The National tribune., 1893-02-02

the war for independence, and was a trusted
friend of Washington. From the Cumberland
Valley. where his ancestors had early settled,
his (Mr. Blaine's) father removed TO Washing
ton County in 1878 Though possessed of
landed estates containing mineral deposits in
western Pennsylvania these had not then de-
veloped, aud the family being large, Ephralm
Blaine was poor. He was a man OF liberal edu-
cation. and had travelled considerably. Mr..
Blaine's mother was a woman of superior intel
lgence and force of character, and devout
Romanist; but her son adhered to the Presby-
terian convictions of his Scotch-Irish ancestry.
Mr.. Blaine received good education. At 13
he entered Washington College, and there de-
veloped marked taste for literature and his
tory. and in the literary society he displayed
much political aptitude and capacity. He be-
came u teacher in the Western Military Insti-
tute at Blue Lick Springs. Ky. 1t was while
here that he formed the acquaintance which
resulted in matrmonv with Miss Harriet
Stanwood.
Upon his return to Pennsylvania he studied
law and became a teacher in the Pennsylvania
Institute for the Blind at Philadelphia. In
1854 lie removed to Augusta. Me-, where pur-
chasing half interest in the kenicbec Journal
he became its editor, and within three years
was master spirit in the politics of the State.
ONE OF THE FIRST REPUBLICANS.
He was one of the most energetic men in the
formation of the Republican party, and in 1856
he went as delegate to the first Republican
National Convention, which nominated Gen.
Fremont for the Presidency. Here he first
gave positive evidence Of his political ability,
and his report at IA public meeting upon his re-.
turn home. where he made a mastery speech,
established him az successful public speaker.
In 1853 he was chosen to the Legislature,
naming member through successive re-elec.
tiOns for four years, serving the last two as
Speaker.
At the beginning of the civil war he gained
great distinction not only for parliamentary
skill, but for forensic power in debate in the
debates that grew out of that great crisis. In
the same year that lie was elected to the Legis-
lature he became Chairman of the Republican
State Committee, position which he held
uninterruptedly for 90 years.
IN CONGRESS.
In 1862 Mr. Blaine was elected to Congress-
where i'm one branch the other he served IS
years. His growth in position and influence
was rapid and unbroken. In his earlier years
he made few elaborate speeches, but he gradu-
ally took an active part in running discussions.
and soon acquired high repute as facile and
effective debater He bore prominent part
in the discussion and the work Of franchis.
ing the seeded States, from 1865 10 1869.
Thaddeus Stevens, Chairman of the Committee
on Reconstruction. had proposed that repre-
sentatlon ShOulu De appoTtloueu according TO
the number of legal voters. Mr.. Blaine OBJ
jected, and introduced constitutional amend.
mcnt providing that representatives and direct
taxes should be apportioned among tho several
States according to their respective numbers,
to be determined by taking the whole number
of persons. except those whose political rights
or privileges were denied or abridged by the
Constitution of any State on account Of race or
color. He advocated this on the ground that
while the other basis of voters would accom-
plish the object Of preventing tho South from
securing represen tation for the blacks unless
the blacks were made voters, yet it would make
radical change in the apportonment of the
Northern States where the ratio of voters to
population Uttered widely in different sections.
Tho result of the discussion was n total aban-
Comment Of the theory that apportionment
should be based on the voters and the Four
teenth Amendment, as finally adopted, en-
bodied Mr. Blaine's proposition in substance.
THE BLAINE AMENDMENT.
Mr. Stevens on Feb 6, 1867, reported the
Reconstruction Bill. While tho majority seemed
willing to accept the bill, which divided the
seeded States into five military districts, sub.
ject to military control, Mr.. Blaine refused TO
support any measure that placed the South I'm
der military government If it did not at the
same time prescribe the methods by which the
people Of State could by their own action re-
establish civil government. lie proposed All
amendment providing that when any one of tho
late so-called Confederate States should assent
to the Fourteenth Amendment, and should es-
tablish equal and impartial suffrage without
regard to race or color, and when Congress