Evening star., 1900-10-22

Y IN 1898.
| went no further in college, preferring to be-
| come self-supporting. His first occupation
| was that of surveyor, and in 1914 he be-
gan to study law with his brother Charles.
and subsequently was admitted to the bar.
About this time he commenced to take some
interest in local politics. He went a
delegate to the whig convention. which in
& ds4s nominated nom ma d- Zachary Taylor tor Presi-
nominated Winfield Scott.
Mr.. sherman began ..Is congressional
career In 1893 as member of the House OF
Representatives from Ohio. This was about
the opening of the eventful period leading
up to the war o. the rebellion, and Mr.. Sher-
man entered Immediately into the great de-
bates growing out of the slavery. question
ana soon took front ranks as speaker. He
displayed a great familiarity with the sub
Ject the result of close study. He served
with such distinction in the House and at
| tanned such position in the esteem and
respect OF his colleagues that In 1859 he was
republican candidate for Speaker of the
House For eight weeks the balloting con-
| tinued, and Mr.. Sherman came within three
votes of being elected, but failed because
he could not satisfy the pro-slavery. de-
mands which a few southern wings made
upon him. '.- - 80
The Kansas Investigation.
The territory of Kansas had become a
battle-ground between the advocates of sla-
fSAJ AAoA lAe SOutL anu IT'S opponents
the free states, and on March 8, 1856, the
appointment of a committee of three mem
bers of the House by it's Speaker was voted
by the House. This committee was instruct
ed to proceed to Kansas. inquire into and
collect evidence In regard to the troubles
| there generally. and particularly in regard
| to any fraud or force attempted or prac-
ticed in relation to any of the elections
which had there taken place.
The appointment of Mr.. Sherman as a
member of this Kansas investigating COM
mlttee was turning point in his political
career. The inquiry beginning at Lawrence,
| Kan, was most thorough. and very COM
plete statement was obtained of the free
state side of thesquestion, the Missouri peo-
pie who had been connected with the kan
sas troubles, so-called, not deeming it
wise to appear before the committee. The
congressional committee also took testi-
mony at Leeompton, Topeka and Leaven-
worth. AT the last named place band Of
desperadoes threatened to burn the town
While the congressional committee was
there, and probably the presence of United
States troops at Fort Leavenworth alone
saved the committees lives. Notices, head
ed by drawings of the skull and crossbones.
or the border ruffians to wipe OUT the
committee were posted on the doors of
their rooms. -@'
In view of these dangers, copies of the
testimony taken had been sent eastward
but the gentleman. DR.. Robinson, by whom
they had sent it, was arrested and returned
to the Leavenworth Jail. The testimony
was, however, concealed on the person of
Mrs Robinson. who was allowed to proceed
on her journey. She delivered it to Sneak
er Banks. to await the arrival of the COM
mittee.
After about two months spent in this way
the committee concluded its labors in Kan
| sas and started for Washington On the
way. at Detroit. Mich. Mr. Sherman. bv
request Of his colleagues collated the tes-
timcny and prepared the report. Every
| statement in 1t was verified by the clearest
| testimony. and was never controversial
When presented to the Houes of Repre-
sentatives 1t naturally caused deep feeling,
and subsequently became the basis of the
| national political campaign Of 1856.
Supported Fremont.
In that campaign Mr.. Sherman supported
John c. Fremont for President simply, as
he said. because the republican party re-
abolition. of slavery. When Mr. James
Buchanan was elected he vigorously COM
ba ted his public views and meaures At
the same time he took active part in
legislation on variety OF practical ques-
ficns, such as the tariff BILL the debate on
the submarine telegraph, etc.
In the Thirty-fifth Congress he took the
ground In the debate on affairs in Kansas
that Congress ought not to recognize the
Lecompton or any other constitution which
had not been framed by a convention to
which the people had delegated full power,
and which had not been subsequently sub
mltted to ana approved Dy popular vote.
He was invariably a firm advocate for econ
omy in public expenditures. The then prev
alent system of making contracts in ad-
vance of appropriations was denounced by
him illegal.
He was a steadfast friend of old soldiers,
and opposed a pension bill which discrimi-
mated between the soldier and the officer.
Bills appropriating public money were al
ways closely Scrutinized by Mr.. Sherman,
and by his prominence in all the business of
the House he came to be recognized at the
close of his second congressional term as it's
foremost man. In the exciting contest for
th, speakership with which the Thirty
sixth Congress opened for eight weeks he
lacked but three votes of an election. and
firally Withdrawing from the canvass,
transferred his solid vote to Mr.. Penning-
ton Of New Jersey, who was elected.
He was at once appointed chairman of
th. committee of ways and means, and i'm
mediately took a decided stand against the
prevailing system of engrafting new legis-
| lation upon appropriation bills. He also
introduced a resolution, which was adopt
ed. providing that the subject Of railroad
to the Pacific coast be referred to a select
committee of fifteen members. with leave
to report by bill or otherwise. This was
the first move toward the great highway
to our western states and territories.
In the winter of 1StD-61 Mr.. Sherman
watched carefuily over the public appropri-
alton bills and d'etook steps to provide for
, tha future support of the government. To
make provisions7 as well, for the payment
Of the salaries OF congressman, and to meet
!, | other demands, he next secured the pass
age of the bill authorizing the issue of
have aneMp YsJ e the United
he introduced a bill authorizing the Presi-
dent of the United States to issue coupons.
bearing interest not to exceed per cent,
notes, which the administration Of Presi-
dent Buchanan had issued at IL per cent
interest,
Erteudship for Mr. Lincoln.