History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 82

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
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USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 82

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James C. Snodgrass.

John H. Hoopes.

Cook.

A. S. T. Mountain. John H. Hopkins. Joseph H. Kuhns.

May T.,

Motion. Regular.

Report.

James A. Hunter. Judge Kelly. John D. MoUlarren.

Jobn Latta

1869, Petition.

Btok es. Foster.

William Snowden. John Armstrong John J. Henderibn.

Feb. T., 1825 44 M

Regular.

Alexander.

John I. Case. Andrew M. Fulton.

Regular.

Hugh Gallagher. Richard Bard.

Ang. T.,

Regular.

Report.

W. R. Boyer.

May 1861

Wm. Postleth waite. John Glenn.

Feb. T. 1827 | Motion.

Alexander.

W. M. Given.

R. B. Patterson,

Motion.

Toster.

May

Indiana Co.

White.

Albert Daun.

Nov. T.,

Certificate.

Nov. T

Regular.

Report.

Tob. T., 1868

Armstrong.

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Motion.

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MAY

4 Regular.

Report.

Nov.

44 Regular.

Report.

MAY T

4 Armstrong Co.

Motion.

Ang. I.,

Regular.

Wm. F. Johnston. H. D. Foster

Aug.

MAY T., 1890 Motion.

Findlay.

Motion.

Ang. T.

Nov. T.

Regular.

Report. Kuhne.

John A. Marchand. J. J. Haslett.

Regular.

Givea. Kuhne, Joseph.

J. M. Brown.

Nov. T., Ohio.

Motion.

W. G. L. Totten. W. M. Moffett.

Regular.

Kubus, Joseph. Motion.

Hon. W. H. Lowrie. A. Wiedman.

Ang. T.,

Foster.

Augustus Drum. J. Armstrong, Jr.

Tob. T., 1840 .

Teb. T., 1866'Pittsburgh.

Kuhos, Joseph,

MAY T.

Feb. T., 1842 Motion.

Wm. D. Moore

Aug. T., 44

Kuhne, Joseph. Report. 4

James Armstrong H. P. LAird.

May

Motion.

Nov. T., S Regular.

Nov. T.,

Motion.

May T., 1843 Motion.

Marchand, A. G. Report. Beaver. 3

George E. Wallace. Thomas P. Dick.

Feb. T., 1867 Philadelphia. Nov. T. - !Regular.

May

Marchand, H. C.

Nov. T., May T., 1844 3

Burrell. Report. Foster, H. D. Marchand, A. G. Beaver.

Dan'l Mclaughlin. Nov. T., 44

John W. Rohrer. D. 8. Atkinson. T. J. Weddell.

Regular.

Turney.

Aug. T.,

Regular.

Nov. T.,

Motion. Regular.

Wm. T. Haines. D. F. Tyranny. G. W. Minor.

E Cambria

44 Fayette

Foster.

Regular.

Report.

Silas A. Kline.

Regular.

Logan,

John 8. Brady. Sept. T.

¡Regular.

Coulter.

John Y. Barclay. Thomas Blair.

Nov. T 3 Ad. Bedford Co.

Nov. T.,

Motion.

Cowan. Report. Barrell.

Regular. :

Report. 3

John E. Fleming. Thos. G. Taylor.

1868 Motion.

Foster. Report.

Richard Biddle. James 8. Craft.

May T. , 1824 Motion. 3

Alexander.

Nov. Philadelphia.

James Findlay. Aug. T. 4

Armstrong, Geo. Foster, A. W.

- Logan.

T., 1860 Regular.

NOT. 4 Allegheny Co.

Motion.

Michael Gallagher.

May T., $ 3

Motion.

Barclay. Coulter.

M. A. Canders.

Nov. T. E Armstrong Oo.

Motion.

Jacob Beaumont. Nov.

1826 Regular.

Report.

W. H. Stewart. Fob. T., 1868

Motion. Turney. Armstrong. Laird.

Thomas Struthers. R. B. McCabe. Daniel C. Morris. Jobn H. Wells. Thomas Williams. Alfred Patterson. James Nichols. George Sbaw.

1829|Regular.

Report.

Michael Server. B. G. Childs.

Hunter. Stewart.

B. H. Lucas.

W. C. Moorland.

T. R. Dulley.

May T., 1864

1831 Motion.

1892

Barclay.

