L. Stewart were In congress togcther-the one
u democrat and the other a liberal republican.
They are both with uS vet Mr. Fox is one OF
our most successful iron merchants, and Col.
Stewart is at the st. German and lives his
life OF elegant leisure in the midst Of the
memories of past years.
There are q dozen others who were promi-
nent in the halls Of national legislation, and
went there from this city, whose names would
sound strangely to the pOlit clans of TO-DAY.
They have passed out OF the domain OF pub
lie notice and are known no longer in the
places where the influence they welded was
once SO potent.