Mason Brayman: Difference between revisions

Brayman was born in [[Buffalo, New York]] on May 23, 1813.<ref name="{{sfn|Eddy 270">Eddy |1865–66|p. =270</ref>}} Raised with a [[Calvinist]] outlook and a hatred of liquor, he was apprenticed to a printer at the age of 17. Five years later he became editor of a local newspaper. In addition to his work with newspapers, he studied law and was [[Admission to practice law|admitted]] to the [[New York State Bar Association|New York Bar]] in 1836.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 111">Limbaugh |1982|p. =111</ref>}}

The year after his admission to the bar, Brayman married his wife, Mary. She was a direct descendant of [[Roger Williams (theologian)|Roger Williams]] and the union produced three daughters. Following his marriage Brayman began a series of westward moves, working as a [[city attorney]] in [[Michigan]] and newspaper editor in [[Ohio]] before settling in [[Springfield, Illinois]], during the early 1840s.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh |1982|p=111"/>}}

In Springfield, Brayman practiced law with [[Jesse B. Thomas, Jr.]], and wrote editorials for the town's newspapers. In addition to spending time with persons such as [[Abraham Lincoln]] and [[Stephen A. Douglas]], he oversaw the American Baptist Publishing Society, was active in the [[temperance movement]], and was a leader of the local [[Baptist]] church.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh |1982|p=111"/>}}

In 1844, Brayman gained statewide prominence by accepting a commission from Governor [[Thomas Ford (politician)|Thomas Ford]] to revise the Illinois legal code.<ref name="{{sfn|Eddy 270"/><ref name|1865–66|p="270}}{{sfn|Limbaugh |1982|p=111"/>}} Two years later he was commissioned as a [[special prosecutor]] to deal with incidents occurring during the [[Illinois Mormon War]].<ref name="{{sfn|Eddy |1865–66|p=270"/>}} In this capacity he devised the agreement which allowed the [[Mormon pioneers|Mormons to leave Illinois]].<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh |1982|p=111"/>}}

In the 1850s, Brayman joined the staff of the [[Illinois Central Railroad]], working to gain rights of way for the expanding railroad. In 1855, he sold his position with the Illinois Central and took a position with the [[Cairo and Fulton Railroad]]. This move proved to be a financial blunder as the new railroad eventually failed, while the Illinois Central prospered. During 1858, Brayman campaigned for Abraham Lincoln's Illinois senate candidacy.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh |1982|p=111"/>}}

With the outbreak of the [[American Civil War]], Brayman joined with other railroad executives and secured a [[Commission (document)|military commission]].<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh |1982|p=111"/>}} Initially serving as a [[Major (United States)|major]] with the [[29th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment]] under [[John Alexander McClernand|General McClernand]], he was promoted to [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] on April 15, 1862 and command of his regiment.<ref name{{sfn|Eddy|1865–66|pp="Eddy 270-1">Eddy p. 270-1</ref>}} Following the [[Battle of Fort Donelson]], Brayman stopped shaving and grew a beard that would eventually reach his belt. He also had his horse shot out from under him twice. At [[Battle of Shiloh|Shiloh]] he became a minor hero, rallying his troops by charging between the Union and Confederate lines. During the [[Siege of Vicksburg]] he suffered a bout of [[heatstroke]] that forced him into garrison duty. By the end of the war he had achieved the rank of [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]] and was serving as head of a claims commission in [[New Orleans]].<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 112">Limbaugh |1982|p. =112</ref>}}

Following the war, Brayman attempted to revive his career with the Cairo and Fulton before returning to work as a newspaper editor in Springfield and [[Quincy, Illinois]]. In 1873, he entered semi-retirement on a farm in [[Ripon, Wisconsin]]. The [[Panic of 1873]] however destroyed most of his wealth and by 1876 he was lobbying for a [[patronage]] appointment.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh |1982|p=112"/>}}

