USA > Indiana > Biographical and historical sketches of early Indiana > Part 20
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" WASHINGTON, D. C., March 1, 1861.
" MY DEAR SIR-Allow me to introduce to your acquaintance my friend, Thomas Lincoln, of Texas. He visits your capital mainly to dispose of what he regards a great improvement to fire-arms. I recommend him to your favorable consideration as a gentleman of the first respectability, and reliable in every respect. Very truly yours, JESSE D. BRIGHT.
" To His Excellency Jefferson Davis, President of the Confed- eration of States."
Lincoln was arrested on his way to the Confederate capital with the letter of Mr. Bright upon his person. Proceedings were at once commenced against the writer, and atter a short and angry contest, ended in his expulsion from a body in which he had sat for sixteen years and over which he had presided for a quarter of the time. He defended himself as best he could, and when the vote was taken, gathered up his books and pa- pers, and left the Senate never to return. He came back to Indiana, and for some time quietly staid at his home. But
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when the Democracy, in 1862, elected a majority of the Legis- lature, he determined to be a candidate for his unexpired time in the Senate. When the Legislature met he came to Indian- apolis and asked his party friends to vindicate him by sending him back to the body which had disowned him. But "the scepter had departed from Judah," and the boon was refused him. Judge Turpie was elected to the place, and Mr. Bright left Indianapolis, swearing vengeance against those who had brought about his discomfiture. He laid the principal blame of his defeat at the door of Governor Hendricks, and ever after- wards was a personal and political enemy of that gentleman.
In 1860 Mr. Bright organized and led the Breckenridge party in Indiana. He stumped the State for the young Kentuckian and gave the movement all the force and vitality that it had in this State. He made a speech at Franklin, in which he was very bitter on Douglas and his friends. After he had concluded his address and was going to his hotel, he observed an old per- sonal and political friend on the opposite side of the street. He crossed over, and taking the friend by the hand, said : “Why were you not out to hear me speak?" He was answered : " Mr. Bright, I am sorry to see you engaged in such a work. I can give no countenance to your effort to break up the Democratic party." "I am endeavoring to place the Democratic party on a solid basis. A number of old Whigs and free-soilers are in the party, and they must not control it." He was reminded that the organization in Indiana had declared for Douglas, and that the mass of the Democratic voters were for him. "Yes," said he, " the State Convention did instruct for Douglas, but Hendricks and McDonald, Hammond and Dunham consented to these instructions without consulting me."
In June, 1868, he went to Indianapolis on a political mission, and stopped at the Bates House. One afternoon the author re- ceived a note from him, asking his presence at the hotel, and on going there met Mr. Bright, Hon. D. W. Voorhees, James B. Ryan and Robert S. Sproule. The conversation was upon political matters, and during it Mr. Bright asked Mr. Voorhees whom he favored for the Democratic nomination at New York. Mr. Voorhees answered, General Hancock, whereupon Mr. Bright asked Mr. Ryan the same question. Mr. Ryan replied
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that his choice was Mr. Hendricks, and the author, on being asked for his favorite, named the same gentleman. I then said : " Mr. Bright, we have named our choice, now name yours." Drawing his nether lip between his teeth, as if to give empha- sis to what he said, he replied : "Not your man Hendricks. He is the Oily Gammon of the Democratic party. He paid his respects to me in 1863 ; I propose paying mine to him in 1868." Pausing for an instant, he continued : "Salmon P. Chase is the proper man for the Democracy to nominate at New York. He is a Democrat, now that slavery has gone, and there is no reason why Democrats should not support him. If he be nom- inated, he will be elected ; any other man will be defeated." In order that the reader may see how Mr. Bright kept his word, I will recall the fact that his nephew, Richard J. Bright, ser- geant-at-arms of the United States Senate, was a delegate to the New York convention, and that he steadily voted against the nomination of Mr. Hendricks. Had Indiana been solid for Governor Hendricks he would undoubtedly have been the nom- inee instead of Governor Seymour.
