Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/340

 COLHOUN

COLLAMER

Delaware county farm for his parents. He was a devout Baptist and became a leader in Christian work and in directing and supporting missionary and educational enterprises. He was a member of the board of managers of the American Bible society, from which oi'ganization he withdrew, with the other Baptist managers, when the society refused to print the translations of the Bible made by Baptist missionaries, and founded the American and foreign Bible society, of which he was made the treasurer. In 1850 he helped to organize the American Bible union and acted as its treasurer up to the time of his death. On April 23, 1811, he was married to Mary, daughter of Edward Gilbert. He was a liberal contributor to all the charitable undertakings of his church and annually subscribed to the current expenses of the Hamilton literary and theological institu- tion, but resisted its permanent endowment. He died in New York city, March 25, 1857.

COLHOUN, Edmund Ross, naval officer, was born in Chambersburg, Pa., May 6, 1821; son of Alexander and Margaretta Ariana (Ross) Col- houn. He entered the U.S. navy as midshipman April 1, 1839; was promoted passed midshipman July 2, 1845; master Jan. 6, 1853; and lieutenant June 27, 1853, when he resigned. He saw actual fighting while on the Cumberland in the attack on Alvarado and the capture of Tabasco, Mexico, 1846-47. In 1861 he re-entered the navy as acting lieutenant, his commission bearing date Sept. 24,

1861, and he was promoted commander Nov. 27,

1862. He commanded the Shairsheen and Hunch- back of the North Atlantic squadron in the attack on Roanoke Island and New Bern, N.C., 1861-63; the Weehawken and Ladona in the siege of Charles- ton, S.C., and the Saugus on James river and at Fort Fisher, 1864-65. He was commissioned captain March 2, 1869; commodore, April 26, 1876; and rear admiral, Dec. 3, 1882. He was fleet captain of the South Pacific squadron, 1866-67; commanded the Dictator in 1869, and brought home the Lloyd AspinicaJI, detained by the Spanish authorities at Havana, Cuba; com- manded the Hartford on the Asiatic station, 1873-74; and commanded the station during the protracted absence of the admiral invalided home; the liichinond on the South Pacific, 1874; Mare island navy yard, 1877-81; and was inspec- tor of vessels at Mare island, 1881-82. He was retired May 6, 1883, by operation of law. He was married July 31, 1845, to Mary A. Reed of Philadelphia, and their son, S. Reed Colhoun, became paymaster in the U.S. navy. He died in Washington, D.C., Feb. 17, 1897.

COLLAMER, Jacob, senator, was born in Troy, N.Y., Jan. 8, 1791; son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Van Ormun) CoUamer. His father removed to Vermont about 1795 and with a

family of eight children could afford to them only the advantages of the common school. Jacob procured the means to prepare himself for college and gained admission to the University of Vermont, where he was graduated in 1810. He was admitted to the bar in 1813. During 1812 he served as lieutenant of artillery in the frontier campaign. He practised law at Royalton, Vt., 1816-36; was for several years register of pro- bate ; represented the town in the state legislat- ure four years; was state's attorney for "Windsor county, 1822-24; was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1836; and assistant judge of the supreme court, 1833-42. He was a representative from the 2d Vermont district in the 28th, 29th and 30th congresses, 1843-49, and declined renomination. Upon the accession of Gen. Zachary Taylor to the presidency in 1849, Mr. Collamer was appointed postmaster-general and resigned, with the other members of the cabinet, upon the death of the President in July, 1850. In the fall of 1850 the legislature of the state elected him circuit judge, which position he resigned in 1855 to take his seat in the U.S. senate, having been elected as an Anti-Slavery AVhig. He presented a minority report on the condition of affairs in Kansas Territory, opposing every other member of the committee, and ably meeting Senator Douglas in debate. He was one of the three senators from New England who voted against the tariff bill of 1857. He was re- elected to the senate in 1861. In the Republican national convention of 1860 the delegates from Vermont presented his name as their choice for the presidential nomination and on the first ballot he received ten votes, when his name was withdrawn. He and Senator Fessenden of Maine were the two New England senators who declined to vote against the Crittenden compromise of 1861, and he spoke and voted for the Crittenden resolutions declaring "that the war was waged only for the preservation of the Union, the su- premacy of the constitution, and the dignity, equality and rights of all the states, and as soon as those objects were accomplished, the war ought to cease." He drew up the great act of July 13, 1861, giving extraordinary powers to the President, and the first congressional sanction to- the war: and proposed the amended resolution forbidding any army or naval officer to take any action toward reclaiming or surrendering fugitive slaves coming within their lines. He opposed Senator Sumner's amendment to an appropria- tion bill in 1862 prohibiting the domestic slave- trade, on the ground that it would recognize negroes as merchandise ratlier than persons. In 1864 he introduced the bill placing all negroes who had enlisted on the same footing as white troops. He opposed the legal tender act and