The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-27

We add a few brief notices Of the above Senators,
remarkirg that the State of New Hampshire has not
been generally represented in the United States
Senate by the ability which has distinguished most
of the old thirteen States. The exceptions in her
favor are, jeremiah Mason, Levi Woodbury., Frank
lin Pierce, John p Hale, Tin the opinion Of the free
oilers,) and perhaps three or four others, about
whom there would be much difference Of opinion
among New Hampshire men, if We were to name
them. All the others wore of moderate talents, or
not above nedocrity
New Hampshire ratified the consti tuition of the
United States on the 2lst of june 1885, and was the
ninth State that adopted tina: instrument, which
quired that nine States should adopt it before the
federal government went into operation. ThusNew
Hampshire had the honor Of completing the federal
Union. The States which Jagged behind were Vir-
gnia, which, however, adopted the const tuition
June 26, 1883, and New York, on the Goth July Of
the same year North Carolina did net come in
until November 81, 1889, and Rhode Island, last Of
ALL May 49, 1890. Consequently, only eleve States
acted at the organization of the government, in
March and April, 1889.
The Senators elected to represent New Hamp-
shire in the first Congress, which met in the city Of
New York in April, l7S9, were John Langdon and
Paine Wisgate, both remarkable men in many re-
spects, although not distinguished for talents as
legislators orators.
John Langdon was born at Portsmouth, N. H.,
in l740, and was a descendant of Tobias Langdon,
one of the early settlers Of that town Some of the
Langdon family were settled in Boston, Mass,
about the middle of the seventeenth century. John
Langdon was q merchant and mariner, of Ports
mouth, N. H. On the breaking out Of the revolu-
ha tnnL rlyc }ap III r.ax;a a.
he was delegate to the Continental Congress
from l775 tol777, and to tho Congress of the Con-
federation in l7s6. During the war of the rsvolu-
tion he commanded company of volunteers, and
served in Vermont an Rhode Island. In l776 and
l777 he was Speaker of the House in the New
Hampshire Legislature, and Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas. He also acted as continental
agent for building vessels for the navy, at
Portsmouth. In 1857 he acted as one of the
delegates from New Hampshire to the oonven-
ton at Philadelphia which framed the United
States Constitution, and with Nicholas Gilman,
affixed his name to that memorable document In
1885, he chosen by the Legislature as one Of the
Senators to represent New Hampshire in the frst
Congress; and the Senate, on forming quorum at
New York, april 6, 1882 elected him president,
pro. ten of that body, before the arrival Of John
Adams, the ce-president He was several times
re elected to preside in the Senate, and continued
to serve until March, 1901 making in all two full
terms, or twelve years.
Although friend Of the constitution, Mr. Lang
don joined the republican party in Congress, after
voting for the funding system, and ether measures
of Washington and Hamilton which were demanded
by his constituents He joined in the outcry against
jays treaty with England, the alien and sedition
laws, and other measures Of the federal party. h.
Of course, was decided advocate Of the election Of
Jefferson and Burr, and was thrown into the repub-
lican minority in New Hampshire. On the change
of politics in the State, however, he was elected
Governor by the democratic republicans inlsO5 and
was re- elected until 1909, when the federasts were
successful in eleeting jeremiah Smith for one year
The next year QSl0 Mr.. Langdon was again
elected and served his last term as Governor. In
1872 he received the democratic republican nomina.
tion, from the Congressional caucus for Vice Pres-
dent, on the ticket with James Madison, (for re-
election az President,) but he declised ON account
Of his advanced age, and Elbridge Gerry received
the nomination, was elected, and died In Office
Governor Langdon died in September, 1919, aged
seventy nine years. He was professor Of religion
in the First Congregational church, Of Portsmouth,
Hls nAD1ts WtIo socihl, dnu Ia MS manners ne was
easy, polite, and pleasing.
Paine Wingate was born at Amesbury, Mass, in
1879, and graduated at Harvard in 1859. He was
ordained as Congregational minister at Hampton
Falls, N. H., in l763, and was dismissed from his
society in l77l-afterwards removing to sratham,
where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. lie was
descended from John Wingate, who settled At Dover
about 1866. The family were from England.
Honorable Paine Wingate was q member Of the