The National tribune., 1899-11-30

HENRY CLAY, AS He APPEARED AS
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
why j signed for the recommendation Of
the Helper Book? 1t was thoughtless,
foolish, and unfortunate act. /
was assured that there should be nothing
onenslye In 1t; In the hurry of business
OF the House told Morgan, a member of
the last Congress, to use my name Every
body knows that the ultra sentiments In
the Dook are as obnoxious TO me as they
can be 10 any one, and in proper circum-
stances would distinctly say so; but
under the threat of Clark's resolution |
could not, with self-respect, say more than
l have"
1t will be remembered that the publica-
| ton OF the circular-recommend
] Sherman calls it-creatcd intense excite
ment over the country, and especially in
Congress. SiXty-eight members of the
House had indorsed the enterprise Among
the original subscribers for the book we
lind the names Of Schuyler Cofax, Anson
BurlIngamc, Owen Lovejoy. Galusha A
Grow, Henry l.. Dawes, Justin S. Morrill,,
francis +. Spinner, and John Sherman.
When John Sherman WAS nominated for
Speaker of the House of Representatives
he found himself at once opposed, abused,
and InSulted by the entire pro-Slavery
party, North and South, solely on the
ground of having with his signature ap-
proved the publishing of the book
The following is the resolution of the
Hon. John Il. Clark, to which Mr. Sher-
man alludes:
Resolved, That no person who has in
dorsed and recommended the book or the
compend from it is fit to be Speaker of the
Houss."
In fact, one chivalric Representative
went so far as to say: Every signer for that
book was not only unfit for Speaker, but
unfit to live"
After contest of eight weeks. in which
Mr.. Sherman's friends adhered TO him
through all these trying days with pat
riotic devotion, Mr.. Sherman arose in his
seat and Withdrew his name as candidate
Tor Speaker, whereupon the Hon Vim.
bennington, Of New Jersey. Wing, who
mad CONSTANT y. given his vote to Mr.. Sher-
man, was put in nomination. and elected.
IL was well understood when Mr. She..-
man Withdrew he was to have his finger
on the pulse of committees, and so il came
that his friend Henry Cook. whom he |
brought with him from Ohio, was given |
the contract for printing
This was before there was a Govern |
ment Printing Office, and when all the |
public printing was let by contract. II |
was rich plum that fell into the hands of |
Mr.. Cook, for when the days of his occu-
pancy were complete he retired with a |
sufficient fund to start the banking house
Of jay Cook & Co.
In all the ups and downs OF politics
which have covered Mr.. Sherman's event
ful life not word has ever been said against
ms Integrity or honor He has made a
handsome fortune by legitimate invest
ment and sagacious forethought. and he
enters the ripeneSs of years an honored
citizen Of these United States.
Mr.. W B. Shaw. the Nestor of the press
in Washington, man who had had rare
opportunities OF feeling the pulse of this
growing Republic, whose statements were
always reliable during the darkest hours
that hung over this Nation "A man whose
pen would not knowingly injure friend or
Toe, has relumed the pen of the writer by
his terse and interesting incidents OF 40l
years ago.
Mr.. Sherman failed of the Speakership
by means that in the light of to-day, seems
Incredible. and we sometimes query if the |
nettle would have stung less by a firmer |
grasp. The spirit of holding back and |
covering up conditions. instead of manfully |
faclng them. sort OF repression, is the |
seemingly controlling influence predomi- /
mating the early letters OF these brothers. |
had strong hearts and brave faced the |
evil that was branded on us by our mother
country, and put IL down before it gained |
such gigantic strength, what a saving |
u would have been of life and fortune. |
Had the influential men of the country |
carried out the principles of many Southern |
hnini men, instead OF cringing from duty. this
beloved land would not have been made |
the waste place of a Nation.
1honas Jefferson said: THE abolition |
OF slavery Is the greatest object of desire |
IN the Colonies where it was unhappily |
introduced in their infant state"
Patrick Henry said: Slavery is detesta
BILE. We deplore it with all the earnest
ness of humanity"
Washington hoped slavery would be
abolished by law
John Randolph said, 81 envy neither the
heart nor the head of that man from the
North who rises here in Congress TO defend
slavery on principle. And We could quote
the same principles uttered by Col Mason,
of Virginia, who said: 1T brings the iudg-
ment OF heaven on a country"