Speech of Hon. George W. Julian, of Indiana, on the Slavery Question, Delivered in the House of Representatives, May 14, 1850
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George Washington Julian was an American politician, lawyer and abolitionist leader. He was the surveyor general of the New Mexico territory, who supported women's suffrage, temperance, and land reform.
Background
George was born on May 5, 1817 in a log cabin a mile and a half south of Centerville, Wayne County, Indiana, United States. He was the son of Isaac and Rebecca (Hoover) Julian. His father, descended from Rene St. Julien, a Huguenot who came to America about the end of the seventeenth century, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and at one time a member of the Indiana legislature. His mother, of German descent, was a Quaker, whose paternal ancestors were also those of Herbert Hoover. Isaac Julian died when George was only six years old, but by hard work and frugality the widowed mother managed to bring up the family of children.
Education
George attended the common schools, at eighteen taught a district school, presently studied law.
Career
In 1840 Julian was admitted to the bar, practising successively in Newcastle, Greenfield, and Centerville. In 1845 he was elected to the state legislature as a Whig, but voted with the Democrats against the repudiation of the Wabash and Erie Canal bonds About the same time he began to write newspaper articles attacking slavery. Defeated in 1847 in an attempt to secure the Whig nomination for state senator, he presently joined the Free-Soil party and the next year attended the Buffalo convention that nominated Van Buren.
His activities as an abolitionist had caused him to be ostracized by many former friends and associates and had even brought about the dissolution of a law partnership with his brother, but the political tide presently turned in his favor and in 1848, having been nominated for Congress by the Free-Soilers, he was elected, with the assistance of many Democratic votes.
As a member of the little group of antislavery men in Congress he vigorously opposed the compromise measures of 1850. Beaten for reelection in that year, he resumed the practice of law but continued his advocacy of abolition both in speeches and in the press. In 1852 he was nominated for the vice-presidency by the Free-Soil party and took an active part in the campaign. Julian's real opportunity came with the rise of the Republican party, of which the Free-Soil party had been a forerunner. In 1856 he participated in the Pittsburgh convention that formally organized the new party, and was chosen one of the vice-presidents and chairman of the committee on organization.
His earnest fight for human freedom brought reward at last when in 1860 he was elected to Congress. Four times reelected, he speedily won a prominent place in legislative deliberations, and among the committees on which he served was the very important committee on the conduct of the war.
Failing of renomination in 1870, he devoted much of his time to recuperating his broken health and to compiling a volume of Speeches on Political Questions, published in 1872. He had come to be out of sympathy with the influences that dominated the Republican party nationally and in Indiana, and joined the Liberal Republican movement, presiding during parts of two days over the Cincinnati convention (1872) that nominated Horace Greeley.
The next year he removed to Irvington, a suburb of Indianapolis, and for some years was occupied with writing and championing reform measures. He supported Tilden in the campaign of 1876, and two million copies of his speech, The Gospel of Reform, were distributed by the Democratic National Committee.
After the election of Cleveland he was appointed surveyor general of New Mexico, a post for which he was particularly fitted. During his administration (July 1885 - September 1889) he brought to light many flagrant frauds in connection with public land grants. In 1889 he published a volume, Later Speeches on Political Questions with Select Controversial Papers, edited by his daughter.
He died at his home in Irvington in the summer of 1899.
Achievements
George Washington Julian served as chairman of the committee on public lands, where he had an important part in the passage of the celebrated Homestead Act. He also proposed an amendment to the Constitution conferring the right of suffrage upon women, a reform he continued to champion to the end of his life.
Besides, Julian contributed notable articles on politics, the public lands, and other subjects to the North American Review and other periodicals. Meanwhile he wrote his Political Recollections 1840-1872 and The Life of Joshua R. Giddings (1892).
Indianapolis Public School Number 57 was named in Julian's honor.
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Politics
Before 1848 he was a Whig. Later, he joined Free Soil (1848–1855)m Republican (1855–1872)m Liberal Republican (1872–1873). Finally, he became Democratic (1873–1899).
He early began to urge the emancipation of slaves as a war measure, advancing the argument of John Quincy Adams, that such a step would be within the war powers of the president and Congress.
Though he thought Lincoln too slow in some respects and opposed his reconstruction plan, Julian refused to join in the attempt in 1864 to nominate Chase in Lincoln's stead. Julian favored punishing Confederate leaders and confiscating their lands and early advocated the granting of the suffrage to the freedmen. He stood, therefore, with the Radicals in their battles with President Johnson, and in 1867 was one of the committee of seven appointed by the House to prepare the articles of impeachment against the President.
Personality
Julian was characterized as an "impatient, " "arrogant, " and "self-righteous" reformer who was hardworking and remained steadfast in his beliefs.
Quotes from others about the person
An obituary published at the time of Julian's death described the radical politician as a "doctrinaire rather than a statesman" and remembered him as an "eloquent speaker, " a "forceful writer", and a "powerful champion" of the causes he favored.
Connections
Julian was twice married. His first wife was Anne Elizabeth Finch of Centerville, who died in November 1860, a few days after his election to Congress. His second wife, whom he married December 31, 1863, was Laura Giddings, daughter of Joshua R. Giddings. She died in 1884.