In the summer of 1865 Mr. Bright came to Indianapolis, di- rect from Washington. The President, Andrew Johnson, had broken with his party, and there was much controversy among Democrats as to the proper thing to do. A number of Mr. Bright's old friends gathered about him, and one of them asked him what course the Democracy ought to pursue. "Support Johnson," he answered ; " he is right in his fight with Congress and Democrats should hold up his hands. God knows how I hate him, but I will stand by him in this fight. In 1842 I can- vassed a part of the State with Dr. John W. Davis. of Sullivan county. One day while he was speaking a man kept interrupt- ing him by asking him questions. At last Mr. Davis became tired of the interruptions, and, turning to the man, said : . My friend, to save time and trouble, I will say that I am in favor of everything the Democratic party ever did do, or ever will do. Now, gentlemen," continued Mr. Bright, " I will not ask you to indorse Andy Johnson as broadly as Dr. Davis did the Dem- ocratic party, but I will ask you to indorse him when he is in the right." In the same conversation Mr. Bright advised his party friends to do what they could to secure the election of
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Judge Hughes to the United States Senate, as the successor of Governor Lane. Judge Hughes was then a Republican Sen- ator from the county of Monroe, and had been as ultra as the most ultra upon the question of the war. .. You can't elect a Democrat." said Mr. Bright. " and Mr. Hughes is far prefer- able to an old-time Republican. 'Tis true, he has straved from the fold, but we Baptists believe in election and foreordination. Hughes is one of the elect ; he may go astray, but he will not be lost." It will be remembered that shortly afterwards Judge Hughes returned to the Democratic party, and remained in it while he lived.
Mr. Bright left Indiana soon after the Legislature of 1863 re- fused to return him to the United States Senate, and took up his residence in Kentucky. Subsequently he served two terms in the Kentucky Legislature. and at one time was prominently named for United States Senator from that State. He once told the author that he could have gone to the Senate from Ken- tucky had he chosen to make the contest.
Mr. Bright was a good business man, as well as a good poli- tician. He had large interests in the coal mines of West Vir- ginia, out of which he made much money. In 1874 he removed to Baltimore. but he was broken down in health, and on the 20th day of May, 1875, he died in that city, of organic disease of the heart. He was buried there. and all that was mortal of Jesse D. Bright is mouldering to dust near the banks of the " Blue Patapsco."
Most of the men who were cotemporaries of Mr. Bright are dead. At Madison, where he commenced his political life and where he lived so long, he had as devoted followers as any man that ever lived. The Old Guard was not more devoted to Na- poleon than was the Democracy of Jefferson county to Jesse D. Bright. Of his captains, there are but three remaining-John Kirk. John Marsh and Rolla Doolittle. These men love the memory of their dead chieftain, and will tell you for the asking that Jesse D. Bright was a warm friend and a good hater-as true to his friends as the needle to the pole and as inexorable to his enemies as death itself.
JOHN WESLEY DAVIS.
FROM 1829, when he entered public life, until 1859, when he died, Dr. John Wesley Davis, of Carlisle, Sullivan county, was one of the prominent men of Indiana. He was judge of a court, often a legislator, repeatedly a Congressman ; he was a foreign minister and Governor of a Territory, and all these places he filled with credit to himself and to his adopted State.
The author has in his possession a manuscript autobiography of Dr. Davis. It is without date, but, as it speaks of matters which occurred in 1858 it must have been written but a short time before his death. He gives the incidents of his early life with more minuteness than is necessary for a paper like this, but as I do not wish to abridge or alter it, I copy it entire. It was written with his own hand, and is a valuable contribution to the history of the day. It is as follows :
" I was born in the village of New Holland, Lancaster county. Pennsylvania, on the 16th of April, 1799. A portion of my childhood was spent with my maternal grandfather, Jones. When I was about ten years old my father purchased a farm one mile east of Shippensburg, in Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania, and settled upon it. Until I was seventeen years of age most of my time was spent upon my father's farm ; how- ever, during that period I was bound an apprentice to a clock- maker by the name of Hendel M. Carlisle, but my health failed from confinement, and I quit that business and was next sent to learn storekeeping. Being changeful in my disposition. I did not long remain at it, and my father then sent me to a Latin school in Shippensburg. where I continued about a year, and then commenced the study of medicine in Carlisle, under the
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direction of Dr. George D. Foulke. The winter of 1819-20 I spent in attending medical lectures at the University of Mary- land, Baltimore. The intervening summer, between the win- ters of 1820 and 1821, I spent in practicing medicine in the vil- lage of Concord, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. In October, 1820, I married Ann Hoover, of Shippensburg, and shortly afterward returned to Baltimore to attend a second course of lectures. I graduated at the university on the 2d day of April, 1821. After graduating I attempted to practice my profession at Shippensburg, but becoming discouraged with my prospects, I moved, in August, 1821, to Old Town, Allegheny county, Maryland, and there practiced medicine until early in the spring of 1823, when I moved to Carlisle, Indiana, where I arrived in April of that year with just three cents in my pocket. My pro- fessional prospects were anything but flattering for the first few weeks of my residence here, but eventually I obtained my share of the practice.
