The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1907-04-10
CIVIL WAR SPEAKER.
oalOsha A. Grows Remarkable
Career IN American Politics.
FATHER or HOMESTEAD LAW
eejessd Presidency Of United States BY
one Vote In convsntIon-Famous
eiaht On Floor 81 House-congress-
MAN In Youth and Age.

--'s'ss IL =
ic4n citizens have been enabled to own
heGnes and thus have developed new
States and built up the great west, the
49, f,aIusha A. Grow. who died OH
Ynaafer dav. wflI be remembered long.
Mr f,row Tor more thnn forty years
haA been famous a. the speaker OF the
naf1nnaI house of representatives dur
~ the ART two years OF the civil war.
His nfe Va exceptional Ia many re-
npocts. ne beean his political career
- Is youngest member Of congress
ann cloeed Il as the Oldest member,
w1lh an interval of moro than thirty
ve1nrn 81 private lifc. When reelected
e CONGRESS after this long retirement
he received tho largest majority ever
eiycn up IS that time for any candidate
q any etate. This was when hc was
olec&ed CONGRESSMAN at large from
IAlr,neylyania.
Nr. Grow Wa born Ii Connecticut in
III. When flrst elected to congress
he was only twenty-seven, and be be-
calnc speaker at thirty-six. He was
- youngest speaker In the history OF
ccnsrees.
RI. Grow was elected speaker OF the
heure "a July /. 1891, and 60 ably and
ecceptably aid be discharge the duties
e that once that at the close OF his
TN I unanimous vote OF thanks was
a1yen him--the f1rst unanimous vote
9lxen 70 4 speaker In many years. Pre-
vfD1rs Is his election 10 the epeakership
~ had been chairman Of the commit
- on Indian affairs and on terri
toe1es being at the head Of the latter
during ali the Kansas troubles.
Ona az the most important ana dis
f16suislned seryices which he rendered
- stho country during this period was
4hnt a securing the passage OF the free
homeeteaA law. It took him nearly ten
ynars 70 carry II through, and during
nuch of tho ttme II was regarded MS
~ peo1sct o. crank. He introduced
- bill n tho flrst congress In which
- served and, h fact, made his first
epeech in congress in support OF tho
I'm rs believed that the government
ahoun not mako the public lands a
ouurce q revenue, but that II should
6estow them Ia small homesteads upon
thoce without land Tor actual settle
shent ana cultivation. The proslavery
1soderu Opposed the bin because they
1unew ttaf tie territories would be set
SIod 81 small turner's from the free
oontpa a modifled bill was passed In
Buchanan's admlnistratio but II was
votoed ~ him. After the breaking out
- - rnP n waa y,aaaod and Mr..
0rOw had the pleasure 40 speaker Of
agntng III pct measure.
IN the period just before the out
break of the civil war the assault In
~ senate Of Brooks on Charles Sum-
aoe was not unique. Mr.. Grow bad a
passage with Kilt Of South Carolina,
but IN the general fight which ensued
Harksdale Of Mississippi lost his wig.
aphich ludicrous sequel restored the
Grow was I little later challenged to
= duel ~ Branch Of North Carolina, to
whlch Mr.. Grow replied that he re-
ear10d dueling a. at variance with
10 precepts Of the Christian religion
and tho sentiments Of Christian people;
buks be added, my personal rights
and the freedom Of debate guaranteed
bv the constitution / shall defend
whsnsver and wherever they are as
sailed"
In 1904 Mr.. Grow came within one
vote Of being nominated for vice prcsi-
0ont instead Of Andrew Johnson, who
became president after Lincolns as
aannAnnf40n