Tilghman A. Howard

        The term "Christian statesman" is so often applied to men who prostitute public office for private gain as almost to become a synonym of hypocrite; but that it may be applied to Tilghman A. Howard in its literal sense, those who read this sketch will see.
        Tilghman Ashurst Howard was born on the Saluda river, near Pickensviile, South Carolina, November 14, 1797. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, and afterward a Baptist preacher; so the son inherited patriotism and religion as a birthright. When a child Tilghman's mother died, and he went into the family of John McElroy his half-brother. Soon afterward this family removed to North Carolina, and settled in the county of Buncombe. Here the subject of this sketch remained until he was nineteen years old, and then he started out in the world for himself. He traveled to East Tennessee, and liking the country, made it his home. He had gone to school in North Carolina altogether about a year, and soon after he settled in Tennessee he commenced to utilize his learning by teaching school. After awhile he quit teaching and became a merchant's clerk, and continued in that vocation until he entered, as a student, the office of Hugh Lawson White, one of the most eminent lawyers and statesmen of that day. When twenty-one years old he passed his examination, and was admitted to the bar. He practiced his profession with success, but having an aptitude and a love for public life, he entered it six years afterward as a Senator from his district. This was when he was twenty-seven years old ; but, young as he was, he took high rank as a debater, and became one of the most influential members of the body in which he sat. He participated in all the leading debates, and his advocacy of, or opposition to, a measure did much to determine its fate. While he was in the Senate of Tennessee he became intimate with General Sam Houston, then Governor of the State. The intimacy was renewed years afterward, when he went as a representative of his country to the republic of Texas, whose executive head was his friend, the old-time Governor of Tennessee. Governor Houston appointed him to a place on his military staff, and in other ways testified his high appreciation of his talents and patriotism.
        In 1828 General Howard was put upon the electoral ticket for his district as the friend of Andrew Jackson. He canvassed the State, and, being elected, cast his vote in the electoral college for his friend, both personal and political, the hero of New Orleans. Two years afterward he left Tennessee and came to Indiana. He settled at Bloomington, and at once opened an office for the practice of his profession. In a short time he formed a partnership with James Whitcomb, afterward Governor of Indiana, and it is questionable if there ever was a stronger legal firm in the State than this. He remained at Bloomington some three years, and removed to Rockville, Parke county, which was his home until he died. He continued his business relation with Mr. Whitcomb until 1836, when he dissolved it and entered into partnership with Judge William P. Bryant. This connection continued three years, when Judge Bryant withdrew from it. His place was taken by Joseph A. Wright, afterward Governor of the State, who continued to be General Howard's partner until the latter's death.
        In 1835 it became necessary for the administration of General Jackson to appoint a commissioner to adjust and settle a number of claims against the government growing out of treaties with the Indians. The place was an important one, requiring capacity and integrity of a very high order, and there being much difference of opinion among General Jackson's cabinet as to the proper man, the matter was referred to the President.
        "Gentlemen," said General Jackson, "I will tell you whom to appoint. Appoint General Howard, of Indiana; he is an honest man. I have known him long." He was selected, and filled the place, as he did all his trusts, honestly and well.
        In 1832 General Howard was appointed District Attorney for Indiana, and held the office for seven years. In August, 1839, he was elected a member of the Twenty-sixth Congress, his district comprising nineteen counties in the western and northern parts of the State. The next year, 1840, he was nominated by the Democracy for Governor. He reluctantly accepted, and made the race. Like the waters of a mighty river, the great popularity of General Harrison, who was a candidate that year for President, carried everything before it. General Howard went down with the tide, being beaten by Samuel Bigger 8,637 votes. How he bore himself under his defeat the following letter, written to a friend, will tell:

"ROCKVILLE, IND., 8th August, 1840.

"DEAR SIR-I have seen enough to convince me that Indiana has gone the entire Whig ticket-Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Congressmen, and a majority in both houses of the Assembly. The close of the canvass found me worn down by fatigue and disease, and only sustained by the tremendous excitement of the occasion. I am still very feeble, and part of my time confined. Repose, however, and proper attention, I trust, will restore me, and leave me to return to my profession, to mend up my private affairs, and to forget as soon as I can what I was and be content with what I am. My kind regards to our friends.