Brayman was nominated by President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] as Governor of the Idaho Territory on July 24, 1876.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 218">Limbaugh |1982|p. =218</ref>}} Being unfamiliar with the territory, the new governor consulted with the territorial delegate, [[Stephen S. Fenn]], to learn what he could of his new appointment. Fenn was a Democratic politician who gained much of his support from the territory's [[Mormon]] population. The delegate was also a rival of the Boise Ring, a clique of influential Anti-Mormon Republican politicians. The delegate used the opportunity to accuse Territorial Secretary and Acting Governor E. J. Curtis of drunkenness, fraud, and misuse of public funds. Fenn's advice, combined with Brayman's natural inclinations, created a distrust of the Ring by the new governor.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 113">Limbaugh |1982|p. =113</ref>}}

Upon his arrival in Idaho, the locals initially considered Brayman to be a somewhat pompous [[wikt:greenhorn|greenhorn]] who was otherwise harmless. The new governor, in turn, acted with caution while learning about the territory. Opinions of the governor changed, however, when the 9th legislative session began in December 1876 and Brayman promoted a number of administrative improvements and economic reforms. At the same time, Brayman observed during the legislative session that there were political factions within the territory opposed to the Boise Ring.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 114">Limbaugh |1982|p. =114</ref>}}

Brayman's first confrontation with the Boise Ring came two days before the inauguration of [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] as [[President of the United States]]. An investigation had convinced the governor that Secretary E. J. Curtis, who Brayman considered to be a leader of the Boise Ring, was guilty of wrongdoing. The governor confronted the secretary and convinced him that he was to be replaced by the new administration and could avoid prosecution by submitting his resignation.<ref name{{sfn|Limbaugh|1982|pp="Limbaugh 115-6">Limbaugh p. 115-6</ref>}} The situation changed two months later when Curtis rescinded his resignation, claiming he had been tricked into giving it, and demanding reinstatement. Curtis was restored to his position and cleared of any wrongdoing.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 116">Limbaugh |1982|p. =116</ref>}}

The outbreak of the [[Nez Perce War]] led to additional problems for the governor. Lacking legal basis for creation of a militia, Brayman was forced to rely upon General [[Oliver O. Howard]]'s response to the hostilities. This caused anger among residents of the northern counties who lacked the means to defend themselves against the hostile tribe.<ref name{{sfn|Limbaugh|1982|pp="Limbaugh 118-9">Limbaugh p. 118-9</ref>}} Additional problems came for the governor following a visit to [[Rocky Bar, Idaho|Rocky Bar]] courthouse in [[Alturas County, Idaho|Alturas County]]. The court faced a large backlog of cases involving mining disputes, and the delays thus caused were affecting the local economy. Brayman suggested involved parties come to out of court settlements as a means of speeding resolution. Chief Justice Madison Hollister, presiding justice and member of the Boise Ring, took this suggestion as a personal affront.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 120">Limbaugh |1982|p. =120</ref>}} The Ring in turn used the incident as an excuse to seek Brayman's [[disbarment]]. Brayman prevailed during the disbarment hearing but was publicly humiliated in the process.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 121">Limbaugh |1982|p. =121</ref>}}

The governor's troubles continued to mount as result of a racially charged murder trial. A dispute arose on June 10, 1877, between a group of Chinese workers and hot-tempered Irish miner John McGuinness. The dispute escalated to violence and McGuinness killed two of the Chinese and wounded a third before the remaining workers stabbed the miner to death. The workers were convicted of [[second degree murder]] by an all white jury. Brayman, believing the Chinese had acted in self-defense, choose to [[pardon]] the convicted workers. The morally courageous proved politically disastrous and the white population reacted angrily to the pardons.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 124">Limbaugh |1982|p. =124</ref>}}

Additional pressure came upon Brayman as result of the May 30, 1878, outbreak of the [[Bannock War]]. The 130 [[carbine]]s held by the territory were insufficient to arm the citizens seeking protection. Demands from the territory's residents for weapons to defend themselves eventually led the governor to seek permission to issue arms from the federal stockpile at [[Fort Boise]].<ref name{{sfn|Limbaugh|1982|pp="Limbaugh 126-7">Limbaugh p. 126-7</ref>}} Complicating the governor's position was the revelation that Brayman had authorized [[Bannock (tribe)|Bannock]] leader Buffalo Horn, a former [[U.S. Army Indian Scouts|army scout]] with a history of aiding the U.S. government, to purchase [[US$]]2 worth of ammunition (roughly 100 bullets and a pound of [[black powder]]<!-- 1877 prices -->) 13 days before outbreak of hostilities.<ref name{{sfn|Limbaugh|1982|pp="Limbaugh 125-6">Limbaugh p. 125-6</ref>}}