"In 1826 I thought to better my condition in some respects, and in the spring of that year removed to Terre Haute, where, in August following, myself and two children were taken sick with bilious fever, and, after lingering several weeks, and partially recovering, I returned to Carlisle, and am indebted to the kind- ness of Mr. John Widener, in his care and nursing at his house, for my recovery. I continued the practice of my profession until the summer of 1828, when I was induced to be a candidate for the State Senate against William C. Linton, and was de- feated by a few votes. The district then, as now, was composed of the counties of Vigo, Clay and Sullivan. I went to Indian- apolis at the opening of the Legislature and became a candidate for clerk of the House, and was again unsuccessful, there being four candidates in the field (Mr. Hurst, Mr. Sheets, Mr. Hunt- ington and myself) ; my share of the ballots was only eleven, and Mr. Hurst was elected. My successful competitor for the Senate solicited me to be a candidate for sergeant-at-arms to that body. I consented, and was elected. In the summer of 1829 I ran against Associate Judge John H. Eaton for Judge of the Probate Court, under the new law, and was elected. I served two years, and then (in 1831) was a candidate for the Legislature, and was elected. In 1832 I was re-elected to the
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Legislature without opposition, and at the session which fol- lowed I was elected Speaker over Harbin H. Moore. After my election in 1832, and prior to the meeting of the Legislature, I was appointed by the President one of three commissioners to hold treaties with the Indians, the other commissioners being Governor Jennings and M. Crume, Esq. After discharging our duties as commissioners we all resigned, and I repaired to my legislative duties. In 1833 I became a candidate, with five oth- ers, for Congress, and was defeated by Mr. John Ewing, he re- ceiving two more votes than I. In 1835 I was again a candidate for Congress, and was elected over Mr. Ewing by nearly 1,000 majority. In 1849 I opposed Mr. Ewing again for Congress, and was elected (to the best of my memory) by a majority of 1,297.
"At a special session. held the first Monday in May, 1841, preparatory to a called session of Congress. R. W. Thompson and myself were the candidates, and he was successful, but not by so large a majority as that received by General Harrison the preceding fall. After my defeat for Congress in 1841, I was in- duced to be a candidate for the Legislature, and was successful. When the Legislature met I was again elected Speaker of the House. In 1842 I was again returned to the House of Repre- sentatives, but declined being a candidate for the chair. In 1843 I was again a candidate for Congress, my competitor being the talented George G. Dunn, whom I defeated by a majority of some 800 to 1,000 votes. [Mr. Davis's majority over Mr. Dunn was 962.1
" In 1845 I was again returned to Congress over Rev. Eli P. Farmer by a majority of about 3,oco. [His majority was 2,930.] On the assembling of Congress I was elected Speaker of the House, by a party vote. over the Hon. Samuel P. Vinton, of Ohio.
" In 1847 I was nominated by several Democratic conventions for Congress, but as the conventions were not attended by dele- gates from all the counties in the district, I declined to run.
" In December. 1847, President Polk appointed me Commis- sioner to China. I very soon embarked on my mission in the United States sloop of war Plymouth. I was over four months on my voyage out. and had a most irksome and disagreeable
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journey. Early in the year 1850 I asked leave of my govern- ment to return home, and in the summer of that year started home by what is usually called the overland route, touching at Singapore, Penary, the Island of Ceylon, the Red Sea, Suez, across the desert to Cairo, down the Nile to Atfeh, thence by the Mamonda canal to Alexandria, and thence by the Mediter- ranean to England. I then visited France, returned to Eng- land, and then came home.