Very truly yours,        T. A. Howard"

        General Howard had made an able canvass, but Hercules could not have withstood the Harrison tornado of that year. It is pleasant to see with what philosophy the General took his defeat, and how easily he adjusted himself to the situation. As bearing upon his nomination for Governor and his canvass for the office, the following letters will be read with interest:

"WASHINGTON CITY, 30th Dec., 1839.

"MY DEAR SIR-Who will be Governor? We shall know after the election. Will not Palmer run? You must have harmony, union, prudence and patriotism-everything for the principles of liberty, equality and sound State policy; 110 private bickering, no heartburnings. My whole soul is with you, and success and wisdom attend all your deliberations. Our committees have been announced, and the new Speaker has given the Democrats the Committees of Ways and Means, Foreign Relations (of which I have the honor to be a member), etc. We had a little Abolition breeze to-day, but it died away, and this evening all is tranquil, cool and peaceable.

Your friend, T. A. HOWARD.

WASHINGTON CITY, May 14, 1840.

"DEAR SIR-I received your letter from New York. Am happy to hear that you will soon be in the Hoosier State. You should encouraged in every way you can the formation of Democratic associations. Let it be done everywhere. You can, for example, write to Fisher, Law, Stuart, etc., etc. ; never writing to any but men of discretion. Palmer ought to do the same. It is better to take this course, because it will bring our people together, and they will, unmolested, talk over their principles and compare their reflections. It is calculated to do good by diffusing political knowledge. Action and concert are necessary, but with these we can carry the State. I will be there the greater part of July.                             Truly yours, T. A. HOWARD."

"WASHINGTON CITY, May 30, 1840.

"DEAR Sir, When I saw you something was said about the general assemblage of the Democracy at Indianapolis, with a view to a public dinner, etc. I have considered the matter. It is not Democratic, and would be to a certain extent, imitating the folly of our antagonists. Freemen ought to meet together to reason on public interests, when they assemble for political effect, and allow me to say to you that the mass of our people will not be any the more zealous by any public demonstration. -They will turn out to hear debate. I shall have as many as I deserve to have to-hear me, and my wish is to have no demonstration, no procession, no flags, no drums, nor any other exhibition unworthy of a free, thinking, orderly community. I shall leave here at the very earliest day, and hurry home, and you may rely on it, I will be at several points yet in Indiana before the election. Allow my suggestion to prevail. Let us be what Democracy should be, too independent to be deceived by shows or led away by them; possessing too much respect for our fellow-men to attempt to mislead them on those great subjects that concern the general happiness. Your friend,

"T. A. HOWARD."

        The Legislature chosen in 1842 having a United States Senator to elect, the canvass of that year was made mainly upon that issue. The Whigs supported Oliver H. Smith, and the Democrats General Howard. No other man was spoken of in connection with the office until after the Legislature met. The two candidates met just before the Legislature convened and had a talk about the senatorship. General Howard said to Mr. Smith that he knew one of them would be elected if the will of the people was carried out; "but," said he, "the vote will be so close that a man or two may be found, who, like Judas, would sell his party for a few pieces of silver. There is nothing certain. "That General Howard was correct events proved. On the first ballot he received 74 votes, Mr. Smith 72 votes, Edward A. Hannegan 3 votes, and Joseph G. Marshall 1 vote. It will be seen that Howard lacked two votes of election. It was said at the time these votes were offered him if he would promise office to the givers, but he scorned the proffer. On the sixth ballot Mr. Hannegan was elected, General Howard having withdrawn from the contest. The following letters from General Howard in reference to the election are not without interest:

"Rockville, IND., 5th Jan., 1843.

MY FRIEND-I have received your two letters and agree with you and others, and have remained at home. "I am very anxious respecting the nomination on one point, and that is the question of harmony. Never was a party in better condition for a contest, and if we 'pull all together,' success is certain. Then I hope there will be union and a hearty cooperation. "Let me hear from you as soon as the nominations and business of the convention are over, and believe me to be most truly your obliged friend,

"T. A. Howard."

"ROCKVILLE, IND., Jan. 16, 1843.

