File:Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana (1876) (14803630433).jpg

Identifier: contributionstohvol6hist1907rich (find matches)
Title: Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana
Year: 1876 (1870s)
Authors: Historical Society of Montana
Subjects: Montana -- History Periodicals
Publisher: Helena, Mont. : Rocky Mountain Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: Montana State Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Montana State Library

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nal life, Mr. Ashley,true to his constitutional radicalism, and heedless, if he wasaware, of the craving for rest in the public mind, broughtforward fresh constitutional amendments, abolishing thevice-presidency, limiting the veto power of the president,and for the reorganization of the supreme court. It waswell understood that there was no chance for affirmativeaction on these at the time. It was said of the charge of theLight Brigade that it was magnificent but it was not war.So we may say of this passion for reform, It was mag-nificent but it was not politics. Instead of conciliatingthe public in the time of his defeat by a dignified silencewhich he could well have afforded, he in effect followed theexample of Socrates after his conviction, and proclaimed byhis acts that not he, but the public, were in the wrong. Itis easy to imagine the feelings varying from amusement todisgust with wliich this persistence in his natural line ofaction was received by his opponents in Toledo. Litt.
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W o %w H mw « H 1^ W -St k00 GOVERNOR ASHLEYS BIOGRAPHY AXD :MI:SSAGES. 191 CHAPTER VI.GOVERNOR OF MONTANA. Soon after the inauguration of President Grant lie sentto the Senate the nomination of Mr. Ashley as Governor ofMontana. Owing to the reaction throughout the countryfollowing the adoption of the constitutional amendments—particularly that forbidding disfranchisement on account ofcolor—the Democrats were very strong in the Senate andparty sentiment acute. Having been very active in bringingabout these amendments, and also in endeavoring to im-peach President Johnson, Mr. Ashleys nomination wasfor some time held up and vigorously resisted to the lastby the Democrats in the Senate. He was, however, at lastconfirmed, and left for Montana soon afterward. The capital of Montana was then at Virginia City, butits removal to Helena was considered certain, and GovernorAshley took up his residence in the latter city. He wasfollowed in September, 1869, by his family who went Westby rai

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