CHAPTER X.

SCHUYLER COLFAX.

General William Colfax, Washington's Friend-Mr. Colfax his Grandson-Mr. Colfax's Birth and Boyhood-Removes to Indiana-Becomes Deputy County Auditor-Begins to Deal with Politics-Becomes an Editor-The Period of Maximum Debt-Mr. Colfax's First Year-He is Burnt Out-His Subsequent Success as an Editor-His Political Career as a Whig-Joins the Republican Party-Popularity in his own District-The Nebraska Bill-Mr. Colfax goes into Congress-The Famous Contest for Speakership-Mr. Colfax Saves his Party from Defeat-Banks Chosen Speaker-Mr. Colfax's Great Speech on the Bogus Laws of Kansas-The Ball and Chain for Free Speech-Mr. Colfax Shows the Ball, and A. H. Stephens Holds it for him-Mr. Colfax Renominated Unanimously-His Remarkable Success in his own District-Useful Labors in Post Office Committee-Early for Lincoln for President-Mr. Colfax urged for Post Master General-His Usefulness as Speaker-The Qualifications for that Post-Mr. Colfax's Public Virtues.

GENERAL WILLIAM COLFAX, the grandfather of Hon. Schuyler Colfax, was a citizen of New Jersey, and was the commanding officer of Gen. Washington's life guards throughout the Revolutionary War. His holding that very confidential and responsible post is sufficient evidence of his steadiness, sense, courage and discretion. It is a further testimonial to the same effect, that Gen. Colfax latterly became one of the most intimate personal friends of the great revolutionary chieftain. Gen. Colfax's wife was Hester Schuyler, a cousin of Gen. Philip Schuyler.

General Colfax's son, Schuyler Colfax, the father of the Speaker, was an officer of one of the New York city banks, and died four months before his son was born.

Schuyler Colfax was born in New York city, March 23, 1823, and was the only son of his widowed mother. He was taught in the common schools of the city -finished his education at the high school then standing in Crosby St., and at ten years had received all the school training he ever had. He now became a clerk in a store, and after three years removed to Indiana with his mother and her second husband, a Mr. Matthews. They settled in St. Joseph County. Here the youth for four years again served as clerk in the village of New Carlisle. When 17 years old he was appointed deputy county auditor, and for the better fulfilment of his official duties, he now removed to the county town, South Bend, where he has lived ever ⚫ since.

Like almost every western citizen of any activity of body and mind, young Colfax took practical hold of political matters about as soon as he could vote. He talked and thought, and began to print his views from time to time in the local newspaper of the place. His peculiar faculty of dealing fairly and at the same time pleasantly, with men of all sorts, his natural sobriety and sensibleness of opinion, and his power of stating things plainly and correctly, made him what may be called a natural newspaper man. He was em

ployed during several sessions to report the proceedings of the State Senate for the Indianapolis Journal, and in this position made many friends, and gained a good reputation for political information and ability as a writer.

In 1845, he became proprietor and editor of the "St. Joseph Valley Register," the local paper of his