Allen G. Thurman. studies in Chillicothe, in the office of his uncle, William Allen, then a Senator of the United States and afterwards Governor of Ohio. These studies were finished under the instruction of Noah H. Swayne, of Columbus, afterwards a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He soon took high rank among the great lawyers and advocates of Ohio: Ewing, Stanbery, Vinton, Corwin, Walker, Leonard, Chase, Swayne and others, and he rapidly acquired a large local and circuit practice. He was indefatigable in the preparation of his cases, both upon the law and the facts, and whether they involved much or little in amount. He was a logical, forcible, accomplished advocate. His professional integrity and honor were above suspicion. In the year 1844 Judge Thurman was married to Mary Dun, a daughter of Walter Dun, of Fayette county, Ky. This happy union was severed by Mrs. Thurman's death in the year 1891. The Judge never recovered from the shock. Judge Thurman, although a staunch Democrat, was elected a member of Congress, in 1844, from a Whig district. The great struggle between freedom and slavery was then beginning. Loyalty to the Federal Constitution precluded Judge Thurman from taking an aggressive position against slavery in the southern States. But as a member of Congress he opposed the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, which restricted the territorial limit of slavery. He also supported the measure known as the "Wilmot Proviso, which prohibited slavery in all the Territories of the United States. At the close of his term he heeded the demands of his large law practice and declined a renomination. In 1851, when he was 38 years of age, his fame as a lawyer was so general and well-established throughout the State, that he was elected a Judge Allen G. Thurman. of the Supreme Court of Ohio. His judicial opin ions are conspicuous for their clear, cogent reasoning and accurate statements of the law. He is universally recognized as one of the ablest, most learned and best Judges in every respect Ohio has ever had. For the excellence of his judicial work, the Bench and Bar will forever hold his memory in grateful esteem. At the expiration of his term as Judge, he declined a renomination, and then became a resident of Columbus, where he resumed the practice of law. He necessarily confined his practice mainly to causes in the Supreme Court. In 1867 Judge Thurman was the candidate of his party for Governor of Ohio. His Republican opponent was General Rutherford B. Hayes. The canvass was close and exciting. Gen. Hayes was elected by a majority of less than 3,000 votes. The General Assembly elected at this election was Democratic in both branches, and elected Judge Thurman to the Senate of the United States, where he took his seat on the 4th of March, 1869. He soon acquired a national reputation. He took the position of leader of his party in the Senate. His senatorial career continued twelve years. It was distinguished for eminent ability, courage, and statesmanship. He was universally recognized as the best equipped member of his party for efficient service in the Senate. He was chairman of the important Committee on the Judiciary. It was in that capacity that he rendered his best service to his country. This service was non-partisan. He introduced into the Senate a bill which was passed, and is known as "The Thurman Act," enforcing the obligations of the Pacific Railroad Companies to the United States. Its passage was the most signal victory Allen G. Thurman. achieved during the last half century in a pitched battle between the people of the United States and those who sought to despoil them. In this contest, Judge Thurman was strongly supported by George F. Edmunds, of Vermont, one of the Republican members of the Committee on the Judiciary. These leaders of their respective parties in the Senate entertained for each other the highest regard, and upon nearly all non-partisan measures co-operated during the twelve years of Judge Thurman's Senatorial service. Indeed, Judge Thurman's ability and character, as well as his bearing in the Senate, commanded the respect and admiration of all his political opponents, as is shown by the following extract from Senator James G. Blaine's "Twenty Years in Congress:" "His rank in the Senate was established from the day he took his seat. He was an admirably disciplined debater, was fair in his methods of statement, logical in his argument, honest in his conclusions. He had no tricks in discussion, no catch phrases to secure attention, but was always direct and manly. He left behind him the respect of all with whom he had been associated during his twelve years of honorable service." Judge Thurman was a member of the so-called Electoral Commission created by Congress, composed of five Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States and ten members of Congress, to hear and decide the matter of the controversy (which seemed at one time to threaten the internal peace of the Republic) that arose from the fact that Gen. Hayes had but one majority of the electoral votes over his opponent, Mr. Tilden, whose supporters asserted that the election was not fairly conducted, and that many votes of Mr. Tilden in Allen G. Thurman. the South had been thrown out by those whose duty it was to count them. After investigating the facts the Commission decided in favor of Gen. Hayes by a vote of 8 to 7. Judge Thurman's vote was one of the 7. Upon retiring from the Senate, President Garfield appointed him, with Senators Evarts and Howe, to represent the United States at the international monetary conference in Paris. The great esteem in which Judge Thurman was held by his party and the country is shown by the fact that in each of the national conventions of the Democratic party, held in the years 1880 and 1884, he received many votes as candidate for President. In the year 1888 he was nominated for the VicePresidency, but his party was defeated and he failed of an election. This nomination was not desired by him, and was only accepted because he believed it to be a duty which he owed his party, who had so often and highly honored him. The underlying and fundamental article in Judge Thurman's political creed and statesmanship was, that the sole and only legitimate end of government is to protect the citizens in the enjoyment of life, liberty and property, and that when the government assumes other functions, it is usurpation and oppression. The application of this principle led him to oppose some measures which a majority of his countrymen deemed essential to "the general welfare." Judge Thurman's last appearance as a lawyer in the courts of the country was as one of the counsel for the state in what is known as the Franklin County Tally Sheet Forgery Prosecution. Many weeks were occupied in the trial. The defendants were charged with altering tally-sheets so as to de Allen G. Thurman. fraud certain candidates out of offices to which they had been elected. The accused were members of Judge Thurman's political party, but his anxiety to preserve the purity of elections was so intense that he did not hesitate to enter upon this prosecution and conduct it with great vigor. For many weeks, although suffering physical pain, he was in daily attendance upon the court. His argument was one of great power and replete with the noblest sentiments of patriotism. Judge Thurman endeared himself to his fellowcitizens by his many admirable qualities as a private citizen. If his public life was pure, brilliant and useful to the Republic, his private life was not less pure, attractive and useful. He carried his integrity and honesty in private affairs into public life, where they were so stalwart and pronounced that their active manifestations excited animosities among those whose schemes of spoliation he aided to defeat. In the sphere of politics he deemed acquiescence in corruption as bad, if not worse even, than corruption itself. He was kind and generous. He never declined to extend a helping hand to the deserving who sought his advice or assistance. These personal qualities, and his striking personalty and great force and integrity of character, contributed as much as his powerful intellect, profound learning and public services, to his eminent national, state, and local reputations. Respectfully submitted, R. A. HARRISON, |