Mexican independence, sternly denouncing the usurpation of Maximilian, and advocating with great zeal the application of the "Monroe Doctrine" in our relations with that country. He was always earnestly in favor of the introduction of the national currency into California.

His political sagacity was remarkable. In the spring of 1865, on his return from the Atlantic States, he told his party friends plainly and emphatically that the elective franchise must and would be extended to all the negroes in the States which had engaged in the Rebellion, for the simple reason that that class of the population could protect themselves in no other way than by the ballot. He astounded many of those to whom he thus spoke, and but few agreed with him until the rapid succession of events attested his foresight.

Mr. Campbell died, after a short illness, in San Francisco, leaving a widow, son and daughter, who have since returned to the East. Owing in a great degree to his disease, he lacked, in his latter years, that suavity and genial temper which were among the most attractive characteristics of his early manhood.

In former years he had great vivacity and personal magnetism, and delighted his hearers with entertaining conversations and amusing anecdotes. He sought no individual alliances or support; and yet such was his great power, aided by the prestige of his former achievements, that his influence was almost unbounded. Until the last two days of the term, not a bill or law was rejected which was introduced or advocated by him, and his frown was fatal to every measure which he opposed. This is stated not as mere flattery or even eulogy, but as an instance of the extent of the influence which one legislator, noted for his integrity, wisdom, and eloquence could exert over his fellows.

During the year 1867, he several times addressed the people of San Francisco on the interesting subject of what is known as "the outside lands," in which he became involved in an exciting controversy with Mr. Conness, then a U. S. Senator from California; also, in the gubernatorial canvass of that year, in which he closed a

masterly speech, by saying that, "he should support Mr. Gorham on patriotic grounds, and none other."

As an orator, in particular, it is most difficult to do justice to Mr. Campbell; only those who have seen him in the various moods of passion and thought, which lit up his classic countenance as with a flame of light; who have heard the sweet, deep-sounding cadences of his voice, and witnessed, in his great earnestness, his grand and magnificent gesticulation, who have listened to his profound arguments, and witnessed the effect of his glowing words, the winged messengers of his enthusiastic soul, can fully comprehend the inadequacy of any description of his character.

Well was he described by a leading political paper of California, in January, 1864, as "That just less than sovereign intelligence Thompson Campbell."

In the death of Mr. Campbell, an estimable and devoted wife, and an interesting daughter and son, of mature years, lost a loving, tender, and affectionate husband and father, whose fame and public virtues threw around them the protective glory and shield of an honored and great name. California lost a noble son, who had reflected honor upon her escutcheon. His circle of admiring friends lost in him a friend indeed, and the bar and public forum were deprived of one of the most brilliant. of geniuses and most profound of intellects.

The following extract from the obituary notice of Mr. Campbell which appeared in the San Francisco Evening Bulletin, on the day after his death, will fitly conclude this brief and imperfect sketch.

Mr. Campbell's voice has often been heard in the discussion of public affairs, and always on the side of liberal principles. None who ever heard him will forget his pale face, set in a frame of long dark hair, his glowing eyes, his nervous energy of gesture, his halfabsorbed yet electrical manner, his compact logic, his faultlessly correct and felicitous language, rising often to a natural eloquence, and his fervid expressions of patriotic sentiment. At the bar he was especially distinguished for closeness of logic and clearness of analysis. These qualities, and his command over the attention of a jury, were remarkably displayed in a late important land case in San Francisco.

JOHN B. WELLER.

BY THE EDITOR

HIS gentleman, for many years a prominent public man in California, and the fourth Governor of the State, was born on the 22d day of February, 1812. His parents were of German descent, and natives of the State of New York. They moved from the county of Orange, in that State, to Ohio, about the year 1810, and settled in Hamilton county, some twelve miles from Cincinnati. There, in the village of Montgomery, John B. Weller was born.

When he was twelve or fourteen years old, his parents removed to Oxford, Butler county, the seat of Miami University. At this institution, John B. was educated. Immediately upon the completion of his studies at college, he became a pupil, in the study of law, of Jesse Corwin, brother of Hon. Tom Corwin, whose name is so familiar to the people of the entire Union. Jesse Corwin's office and residence were at Hamilton, the county-seat of Butler county. In that town, John prosecuted his legal studies until his friend and preceptor considered him qualified to enter upon the practice of law, when he was admitted to the bar before he had attained his majority.

He had been practicing his profession but a short time, when the Democratic County Convention of Butler county nominated him for Prosecuting Attorney. His opponent, the Whig candidate, was his old tutor, Jesse Corwin,