Pima-Maricopa County AZ Archives Biographies.....Bashford, Coles 1816 - 1878
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 7, 2005, 6:45 pm

Author: McFarland & Poole

p. 553-554, 557-558

  COLES BASHFORD. The subject of this sketch was born near Cold Spring, Putnam
County, N. Y., January 24, 1816. After receiving a classical education at
Wesleyan University, now Genesee College, Lima, N. Y., and seven years' study of
law, he was admitted to practice his profession as an attorney of the Supreme
Court of the State of New York on the 28th day of October, 1842.

  Thrown in the early years of his boyhood upon his own resources for a
livelihood, he soon learned the importance and benefits of self-reliance and
self-cultivation, and moulded for himself the qualifications necessary in the
character of a man in a country like ours. His natural ability and indefatigable
application to study formed a future that no difficulties could impede, no
obstacles could overcome.

  His early and rapid advance in his profession and in public affairs were due,
no doubt, to the habits of industry and energy which he had early in life
acquired and which marked his whole career.

  He immediately entered into a successful practice of his chosen profession in
Wayne County, New York. On June 7, 1847, as a candidate of the Whig party, he
was elected district attorney of the county within which he lived, receiving
2,277 votes against 2,039 votes cast for Aldrich, the candidate of the
Locofocos. His duties as prosecuting officer were performed with such energy and
ability that his conduct of them was complimented by William H. Seward and other
eminent lawyers.

  In 1850 he resigned his office of district attorney and moved with his family
to the State of Wisconsin, locating at Oshkosh. Here he entered upon the
practice of law, and at once took rank with the leading lawyers of his State. In
1852.he was elected to the State Senate from Winnebago County as a Whig,
although the county was strong against him politically, receiving 1,098 votes
against 1,070 votes cast for Gabriel Bouck, Democrat. In 1854 he was tendered
the nomination for Congress in his district, but declined, preferring a
re-election to the State Senate, of which he had become an acknowledged leader.
He was re-elected by a majority of over 800 votes.

  It was during the year 1854 and 1855 that the agitation of the extension of
slavery had commenced the embittered broil of sectional feeling under the
caption of the Missouri Compromise. The several States of the North and South,
through their Legislatures, were agitating for and against the slavery question
on account of the effort made for its extension in Kansas and Nebraska, and were
instructing their Senators and members of Congress to vote for and against
slavery, or for the repeal of the Missouri Compromise Act. Such a resolution was
before the Wisconsin Legislature in 1854 and the feeling was warm and bitter.

  Coles Bashford was one of the first to raise his voice against the extension
of slavery. A motion to indefinitely postpone in the State Senate a joint
resolution which had been carried through the lower house, cleared the field for
action. Governor Bashford was the first to speak on the question. He refused to
be gagged by the Senate, and proceeded to raise his voice in an eloquent
peroration against the spreading of the slavery evil in any State or Territory.
His withering denunciation of Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois, the author of
the Nebraska bill in Congress, earned for him a reputation which spread
throughout the North. Upon the organization of the Republican party at
Pittsburgh, in 1854, Coles Bashford was one of the first in his State to espouse
the principles as enunciated in their national platform, and in 1855 he was the
logical candidate of the new party in Wisconsin for Governor of the State. On
the 5th day of September, 1855, the Republican party, in convention, after
passing a strong anti-slavery platform, nominated Coles Bashford as their
candidate for Governor on the first ballot, he receiving 124 votes out of 210
votes cast in the convention. After nominating a strong ticket the convention
adjourned to enter zealously into the campaign, determined to succeed in
electing their whole ticket. William A. Barstow had been renominated by the
Democrats and a strong and aggressive campaign was the result. The election was
very close on Governor, though the Democrats were successful with every other
candidate on the ticket, but the Board of State Canvassers counted Barstow in,
on some pretext of irregularities in certain counties. Barstow received the
certificate of election and was regularly inaugurated at the capitol on the
15111 day of January, 1856, and took possession of the office.

  Governor Bashford, believing he had been justly elected, took the oath of
office the same day and immediately began suit by quo warranto before the
Supreme Court of the State to set aside, on the ground of fraudulent returns,
the certificate given to Barstow.

