The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-14
BENJAMIN T. TRACY.
A MAN OF PLUCK AND A GOOD
LAWYER.
Some Account of His Interesting Career
In the City OF Churches-IIis Opeuin.
speech I'm the Titon. Beeoher friai--A
Great Man Tor Hogs

In the City OF Churches-His Openin.
speech In the Tnton. Beecher TRIAL
Great Man Tor Hogs.
b. Probably no man has ever Ted NOR,
1 prominent life before the public anC
F given it less attention than Cen Benjamin
f. Tracy When the charity commits
sioners Of Kings county. \ Y, were
indicted for malieasanCe in Office in 1871
and retained him az counsel. he was ap
+ preached by their political enemies an,
threatened with a loss of business. if Ia.
did not Withdraw from the case. Iii,
reply was. IN stand by my clients il
they are the last ones | will ever have
tie kept his word. and after a long and
bitter litigation, he secured their &C.
Quittal and discharge. Far from iniurine
his professional career his conduct and
success in this case increased his clientele
80 per cent. numerically and at least 100
per cent financially.
In the court room he is n mastery
lawyer and a persuasive and forcible
but never an eloquent speaker The
chief it not the ouly exception to this
rule occurred in the famous Tilton
Beechcr controversy in which he dcliv-
cred tie opening speech for the defense
This Grafton was the gem OF that great
trial. and was printed quoted and read
wherever the English language is spoken
lt was published in hook form after. and
met with a sale of over $4,000 copies
The speech was not an impromptu. az was
believed by many who could not con
ceive how lawyer could write an al.
dress which lasted five entire days. On
the contrary il represented the hardest
work imaginable. II was planned and
started months before the trial Every
day he dictated at least 5000 words and
revised. corrected and changed as many
more. There was not a sentence he did
not 90 over at least five times before 1t
was spoken. During the three weeks
which preceded his address he sat Up
every night with his secretary and Oc-
casionally with friends from ) o'clock
until in the morning. and on five even
ings until sunrise in the final revision OF
the Grafton.
As politician Tracy has few equals
and possibly no superiors in the Empire
stale. lie began his career in the sos in
Tioga county, then strong Democratic
district. \ stanch Republican at the
outset, he twice was elected district at
toney, and each time by handsome
majority. After the war he opened a
law office in New York, making Brook
Ign his home The City Of Churches at
that time was controlled by close cor
poration, consisting Of Republican and
Democratic politicians. So far IA party
was concerned the two parties
played cacls into the others hands. Tn
der such auspices corruption and fraud
hourishcd everywhere, and the city debt
was rolling up by millions. Tracy opened
war upon the foes in his own household.
and. though opposed by the machine,
routed them foot and horse. With Gen. .
James Jourdan and ex-Canal Commits
-ioner Silas b. butcher he organized hi.
party and became its recognized leader.
lie was sent TO the state committee. and .
ior many years held as high a place in
The councils Of the latter as in his own
,ity Of late years, on account Of his
vast law business and mercantile rela-
lions. he has taken little or no active
part in politics, although ne has accepted
lelegateships 10 nearly all the Republi-
AN conventions CT any importance.
In the stalwar-half breed feud he
'ided with the former on account Of his
warm friendship for Gen. Grant and
senator Conking, but never went 10 the