Tob. T., 1839 Regular.

Report.

Nov. T., 4 Motion.

May T., 1894

1835

3 Regular.

Report.

Cyrus P. Long. Frank Cowan. 8. P. Fulton. Samuel Palmer. H. H. McCormick.

3 Motion. Regular.

Hazlett.

J. T. Woods. Casper Harrold. Edgar Cowan.

Regular.

James R. McA fee. Alex. J. Walker.

Henry U. Brumer. J. Trainor King. George R. Cochran. J. B. Sampson. John Blair.

Pittsburgh.

Todd. Hunter. Foster.

Ang. T.,

Motion.

Wm. M. Black burn. John Y. Woods. Silas McCormick. John F. Wentling. George D. Budd.

3 Philadelphia. Cumbria Co.

Hunter. Foster.

Teb. T., 1869 Motion.

Armstrong, J., dr.

3 Regular.

Motion.

David T. Harvey. G. D. Albert. Samuel Singleton. W. D. Todd.

Logan, Given. Cowan.

May T., 4 Motion. 44

44 1870| Allegheny Co.

Stewar Hunter

Wm. J. Williams. Thos. Donnelly. Jobn Potter. Thos. J. Keenan.

Feb. T., 1845 44 Motion. 3

May T., Aug. T., 44

Foster. 3

John Creswell. C. 8. Eyster. Andrew Roos. Daniel Wyandt. Amos Steck. Alex. L. Hamilton. Alex. H. Miller. J. Sewell Stewart. John C. Gilchrist. Wilson Riley. J. N. Nesbit.

Regular.

Hunter. Haslett. Armstrong, J., 8r. Turney.

Regular.

Motion.

Kubns. Barclay.

May T., 1865 4 |Motion.

Hunter.

Marchand, H. O. Report.

1836

44 Regular.

Joseph J. Young. William P. Wells. Thomas L. Shields. A. G. Marchand. John F. Beaver. A. W. Foster, Jr. John H. Deford. William B. Conway. J. M. Barrell.

Aug. "T.

44 Regular.

Report.

J. H. Hampton. Jobn V. Painter .. James A. Logan. James A. Blair. J. H. Calhoun. E. J. Keenan.

Motion. -

Teb. T. 1828

Allegheny Co.

Coulter. Alexander.

Aug. T., I 1868 Motion.

Thomas Fenlon.

3 Regular.

Armstrong, J.,' Br. Motion.

Barclay.

Indiana Oo.

A. Brackenridge. John Bouvier.

1819 Allegheny Co.

May_T.,

Tob. T., 1820 Armstrong Oo.

Alexander. Report.

H. M. Campbell.

Allegheny Co.

Nov. I. May T. 1848 Certificate.

Regular.

Marchand, A. G. Report.

Samuel Alexander.

May T., 1816

Edward J. Roberts. Nov. T.

4 Allegheny Co.

Armstrong, Geo. Alexander.

1852 -

May T. 4 Allegheny Co. Aug. T. Regular.

Aug. T T.

1 Motion.

Alexander.

Nov.

Motiea. Latte

Allegheny Co.

M. D. Magehan. Robert Burk.

Cowan. Report.

Francis Flanagen. Bernard Connyn. J. M. Carpenter. Edward Scull: Alex. McKinny. Thos. J. Barclay. James Donnelly. Jobn Kerr.

Foster.

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THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

Armstrong, Geo. Reed.

T., 1868 44

Report

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John Y. Woods.

John N. Boucher.

John T. Wentling.

J. B. Head.

D. 8. Atkinson ..

J. Thornton Marchand.

Bilas McCormick.

Lucien W. Doty.

Bilas A. Kline.

P. H. Gaither.

HON. JOHN YOUNG, OTHERWISE HON. JOHN YOUNG FORRESTER .- Elsewhere in this chapter may be found an extended biographical sketch of the Hon. John Young, in which his birth and early life in Scotland and his career in America, especially upon the bench, are narrated. His scholarly accomplish- ments and other matters of interest concerning him are there also dwelt upon. This gentleman became the hereditary Laird of Forrester, entitling him to the entailed estate of Easter Culmore, in the county of Stirling, Scotland, and, according to laws and customs of that land, used thereafter, in his correspondence and dealings with his relatives and citizens of his native country, the adnomen "Forrester," as re- quired.

