Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-09-30

lie office, entered assiduously upon a
Large practice.
Early in 1861. when war was seen
to be imminent, and no one could tell
what pcrils or troubles were ahead,
the people OF Wilmington began de-
vising means for self-protection In
case OF disorder. A militia company
was organized with w. Thatcher as
captain and Mr.. Bayord as first leu
tenant. Sor1e time later 1t virtually
ceased to exist though II was never
formally dlsbanded. During the ex-
citing times which followed an officer
Of the Federal Army demanded ;he
arms OF the company, which Me-. Bay
ard refused to surrender without an
order from the commander of the
militia or the governor, AS the muskets
were the property of the State. The
officer broke open the door of the ar
mory and carried of The muskeJs. ard
the United States government after
wards paid the state OF Delaware for
them. Many years later story was
circulated that Mr.. Bayard was once
captain OF rebel company" The
only foundation for the stcry was a
above.
In June of the same year peace
meeting Of all citizens WAS held a,
Dover and MIR Bayard wac one of the
principal speakers. His remarks. il is
claimed. saved Delaware from an at
tempt 10 secession. Whether this IL
so or not they certainly Gained down
the excitement OF the people which al
that time was so high that hasty OF
unwise measures might easily have
been taken.
Though much in."rested in polttica
matters he had J., AIKEN any promi-
nent part in the until .his election
20 the Senate. When he took his sea-
l. thas body on March 4. 1869, tn,
Democratic restoration hat been be
sun. Both branches of Congress wer.
strongly Republican. Mr.. Bayards
colleague was Willard Salisbury, wht
had sat there all through the war. Tns
other Democratic Senators were hard
| ~ numerous enough TO go around OF
the committees. They were Casserl.
| (Cal); Davis and McCreesy, (Ky)
! Vick@'s and Hamilton (Md.). an,
Stockton On. j.. Mr.. Thurman CO..
tc ok his seat on the same day. as sue
cessor to Ben Wade. Stockton an,
Salisbury were Democratic leader
but the real inspiration lay in tn
friends OF Trumbull and a few othe
liberal Republicans.
Mr.. Bayard was given place at tn
. | 70 Of n ~
private claims and the revision c
laws. He settled easily into Legis
lative duties and soon he became
recognized leader and maintained hi
commanding position in spite OF tn
fact that his party was reinforce
from time TO time by men of the high
est caibre and great attachments
His moderation. urbanity and persons
character won him the esteem OF hi
associates of both parties
When the first ku Klux investigaf
ing committee was appointed an
r North Carolina was the theatre
: i9quisition, Mr.. Bayard represente
: the majority. He also served In II
. searching inquests, made in Soui
Carolina, Florida and Georgia, and l
4 fesolutely fought in a me morable d,
bate the fest Force bill" at the hes
Of the Democratic Senator's. When Il
e second "Force bill" was attempted
e be brought through in 1875, with I
s due accomplishments of the suspel
: sion of the writ of habeas corpus, NJ
a Bayard was assigned 10 the sane pa
4 In the Senate as that given to s.
$ Randall In the House, and the An
: victory OF the Democrats in that gre
?, struggle was due in great measure
a Alr. Bayard's tact and dextrous qua
: ties of leadership
6 One of the best pieces Of work ev
d done by Mr.. Bayard was his eervi
g &c tho commerce and revenue syste
: OF the country as member Of Il