On June 9, 1878, word arrived in Idaho that [[John Philo Hoyt]] had been appointed the territory's new governor. Hoyt, who at the time was Governor of [[Arizona Territory]] and as unaware of the action as Brayman, was being removed by President Hayes to make way for [[John C. Frémont]] who had used his political connections to secure an influential appointment. Hoyt was unsure about the situation and was denied [[Senate confirmation]] after failing to respond to questions in a timely manner. Hayes then renominated Hoyt for the position, but Hoyt turned down the nomination after investigating the situation in Idaho.<ref name{{sfn|Limbaugh|1982|pp="Limbaugh 127-9">Limbaugh p. 127-9</ref>}}

The effect of this was that Brayman, while technically suspended, was still the ''de facto'' governor. His political opponents, eager to see him gone, lobbied Hayes to appoint another replacement. Brayman, however still maintained considerable influence outside of the territory and used his connections to petition for reinstatement. Within the territory there were four petitions circulated expressing support for the embattled governor, one by Mormon residents, one in the northern counties, and two by anti-Ring groups. With the conflicting opinions about Brayman, the Hayes administration decided to leave the governor in office till the expiration of his term on July 24, 1880.<ref name{{sfn|Limbaugh|1982|pp="Limbaugh 129-30">Limbaugh p. 129-30</ref>}}

The remainder of his term saw Brayman's influence largely blocked by political infighting with pro-Ring elements. An effort to pass a militia bill during the 10th legislative session passed the [[upper house]] but the governor was unable pressure the [[lower house]] to pass the legislation.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 130">Limbaugh |1982|p. =130</ref>}} Similar results occurred with efforts to bring railroad service to the southern portion of the Territory. The Territory's unwillingness to pass subsidy legislation caused the railroads to lose interest in routes that crossed the Territory in favor of other alternatives.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 131">Limbaugh |1982|p. =131</ref>}}

Brayman's final efforts to defeat the Boise Ring came in his efforts for [[Apportionment (politics)|reapportionment]]. In 1879, he took a leave of absence to return the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] and lobby the U.S. Congress for changes.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 132">Limbaugh |1982|p. =132</ref>}} Unsuccessful in this effort he was forced to wait till after the [[1880 United States Census|1880 Census]] when the governor would lead a three-man commission overseeing allocation of territorial representation. His successor, [[John Baldwin Neil]], however was named and arrived in the territory to take the oath of office before Brayman was able to complete his plans.<ref name{{sfn|Limbaugh|1982|pp="Limbaugh 137-9">Limbaugh p. 137-9</ref>}}

Brayman left Idaho on August 19, 1880. His departure did not end his influence on Idaho politics however. [[Lewiston, Idaho|Lewiston]]-based newspaper editor Alonzo Leland, looking for a rallying point against the Boise Ring nominated the former governor to be the Territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress during the 1880 campaign. As a result, Brayman received 904 of the 938 votes cast in the northern counties. This support was insufficient for victory, however, as the southeastern and southwestern counties completely ignored Brayman's candidacy.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 135">Limbaugh |1982|p. =135</ref>}}

Brayman died in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], on February 27, 1895.<ref>{{Cite news | title = The Obituary Record | newspaper = New York Times | page = 7 | date = February 28, 1895 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E05EFD6123DE433A2575BC2A9649C94649ED7CF }}</ref> Obituaries printed at the time tended to praise his earlier years while giving only passing mention to his time in Idaho.<ref name="{{sfn|Limbaugh 136">Limbaugh |1982|p. =136</ref>}}

* {{cite book |last=Eddy |first=Thomas Mears |title=The Patriotism of Illinois |volume=Volume 1|publisher=Clarke & Co.|location=Chicago |date=1865–66 | oclc = 4539712 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Y0UAAAAYAAJ|ref=harv}}

* {{cite book |last=Limbaugh |first=Ronald H. |title=Rocky Mountain Carpetbaggers: Idaho's Territorial Governors, 1863-1890 |publisher=University Press of Idaho|location=Moscow, Idaho |year=1982 | isbn = 0-89301-082-0|ref=harv}}