The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-04-17

He was born in Liberty township,
Buffalo county, o., and in his early in
fancy was carried by his parents to
their pioneer home in the Wabash val
ley, Indiana. In 1s49 he graduated
from the Indiana Asbury NOW De-
pauw) university and, studying law,
began its practice in 1851. His first
public Office was entered upon in 1858.
Early in life Voorhees, exhibited the gifts Of
oratory. The Terre Haute bar before the war
was an able one. There were such men as Dick
Thompson, secretary Of the navy in President
Hayes cabinet: Tom Nelson. a brother Of the
celebrated general Bull" Nelson, who was
minister to Mexico and Chill: BayleSS Hanna,
the Sweet Singer OF the Wabash. and who
served as minister TO the Argentine Republic
during Mr.. Cleveiand'S first term: Harvey D..
Scott, who served in congress from the Terre
Haute district, and others OF less renown. As
a criminal lawyer he won fame before the war
and on the stump he was regarded as the rival
of Morton and Lane.
When the war broke out he was at looked
upon as a Union man, or rather that he
would follow the Douglas wing Of the democrat
ic party. To one OF the first regiments leaving
Terre Hauts for the front Voorhees, presented q
battleflas. Not long after that event two meet
ings were held on the same evening in Terre
Haute, and some OF Mr.. Voorhees, friends in
duced him to attend the one at which words
were uttered that were in those days OF turmoil
regarded as bordering on disloyaIty. From
that night on Voorhees, was looked upon as OPP
posed to Oliver 2. Morton, the war governor,
although it is asserted that Gov. Morton relied
on Mr.. VOORHEES, to restrain the turbulent wing
OF the Indiana democracy in war times. He was
charged with being n member OF the Golden
Circle" an alleged diSloyal organization. He
was also charged with making speeches in and
out OF congress breathing defiance to the ad-
ministration OF Mr.. Lincoln.
After the war. as a congressman. voorhees,
supported nearly all the popular measures to
pension the soldiers, and much Of the bitterness
engendered against him during the war was
forgotten No Indiana soldier ever wrote d. W.
Voorhees, without receiving 4 courteous reply,
and q word OF advice how to proceed in regard
to securing q pension. He was appointed to the
senate by Gov. Williams to fill the vacancy
caused By the death Of Oliver p. Morton in
1871, and from that time till the fourth Of last
March 81 = re highest legislative body Of the
land.
It viii b. many days h2:5re Elliana will pro-
du"c p -Ip-1 lifted ETc~i.-- II vas known far
and uaJT - The "Si.E'r-'o on" Il orator Of the
WLJaSa.' lie rcd SLs Bn-''r to swing his
audience this way and then ;lat-fron tears OF
( sorrow to shouts of ioy: from Jeath-likc silence
. to laundering aDolaG,.. He could make jurors
weep. or curl tnCir -iDs with Indignation. Court
room aut.aceS wouId cheer despite warnings
from ,le sheriff or judge, and would fight for
I positions to hear he Silvery words.
Democracy wOrShippef his name more than
Hendricks. They looked to the Tai Syca-
more for guidancs. He was their Plumed
knight, their Navarro, their Richard the Lion
Hearted, their idol. AthOme he knew the labor
ing people, took their hand, inquired about
their families; to the rich he simply
bowed. He earned thousands and thou
sands OF dollars, but died poor, for FOor-
heeS would spend his last dollor or give it away.
He knew almost eyary man in his home town,
and in the country round about. lie would talk
with them on the street, at their gate. in their
stores. He was Dan Voorhees,. plain Dan. with
no frillS. and when election time came he was
a hard man to down.