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 HON. HARRY BINGHAM. 281

been known as Bingham, Mitchells & Batchellor. About the same time John M. Mitchell removed to Concord, and opened an office in that city, where a practice has been established under the lirm name of Bingham & Mitchell, Mr. Bingham taking an interest therein, and spending a portion of his time there, while retaining his residence and continuing his regular practice at Littleton, where Mr. Mitchell also retains his interest in the firm.

While no lawyer in the State has been more thoroughly devoted to his pro- fession than Mr. Bingham, or less a politician in the ordinary sense of the term, and while he has held no important public office aside from that of representative from his town in the State legislature, there is no man in New Hampshire who occupies a more prominent position in political life, or who commands more thoroughly the respect of the people in that relation. A Democrat from youth, his devotion to Democratic principles and to the Dem- ocratic party in its support of those principles, has grown with his growth and strengthened with his strength, until his political convictions, like his profession itself, have become, as it were, a part of his very being. This is the result, undoubtedly, of his legal training and study, which has been broad and philo- sophical, rather than limited and technical in character. He has studied law in its relation to, and as the basis of, human government, and his investigations have tamiliarized him with the history of government in all ages. Particularly is he conversant with the growth of the English common law, which is the frame work of our legal system, and with the attendant and correlative develop- ment of constitutional liberty, the basis and substance of our republican gov- ernment.

The only Democratic lawyer in town for several years after his location in Littleton, he was naturally accorded a leading position in the councils of the party. The Whig party was at this time in power in the town, but with the general decadence of that organization in the country at large, the Littleton Democracy, strengthened by Mr. Bingham's wise counsels, gradually came into the ascendant, so that, since 1852, with the exception of two years, they have had substantial direction of town affairs and have elected the representatives to the General Court. It was not till 1861, however, that Mr. Bingham became a member of that body. This was at the opening of the civil war, and then, as throughout its continuance, political excitement was intense, and party spirit ran high, on account of conflicting views as to the responsibility for the contest, and the manner in which it should be conducted on the part of the Federal government. Although a new member, Mr. Bingham took rank at once with the ablest in the House, and was accorded from the start the leadership upon the Democratic side, a position which he has held by universal recognition through his entire legislative experience. He was a member of the house for five years in succession, and in 1862 was the Democratic candidate for speaker. He was again a member in 1S68. In 1871 he was chosen for the seventh time as a representative from his town, and has been reelected at each succes- sive election since that date, making sixteen elections in all, — a greater num- ber than has been accorded to any citizen of the State now living. This has not been from any desire upon his part to occupy the position, and often against his protest, but because his townsmen realize the fact that no other can serve them or the State so efficiently in that capacity, and because of the universal demand of his party throughout the State for his services therein. Yet he fully appreciates the distinction which these repeated elections have conferred, and has honored his town as well as himself in the distinguished service he has rendered.

Upon the floor of the house, as in the judiciary committee, of which he has been a member each year of his service, and of which he was chairman in

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