Great Falls tribune., 1889-10-02
MARTIN MAGINNIS.
THE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE FOR
MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
Something for War Veterans and ReDub-
ltcans to Read-A Noble Record
in War and in
Peace.

Appended is IL sketch of the democrati
leader which the people are invited t,
! read:
Major Martin Maginns was born il
Wayne county, N. Y, in 1S41. While ht
was lad his father removed to Mime
sofa, and was one of the pioneers of tha
territory. Martin Maginnis was educated
At Hamlin university. He enlisted in thu
First Minnesota on the first call for vol
unteers. He was made first sergeant O.
his company. He was promoted TO sec
ond lieutenant for "gallant and meritori
GUS conduct" at the first battle of Bul
kun. He was engaged at Edwards Fer.
! ry; the first battles around Winchester
and at Yorktown and Fair Oaks; com
manded his company at Savage Station,
| Glendale and Mallom Hill. He distin-
| gulshed himself at Fraizer's farm while
holding an outpost, and was among those
| honorably mentioned by General Edwin
| v. Sumner and General George B. Nc
| Clellan for promotion to the regular
army. II IS matter Of history that Sec
retarY Stanton refused to consider thesv
recommendations in amy case. His COM
pany lost heavily at Antietam, and fo!
S'Aiouo auu ule1IOIiOuS COuuuCL ne wills
promoted to first lieutenant and assigned
70 company Il. which he commanded at
fredericksburg and Charlottesville.
The regiment took part in the scenes
OF actions which marked the northwa,t
movement of Lees army, and on the field
OF Gettysburg was almost annihIlated in
It's celebrated charge, and in the repulse
OF Pickett. In this battle, according to
Fox's "Comparative Statistics of Loss in
Action" the First Minnesota suffered the
greatest per centage of loss in action in
modern history. For conduct in this
great battle Mr.. Maginnis was made cap
tain. He served also at Bristore Station,
the Wilderness and other battles. until
September, 1864, when he was made
MAYOR OF new regiment and reported to
General Thomas in the Army OF the
Cumberland. He was appointed provost
marshal general Of Tennessee, under
Andrew johnson; disliking staff duty
and disagreeing with Governor johnson,
ne was restored to his regiment by order
or General Thomas, and served with it in
the campaign of franklin and Nashville,
and was mustered out in June, 1865.
lie came to Helena in 1866; founded
and edited the Daily Gazette, and was
elected as delegate to congress, defeating
Clagett, Hedges, Sample Orr, Sanders
ana B0tkln in succession. During his
term he procured the passage of so many
acts relating to the territory that it would
be tedious to enumerate them. Every
bill for twelve years con
tained something for the benefit of Mon
tana. He procured the appropriations
for the erection of the assay office, and
The extension and completion of the pen
ltentiary; the sums necessary to build
Forts Custer and Keogh, Assinnaboine,
Maginnis and Missoula, and to extend
Forts Shaw and Ellis.
Major Maginnis procured the appro-
priation to purchase that portion of the
Jrow reservation now occupied by Cooke
Jlty and Red Lodge; large appropriation
or improving the Missouri when it was
IN important element of our commerce.
He passed the right-of-way bill for the
Utah y Northern railway, and for the
ight-of-Way for the Northern Faclnc
through the Crow reservation. He was
llso the author,and through his efforts was
passed the general bill granting all rail
Dads the right-of f-way through the pub
ic lands. Under this act more than 90
100 niles of railway have been built in
he west. He was the author of the pres
mt law authorizing the people of the
mining territories to cut timber on the
,ublic lands free of charge, which was
arried through congress after memor-
bile debate.
Many more bills were introduced and
,assed under his management, and thous-
.nds OF miles of mail service and hun
lreds OF postoffices were established
Trough the territory. He took part in
many memorable debates in relation to
Western interests, and was the recognized
champion of the territories and chairman
# the territorial delegates. He also
made some noted orations outside of con
,ress-notably, an address on Memorial
Day at the Soldiers Home in Washing
on, before President Hayes and his cabi
let, which attracted the attention of the
Whole country and was widely printed
lie delivered the oration ut Il great re-
lnion on the battlefield of Gettysburg,
lie made the address before the Society
# the Army of the Potomac at its WASH
ngton reunion, Henry Ward Beecher
laving been the orator of the previous
ear and Chauncey NJ. Depew, ingersoll
nd other noted people followed in other
ears.
Major Maginnis has made many adj
resses for the people at home, and taken
n active part in all campaigns, whether
Ie was candidate or not. He has al
ways served the territory faithfully, and
q or out of congress been true to its peo-
lie and its interests. His services in as
listing to open the right-of-way across
he great Northern reservation for the
'lanitoba railway, and afterwards In
hrowing open the reservation itself to
ettlement are of recent memory. He
'as made hundreds of arguments before
he departments in relation to the lands,
imber, settlers rights and the interests
4 the mining industry, all of which were
Dr the benefit OF the territory. His latest
tforts were for the admission of the State
+ which he rightfully deserves to be the
in congress.
She Is "Grateful."
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