"MY DEAR SIR-I have received your letter, and two or three others, urging me to come to Indianapolis by the last of the present week, under the hope that the United States Senator would about that time be elected.         "Since my return from Indianapolis I have enjoyed poor health, and now it would be very painful to me, owing to the rheumatism with which I am afflicted, to travel there. Other things pressing upon me, connected with my private affairs and professional business, render it next to impossible that I should now leave home.         "I should be happy to be there, but I am satisfied that, so far as results are concerned, they will be the same whether I am present or absent. I have, therefore, concluded to trust my interests entirely to my friends. If any man may do this, I surely may, after the evidences which were afforded me during my four or five weeks' stay at Indianapolis this winter.         "I understand that counter-instructions have been gotten up in Monroe county in favor of a man who will vote for a bank and a high protective tariff. I am not acquainted with the particulars, and have no right to censure or complain. If the people of these counties (Monroe and Brown) are for a United States bank and a high protective tariff, they surely have the right to say so, but I am not the man to aid in carrying out their measures. I would rather remain in the ranks with the real anti-bank party, and aid in still further laboring to prove to the mind of our whole people the impracticability, as well as the inconsistency of such an institution with the fundamental principles of our government, until there shall be no party remaining in its favor, than to aid under any sanction or any circumstances to entail such a corporation upon the country.         "I will thank you to show this letter to Henly, Harris, Majors, Bright, and others of the Legislature who may feel any interest in knowing why I am not there. I shall be happy to hear from you.

"Your friend, "T. A. HOWARD."

The two following letters exhibit General Howard as a father and a Christian:

"WASHINGTON CITY, February 22, 1844.

"MY DEAR Sir-Before I left home, during the sickness of my favorite, who is now in her grave (a dear little daughter eighteen months old) I received your last letter. I started to this city the day after her death, and am now here, where I shall probably remain some time. I am engaged in promoting, as far as I may be able, the interest of our canal. I have written some of the citizens of your place on the subject. I expect to be at home in due time, and, unless my health should fail, visit the several parts of the State. I have not been here long enough to know what is going on; hut I shall be an attentive observer of men and things while I stay, and will likely trouble you with an occasional line.

"I remain, as ever, faithfully yours, "T. A. HOWARD."

"WASHINGTON CITY, March 12, 1844.

"DEAR SIR-I received your letter yesterday. I thank you for your kind and sympathetic expressions respecting my dear little girl whom I buried before I left home. I got a letter from my wife, a few days since, in which she seems perfectly resigned. It is a good thing to have the Christian's hope-it withdraws a veil when sorrow swells the bosom, and shows a vision so bright, so calm, so real, that the soul feels all its sorrows to be nothing compared with this overwhelming consolation.         "One word to you-I may be allowed to surmise and conjecture. Stand erect, conscious of your rights in society and among your friends, and do not let any future event, or thing that man can do, disturb you. Your friend, HOWARD."

        In 1844 the question of the annexation of Texas to the United States greatly agitated the public mind. Mr. Van Buren and Mr. Clay, both candidates for the presidency, wrote letters in which they argued against the policy of annexation. The following letter of General Howard gives his views upon this subject:

"WASHINGTON, April 29, 1844.

" DEAR SIR-You will see Van Buren's and Clay's letters on Texas. I do not agree with either of them, as I regard the acquisition of Texas of great moment to the United States. Mr. V. B.'s letter has given great dissatisfaction to the Southern members here, and there is much confusion and misgiving in the party. A third man is talked of, and Cass often mentioned. I think Democrats should not be too prompt in taking ground against Texas, as it will react, and the country will go for it, or I am mistaken. I will write you again in a few days.

"Yours truly, T. A. HOWARD."

        General Howard was correct. The country did go for Texas, the joint resolution for its annexation being approved by the President on the 2d of March, 1845. All the letters contained in this sketch, except the one which follows, were written to a personal and political friend in Indianapolis, and are now published for the first time. Their chirography is beautiful, their punctuation faultless and their style admirable, as the reader will see. They are an important contribution to the history of that time, and the author congratulates himself on being able to give them to the public.
        In the summer of 1844 General Howard was appointed by President Tyler Charge D'affaires to the Republic of Texas. He left home on the 4th of July, and reached Washington, the capital of Texas, August 1, 1844. In a few days he was taken sick with fever, and, in fifteen days from the time of his arrival, he died. He breathed his last at the house of John Farquher, a few miles from Washington. He was buried in Texas, and for three years his remains rested in that far-off country.
        In the spring of 1844 there was a great revival of religion at Rockville, General Howard's home. A gentleman of the town wrote Hon. Joseph A. Wright, then a member of Congress, asking his opinion of the revival. Mr. Wright showed General Howard the letter, and he at once wrote the inquirer as follows:

        "MY DEAR FRIEND-I saw in your letter to friend Wright this line, 'Is this enthusiasm or is it reality? ' This prompts me to drop you a line. I have asked myself in years past the same question; and I believe that God has answered it to my moral, nature. It is reality. My dear sir, I know of no man who more needs the soothing consolation of religion than you. It would bind up your wounded spirit, and' shall I say how it is to be obtained? I answer, be assured of one thing: God exists. Go to him in the silent hour, when he alone sees and knows your purpose; falter not, but ask him, as the fountain of eternal truth, to solve the question, to open your heart and in oral vision that you may see and feel whether these things be so. Read the words of Christ to Nicodemus, his Sermon on the Mount, his prayer for his disciples while in the garden of Gethsemane, and his whole mission, and continue to read and pray, and you will find pardon, consolation and joy in believing.
        General Howard was a member of the Presbyterian church, but he was not a sectarian. He believed there were many branches of the same vine, many paths leading to the strait gate. He was too great to be a bigot, too good to have no charity.
        General Howard was always dignified in public. He seldom indulged in levity; but notwithstanding this, he had the faculty of drawing all classes of men to him. The sober and the gay, the lettered and the unlettered, alike followed his fortunes.
        Although General Howard never attended an academy or a college, he was a very learned man. He was acquainted with the civil law, with theology, history, politics, geology, mineralogy, botany, philosophy, and the occult sciences. His mind was a vast storehouse of knowledge it being questionable if there was another man in the State of such information as he.
        During the canvass of 1840 a newspaper published at Greencastle sought to make political capital against General Howard by commenting upon his well-known opinions on temperance. When he spoke in that town he read the article and told the editor to get out another edition of his paper and throw it broadcast over the State. "I want every voter to know my opinions on this question," said Howard. "I am willing to stand by them, and, if need be, fall by them."
        On another occasion, when speaking, he read aloud a newspaper article charging him with a disreputable act. When done reading he threw the paper from him and proceeded with his speech. He could afford to thus treat the charge with silent contempt; he stood too high to be affected by it.
        In a debate with a gentleman who evaded the issues and went out after side ones, General Howard told the following story, and applied it to his opponent: "Once," said he, "a representative. from Buncombe county made a speech in the North Carolina Legislature, in which be talked of many things entirely foreign to the matter before the House, and on being called to order by the Speaker, and told to confine himself to the question at issue-replied: 'My speech is not for the Legislature; it is all for Buncombe.' 'All for Buncombe' became a common saying and has remained such to the present day."
        As has already been stated, General Howard died and was buried in Texas. But the people of Indiana were not willing-that his dust should commingle with foreign soil. The Legislature of 1847 passed an act directing the Governor and General Joseph Lane "to have the remains of Tilghman A. Howard removed from their place of burial in Texas, and reinterred at such place in Indiana as his family might desire." The act was approved by his friend and former partner, James Whitcomb, then Governor of the State. The will of the Legislature was. carried out, and the remains of Howard disinterred and brought: to Indiana. They remained awhile at Indianapolis, receiving high honors. From thence they were taken to Greencastle where like honors awaited them. They were then removed to Rockville, his old home, and interred in his orchard. Previous to placing the coffin in the ground, Professor William C. Larabee, afterward Indiana's first Superintendent of Public Instruction, delivered a eulogy upon the dead statesman, replete with beautiful thoughts. It closed as follows:

"Take him and bury him among you. Bury him where the primrose and the violet bloom in vernal beauty, where the rose of summer sheds its fragrance, and where the leaves of autumn fall, to protect the spot from the cheerless blast of the wintry winds. Bury him in that rural bower on the hillside, within sight of his quiet cottage home. Bury him by the side of the pretty child he loved so well-the beauteous little girl, who, years ago, died suddenly, when the father was away from home. Bury him now by her, that child and father may sleep side by side. Ye need erect no costly monument, with labored inscription, over his grave. On a plain stone inscribe the name of Howard, of Indiana's Howard, and it should be enough."