" In 1851 I was again returned to the Legislature, and again was elected Speaker of the House. During the session the House took some action which I construed into an implied cen- sure, whereupon I resigned the speakership.
"On the 8th of January, 1852, I was appointed one of the delegates from Indiana to the Democratic national convention that met in Baltimore in June of that year. On the assembling of that body I was chosen its president ; I had several times be- fore been a delegate to Democratic conventions.
" Up to about this time I attended to the duties of my profes- sion at all times when my public engagements permitted.
" In 1853 President Pierce sent me a commission as Governor of Oregon, unsolicited by myself, or by any one else, so far as I know. I declined this appointment at first, but, after an inter- view with the President, I went to Oregon in the autumn of 1853, and remained there about a year, and then resigned and returned home.
" In 1856 I was again elected to the Legislature by the most flattering vote I ever received from the good people of Sullivan county, among whom I have resided for more than thirty-five years.
" In 1858 I was appointed by the Secretary of War a visitor to West Point Military Academy, and while there I was elected president of the board of visitors."
Here Dr. Davis's autobiography ends.
The reader will not forget that Dr. Davis speaks of his resig- nation of the speakership in 1852, on account of what he con- sidered bad treatment. It will be remembered that the session of the Legislature of 1851-2 was the longest and most important one ever held in the State. During that session the whole sys-
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tem of the law was revised so as to make it conform to the new constitution which had just been adopted. Dr. Davis and Hon. William H. English, then just entering upon his legislative career, were candidates before the Democratic caucus for nomi- nation for Speaker, Dr. Davis receiving thirty-one votes and Mr. English twenty-two. Dr. Davis, being the nominee, was elected Speaker by the House on its organization, but early in March he resigned the position, as stated in his autobiography, on account of a disagreement between him and the House.
On Friday, March 5, 1852, both houses adopted a resolution for a temporary adjournment from the 10th of March to the 20th of April, and for the appointment on the part of the Senate of two members, and on the part of the House of four, to remain as a committee of revision during the recess. In the Senate Messrs. Eddy and Hester were elected by a viva voce vote. In the House a difference of opinion existed as to the power to appoint, some contending that the Speaker, under the rule, " He shall have the right to name any members to bear messages to the Senate, and to appoint all committees, subject to additional members to be added on motion," had such power, and others that the election should be by the House. The Speaker was of the former opinion. To settle the matter, however, on motion of Mr. English, the House adopted a resolution directing the Speaker to make the appointment, and he thereupon appointed Messrs. Gibson and English, Democrats, and Messrs. Bryant and Lindsay, Whigs, as such committee.
On Saturday, March 6, Mr. Mudget moved to reconsider the vote by which the House gave the power to appoint the com- mittee to the Speaker. A lengthy and exciting debate ensued, and the motion to reconsider prevailed-yeas 52, nays 21. The question then recurred on the resolution authorizing the Speaker to appoint the committee.
Mr. English moved to amend the resolution by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting "That the House will, the Senate concurring, rescind the resolution for a tempo- rary adjournment."
Mr. Mudget moved to lay the resolution on the table, which was carried.
Mr. Mudget then moved to amend the original resolution by
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striking out all after the enacting clause, and inserting the fol- lowing :
" Resolved, That this House now proceed, by viva voce vote, to elect the joint committee on the revision." Carried-yeas 59, nays 16.
The question then recurred on the adoption of the resolution as amended-yeas 50, nays 27.
The Speaker decided that it took two-thirds to pass the reso- lution, and hence it was lost.
Mr. McDonald appealed from the decision of the chair.
The question being taken whether the decision of the chair should be taken as the judgment of the House, it was decided in the negative-yeas 15, nays 31.
Dr. Davis at once wrote his resignation as Speaker, and call- ing Mr. English to the chair, handed it to him and then de- scended to the floor. Mr. English then laid before the House the following communication :
" HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 6, 1852.
"SIR-You will please lay this, my resignation of the place of Speaker of the House, before the body over which you are temporarily presiding, and oblige yours, respectfully.
" Jxo. W. DAVIS." " To Wm. H. English, Esq."
