Eli Saulsbury

Background

Saulsbury was born on December 29, 1817 in Kent County, Delaware, United States. He was the brother of Gove and Willard Saulsbury and son of William and Margaret (Smith) Saulsbury

Education

He attended the local schools and in 1839, entered Dickinson College at Carlisle, Pa. , where he pursued a special course. Meanwhile, however, he had been studying law both at home and in the office of his brother Willard at Georgetown, Del.

Career

In 1853 he became a member of the state legislature from his native county. In 1857 he was admitted to the bar and commenced practice at Dover. With Willard he was elected delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Chicago in 1864. In 1871, on the expiration of Willard's term in the United States Senate, and of Gove's as governor, Eli, with Willard's help, defeated Gove and was elected United States senator. In spite of their rivalry for office, the three brothers were in practical accord in their political views, which were those of the northern Democrats generally.

Eli's first important speech in the Senate (Jan. 30, 1872) was in favor of the removal of political disabilities of former Confederates and against the Civil Rights bill. On Apr. 22, 1874, he spoke against recognition of the Louisiana state ("carpet bag") government and in favor of white supremacy.

He opposed the eight-hour law in 1876 and the contract-labor law in 1885. He supported the anti-polygamy bill in 1882 with evident reluctance and sought to make its penal provisions prospective only. He did not vote on the civil service reform bill in 1882 but in 1888 advocated the selection of civil service employees according to their political affiliations. He opposed the bill to restrict Chinese immigration in 1888 on the ground that it would violate existing treaties, and he was the author of a resolution to inquire into conditions in Samoa. He favored an international coinage in 1888 and presented many petitions for legislation prohibiting the liquor traffic, but opposed the Blair Educational Bill in 1884 and the international copyright bill in 1888.

Reelected twice, Saulsbury, as he neared the end of his third term, encountered an opponent in the person of James L. Wolcott, a former student of law in his office. After bitter strife between their followers, the Wolcott faction prevailed in the Kent County caucuses and, by invoking the unit rule in the county convention, nominated a legislative ticket pledged exclusively to their leader, thus eliminating Saulsbury from the contest.

After the expiration of his term, Mar. 3, 1889, Saulsbury returned to his home in Dover, where he died.

Achievements

• He served mainly served in the Delaware General Assembly and as U. S. Senator from Delaware, participated in several committees, rendering his most conspicuous service on the Committee on Privileges and Elections, which passed on the large number of contests from the southern states, the Committee on Engrossed Bills in the 47th Congress through the 50th Congress.

Works

• book

  • Tariff reform: Speech of Hon. Eli Saulsbury, of Delaware, in the Senate of the United States, Thursday, March 22, 1887

Religion

He joined the Methodist Church in 1838.

Connections

He never married.

Father:

William Saulsbury

Mother:

Margaret (Smith) Saulsbury

political opponent:

James L. Wolcott

Brother:

Willard Saulsbury Jr.

Brother:

Gove Saulsbury