The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-01-19
1.-THE MAN WHO MANNED MONTANA; FIGHTING
GAREERf0F JAMES ASHLEY, AB0L0TD0M0ST

The man who christened the
Treasure state montana" was Hon
James M. Ashley. He was q distin-
guished member Of congress in the
stirring times of the Civil war, and
devoted his career to the abolition
of slavery. He was the friend Of John
Brown, the early-day abOliti0nist,
and made a trip from Toledo to Har-
per's Ferry in q vain effort to saw
the life of Brown; was the author of
the 18th amendment to the constitu-
ton abolishing slavery and was q
leader in congress of the "black
abolitionist" forces.
After the death of President Abraham
Lincoln he led congress in its fight
against President Andrew johnson and
almost succeeded in bringing about the
impeachment of that executive. He was
appointed governor of Montana by
President Grant, at the instance OF
Senator Sumner, and after serving q
few months, was removed from office
because of q quarrel between the presi-
dent and the senator.
Ashley was born in Pennsylvania in
1922. Early in his life he located in a
part of Virginia that is now included
in West Virginia. There his anti-opin-
ions of slavery soon got him into diff
ficulties. He was ordered to leave the
state, but remained until his connec-
ton with the famous underground
railroad" was proven OF him. The "un-
derground railroad" was made up of a
number of well-intentioned persons who
assisted fugitive slaves who were es-
Gaping into the north. Compelled to
leave the Old Dominion, he located in
Toledo.
There his views on slavery made him
more popular in Ohio. For a time he
had some connection with the Ameri-
can or know nothing" party, but the
newly organized republican party ap-
pealed to him. He attended a conven-
ton at Montpelier, Ohio, where he made
a speech against slavery which attract
ed national attention, and his election
to congress followed shortly after
wards.
In congress he took his place among
the BLACK republicans" as the anti
slavery members of the party were call
ed in those days. The secession crisis
was almost on the country, and Ashley
opposed all attempts to compromise the
differences between the north and
south. Upon the outbreak of the war
he gave his vigorous support to all war
measures and was in many ways In
advance Of his party. He favored the
freeing of slaves, a. a war
measure and his relations with Presi-
dent Lincoln were strained until after
the emancipation proclamation. He
was against General Mcclellan, whom
he looked upon as a show fighter only.
Ashley became chairman of the COM
mittee on territories in 1861. He nam
ed the state of Montana, and here is
interesting bit of history Of how the
Treasure state came neal losing its
name several years before the territory
of Montana was created. In March,
1886, Former Governor Edgerton, wrote
to Colonel Sanders, as follows:
1.-The history of the name, as far as I
know, is as follows: On December %,
1862, Mr.. Ashley introduced a bill to
provide a temporary government for the
territory of Idaho. which was read
twice and referred to the committee on
On Feb. IL, 1863, MI. Ash
ley reported back House Bill No. 626 to
provide a temporary government for
Montana. The bill was ordered printed
and recommitted to the same commit
tee. February IL, next day, Mr.. Ashley
reported back the bill with a recon-
that it do pass. The bill
passed the house and was sent to the