Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-02
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9ai1Y ~ eagle
A TYPICAL AMERICAN.
Scenes IN tho Career OF . New England boy
Who Became Speaker of the House.

TYPICAL AMERICAN.
Scenes in tho Career OF New England boy
Who Became Speaker of the House.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK Nov. An eminent contem-
poraneous writer has said: IA politician
thinks of the next election; a statesman of
the next generation He might have en-
phasized this truth by adding that, in the
frequent wreck of candidates and the crush
of ballots, very few politicians survive an
honestly conducted election, while it is pos
sible for a statesman's fame to outlast the
century IN which it was made.
Patriotism's crucial test has increased the
luster of many stars of first magnitude in the
respondent galaxy Of this birth-home Of faith
full public servants. High up, on cleaning
unrolled scroll, which has no modern parallel,
tine name of Galusha Aaron Grow SHINES
steadily
His sponsors were rugged, virtuous, God
praising Connecticut folks. He YVES destined
to greatly honor them, and did so, notwith
standing the by no means euphonious bap-
tismal identity they thrust upon him The
Leading event in his infancy is shown by
Windham county's natal records to have oc-
CURED sixty-five years ago, on the final day
Tor night of August.
Pennsylvania wealth of soil attracted his
family; and. when tho fitting was safely &C
homplished and a resting place had been
lund in Susquehanna county, young Galusha
pegan his schooling. This was in 1884. Ten
years later he was graduated from Amherst
college. Seeking a congenial profession, he
chose the law; studied in Montrose, Pa, and
was admitted to the bar on Lexington Day."
April 10, 1S47. At that time David Wilmot
was the most prominent man in the Susque-
hanna district. The whole country spoke his
name, with loud approval or bitter denunoi-
alton, for only the summer previous he had,
In congress, audaciously challenged national
sentiment
Wilmot was known as Free Soil Demo
crat. He did his own thinking; took counsel
rom humanity and conscience, and delivered
q judgment that subsequent happenings
proved to be unerring. Aggressive and fear
less in championing those rights which Thorn
as Jefferson had declared TO be heaven en-
dowed and inalienable, David Wilmot's atti-
tude as a legislator was strikingly picturesque
when he arose in the house Of representative
august, 1916 and offered q bill forbidding
slavery in any territory which the United
States might acquire as war indemnity.
That was his celebrated 'Proviso," fire.
brand amendment to the bill which called
for the appropriation of $4,000, 900, asked for
by President Polk TO cover the expense Of ne
gotiations then pending with Mexico.
Galusha A Grow emulated the bold spirit
of WIlmot, and moving to Towanda short
iy after he began practice, became an Office
partner with him. the connection lasted for
nearly three years, when Mr.. Grows unceas-
ing application to books and business so inn
paired his health that he was forced to tenn
porarily engage In rougher pursuits, out Of
doors. He was consecutively surveyor, .
farmer and q gatherer of tanners barks
During the autumn Of 1850, he received from
he Democratic party a hurrah nomination
10 the Pennsylvania legislature. 1t was very
flattering and tempting, but he declined the
promotion, which had been unsought. Higher
honors awaited him. David Wilmot free
SoiD and James Lowrey Pro-Slavery) were
rival Democratic candidates in the local con-
occasional fight. Their opponent in the Wing
.5Irty was John C.. Adams. To insure bis de-
feat, an agreement was made by which Low
reg and Wiimot both withdrew from the
canvass and united their votes to be thrown
in favor of q popular compromise candidate.
The Democratic conv entions speedily reas-
selnbled Galusha A Grow, then on the
threshold Of his twenty -seventh year, was
placed in nomination by both factions of his
party, and after a hot campaign Of q weeks
duration be was elected. When he took his
seat at Washington, In December Of the fol-
lowing year, he was the youngest member of
the house For six successive terms he repre-
sented the same district in congress, although
his connection with the Democracy had been
severed when tie Missouri compromisen
was repealed lie was a recognized leader,
giving and receiving hard blows in parlia-
raentary debate lis period of service en-
braced the acrimonious sessions of the ma
tional legislature, a decade prior to that
dark and bloody drama" which palsied CIV
ilization, and it also included the opening
years Of freedoms greatest struggle.
He was no passive onlooker when Kansas
cried for Justice. The Homestead and pa
c;fc Railroad bills were bis especial solicit
tude. he threw himself (heart and soul and
lungs into all notable discussions. The peo-
pie heard OF him far beyond Pennsylvania,
and his impetuous manliness excited their ad-
niration- Though regarded as somewhat of
q HotSpur. he won and kept the good will of
those with whom he Cfguratively1 crossed
blades. In the Banks speakership contest be
was alert and conspicuous The presidential
campaigns of John Charles Fremont Ia 1850
and Abraham Lincoln in 1860 enlisted Mr..
Grows hard labor and influential speech. A
a member of the important house committees
On Indian affairs, agriculture and territories,
he did yaoman's work His first talk In con
gIess was strong advocacy Of tho homestead
bill For five sessions he urged this measure,
and, when it finally passed, it was his sigma
ture las presiding officer OF the house Of rep
resenrativesI that made it law.
In the one hundred years since the Federal
constitution was adopted, thirty speakers
have been chosen by the house. F. A
Muhlenberg, of Pennsylvania, was the first
lie was succeeded by Jonathan Trumbuu, Of
Connecticut, and then in turn became TIuln-
bulls Successor. Henry Clay was six times
honored with the position 1t is a most In
tsTes.ang record OF men, policies and epochS
Whez President Lincoln cLled an extra
session Of the Thirty congress, which
convened July 4, 1861, the country was on a
war footing. Troops were everywhere en-
can4ped. and other thousands of disciplined
and volunteer levies had fastened to the ex-
pectsd scenes Of conflict Bull Run was vet
10 be fought and lost. The national capital
was inade9uately defended; snd the Ohio,
Mississippi and Potomac rivers were marked
as sectional boundaries Ii was at this mo-
msutous period that Gslusha A. Grow was
chosen speaker. he grsced the chair to
which he had been elected until March 4
1859, and, on retiring from the position, was
rendered a unanimous vote OF thanks This
Was an exceptional honor conferred upon one
who had, for more than dozen years. been
. unique figure In American politics. Ye,
his whois carer, from boyhood up, is typical
Of the best traits of his ambitious fallow |
ecaBtryInen.