New-York tribune., 1900-10-23


four years At the age of twelve he returned to
Lancaster and entered Howe's Academy Here in
two years he became far enough advanced to have
entered the sophomore year at college. He then
cepted place rodman on the Muskingum i'm
provement. with a corps of engineers engaged IN
constructing the Ohio system of canals. In 1888 he
was thrown out of his place because he was
Whig and the Democrats had the State cleo
tion. Such the effect of the spoils SYSTEM In
the of a sixteen -year-old boy.
Young Sherman went to Mansfield, Ohio. 20
study law with his brother Charles. He ad-
mtted to the bar May Il. 1874. and entered into
partnership with his brother. He was constantly
and proftably engaged in the practice of his profess
sion until he elected member of Congress in
1854 In the winter of 1S46-'47 Mr.. Sherman visited
Washington, where he remained month, and be-
came acquainted with most of the politicians at the
capital. especially with Stephen A. Douglas. In
the spring of 1S4s he sent a delegate to the
Natonai Whig Convention Philadelphia and
was made secretary of that body He supported
the nomination of Zachary Taylor for the Presi-
dency, and canvassed a portion of Ohio in the lat
ter's interest On August 30. 1S48, he married
Cecilia, only child of Judge Stewart Of Mansfield
In 1852 he was a delegate to the National WING
Convention at Baltimore and supported General
Winfield Scott for President
In the winter of 1S53-'54 Mr.. Sherman opened a
law office in Cleveland with the intention Of re-
moving there at some future time. The PROPOSE
ton TO repeal the Missouri Compromise was then
pending and excited the greatest agta ton through
out Ine country Up 10 that time Mr.. sherman
had been conservative Wing, anxious to avoid all
discussions about slavery. But the proposed repeal
convinced him tina the contest between freedom
and slavery must come and that he must enter
the lists When the Congressional Anti-Nebraska
Convention met 1t found to be composed of
Democrats, Wings and Free Sellers. and great diff
Guilty was experienced in fusng the opposing ele-
ments.
ELECTED TO CONGRESS
The choice finally fell upon Mr. Sherman, who
was then but thirty-one years old and he
elected to Congress, He was president Of the Ohio
Republican State Convention in 1850 which
mated Salmon P Chase for Governor. He also
participated in the organization OF the Republican
party, and at once took prominent part in the
councils Of the new political movement. From that
time until his death his life had been part of the
public life Of the country.
Mr.. Sherman took his seat in the House Of Rep
resentatives as a member of the XXXIVth Con-
gresS on December g. 1855 six years before the Civil
war These were six years Of political strife and
OF civil commotion, and formed eventful epoch
in the history of the country Among the great
questions debated during those six years were the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise the Dred Scott
decision the Introduction of slavery into Kansas
and the Fugitive Slave law Mr. Sherman often
participated in these debates. and rose rapidly in
reputation At the very outset of his Congress
sional career there was a fierce and prolonged
struggle attending the election of Speaker At the
ninety-eighth ballot he declared his reason for
of the General toward slavery. Said he: Under
re circumstances whatever will he. if he has the
power. allow the institution Of human slavery 10
derive any benefit from repeating the Compromise
Of 1920
The Territory Of Kansas had now become the
battle-ground between the advocates OF slavery
from the South and its opponents from the free
States. and on March 80 1856. the appointment OF
an investigating committee OF three members of the
House by the Speaker was voted This committee
was instructed to 60 Kansas. inquire into and
collect evidence In regard 20 the troubles there,
and particularly in regard TO any fraud force
attempted practised in relation any OF the
elections which had taken place. The appoint
ment Of Nj Sherman a member of this com
mittee was turning point in his political career.
The inquiry was begun ar Lawrence Kan. and
was most thorough, and a very complete statement
was obtained Of the free-State side OF the question
but the Missouri! people who bad been connected
with the Kansas troubles did not deem it wise 10
appear before the committee At Leavenw0rth
band OF desperadoes threatened to burn the town
while the committee there, and the presence OF
United States troops at Fort Leavenworth alone
saved the committees lives
Among those who helped 10 guard the committee
were John Brown. Dr.. Robinson. afterward Gov
ernor OF Kansas. and General James Lane. Part
Of the testimony was first dispatched TO General
Banks by Dr. Robinson but he was arrested and
returned 70 the jail at Leavenworth II was then
intrusted to Mrs Robinson. who conveyed It in
safety to Speaker Banks. The final testimony was
collated by Mr.. Sherman. who prepared the report
Of the committee. Every statement in II was
verified by the clearest testimony. and was never
controverted When It was presented TO the House
Of Representatives it caused deep feeling and
afterward became the basis of the National cam
pagn of 1856,
A SUPPORTER OF FREMONT
In that campaign Mr., Sherman supported John c
Fremont for President, because the Republican
party resisted the extension but did not seek the
abolition Of slavery. When James Buchanan was
elected he vigorously combatted the Presidents
public views and measures. He also took active
part in the debate the tariff and the submarine
telegraph in the XXXVtb Congress, in the debate
on affairs in Kansas he opposed the recognition
os the Lecompton any other State Constitution
which had not been framed by convention to
which the people had not delegated full power and
which had not been subsequently submitted and
approved by popular He firmly advocated
economy in public expenditures, and denounced
illegal the system then prevalent Of making con-
tracts in advance of appropriations He
steadfast friend Of Old soldiers. and opposed pen
sion bill that Disseminated between common SOL
diers and officers. BY his prominence IN all the
business of the House he came to be recognized
before the close of his second term its foremost
AS a debater he had shown himself ready and
effective; he had attempted any oratorical dis
plays, but was always practical, thoroughly in
formed and forcble in his arguments
In the exciting contest for the Speakershp with
which the XXXVIth Congress opened, for eight
weeks ne lacked out three FoteS OF an elecIon anu
finally transferred his vote to Mr.. Pennington of
New-Jersey, who elected Mr.. Sherman
at appointed chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee and Immediately took decided stand
against the prevailing system of engrafting new
legislation upon appropriation bills. Fla also then
introduced a resolution for the appointment of a
committee on the subject of a railway to the Pa
cifc Coast. This the first move toward the
construction of the Pacific Railroad. He next Sc
curs1 the passage of the authorizing the issue
OF the United States Treasury notes of 1860 Short