THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5015, 20 April 1877, Page 3

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

(From the Australasian.) Late telegrams leave no doubt of the election of Go eruor Hayes as President of the United States, and his inauguration, wo presume, took place on the 4 th inst. In him the country will possess a chief magistrate of unblemished reputation, and of more than average ability. In the latter respect he is inferior perhaps, to the defeated candidate, but he is immeasurably superior to his predecessor, whom he resembles only in this respect, that lie proved himself to be a brave and skilful soldier 'luring the civil war. Rutherford B. Hayes was born at Delaware, Ohio, on the 4th of October, 1822, so that he is now in his 55 th year. He is of Scotch descent on his father’s, and of Huguenot on his mother’s side. During one of the wars between the English and the Scotch the head of/the family was at work in the fields when i the tide of battle chanced to roll-past them. “Pull your plough and harrow to pieces and fight,” said the old man to his sons. They did so, and the King of Scotland was bo well

pleased with their valor, that he gave them a grant of land, and a coat of arms with a plough and harrow on a battle-field. One of the descendants of this combative Hayes emigrated to America in the 17th century ; and .Rutherford's father married Sophia Birchard, whose ancestors had (led to Kngland after the revocation of the Ddict of Nantes, from whence one of them came across the Atlantic, and settled at Norwich, in Connecticut, in 1(135. They arc very particular about remembering and recording these dates in America, because, being a democratic community, they are exceedingly proud of tracing their lineage to people of gentle blood. Kutherford B. Hayes, having graduated at Kenyon College, Gambler, Ohio, proceeded from thence to Cambridge, Mass., where he received his professional education at the I.aw .School. At both places his geniality of disposition, manliness of character, and robust common sense, combined to make him a general favorite, while ho also distinguished

himself by his sound scholarship, ami a natural

gift for oratory. Hater ou in life the Harvard University paid him the compliment of bestowing on him the degree of L.L.D. He commenced business as a lay wer at Fremont, in his native State, but soon afterwards removed to

Cincinnati, which offered a much wider field for liia abilities. Hero ho soon made his mark as one of the most brilliant yonug men at the bar, which was at that time adorned by men like Chase (afterwards Chief J ustice), Pendleton, Headley, and others. He was so popular as a pleader, and his forensic addresses drew such large audiences to the court-house, that many of his best friends were apprehensive lest his head should be turned by the praises and attention ho received. His miud, however, seems to be well ballasted, and he did not suffer by his rapid rise in public favor. When the war broke out he enlisted as a private soldier in the Northern army, but was soon appointed major of the 23rd Ohio Infantry, by Governor Dennison. For some time he was stationed in West Virginia, where the operations were mostly expeditionary, but when an opportunity did present itself for showing the sort of stuff he was made of, Major Hayes proved himself to be possessed of coolness, skill, and bravery. In the battle of South Mountain, w here his arm was broken by a bullet, he fought at the head of his regiment until, overcome by pain and loss of blood, he was carried fainting from the field. According to the testimony of his brother oliicciv, “ his charge across the slough in the battle of Opegnau was scarcely excelled during the whole of the war as a feat of personal galantry, and the skill and intrepidity with which

, lie handled his division at Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek, stamped him as a man of real military genius.” In fact, ho was looked upon as one of the .finest officers in the volunteer service, not only by his comrades, but by men who had followed a military career from boyhood. He received promotion as brigadier general ; and at the close of the war he was elected to a seat in Congress, where he represented the Second Ohio district, and served on one or two important committees. In 1866 he was again returned, and in the following year hia fellow-citizens elected him Governor of Ohio, a distinction which has been twice conferred on him since. In fact he was the recognised leader of the Republican party in that State, where his personal popularity has always been very great, and this has been reinforced by bis ability and prudence in the management of those who share in his opinions. According to the creditable testimony'of an opposition journal, “a better tactician never led a party in a political contest.” Rutherford Hayes lives mostly upon his farm at Fremont, the management of which he personally superintends, and is said to possess a robust constitution, to be very abstemious in bis habits, and fond of an active out-of-door life. He is fortunate in bis domestic relations, and, if report says true, Mrs. Hayes is a lady who will preside over the hospitalities of the Whits House at Washington with a simple courtesy and a- quiet dignity, which may have a beneficial effect upon female society in that city. He himself is an accomplished scholar, well-read, and possessing a large fund of varied information. He is a good causeur, and can tell a story with point

aucl humor. His hobby is nreineology, and he is said to be better acquainted with the antiquities of Ohio, and with its earlier and later history, than any other person in the State.