The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-23

SHERMAN.
OF his brother, Charles Sherman, and II
1874 was admitted to the bar He forme
a partnership with his brother in Mans
field, and continued with him until hi
entrance into Congress, during which tim
his ability and industry gained for hin
both distinction and pecuniary success.
Meanwhile. in 1S4S he was sent as {
delegate to the Wing convention, held il
Philadelphia, that nominated Zachary
Taylor for the Presidency. and in 1852 3,
was delegate to the Baltimore conven
ton which nominated Winfield Scott. His
attitude as a conservative Wing, in the
alarm and excitement that followed the
attempt TO repeal the Missouri Compro-
mise, secured his election to the Thirty
fourth Congress, and he took his seat or
December 3. 1856. 1t is said Of him by one
| OF his biographers that he was a ready
and forcible speaker, and that because OF
his thorough acquaintance with public
affairs he became from the first an ac>
knowledged power in the House.
He grew rapidly in reputation as a de-
batter on ali the great questions agitating
the public mind during that eventful
period; the repeal OF the Missouri Com
promise. the bred Scott decision. the fu-
| gitiye slave law, the national finances,
and other important measures.
| His appointment by the Speaker of the
/ House as member of the committee to
| enquire into and collect evidence in re-
| gard to the border troubles in Kansas was
| an important event in his career. Owing
| to the illness of the chairman Of the
committee, William A. HAYWOOD, of Michi-
! gan, the duty Of preparing the report de-
volved upon Mr.. Sherman. It is said that
| every statement was verified by the
clearest testimony, and that 1t has never
been controverted by anyone.
This report, when presented to the
House, created great deal of feeling and
intensified the antagonism in Congress-
being made the basis of the canvass of
1856. He acted with the Republican party
in supporting John C. Fremont for the
Presidency because that party resisted the
extension of slavery, but did not seek its
abolition. In the debate on the submarine
telegraph he opposed the ffty-year con-
tract, saying:
Il cannot agree that our Government
/ should be bound by any contract with any
private Incorporated company for fifty
years. And the amendment / desire to
offer will reserve the power to Congress
to determine the proposed contract after
ten years.
All bills, 1t is said by his biographer.
making appropriations for public expendi-
lures were closely scrutinized, and the
then prevalent system of making contracts
in advance of appropriations was de-
nounced by him as Illegal
AT the close Of his second Congressional
term he was recognized as the foremost
man OF his party in the House of Repre-
sentatives.
He was reelected to the Thirty-sixth
Congress. which began its first session
amid the excitement caused by the bold
raid of John Brown. In 1859 he was the
Republican candidate for the SpeakersbIn
He had subscribed. with no knowledge of
the book. for Hinton r. Helpers "Impend
Ing Crisis and this fact was brought up
against him and estranged from him a few
OF the Southern Wings, who besought him
to declare that he was not hostile to
slavery. He refused, and after eight weeks
of balloting, in which he came within
three votes OF election. he yielded to
William Pennington who was chosen.
Mr. Sherman was then made Chairman of
the Committee on Ways and Means. He
took decided stand against ENGRAVING
new legislation upon appropriation bills,
saying: The theory OF appropriation bills
is that they should provide money for
carrying on the Government, to execute
existing laws, and not to change existing
laws, or provide new ones"
In 1860 he was again elected to the
House of Representatives. Mr. Sherman
secured the passage of bill authorizing
the issue OF what are known as the Treas
ury notes OF 1860
Elected to the Senate.
On the resignation of Salmon p. Chase
he was elected to his place in the Senate
and took his seat on March 4. 1861 He
was reelected Senator in 1867 and 1873
During most Of his Senatorial career he
was Chairman of the Committee on FL
nance. and served also on the Committees
on Agriculture the Pacific Railroads. the
Judiciary. and Patents
The positions of John Sherman, the SEN
atOr. and William T. Sherman. the soldier.
during the civil war. were unique.
II was due to John Sherman that Gen
eral Sherman, who was a graduate of
West Point, and had resigned in 1853, re-
turned to the army. He was wanted as
an executive officer in the War Depart
ment when the war broke out. General
Sherman had not made a marked success
in private life and returned to Washing
ton about the time his brother was elect
ed to the Senate. Having spent some time
in the South. General Sherman was deep
ly impressed with the certainty of war
and of its possible magnitude.
by all Means wrote Senator Sherman
in hasty midnight letter of the 18th OF
April, 1861, take advantage of the pres
ent disturbances to get into the army,
where you will at once put yourself in a
high position for life" In the same let
ter Mr.. Sherman expressed the belief that
fac war was necessary He predicted that
he Federal forces would have prelimina-
ry defeats. but that in the end they would
be successful. For me-" he wrote to his
brother. Il am for war that will either
establish or overthrow the Government
and will purify the atmosphere OF politi-
cal life. We need such war. and we
have 1t now
John Sherman. the statesman. in the
midst OF his arduous duties. watched with
Jealous care over the career OF his broth
er. to whom he was devotediy attached
He saw him enter the service as colonel
of the Thirteenth Infantry and suffer de-
feat at the first battle of Bull Run. He