Dr. Davis remarked, after the resignation had been read, that he should be wanting in every element of self-respect if he had continued for a moment longer to occupy the chair. The rescinding of the resolution authorizing him to appoint the com- mittee was a vote of censure, either for ignorance in the dis- charge of that trust by appointing incompetent or unworthy men, or else for maliciously violating the will and wishes of the House. He had on former occasions presided in this House and in the National Congress, and never before had his char- acter for impartiality been impeached. It was the severest stab ever aimed at him.
Messrs. McDonald and Owen, for themselves and the House. disclaimed all intentions of the kind, renewed their expressions of friendship for the Speaker, and solemnly declared that they
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were governed only by a regard for the best interests of the State, and a desire to protect the rights of the House.
During the day there was much excitement. In the after- noon a caucus of the Democratic members was held, in which Dr. Davis was urged to resume the chair, but which he per- emptorily refused to do. The meeting then nominated Mr. English for Speaker, and Messrs. Owen, Stover and Gibson for the revising committee, and, on Monday, March 8. 1852, these gentlemen were severally elected.
In speaking of Dr. Davis, Oliver H. Smith, in his " Early Indiana Trials and Sketches," says: "Few men in this or any other State have held so many prominent positions, or dis- charged their duties with greater ability." All who knew him bear similar testimony.
A writer in the New Albany Press-supposed to be Colonel Horace Heffren-in sketching the members of the Legislature of 1856-7, thus speaks of Mr. Davis :
" John W. Davis was from Sullivan. Of him I need not write. as all are, or ought to be, familiar with his history. He was an old-time gentleman, and had been in the Legislature, Speaker in Congress, Minister to China, and Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives. He was a man of talent, of a high sense of honor, and very sensitive."
Dr. Davis was a solid rather than a showy man. His imag- ination was small, but his perceptive faculties were large. He thoroughly understood parliamentary law, and was one of the best presiding officers in the country. While his mind was not so active as that of Willard, it moved fast enough for him to readily reach his conclusions. These were seldom wrong. nor were they often questioned.
Throughout Dr. Davis's long career no one ever doubted his honesty. He kept his hands clean. With opportunities for money-making possessed by few, he contented himself with his legitimate earnings, and died a poor man.
Dr. Davis had fine social qualities. While he was at the capital, in attendance upon his public duties, it was his custom often to spend his evenings in the families of his friends. He-
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was fond of music, was a good vocalist, and delighted in the singing of popular songs.
Dr. Davis did not rank high as a public speaker. He had none of the arts of the public orator, but nevertheless he was an entertaining talker. He was a good canvasser, could express himself intelligently and well, and if not an eloquent man, he was a sensible one. He knew how to reach the average voter. 'and how to get his vote.
Physically, Dr. Davis was a fine specimen of manhood. He was six feet two inches high, with a well proportioned body. He had light hair, blue eyes, and a florid complexion. As a presiding officer he ranked with the best, and as a safe and pru- dent legislator he was the equal of any man in the State in his day. He died in Carlisle, August 22, 1859, and was buried in the cemetery there.
GEORGE G. DUNN.
GEORGE G. DUNN, lawyer and statesman, was born in Wash- ington county, Kentucky, in December, 1812. He came to Indiana when a boy, and settled in Monroe county, a county that has given the State several of her most eminent sons. Having acquired sufficient education to enter college, he became a student of the State University at Bloomington, and continued one until after he entered the junior class. While a member of this class he had trouble with the President, Dr. Wylie, which ended in his leaving college. Dr. Wylie said something Mr. Dunn did not relish, and he made a cutting retort. The Doctor then said to him, " Young man, do you see this cane? " shaking one he held in his hand. "Yes, sir," replied the young stu- dent, "but I don't feel it." He at once gathered his books and left the college, never to return as a student. He was then a boy, but was a brave and self-reliant one. He determined to strike out for himself, and at once went to Switzerland county and commenced teaching school. When he had saved one hundred dollars out of his earnings he gave up his school and started back to his old home. On the way he lost his money, and when he reached home he was as poor as when he left. save in the knowledge he had gained of the world.
In 1833, when he was twenty-one years old, Mr. Dunn went to Bedford and taught school awhile, and occupied his spare hours in reading law. In due time he was admitted to the bar, and soon afterward formed a partnership with Colonel Richard W. Thompson, late Secretary of the Navy.
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