Judge Young was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, July 12, 1762, and came to America in 1779, and on arrival in Philadelphia entered as a student the law-office of Mr. Duponceau, and afterwards that of Judge Wilson, a man of eminence in his day. 'Being admitted to practice in that city, Judge Young

eventually settled as a lawyer in Westmoreland County in 1789. In 1794 he married Miss Maria Barclay. By her he had eight children :

First. Hetty Barclay, intermarried with Edward N. Clopper, Esq., and who became the mother of six children : 1. Mary Young, wife of R. W. Burgess, of Washington, D. C .; 2. Elizabeth Forrester, married to William M. Stewart, Esq., now of Philadelphia; 8. Edward D. (deceased) ; 4. Margaret Jane : 5. Col. John Young Clopper, now of Colorado; 6. Frank Young Clopper, Esq., of Greensburg.

Second. Frank B. Young, who, after being liberally educated in this country, was sent to Scotland to com- plete his studies, became a physician and a man of much eminence in literature, and was an intimate friend of Sir Walter Scott He died in Scotland, un- married.

Third. Ellen M. Young, who married Ephraim Douglass, of Uniontown, Fayette Oo.

Fourth. John Young, who was educated at Annap- olis, Md., became a midshipman, and was sent abroad to various naval stations. After his father's death, he, being the oldest living son, inherited the titles and estates of his father in Scotland, and became Laird of Forrester. He died in Greensburg in 1846, un- married.

Fifth. Statira Young, who lived and died in Greens- burg, unmarried.

Sixth. Joseph Jameson Young, a lawyer, who set- tled in Indiana. After the death of his brother John, he went to Scotland and took possession of the estate above referred to, returned, and died in Indiana.

Seventh. Elizabeth Forrester, who married James F. Woods, Esq., of Greensburg, Pa.

Eighth. A daughter, died in infancy.

About 1811 Mrs. Judge Young died, and the judge, remaining a widower for a year or so, took to wife the cousin of his deceased lady, Miss Statira Barclay, by whom he had two children,-Mary Jane, who be- came the wife of the late Hon. Henry Donnell Foster, at one time the foremost lawyer in the State; and Stephen Barclay Young, still living in Deer Creek, Allegheny Co.

Judge Young was appointed president judge of the district over which he had judicial charge for thirty- one years in 1806, resigned his judgeship in 1837, and died Oct. 6, 1840, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He was a gentleman of remarkable intellectual acquirements and moral characteristics. He was well versed in many languages, speaking some seven dif- ferent tongues readily, one of which he acquired after he retired from the bench, he having been a man of very studious habits all his life. Of him are existing many pleasing legends, going to demonstrate his pos- session of the attributes of an unusually lofty and. tender character. It is authentically stated of him that he was one of the most merciful of landlords. In seasons of short crops or of distress among his

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Attorneys in active practice Jan. 1, 1882. From the judges' list : JAMES A. HUNTER, President Judge.

H. P. Laird,

W. H. Klingensmith. .

John Armstrong.

John D. Gn1.

Edgar Cowan.

Welty Mccullough.

W. H. Markle.

J. J. Johnston.

H. B. Kuhne.

G. D. Albert.

Jacob Turney.

A. D. McConnell.

John Latta.

W. H. Young.

M. A. Canders.

V. E. Williams.

W. M. Given.

John M. Peoples.

J. J. Hazlett.

H. Walkinebaw.

John A. Marchand.

J. W. Taylor.

Frank Cowan.

A. M. Sloan.

J. R. McAfee.

Alexander Eicher.

James 8. Moorhead.

Attorney making Motion.

Frederick 8. Rock.

May T., 1870 Regular.

A tk i Deca.

James 8. Moorbead.

Stewart.

James F. Gildes.

Nov. T.,

Marchand, H. O.

W.H.Klingensmith.

Foster.

John D. Gill.

Aug. T., 1871

Armstrong.

M. H. Todd.

Feb. T., 1872 Motion.

Marchand, H. C.

Samuel Lyon.

:Indiana Co.

.Moorhead.

James G. Francis.

Regular.

Armstrong.

- Hathaway.

Armstrong Co.

