The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-06-21
THE OLD ROMAN.
A Glance at Thurman's Career.
His Birth in Virginia.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

| Lynchburg, Va, on November IL, 1913
His father was the Rev. p. Thurman, his
mother the only daughter of COlone
Nathan Allen, of North Carolina. In 1915
his parents removed TO Chillicothe, Ross
county, Ohio, where he spent his boyhood
days. He was educated mainly by his
mother, who was woman of culture, but
for a time he attended the Chiilicothe
academy. Mr.. Thurman studied law with
the late William Allen, United States SEN
R'or from this state, and afterwards
governor, and with Noah II. Swayne, who
served for many years as member OF the
supreme court of the United States
While a student he devoted CO.'S 'derable
time to surveying lands, of which pursuit
he was very fond, and to which he Is IN
doubtedly much indebted for that robust
constitution and strong yitsl force which
enabled him in after years to accomplish
without apparent injury, such an amount
of mental abo as but few can endure
MIR. THURMAN WAS MARRIED
in November, 1874, to Mary, daughter of
the late Walter Dun, of Fayette county,
Ky. That same year he was nominated
and elected as the democratic candidate
of the Ross county district for represen-
tative in congress, serving one congress
with distinction. He declined to be a
candidate for re- election, much to the
regret of his constituents, in order that he
might again devote his attention to the
practice of law. Elected to the supreme
b nch in 1851, he drew the term for four
years, and served from December, 1851,
to February, 1856, as chief justice. De-
clning a re election he resumed the prac-
tice of law at Columbus, and was retained
in leading, cases from all sections IN the
state and federal courts.
Mr.. Thurman was unanimously nomi-
mated by the democratic party of Ohio
as it's
GUBERSAToRIAL CANDIDATE
in 1867 and while he was defeated by a
largely decreased republican vote, the
brilliant fight and thorough organization
made by him resulted IN the election OF
democratic majority in both branches of
the general assembly. The democratic
members of that Legislature nominated
him as a candidate for United States SEN
ator, and his republican opponent was the
late Hon. Benjamin f. Wade, whom he
succeeded in the senate. In 1873 he sue
ceeded in again carrying both branches
of the legislature, which secured his re
election to the senate for second term
of six years, and wipiDg out the republic
can majority of 10000 in 1872, and elect.
ing ex-senator William Allen, the demo.
cratic candidate for governor by major
ity of 600.
UPON REACHING WASHINGTON
to take his seat in the senate on March 4,
of 1869, Senator Thurman found his fame
as lawyer, debater and politician of great
ability had preceded him, and by common
consent of all parties in the senate and
throughout the country he was regarded
as the leader and exponent of democracy
in that august body, position he main
tanned for twelve years with honor to him
self and credit to the party. He was at
once assigned to the judiciary committee,
and continued as a member during his
entire service in the senate. In the For
ty-sixth congress the democracy obtained
a majority in the senate, when he became
the chairman of the judiciary committee
and was also elected president pro
tempore of the senate, and because of the
i'll health of Vice-president Wheeler, pre-
sided much of the time,
WITH GREAT ABILITY.
Probably the most important service
rendered to the public during his senate
rial career was introducing, advocating
with consummate skill and ability, and
causing to be passed, an act since known
as the Thurman act" relating to the
Pacific railroads. By this act
it is believed that more than
S100,000,000 was saved to the
people as an immediate or pros.
pective result The bill, as was asserted,
was unconstitutional, but its constitution
atty was clearly established by Mr.. Thur
man in speech of great power, and his
position has since been sustained by the
SUP RENE court of the United States. Sen
ator Thurman was not led to introduce
the passage of this measure because of
any fanatical opposition to railroad cor
porations as such, but simply to establish
and secure what he believed to be the
PLAIN CONTRACT RIGHTS OF THE GOVERN.
MENT,
out SO PROMINENT pdIJ ulu lie tdhe III all
the great debates upon the important
measures before the senate while he was a
member, that no comprehensive descrip-
ton of his services can be embraced in q
personal sketch.
Prior to the assembling of the national
democratic convention in st. Louis in
1876, his name was very generally men
toned by the press and otherwise IN every
part of the country, as favorite can
didate for president, but his name
was not announced before the conven-
ton, owing to division on the currency
question. In 1880 there was a still more
general expression in the country favor
able to his nomination for the presidency.
The democratic state convention of that
year assembling to appoint delegates to
the national convention at Cincinnati,
unanimously adopted resolutions favor.
able to his candidacy, and instructing the
delegates from Ohio to vote for and sup
port him in the national convention.
ON THE FIRST BALLOT
In the latter convention he received the
vote of Ohio and very hattering vote
from other states, the whole vote having
been very much divided among number
of local favorites. On the second ballot
q fattering vote was cast for him, but be.
fore its conclusion it became manifest
that General Hancock would be nomi.
mated, and the vote of all the states was