  The testimony elicited during the trial unmasked the villainy and treacherous
designs by which it was attempted to disfranchise the people and elevate Barstow
again to the Governorship. A more stupendous crime was never concocted or more
signally failed; for the people rose in their majesty and a just and righteous
tribunal ousted the usurper and gave to Coles Bashford the office to which he'
was entitled and from which he was deprived through fraud and usurpation. The
counsel employed in the case were among the most eminent legal minds of the West
and the contest lasted for three months, and the arguments of counsel and
opinions of Judge Whiton occupied some two hundred and fifty closely printed
pages of the Fifth Wisconsin Reports.

  The demeanor of Governor Bashford throughout the exciting contest was worthy
of a Cromwell. Unmindful of threats, above the contumely and scorn of his
assailants, strong in a righteous purpose, unflinching in his just demands and
fully aware of the great stake at issue he went on sternly and boldly, until
fraud was unmasked, villainy suppressed and the cause of truth, freedom and the
purity of the ballot box triumphed. Never was a man subjected to severer test
and never was truer mettle or purer character exhibited, and Coles Bashford won
not only the plaudits of friends, but the admiration and respect of all
honorable political opponents.

  On the 25th clay of March, 1856, Governor Bashford, in obedience to the will
of the people, assumed the duties and responsibilities of the office of Governor
of Wisconsin. At the expiration of his term the following highly complimentary
but well deserved resolution was unanimously adopted by the State Convention of
his political friends:

  "Resolved, That the warmest thanks of the people of Wisconsin are clue to
Governor Bashford for the zeal, energy, ability and perseverance with which he
prosecuted to a successful issue, before the Supreme Court of this State, his
claim as the legally elected Governor of Wisconsin: that by this act he upheld
justice, law and the Constitution, and vindicated the rights of sovereignty of
the people: that we honor him for his administration of the State government,
and that wherever justice triumphs over fraud and the rights of the people at
the ballot box are held sacred, the name of Coles Bashford will be held in
grateful remembrance and respect."

  Early in the summer the re-election of Governor Bashford began to be agitated
by the people and the press. No name rallied the hosts with greater unanimity
and enthusiasm than his, He had a strong hold upon the popular heart, as the
successful leader of the Republican party— the first successful candidate for
Governor of the afterward great Republican party in the history of the
organization in any of the States. He had won the honest masses of the people in
the conflict of two years before, which terminated after a most bitter struggle,
that demanded no ordinary courage on the part of the man elected as the champion
of the people. Early in the year he had announced that he would not be again a
candidate and only at the urgent request of many of his friends, could he be
prevailed upon to refrain from a positive refusal to accept a renomination under
any circumstances. He was actuated in this by an unaffected desire to return to
private life and to his business as a private citizen, which had greatly
suffered from unavoidable neglect during his term of office. He was strongly
urged by his friends, both before and after the meeting of the convention, to
accept a renomination, and a large number of delegates attended with the
determination to renominate him; but he positively declined in a speech before
the convention, in case they could unite harmoniously upon some other man.
Governor Bashford's political enemies, fearing that he would be a candidate for
re-election, made every possible attack upon him. The struggle for the office in
the court of the State still rankled within them, and they made charges
affecting his administration of the office. Governor Bashford instantly demanded
an investigation of all his political acts by the Legislature of the State, and
the committee, consisting of two Democrats and three Republicans, unanimously
exonerated him from the charges made against him. At the expiration of his term
of office he retired from the cares incident thereto, followed by the cordial
respect, esteem and confidence of the masses of the people as an upright,
independent and faithful public servant, whose administration had reflected
honor upon the State and the people who elected him.

  In 1859 Governor Bashford was requested to become a candidate for circuit
judge of the Tenth Judicial District of the State, the request being signed by
nearly all the members of the bar of the circuit. His refusal was based upon the
fact that his professional practice had become much more profitable to him than
the judgeship could be.

  In 1860 his political friends urged him by voice and by petition to become
their candidate for Congress: but he still preferred to devote himself to the
practice of law. The winter of 1862-63 he spent in Washington, and no man from
the West had greater influence there.