Turney.

D. Porter.

Ang. T.,

Motion.

Latta.

Joseph J. Johnston. Feb.

T., 1873 Regular.

Turvey.

John H. McCullogh. May

Clarke.

George Shiras.

Teb. T., 1874 Pittsburgh.

Motion.

H. W. Walkinshaw.

1877 Motion.

Marchand, H. O.

A. D. McConnell.

May

Regular.

CowaD.

W. H. Young.

Aug. T.

Laird.

V. K. Williams.

1878

Report.

John M. Peoples.

Alex. M. Sloun.

Nov. T., 1879

Alex. Eicher.

May T., 1880

J. T. Marchand.

Aug. T,

John B. Head.

Motion.

Lucien W. Doty.

May T., 1881, Report.

Wontling.

Irwin W. Tarr.

Fulton.

Welty Mccullough, May T,

Day or Term wbed Admitted.

Remarks.

Attorneys.

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

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Judge J. M. Burrell

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THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

numerous tenantry he was in the habit of sending to them, and frequently himself took to them, supplies of provisions, which he freely gave them. His benev- olences were a part of his current every-day life, and too much could not easily be said in his praise as a private citizen.

JUDGE JEREMIAH MURKY BURRELL.

In the preceding part of this chapter devoted to "The Bench and the Bar" is told at considerable length the story of the life of the late Jeremiah Murry Burrell, his career at the bar, as a politician, as an editor, in the Legislature, and upon the bench. Somewhat of his characteristics as a private gentleman are there also noted. This sketch is therefore brief, and made as little repetitious of the biographical notes referred to as it could well be, and is designed mainly to sup- plement them, especially in its latter paragraphs.

Jeremiah M. Burrell was born in Murrysville, Westmoreland Co., Pa., Sept. 1, 1815. He was the son of Dr. Benjamin Burrell, who came from an east- ern county and settled in Murrysville in the practice of his profession, and in 1814 married Sarah Murry, daughter of Jeremiah Murry, Esq., a merchant and large landholder. Jeremiah was the only child of this marriage, and after receiving such elementary education as the village school afforded, entered a classical school taught by a Rev. Mr. Gill about three miles from his native village, and in which he studied Latin and the mathematics and prepared for enter- ing college. After a full course of collegiate training at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Washington Co., Pa., he graduated with honor. His father having died, and young Burrell having decided to enter into the legal profession, his mother removed to Greens- burg, where he entered the office of Richard Coulter, afterwards a judge of the Supreme Court of the State, and after the due course of reading was admitted to the bar, and rapidly made progress into a good prac- tice, which became a large one. He possessed splen- did powers of oratory, which impressed his audiences in the very beginning of his career. While studying law he had stumped the county as a Democratic poli- tician, commanding great admiration, and making countless profitable acquaintanceships, which served him when he entered upon professional practice. He conducted the practice of the law with assiduity, faithfulness, and constantly increasing success for some years, meanwhile paying attention to politics, and at about thirty years of age was elected to the State Leg- islature, and continued therein, serving three succes- sive terms, the last the sessions of 1847-48.

In 1847 he was appointed judge of the Tenth Judi- cial District of Pennsylvania, and in February, 1852, took his seat as judge of the same court under elec- tion (as elsewhere stated in detail), and held the post till 1855, when he was appointed by President Pierce judge of the Territorial District of Kansas. Leaving his family in Greensburg, he went to Kansas and en-

tered upon his professional duties in a time of great excitement over the slavery question. Judge Burrell entertained what was known as Douglas' "Squatter Sovereignty" policy in regard to that Territory, and which involved the proposition of the right of citi- zens of any State to take with them into the Territo- ries south of the Missouri Compromise line, without interference or opposition by others, whatever was regarded as property in their own State. If this policy was a mistaken one, it must be remembered that it was entertained by many able statesmen of the times, which were those of great political distress in the land, when no man was found wise and prophetic enough to foresee what one of the several conflicting propositions or policies of that day would prove the best or most expedient for the country, or be, all things considered, actually the most just. Judge Burrell's instincts and education inclined him to refined con- sideration for the rights of all men, and nothing but a supreme reverence for the Constitution of his coun- try could have allured him to lose sight for the mo- ment of the great question of positive and equal justice to and among all races of men.

