Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-06

felt his own sclf-respect and sacrifice
his clear convictions of duty
His seat thus made vacant was filed by
the next Legislature by the election Of
George Reud Riddle. The Legislature
Mr.. Bayard upon his course
In the Senate.
A NOTABLE SENATORIAL ELECTION.
Thomas +. BayarJ's FIRST election to
the United States Senate was Under cir
cunlstances unparalleled in the history of
this country. Upon the death of Senator
George Read Riddle, James A. NBayard
had been induced by governor Cove
Salisbury to fill the vacancy until the
ensuing session of the Legislature, and
that body soon after it assembled, for
mally elected Mr.. James A. Bayard
to fill the balance of lar. Riddles term,
which ended at noon OH the ensuing 4th
Of March. Upon the same day, January
10, 1869, Thomas II. Bayard was elected
Senator for the ensuing fun term of six
years, beginning on the 4th day of March,
1863. Father and son were thus elected
to the United States Senate on the same
day, the latter as successor to the former.
At noon on the 4th day of March, Mr.
James A. Bayard retired from the Sem
ate, after having had tine rare pleasure of
seeing his son succeed him and officially
take his seat.
James A. Bayard was eminent MS a
constitutional lawyer, and was highly
esteemed for his refined sense of pubic
honor. which was mani est in n noted
instance upon his receiving an offer of
stock of the Credit Mobilier in 1868, in
reply to which he wrote: II take 1t for
granted that the corporation has no APP
plicaton to Congress on which should
be called to act officially, as l could not,
consistently with my views of duty, vote
upon question of pecuniary interest"
EARLY LIFE OF THOMAS F. BAYARp.
Thomas Francis Bayard was born in
this city October both, 1898. he was
the second son of James Ashton Bayard
and Annie Francis) Bayard. The tie
Mrs. Levi G. Bird and Mrs. Benoni Lock.
wood were his sisters. AT the age of IL
years he was sent to the celebrated pri.
vate school of the Rev. DIR. Francis L.
Hawks Mt Flushing, l.. l., where he re.
manned for two years. His father 4lav.
ing removed to New York. and Thomas
| he was placed in the esta, .ishment of Mr.
Bayard's brother-in-law, August Var
| Cortlandt Schermerhorn. Applying him
self to his duties with zeal and intelli
gence, he laid the foundation of thai
sound and thorough knowledge of bust
ness and tnat clear, practical grasp of al
subjects connected with trade and financ,
which were so marked in his career as
statesman. His business training wa
afterwards continued in Philadelphia il
the house of s. Morris Vain, where he re
manned until he was 20 years old.
Upon the death of mis- elder and onl,
brother, James Ashton, in 1S4S, he wa
called back to his parents here. and tax
ing up the study of the law, was admitte,
to the bar in 1851. lie assisted hi
father and soon won name for his abb
ity. Two years after his admittance I
to the bar, he was appointed Unite
States District Attorney. A year later
in 1865, he removed to Philadelphia an
went into partnership with William ShJ
pen. Upon Mr.. Shippen's death in 1855
MIR. Bayard returned to Wilmington an
his fatler being much occupied with til
duties of public Office, entered assiduousl
upon the large practice. He was thu
engaged when the war clouds appeared.
Early in 1861, when war was seen |
be imminent, and no one could tell whs
perils or troubles were ahead, the peop
of Wilmington began devising means fc
self-protection in case of disorder.
militia company was organized, with v
Ihatcler as captain and Mr.. Bayard {
first lieutenant. Some time later it vir
ually ceased to exist, though it was new,
formally disbanded. During the excl
ing times which followed, an officer
the Federal army demanded the arms
the company, which Mr.. Bayard refuse
, to surrender without an order from ii
commander of the militia or the govern
as the muskets We're the property of IL
| state. The officer broke open the do
OF the armory and carried off the muske
and the United States government afle
ward paid the state Of Delaware for theI
Many years later a story was circulate
that Mr.. Dayard was once captain of
! rebel company" The only foundation +
= II was as above.
In June of the same year a peace me,
ing of citizens of all parties was held
, Dover and Mr.. Bayard was one of t
), principal speakers. His remarks. it
- claimed by many, saved delaware fro
an attempt at secession. Whether this
: so or not, they certainly Gained down I
= !, excitement of the people, which at til
e time was so high that hasty and unwi
:, measures might easily have been taken.
d ELECTED TO THE SENATE.
Il Though much interested in politi
'r matters, he had not taken any promins
e, part in them until his election to the s,
ID ate. When he took his seat in that bo
[e on March 4, 1869, the Democratic rest
I'd alton had not begun. Both branches
n Congress were strongly Republic,
ID Mr.. Bayards colleague was Will,
S, salisbury, who had sat here all throu
ig the war. The other Democratic Senat
ID were hardly numerous enough to
p around on the committees. They w
I'd Casserly (Cal), Davis and McCre
he lkyo, Nickers and Hamilton CMd.9, 4
at Stockton IN. j. Mr.. Thurman (O.) t,
ht MS seat on the same day as the success
nd of Ben Wade. Stockton and .,aulsb
90 were Democratic leaders, but the real
Ia, SEPARATION of the opposition lay in
all brains of Trumbull and a few other
TX, eral Republicans. Mr.. Bayard was ri
on places Mt the tail of the Committees
to Finance, Private Claims, and the
let vision of the Laws. He settled easily i
or legislative methods, and soon he beca
4" recognized leader, and. growing v
he experience he maintained his comma
ed ing position in spite of the fact that
he party was reinforced from time TO time
~ men of the largest caliber and great
HI. tainments. His moderation, urban
36, dignity of manner and personal ehara
ms won him the esteem of his assoca tie.
ho both parties. l
ird When the first kuklux investiga