The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11
SENATOR DANIEL w. VOORHEES,.


1t has been known for some time that
Senator Voorhees, was in failing health. but
the announcement of ms death comes I'M
expectedIy. Naturally he possessed a
strong constitution, and might reasonably
have been expected to live to a much great
er age than sixty-nine. Senator Voorhees,
has been a prominent figure in the politics
of Indiana for forty years, and in national
politics for thirty-five. Though not ma
tive OF the State. he grew up here from
early childhood, was educated here and was
thoroughly an Indianian. Perhaps no other
man has been in public life from this
State who had a stronger hold on his party.
a larger political following or more per-
sonal friends than he had at the height OF
his career. His career was public one
almost from the beginning. In college, at
old Asbury University, he was recognized
as young man of brilliant parts. One of
the professors there spoke of him as "a
natural orator. and predicted that The
would take rank with the first men of the
Nation" He certainly did achieve national
reputation. The statement that he was
natural orator was not inaccurate. He
possessed many of the elements of effective
oratory-a bright receptive mind, quick in
telligence. a sanguine temperament, strong
Imagination, warm sympathies, a fine COM
mand of language and large share of
what is called personal magnetism. If he
was often weak in logic he was strong in
statement, and what ne lacked in con-
sistency or conclusiveness he made up in
rhetorical style that pleased his hearers.
1t was a Fourth of July Grafton delivered
in Covington, Ind, in 1851, when he was
twenty-three years old. that so pleased ex-
Senator Hannegan that he offered the
young man law partnership. Two years
later he was appointed prosecuting attorney
for large circuit, and in 1851 was ap-
pointed by President Buchanan United
States district attorney for Indiana. That
is high position for man to attain at
the age OF thirty. Mr.. Voorhees, was a
strong criminal lawyer. at least strong
advocate in criminal cases for the defense.
He never made much of a mark as a civil
lawyer but as a criminal lawyer for the
defense in capital cases he had wide repu-
tation. His speech in defense of John Z.
Cook. one of the John Brown raiders, de-
livered at Charleston. Va, in 1859. was a
great speech, although the defendant, a
brother-in-law of the then Governor of In
diana. Ashbel p. willard, was convicted
and hanged. This speech was printed in
pamphlet form, and copies of it were in
some demand for years afterward In 1865
Mr.. Voorhees, defended Mary Harris,
charged with murder for shooting her
Queer in broad daylight i'm one of the halls
of the treasury building at Washington.
The jury acquitted her i'm less than twenty
minutes. In 1871 Mr.. Voorhees, defended
one Harry c. Black, charged with the muir
der of a prominent citizen of Baltimore.
The act was clearly proven, but the jury
brought in verdict of not guilty i'm less
than ten minutes. In such cases as these
Mr.. Voorhees, was capable of making a
great speech. and he was often retained in
murder cases outside of Indiana.
Mr.. Voorhees, was not great as legis-
lator because he lacked the constructive
faculty. He was better at tearing down
than at building up. Moreover. he was too
intensely partisan TO be useful as a law
maker. He lacked the judicial quality, and
only cared to see one side of case. He
was intensely and aggressively American,
but his patriotism never rose above party
ism. His ancestors were Democrats. and
he cultivated the family heritage very re-
ligiously. He was so constituted that it
would have been very difficult for him to
believe that his party could do any wrong,
caused il to lose an election. He belonged
TO the school of politicians who regard
success as the first duty of party and the
chief end of politics, and he generally
lookedlto that end quite to the exclusion of
other considerations. He never troubled
himself about personal consistency nor al
lowed himself TO be embarrassed by any
position his party might take on either
side of any question. In short, he was a
thoroughly reliable partisan. During his
long service in Congress. first in the House
and then in the Senate. he was serviceable
in many ways to many persons and some
times TO his party. but IL is not recalled
that he was ever connected with any move
ment of general utility or that he ever
rendered any positive service 10 the State
or Nation.
Mr. Voorhees, had collegiate education,
and possessed considerable literary culture.
At different times he delivered several lit
erary addresses before college societies or
on special occasions, which were entirely
free from political illusions. and showed
him at his best. Those who knew him only
as a politician would be surprised at the
tone and style of some of these addresses.
| He was warmhearted. sympathetic and
| generous 10 fault. In the way of a per-
| sonal favor he would serve political OPP
| ponent as quickly and as freely as he
would a political friend. He was true TO
his friends, and always ready TO make
| peace with his enemies. There was no
| vindictiveness in his nature. He was not
| altogether a well-balanced character. but he
| possessed brilliant parts and some admir-
| able qualities.
A DISAGREEABLE HOUR.
| II is rare that the typical Englishman