Suffering from malarial fever in Kansas, Judge Burrell returned to Greensburg in 1856, and after a sickness of some months' duration, died at his home, surrounded by his family, on the 21st day of October of that year.

He married Miss Ann Elizabeth Richardson, daugh- ter of William H. and Henrietta D. Hubley Rich- ardson, of Greensburg. Of this union were six chil- dren,-Sarah Murry, intermarried with O. J. Greer, now residing in Bradford, Pa .; William Richardson, deceased ; Henrietta Hubley, wife of George F. Huff; Benjamin, residing in Bradford; Mary Richardson, married to J. M. West, Esq., of Bradford, Pa .; and Jeremiah Murry, now a banker in Sanborn, Dakota Territory.

JUDGE JAMES ALEXANDER HUNTER, president judge of the Tenth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, is the son of Scotch-Irish parents, and was born in Lancaster County, Pa., April 18, 1885. Judge Hunter comes of a long-lived race, some of his ancestors in both his paternal and maternal lines having lived to be over one hundred years old. His father, James K. Hunter, a native of Londonderry, Ireland, died in Greensburg in 1879, aged ninety years, and his mother, whose maiden name was Eliza Stewart, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, is still living at the age of eighty- three. His parents were married in Lancaster County in 1832, and removed from Eastern Pennsylvania to Westmoreland County in 1841.

Judge Hunter received thorough common-school instruction, and by his own personal efforts provided himself with the means of obtaining an academic education. He taught common and select schools, and when he gave up teaching 'held a " professional certificate" from the county superintendent.

He read law with Judge James Todd, of the Greens-

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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

burg bar, formerly of Philadelphia, and who was attorney-general under Governor Ritner, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1858, and opened an office for the practice of his profession in Greensburg. He soon after took into partnership Col. J. W. Greenawait, who was mortally wounded at the battle of the Wilderness while in command of the One Hundred and Fifth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers. After the death of Col. Greenawalt he entered into partnership with Hon. J. R. McAfee, the present Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth, who eventually retired from the firm to enter upon the publication of the Greensburg . Tribune. Whereafter Judge Hunter formed a co- partnership with Jacob Beaumont, Esq., and that gentleman dying in 1870, he took into partnership W. H. Klingensmith, Esq., who is still in active practice, and with him Judge Hunter continued in partnership till he was appointed to fill the vacancy on the bench occasioned by the resignation of Judge Logan, of the Tenth Judicial District, in 1879.

Judge Hunter was appointed the first register in bankruptcy Lade. che United States bankrupt law of 1867 for the Twenty-first District of Pennsylvania, composed of the counties of Westmoreland, Indiana, and Fayette. Being elected to the State Legislature for the session of 1869, he resigned his office as regis- ter, and thereafter declined re-election to the Legis- lature on account of his professional practice, which he conducted till July, 1879, when he was appointed by Governor Hoyt president judge of the district, the judicial chair of which he now occupies under popu- lar election to the place in the fall of the same year. He was the candidate of the Republican party for the office he now fills, and was elected by over a thousand majority over his opponent, the late Archibald A. Stewart, Esq., the Democratic nominee, in a largely Democratic district, and was commissioned president judge Dec. 4, 1879.

Judge Hunter has never been other than Republican in politics, and since he came to the bar has taken an active part in all the important campaigns, and being a considerate gentleman, has ever borne himself fairly, without giving offense to opponents, he holding that abuse never gained friends for any cause. The sense of justice and fairness exhibited by the citizen, lawyer, and politician could not but manifest itself, still more distinctly perhaps, in the judge, command- ing for Judge Hunter in his present official capacity the confidence and esteem of the bar and the public.

Though not of robust physique, Judge Hunter bears certain indices of ability to endure extreme mental labor, and safely undergo close application to what- ever pursuit he might engage in. At this period of his judicial career it might be indelicate to himself, as well as of questionable taste as regards the public, to indulge here in speculative forecasts of the years that still remain of his first term in the judicial office, or the years that may be appended to them; but it is always safe to say of a man of Judge Hunter's cast

of mind and moral nature that he cannot well go back- ward in his career; that steady and certain progress is the path which his essential character compols him to pursue; that not less but even more honors, duly won, lie along his course in life.

