Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-20


CADIZ, O., March 19.-After a linger-
ing illness of several weeks. caused
mainly by old age, Hon. John A. Bing-
ham, one of the heroes of the United
States, whose works were many, varied
and noble, passed into the great be-
yond to-day at 8 a. m.
Mr.. Bingham was born at Mercer,
Pa, on January 21st, 1915. His pa
rents were good honest folks, being
of Scotch-Irish descent. He enjoyed
the best educational advantages the
town afforded at that time. He receiv-
ed his college training at Franklin
College of New Athens, Ohio. In 1870,
Mr.. Bingham came to Cadiz, which
was Immediately after he was admitted
to the bar, and he has made Cadiz his
home ever since.
In 1854 he was elected member of
the Thirty-fourth Congress from the
21st district, (now the 18th, of Ohio.
He spent eighteen years in Congress.
The legal tender bill of 1862, and sew
eral other important measures were
framed by Mr.. Bingham.
He was a close friend of President
Lincoln, and the door keeper Of the
White House
Had Orders to Admit Him
any time he might call. Mr.. Bingham
once said of Lincoln: HE was the sad
dest man I ever saw, and he had cause
to be, for he bore in his great heart
the sorrows of his people"
On that memorable night of April
14th, 1855, Mr.. Bingham was in Cadiz.
The next day he received a dispatch
from Secretary Stanton, reading:
Come and investigate the murder of
the President" Soon after arriving in
Washington, he opened an office and
formulated the plans which resulted
in the arrest, trial and conviction of
the conspirators. He had been ap-
pointed Judge Advocate General in
1864, with rank of Major General, and
President Johnson appointed him spe-
cial Judge Advocate. His argument
for the prosecution occupied nine
hours and was printed and forms a
large volume.
He was chairman of the commission
for the impeachment of President
Johnson, and the duty of making the
closing argument fell upon him, and
his speech occupied three whole days.
The closing remarks brought forth
such applause and scenes as has never
been witnessed in the capitol before.
All who have listened to Mr.. bingham
agree that he had all the requisites
Of a great orator, presence, voice, ar
ticulation and gesture were his. He
was master of both pathos and sar-
casm.
In May 1873 he was appointed envoy
extra ordinary and minister plenipo-
Tertiary to the court of Japan, which
honorable position he held until 1885.
He was greatly loved by the people of
Japan, and when he departed from taat
country he was shown the greatest
honors and ovation ever shown any
foreign person who visited the island
kingdom.
He was the means of the appoint
ment to West Point of Gen. George
A. Custer. His
GrnnfeRf vAnrL nf Sfurnxn nj
was the construction of the fourteenth
amendment to the constitution, which
made all citizens equal.
Mr.. Bingham was an intimate friend
OF Rutherford B. Hayes, James A.
Garfield and William Mckinley. He
was also a close friend and ardent
admirer of Bishop Mathew Simpson,
who was born in Cadiz, and who play
ed with Bingham in their boybood and
associated with him in the time when
their lives were full of stirring incl
dents.
Mr.. Bingham was a genial, kind
hearted man, full of true determine
ton, and a high sense of truth and
honor. He had the greatest interest in
the welfare of his country, and in his
declining years kept himself well in
formed as to the leading events. but
he seemed at times to be almost liv-
ing over again the thrilling scenes
that had once filled his busy life.
Arrangements have been completed
for having the funeral at l p. m, on
Wednesday. kilograms have been
pouring in from all parts of the coun-
try to-day, and the announcement
from Washington that many
notable men, including a representa-
tive OF the President, will attend the
funeral.
I