Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-07-02

THE LATE LYMAN TRUMBULL.
teaching school, and at 20 he was in
charge of a hourishing academy at
Greenville, Ga. He spent three years IN
the South, studying law as he had op,,
portunity, and in 1887 he was admitted
to the bar. AS soon as he had procured
his license to practice law he LETT
Georgia and went to Illinois, setting at
Belleville, in St. Clair county. There he
opened a law office and relieved the
tedium of waiting for clients by giving
considerable attention to politics. lie
was a Democrat, though opposed to s!av-
ery. He was fond Of politics and doubt.
less dreamed in the ''glad young days
that he might bear no small part in the
affairs of this then new state. WHAT
eer his dreams, they have probably been
more than realized.
His Appearance in Politics.
His first appearance as candidate
for office was in 1870, when ne ran Tor
the Legislature in St. Clair county and
was elected. In 1913 he was, with
Samuel H. Treat and John D.. Cation,
elected Justice of the state Supreme
court. the first Supreme court organ
lied in Illinois. The length of terms
was decided by lot, and Judge Trumbull
drew the short term. He was prompt
ly reelected in 1853, but resigned after
two years to resume the practice of law.
But men like Judge Trumbull were need
ed in public life and in the fall of 1854
he was elected to Congress. He never
took his seat III the House OF Repre-
sentatives, but was elected a United
States senator at the succeeding session
Of the Legislature.
In those days Judge Trumbull was
what is called an anti-Nebraska Demo
crat. He was opposed to slavery, but
could not agree with the radical Adolf
tionists who wanted to wipe out the evil
with one stroke. He preferred that the
government be started upon the anti
slavery track and that time be permitted
to wipe out the institution by steady
evolution up and away from 1T. Gen.
James Shields was the candidate of the
Democrats for United States senator
and Abraham Lincoln was his leading
opponent. The opponents of Shields
could not be united ON Lincoln, who was,
i'll the eyes of many, too radical In his
stand on the slavery question. The
great emancipation finally withdrew and
urged all his followers and all the. indie
pendent Democrats to unite en- Trum-
bull and Trumbull was elected. He
served in the Senate eighteen years.
Judge Trumbull hated slavery and he
dreaded war. He was opposed to the
position of the Democratic party, with
which he had formerly affiliated on this
question, and he showed no hesitation
in joining hands with men who held
views similar to his own in the forma
ton of party with opposition to slav-
cry as it's cornerstone. AT the same
time he was opposed to the disruption of
the Union by the secession of states
and worked hand in hand with the patri-
OTIS of that day who thought any hon
orable compromise with the Southerners
preferable to war. But when the test
came his heart was with the Union and
with the efforts put forth to maintain it's
solidity.
His Work During the War.
Judge Trumbull possessed in marked
degree the friendship and confidence of
Abraham Lincoln. All through the war
his every effort was put forth to uphold
the hands of the chief magistrate. He
was one of the first to advocate measures
of protection for fugitive slaves enter
ing the Union lines. In the early days
of the war these poor creatures found
no comfort among the Union soldiery.
were turned out of the lines and told to
90 back home. In December, 1861,
Senator Trumbull gave notice in the Sem
ate that he would introduce bill for the
confiscation of the property Of rebels and
give freedom to the persons held in
of war adopted in March, 1862, forbid
ding the return of fugitive slaves found
within the Union lines. He fathered
a provision in which the right of the
rebels to use their human chattels in Of
fensive action against the Union was
distinctly challenged, one Of the most eff
fective measures adopted by the Senate
He defended the Thirteenth amendment
to the constitution, by which freedom
was established throughout the United
States forever. Every measure which
could strengthen the government and
Woo kan tho enemy fos1,fly IN him "a fe.a =.
I less champion.
He was a conspicuous figure in the leg
islative history of the nation throughout
the reconstruction period. For twelve
years he was chairman of the Senate
judiciary committee, and as such present
ed and supported the civil rights bill
During that time he worked with such
men as Reverdy Johnson, Thomas A.
Hendricks, Lafayette Foster, Roscoe
Conkling, Allen G.. Thurman and George
r. Edmunds.
Left the Republican Party.
Judge Trumbull-this title never left
him, even while he was a senator
party over the impeachment proceedings
brought against President johnson. His
conscience could not indorse that action,
and without moments hesitation he
turned his back on the men with whom
he had labored side by side through the
long dark days of the war for the accom-
piishmont i. of q. principle That principle
had become fixed in the nations funda-
mental law and he was content. The
ties of personal friendship and long
association could not drag him into even
tacit Endorsement of what he conceived
to be wrong.
When judge Trumbull left the Senate
he went to Chicago and took up the
practice of law. He seemed to return 10
Il with al the enthusiasm of the years