EDGAR COWAN, LL.D., ex-United States Senator. -Senator Cowan is on the maternal side of Bootch- Irish extraction, and was born in Sewickley township, Westmoreland County, Sept. 19, 1815.

The immigrant, Hugh Cowan, came to America at an early day and settled in Chester County, Pa., where William Cowan, the grandfather of the senator, was born on Christmas-day, 1749. He was a man of large stature and vigorous intellectual powers, and was a captain in the Revolutionary army. In the family of his grandfather Senator Cowan passed the carly years of his childhood.

Senator Cowan owed nothing to birth or fortune to fit him for his career in after-life, but he had an un- quenchable thirst for knowledge, and from earliest infancy read everything that came in his way. His first book was the Bible, the historical and legendary parts of which he has never neglected or forgotten. Along with this he had the " Vicar of Wakefield," " Robinson Crusoe," " Life of Franklin," "Pilgrim's Progress," " Afflicted Man's Companion," "Baxter's Call," etc. These were all read over and over again till literally worn out. He also went a few months in the year to the country school, learning a little arithmetic, the horizon of the schoolmaster at that day being bounded by the " rule of three." Grammar and geography were unknown. At the age of twelve he was able to borrow books in a circle of four or five miles, and he exhausted all within this area in a short time. "Rollin's Ancient History," with all its marvels, is still held by him in reverence for the de- lights it afforded him. "Good's Book of Nature" was his next flame, and it heated him to such a de- gree that he determined to read medicine.

"Wistar," "Homer," "Meiggs," "Richerand," " Eberle," "Chapman," and others occupied all his spare time as serious studies for some years, but his appetite for all general reading-novela, poetry, his- tory, etc .- greedily devoured the contents of every- thing readable whenever found.

At the age of sixteen he commenced to keep a school in Elizabeth township, Allegheny County, but after six months it being irksome he quit it and re- turned back to Westmoreland County. For some time he was engaged in rough carpenter-work, after which he took to the river, building boats and mining coal down the Ohio. About the same time he ran a keel-boat from various places along the Youghio- gheny River which were accessible down to Pitts- burgh, carrying country produce and bringing back returns in money or merchandise. Having earned a little money in this way he entered the Greensburg Academy, and there learned the rudiments of Latin. Shortly after this he went back to school-teaching,

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Dans A. Hunles

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Edgar Cowan

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THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

first in Rostraver township, and then in West New- ton. Early in the fall of 1888 he went to Franklin College, Ohio, and graduated in the fall of 1839, de- livering the,.valedictory. In 1871 his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. In De- cember of that year, having concluded to study law, he entered himself in the office of Hon. Henry D. Foster as a candidate for admission to the bar. The law not requiring him to read the first year in the office, he spent that year in West Newton and taught school most of the time. The year 1840 was cele- brated for the political campaign in which William Henry Harrison was elected President. Mr. Cowan conceiving that President Van Buren's administration was corrupt, joined the Whigs, and was somewhat conspicuous, along with the Hon. Joseph Lawrence, of Washington County, Hon. James Veech, of Fayette County, and the Hons. Thomas Williams and Moses Hampton and Dr. William Elder, of Allegheny County, as a speaker in that campaign. The second year, 1841, he read closely in the office of Mr. Foster, and at February term, 1842, was admitted to the bar. He was soon successful, and obtained a full and lucra- tive practice, the profits of which in great part he expended in books or anything else he wanted with- out purchasing real estate or in any way attempting to accumulate a fortune. In 1850 he purchased the home where he now resides, on West Pittsburgh Street, and which he has improved and made com- fortable.

In 1856 he took an active part in the campaign for Fremont in preference to Fillmore and Buchanan, the former of whom represented Know-Nothingism, the latter Indifferentism to the extension of slavery into the Territories of the United States. Mr. Cowan, on the contrary, was of the opinion that Congress was the proper authority to determine the character of new States admitted to the Union, as to whether they should or not allow African slavery. He dis- claimed any interference on the part of the free States with slavery as it existed in the slave States, but he contended that those States had themselves decided that negroes were dangerous property ; that in order to protect it the slave must be kept in ignorance, the tongues of free men must be tied, and the press muz- zled: And when the Northern people took into the Territories with themselves only innocent property, the South ought to enter on the same footing.

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History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 82

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: