Evening star., 1897-04-10
Mr.. VOORHEES, DEAD
tcontigisf from First Page,

contis'sv+ from First Pasea
in Indiana. bit he carried the legislature by
a popular mab2Ety of more than $4,000 and
jsmin Harriso1F the rival candidate. Six
years later hE Ras elected by 46 majority.
and again In n>January, 1891, by majority
OF I'd, which Vas unparalleled in the history
OF the IndiaDa legislature.
He served in the Senate nineteen
years, three months ard twenty days, a
much onge5sReriod of service than has
peen accorded any other senator from In
diana or ANN party since the state came
into the uniAns his majortties also being
larger than rNosf received by any one else
who has held that position.
Mr.. voorhees, was elected to the Thirty
seventh. ThiftN-eighth, Thirty-ninth. For
ty-frst and Fotty-second Congresses. but
was defeated for. the Forty-third Congress
by reason Of the nomination of Horace
Greeley as the democratic candidate for
President. He had long been known as an
advocate of the free coinage of silver. Soon
after entering the Senate he addressed that
body in favor of free coinage and the pres
ervation of the greenback currency as full
legal tender money.
Father of the Library Building.
Mr.. Voorhees, name will always be
called in connection with the new Con-
gressional Library building as the leading
advocate of the building OF that marble
a carefully prepared speech in the Senate
setting forth the deplorable and Disgrace
full condition OF the library of Congress
and the total inadequacy of the present
home of the library for the accommoaa-
ticn of the collection of books.
The speech attracted marked attention.
Senator Blaine and other leaders of the
Senate crowding around and listening In
tently TO his words. The result of that
speech was the prompt action of the Sen
a
entitled . The committee on additional ac-
commodatiors for the Library OF Congress-
of which Mr.. Voorhees, was unanimously
made chairman. With the exception Of two
years, while chairman of the finance COM
mittee, he remained through every change
of the political complexion of the Senate
construction of the library, ami when he
retired on the 4th of March, 1891. he held
this Craftsmanship, which was given to him
nearly seventeen years ago.
Personal Characterization.
TIE most striking personal ctarac terstics
in Mr.. Voorhees, career may be said to be
his eioquence before audiences, his strong
personal magnetism and his power to hold
his friends.
Mr.. voorhees, came of an old Dutch fam
lily, being of the seventh generation in un-
broken descent of Steven Coerte Van Eoor-
hees. who came to this country from Hol-
two grandchildren. James Paxton Voorhees,
who has reaped considerable distinction as
sculptor and author: DIR. Reese n. Voor-
aees, who is practicing law in this city;
Chas. s. voorhees,, who now is at Spokane
Wash. and was a representative in Con-
greSS four years from that state, and
daughter. Miss Halle Voorhees,. A grand
son. Chas. f. Voorhees,. of James
voorhees,, was a great favorite of the dis
iinguished Indianan, as was his grand
daughter, who fses with her parents in
Spokane.
Senator Voorhees, had a gentle and poetic
nature. During the latter part of his life
when his health was failing, his principal
delights were. found in the gentler sides of
hature and m 4 certain poetic phioSOphfS-
Irg 1t was his frequent habit 20 drive
through the'1parks in early spring aid to
look for the first appearance of the robins.
He regarded, the robin redbreast as one of
the most beattiful of birds and associated
with peacefuI'h horne life His favorite drive
was through thehSmithsonian and AgricLl-
tural grounds. here Il few of these birds
dwell having esHaped the ravages of the
Ens!ish sparrow: Whenever he saw the
red breast of The robin as il hopped along
the ground he would have the driver stop
and would silt fora few minutes watching
the p1rd IN MS sport or its feeding.
Hi$ Dsfense Of Cook.
Senator a9rnees was regarded us one Of
the most eloaneHt7 and powerful advocates
that ever adtlressed a jury Some of MS
speeches befqre a,jury have been preserv-
eG, and are regarded hy.scholars Us clas-
sics. His first ;prelnihefce before the coun-
try was acquired through his defense of
young Cook, Who was associated with the
John. Brown raid Cook was scarcely
more than boy, as handsome as IN Apollo
and an enthusiast who sough. nothing
mere than martyrdom. He was tired for
high treason and. like John Brown was
executed. He was the brother-in-law of A
+. Willard. then governor of Indiana. Gov
Willard Sas friend of young Voorhees,
ana on account of that friendship and also
on account of his disposition to 90 to the
defense of those who seemed left defense
less, young Voorhees, undertoek the case
Friends from Ill sections of the country
urged him not to do so.
Prejudice ran high ana it was regarded
as unsafe, as well as destructive of his
career. to dertake the defense of one
against whom public feeling ran so high
At the trial young voorhees, delivered an
address which attracted much notice and
has since been published in every language
of the civilized. world. Lamar. the late
justice of the Supreme Court who was a
scholar and man of letters. pronounced the
speech the superior of anything he had ever
heard read. Voorhees, mad no manu-
script nor notesAof this speech when deliv-
cred. and it made such an impression tha [
every one of the distinguished men who
We're attracted by the intense interest felt
in the trial and were present to hear it,
urged him to lmmedla tely reproduce it in
writing, if he could. This he undertook to
90. He secluded himself in a room at the
hotel, and his f;iends gave orders that no
one should intrude upon him. In the midst
of his work there was a knock at the door,
and presently q man entered and asked to
see Mr.. Voorhees,. Voorhees, disclosed his
identity, and the man then introduced Aim
self Sena tor Mason OF Virginia and sa "a
that he had come to Mr.. Voorhees, t.
urge him not to permit that speech to be
lost to posterity, but to write it Immediate
ly. voorhees, told him that ne was then en-
gagged in attempting to reproduce the
speech, and Mason Immediately retired de-
Ginning 10 interrupt him further. This at
tracted attention to Voorhees, throughout
the country and while the life of Cook was
not saved, the law being such as to render
that impossible, the jury. after listening 10
Mr.. Voorhees, eioquence. recommended the
prisoner to mercy. without even lea wing the
box for discussion.
The IkiIbOurn Case.
Another of Mr.. Voorhees, most noted
speeches was before the jury in the case
of Hallet Kibourn He was Mr. Kill
bCurn's attorney in the suit for damages
for false imprisonment. At the first trial