The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-08
GENERAL SHIELDS
A Senator from Three States, ILL
nois, Minnesota and Missouri
ShieIdsViIIe, Mimi, Named After
Him.

In an address on General James
Shields before the St. Patrick Society
of Brooklyn recently, DR.. John G..
Coyle, of Manhattan, spoke as fol-
lows:
Among the natives of Ireland who
settled in America none had a more
illustrious career or more largely par
ticipated in great affairs in our his
tory than General James Shields, who
was born at Altmore, County Tyrone,
Ireland, in 1910. He received fair
education, and when he came to Amer
lea, in 1927, made his way West,
settled in Illinois, taught school and
studied law He was admitted to
practice and became a popular mem
Der of the Democratic party. He was
elected to the legislature of Illinois
in 1885 and served with Abraham Lin
coin, Stephen Douglas, John M. Pal
mer, and other famous men.
"He became State Auditor in 1887
and, while in this Office, was attacked
by Lincoln over an assumed signature
in the columns of the Springfield
Journal, an attack in which Lincoln's
fiancee and her sister joined. Shields
sought the responsible person, and
Lincoln avowing responsibility chal
lenge was issued by Shields. The
men were reconciled on the duelling
ground, when Lincoln disclaimed re
sponsibility for the offensive language
and declared that a woman was the
author.
Shields became Justice of the Su
preme Court of Illinois, position he
resigned to take the appointment Of
Commissioner of the Land Office. II
this Federal Office he helped to cause
thousands of Irish immigrants in the
great eastern cities to settle on the
public lands of the West. While il
this position the Mexican War broke
out and he resigned to become Brig
adier-General of the Illinois Volun
teers.
"At Corro Gordo, April 10, 1847, his
brigade captured heights deemed i'm
pregnable Shields was wounded 81
severely that his superior reported
him as dying. A grape shot passed
completely through Shields lung ant
body. He recovered and mis- mer
believed he had charmed life. The!
followed him with desperation anC
fearlessness. At Contreras, Churu
busco and Chapultepec he won furthe
honors. The painting in the Capitol
in the Senate wing, shows him il
command of the charge at Chapul
tepec.
"He was a popular idol after thu
war and received many honors ant
special gifts of swords from Illinois
and South Carolina. He becamt
United States Senator from Illinois il
1849. His speech on the matter of tn,
admission of California, declaring tina
it must come in without slavery, tina
slavery must perish, that the UniteC
States flag would cross the Pacifi,
Ocean, is at once splendid outpouT
ing of patriotism and prophec.
borne out by history.
Lincoln, who could not secure cleo
ton as Senator himself, threw his SUP
port to Shields opponent when Shield
sought reelection, and Shields wa
defeated. He removed to Minnesoti
and was elected one of it's first Sena
tors upon its admission to the Union
which took place in 1858, less thai
three years after he had retired a
Senator from Illinois.
I'm the Civil War Shields command
ed brigade and afterward division
under Banks, at Winchester, March q
1862. Shields defeated Stonewal
Jackson, the only defeat sustained b,
the great Confederate leader. Pres
dent Lincoln nominated him to b
Major-G but Secretary Stanton
opposed the Presidents wish and pre-
vented confirmation of the appoint
ment.. Shields resigned his commits
sion and resumed the practise of Law
"He was for many years famous a
public man because of his Mexica
and Civil War records and his servic
as Senator from Illinois and Missouri
where he had lived for many years a
United States Senator. He thus b.
came Senator again, and Is the onl
man who has represented three State
in the Senate.