  After the organization of the Territory of Arizona his fondness for pioneer
life led him to that country to take his place and chances with others in the
building up of the new Territory. He accompanied the newly appointed officers to
their new home and assisted them by his counsel in organizing the Territorial
Government at Navajo Springs on the 29th day of December, 1863. Governor
Goodwin, finding that the laws of New Mexico must govern the young Territory
until a Legislature convened and enacted others for Arizona, recognized the want
of an able adviser and so appointed Governor Bashford attorney-general. As such
he was the legal adviser of the Territorial officers and prosecutor of all cases
on behalf of Arizona. As at that time the Territory was but one judicial
district, the duties of the office demanded severe service, but he performed
them with unusual energy and ability. In their performance he was forced to
travel to all parts of the thinly settled country and as the Indians were then
intensely hostile he took most desperate chances. Many and many were the trips
that he was forced to take alone, but he escaped the arrows and scalping knife
of the savage foe.

  Governor Bashford was the first lawyer admitted to practice in an Arizona
court, his admission occurring in May, 1864, at Tucson. He was then, as he was
to the day of his death, the first in standing, the first in ability and the
first in respect to the profession generally.

  He was chosen by Pima County a. member of the Council of the first Legislature
and elected the president thereof, rendering excellent service in the adoption
of the code by that body and other important legislation. He was re-elected a
member of the Council of the Second Legislature and was chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, and the records show that his share in framing a code of
laws for Arizona exceeded that of any other member.

  Without solicitation or expectation on his part, he was in 1866 the unanimous
nominee of a convention of over one hundred citizens of Pima County, as their
candidate for delegate to Congress—party lines at that time not having been
drawn. He was at the Territorial election on the 5th day of September,
successful by 491 majority over Charles D. Poston and 841 majority over Samuel
Adams, or 343 majority over both. He represented Arizona during the Fortieth
Congress with great credit to himself and the Territory. At the close of his
term President Grant appointed him Secretary of Arizona for four years and in
1871 the Legislature selected him to compile the various session laws into one
volume. This difficult task was performed with exactness and intelligent regard
for convenient reference. In 1873 President Grant, recognizing that the
administration of Governor Bashford as Secretary of the Territory had been so
correct and economical, re-appointed him without the slightest opposition.

  This office he held until 1876, when he resigned and removed from Tucson, the
then capital, to Prescott, where he was largely interested in business,
intending to spend the remainder of his days in the enjoyment of the society of
his family and determined to lay down forever the cares incident to public life.
His rest was well earned. During the thirty-six years of his public life he had
passed through some of the most exciting and trying times of National. State and
Territorial history and the burden upon his shoulders had never been light. In
all places of public trust he did everything well: there being method and system
in all he did. His judgment was of a superior order, his purposes were honest
and his performances most faithful.

  On April 25, 1878, at Prescott, Governor Bashford breathed his last.

  The above is a brief outline of the facts of his long and eventful public
career, but there are other facts, not known to the world at large, which endear
his memory to those who knew him best. He was a good friend to his deserving
acquaintances. Always kind and considerate, he had ever a good word of cheer to
any who sought his advice when in trouble. But, though a man of high culture and
great candor, those who knew Governor Bashford most well ascribe to him the
largest amount of sereneness of thought and temperance of action.

  Governor Coles Bashford may rest his claims to public remembrance upon the
faithful and thorough manner in which he performed the public duties entrusted
to him by the people of the several States and Territories in which he lived. He
may rest his title to the respect of the bar upon his comprehensive and exact
knowledge of the principles and practice of the profession he adorned; but
beyond this he will be best remembered by those whose privilege it was to know
him intimately for that he might truthfully say with Pericles, "Tell the people
that I never caused an Athenian to put on mourning."

  All that remains of Coles Bashford rests in Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland,
Cal., overlooking the Golden Gate. The setting sun as it sinks into the broad
expanse of the Pacific, sheds its golden rays full upon a solid shaft of
granite, upon which are inscribed beneath his name the line which he was so fond
of quoting:

  "Write me as one that loves his fellow-men."



Additional Comments:
From:

A Historical and Biographical Record of the Territory of Arizona
Published by
McFarland & Poole, Chicago, 1896



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