Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-09-21
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~ melancholy task has Cevolved upon us-the
death OF revolutionary worthy, patriot and
sage, demands The triLute Of regret
JOHN CLOPTON. Esq is no more. He died
on tie morning OF the 2th inst at his seat il,
New Kent, in the 6tth wear of his age after q
severe indisposi;ion of three weeks.
In the war Of the revolution, he espoused viii,
ard urihe cause Of freedom he remained no,
an idle spectator Of the struggles of his country,
but drew his sword IN her defence and as n yo.
'unteer in the battle OF Brand wine, entrusted
with the Command of battery, he not ONLY
gave evidences of his skill as solder, but th
cause IN which he WIS engaged became Of pos
sble) moTs holy and endearCd TO him, by his own
blood, which flowed on that occasion from dan
gerous wound by which he was long Confined
and obi ged ultimately 10 quit the army. Whcn
not personally engaged, his iabours were still de
voted 10 lis country, and frequent productions
OF his per, inserted in The Gazetes OF the tunes
served at once to explain the rights ofhis parent
sou, aud TO animate his c0unnymen to their. es-
| Enlistment
lie received regular classical education, and
was honored with lhe degree of riGster of arts
| by the university of Pennsy vania: with a mino
thus rich IN ,lIe chosen stores Of science aud /,
| tera'uie, upon Jheciose OF the revolution he en-.
iered on the service of his natives sts,e as d. le-
| gaze for the county OF New Kent TO the sat
req >aiu'e--In tbJs station. IA Ntllity dschasp.
ne the rust rePOsed in hIm, lie con mued, exec
\ during stIurt interval until he was Chosen, al
ne gehei al election in 1895, Representative t,
| he congress OF the u SAFES, an honor VIII. ch
! was again conferred onhim at the next succeed
ing election. lie was chosen by the Leg stature
| of tins sta.e atther session wuch commenced IN
| 1893, member of the executive council. In
! 1901 he was again elected to Congress and re-
manned the representative of this district until
his death
+! he was firm, inhexble and undertaking
statesman unawed by the menaces of faction,
unmoved amidst the conflicts Of opposing par
| ties his mind never wavered from lis course; in
| 80 when the tide of federal politics was at IL
| Hood, when every opposing barrier 20 It's course
| seemed 20 have been removed, he remained firm
! 10 his trust, and every political measure of The
| then administration has his recorded dissent for
| he meyer Quilted his post for nomen, he was
rewarded by the gratifying reflection mat his ef.
forts were not altogether unayailng, his princi-
| pies were approved by his country The people
| changed the administration. Under subscc,uent
| 'dmoistrations every political measure (approv.
| 81 by his consc ence) had his warm support for
| be was not luke warm in his political feelings.
| zoe same under every political change, and act
! ng on the same principles, hew2s attached to no
| party as party. The good OF his country was
as sole "bJect, 10 that ne directed all his ef
! tTts, and devoted his life That The consiitu.
tIon and IN erests of his country we1c not be,t er
understood by any one, that no politician had a
iarer clam to the character of Fsbricius; the
transactions of his life attest.
as aspeaker he deserved to rank in the first
cl%ss From natural debility of his lungs he
did not engage in debate very frequently. but
when he did he inevitably drew the attention of
all who heard HIM The writer of this made
| quste deiineatOn OF his character heard him
"Fe'k IN opposition To the repeal Of the embar
-, recommended BY he president in 1919 1t
vas on Tie fT,i day he had attended the house
i"r eFeral weeks fhaving been confined by the
ut) When ne rose. the greatest attention and
desirc to sear were manifested by the members
they crowded around IN from every part of
The room the bette 10 hear hm--entire silence
pervaded the house, and not the least noise was
made either IN The house or gallery, but all were
ANXIOUS u hear. The same Interchangeable Doli-
tic'ah he evidenced that day--tliat as he had
wlthst0Od and opposed the course of federal
administration, when moi accordant with hIg own
views OF ihe interests Of his country, he never
made surrender OF his own feelings and princi-
pies to any supposed temporary Necessity
His speeches on the Judiciary, aud on his pro-
position for the Amendment of that sec ION of
lac federal constitution winch was said 10 have
warranted The " alien and seifion 6iRs" for iogi-
cal precision, lucid and pefspicuous arrsngen snt
and c1gent argumeuti may be fairly put in com.
petition with Tie most admired productions of
The American senate.
lie was an aiEectlonate husband, \ tender pa.
rent, Kind master and upright in al his transac.
ions wl'hhs fellow men Tie was protested
believer in the divine OF gin and efficacy of ;he
Christian Religion and for the last twenty SIX
years of his life member Of the Baptist Church
--he met death with tic calm resignation of a
christian, relying confidently on tie merits and
promises Of his Savi0ur-it was truly consolatory
% see with what COMPOSING, a christian could
die. " Aiay my last end be ike has"
.4 NEW -YoHE, Sept. i6. .
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.