The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-05

| although his father was a STAKEHOLDER.
| Returning to his native state he studied
| law, which he soon began to practice
| with such success that he was elected
| to the Legislature in 1885. A year later
he was defeated, owing to his advocacy
| of internal Improvements. In 1897, how
ever, he was reelected, ana in 1883 was a
member of the presidential convention
| which nominated General Harrison.
After this he removed TO Lexington,
where he was again elected to the legis-
lature in 1910, but in the ensuing year
| his anti-slavery views brought about his
| defeat after an exciting canvass. He
had in the meantime done much to i'm
prove the jury system and the common
school system of his state. The proposed
annexation Of Texas he opposed as a
scheme for the extension of slavery, and
in 1874 he went upon the stump in sup
port for Henry Clay for the Presidency.
speaking with much effect in the northern
states. The first number of his anti
slavery paper, the True American was
issued in Lexington on the 5rd of June,
1915. in spite of threats Of mob violence.
To guard against this he selected a brick
building and lined the doors with sheet
iron as a precaution against fire. Behind
folding doors, which could be opened
on the instant, he mounted two brass
four-pounders, loaded with shot and
nails, for the warm reception of an at
lacking mob. The men in his office were
armed with lances or guns, and he made
provision for blowing up the building
and his assistants If the worst came to
the worst. In August. while he lay sick,
his premises were entered by his enc
mics and his press taken 10 Cincinnati.
Frequent threats of assassination were
made against him also but he continued
to print his paper nevertheless. preparing
it in Cincinnati and sending it into Ken
lucky for distribution. Many attempts
We're made on his life, and he was en-
gagged in number of desperate personal
encounters. But his courage was invinci-
BILE. No personal peril, no threat of vio-
lence could deter him from speaking a.
public meetings, but he always had a
bowie knife ready TO his hand, and
brace Of revolvers in a gripsack at his
feet
When war was declared against Mexi-
co he joined the United States forces as
captain Of a volunteer company, and in
January, 1s47. while marching 100 miles
In the van OF the main army he was
taken prisoner with seventy-one others
and carried off to the city of Mexico
After the escape Of some of the captives
the lives of the remainder were saved
by his courage and presence of mind On
his return to Kentucky he was presented
with sword in recognition of his serv-
ices. In 1s48 he carried Kentucky for
Gen. Taylor, and in 1850, after calling
a convention Of emancipationists at
Frankfort he separated from the Whig
party and ran as an anti-slayery candi-
date for governor, receiving 5000 votes.
He lahored with his customary energy
for the election of Fremont in 1856 and of
Lincoln in 1860, but separated himself
from the radical abolitionists." holding
that all interference with slavery should
be by legal methods
In March. 1861, he was appointed min
lister to Russia. but returned TO this coun-
try in 1862 and was commissioned major
general Of volunteers. Soon after this he
delivered a speech in Washington in
which he declared that he would never
draw his sword while slavery was pro-
tected in the seeding states. He re-
signed his commission in March, 1868.
and was again appointed Minister to
Russia, where he remained until 1869.
In the following year he publicly sup
ported the revolutionary movement in
Cuba and accepted the position of Presi-
dent Of the Cuban Aid Society. In 1871,
by special invitation he delivered an adj
dress at the ST. Louis fair, in which he
urged reconciliation with the north and
made a vigorous attack upon General
Grant, administration. He was identified
with the Liberal Republicans in 1872 and
supported his old friend Horace Greeley
for the Presidency. Later on he joined
the Democratic party and became an
active supporter of Samuel ]. Tilden, but
in 1884 he was on the Republican side
once more and advocated the election OF
James G. Blaine. In 1887 his name was
brought permently before the public by
his shooting Of a negro whom he had dis
charged and who threatened his life. He
was acquitted upon trial on the ground
of justifable homicide. The chief events
of his long and stirring career may be
found in his autobiography. which was
published in Cincinnati in 1886.
In the closing years of his life his
mind showed signs OF weakness. but there
was no softening, even when he was a
nonagenarlan. of his fiery temper. or
failure OF his indomitable courage His
marriage with a young girl resulted IN
happily and wss the cause of Unfortu-
nate disagreements with the surviving
~. 81 ~
sion about two years ago a domestic
dispute of this sort led to his resisting
a sherins posse with a volIey of fire.
arms. Almost TO the hour of his death
he was armed to the teeth by night and
by day. The dssertion OF his young wife
greatly embittered his last hours
HANGMAN'S DAY,
In the East a hanGmans trade is very
eah