Smyrna times., 1856-12-17
Remarks of Hon. James A. Bayard,
OsrTHE DEATH OF Hon. JOHN M. CLAYTON,
Delivered in theU. s. Senate, Dec. Sd, 1856

| MI DAfARD rose ana addressed the Senate
as follows: Mr.. President, no more painful
duty can devolve upon a member of this body
than the annunciaton of the death of a col
league; and the duty becomes yet more painful
when that colleague has sustained an elevated
position in the country, and our personal rela.
tlons to him. have been those of kindness and
friendship. .
1t has become my mournful duty to announce
to.the Senate the death of my disting guished
colleague and friend, the Hon. John NJ Clayton
lie died during the recess, on the 9Th of No
vethber last, at his residence in Dover, in his
sIxty-hrs year; and though his health had
been uncertain and precarious for some years
past, his death was unexpected, and has been
the source OF sincere aud deep sorrow both to
his friends and feIlow-citizens.
This, sir, is neither the time nor the place
Tor an analysis OF his great mental and moral
endowments, or a critical examination of the
political opinions he entertained or general
measures he advocated so ably during his long
period vt public SERVICE A brief sketch of his
career, and an expression of my sincere apprV-
cIatlon OF his mauy virtues, in asking for the
tribute to his memory of those honors-vain
thong b they be- which custom has rendered
sacred, and to which his high endowments and
eminent public services SO we'll entitle it, seem
|
John Middleton Clayton was born in the
county of Sussex and State OF Delaware, on
the 24th of July, A. d., 1896, His father,
James Clayton, a man of unquestoned integ-
rIty, and active business habits, was member
OF one OF tle oldest families in the Stats, his
ancestor having come TO America with William
Penn. His mother was native of the eastern
shore Of Virginia. a-.' i.'@" mf' tfa". F..
! His fathers means were those of ofcompetency
not OF atiiuence, though his affairs became en-
barrasscd about the time that his sons educa-
ton was completed; but with wise forecast he
had previously given that son more than for
1tune, IN giving hm a liberal education; and
well did my friend avail himself OF those ad.
vantages. He entered Yale College In Jnly,
1911, aud devotIng himself most assduousiy
andalaborIously TO his studies, graduated in that
venerable institution in September, 1918, with
th@ highest honOrs of his class, and the conf
Fdence and attachment of his Instructors
Immediately after leaving college, he COM
mehcedt the study of law under the late Chlel
Justice ThOlnas Clayton, one OF the abIest law
yers OF, the State, and subsequently pursued II
with him, and also, for one or two years at the
Lftchheld Law School, aud was admitted to the
bar IN his native county in the year 1875
From his high grade of intellect and extraordi-
nary capacity for labor, he came to the bar
with knowledge of the principles of iurispru-
dence seldom acquired till after years of prac.
tlce; and his success at the bar of Kent county
. where he located himself, was so rapid and
? brilliant that in few years he stood in the
a foremost rank of the profession, with able IND
distinguished lawyers as his competitors. He
/, devoted hunself 10 his profess on, aud took nc
I very active part in pol llcal struggles prevou,
r. to the year 1923, though he was elected to the
4 1nyslf
. office of Secretary OF Stale Of the State o
q Delaware.ast .-,.. ",: - -
In the division of political opinions which uI
! timateiy led, in the interval between the eIec
tion OF Air. Adams and that of General jackson
. IN the organization oitwo great parties through
: out the country, he adopted the principles, anC
i, became identified with the fortunes of III,
! Wing party, which being in the ascendant il
A the Stale of Della ware, he was elected Sena
n TOT OF the UnlFed States in January, 1929, ant
. took his seut in this body in December follow
I ing. His public services in the Senate requir
;. no commenl, for his history here is written il
s his c0untry's annals. 1t is no slight evidence
4 however, of the highest order of merit, that
. yousg man coming into pubic life as the repre-
! sentative Of one Ot the smallest States in th
: UuiOn, al a time when such men as Calhoun
/. \ Clay and Webster were in the zenith of thei
= powers and influence, should rapidly acquire
=. national reputation, aud become Que of The aC
II knowledged leaders OF the great party to whic
n he was attached. Mr., Clayton was re-electe
4, to the Senate on the expiration Of his first teri
a 10 1885; but becoming weary of the excit,
n nent Of .pOllt cal life, he resigned his place
tllsDecember, 1896. The confidence of the Ext
!! cutiye bestowed upon him in January, 1873
ii with the general appreciation of the bar an
n, the people 0f Delaware, the Office of Chief Ju
= tice OF the, State, which he also resigned
~, August, 1885, Wing in lhat, as in all the pu
~ lIc situations which ne filled, demonstrated b
=, high capacity for the performance of its dutie
=, He remained in private life during the ems,
s ing six years, but, was again elected TO the Sc
~ ate iu March, lS45; aud on the accession
bs General Taylor to the Presidency in lS49, ii
IN boffice of Secretary of State was rendered
cd Ehm, as ihe consequence OF his national re pat
=. lion, aud accepted. The death OF Preside
Taylor in July, 1850, again placed him In pl
vate life.
~ During the period which he held the positi,
Is, Of Secretary of State he negotiated in Apr
:, 1850, the treaty with Great Britain common
called the Clayton Bulwer treaty. That trea
-, was ratified by more than three f0urths Of d
Senate; and may be permitted 10 say III,
he had il been carried sut according 10 the pla
~, and obvious import OF III language, would la
a effected ALI which this county should desire
Is relation TO THE territory of Genital AmeriC
-, and the safety aud security Of an interocear
~ commuaication; and If difficulties have SID
ee arisen, either from theaggressibns Of the Pc
"e er with which il was contracted or a failure
III our part 10 insist IN its FIRST insta nee on it's
II execu,ion, ihe fanlt If any, rests not with hi
as no action of that Power, contiuvening
~ proper construction occurred during the ,she
no time witch he retained the office of Secreta
re. o State after the ratification Of the tres w..
reIs1ia He remained IN private life until 1853. WI
tly the confidence OF his State again returned h
to ID the Sena,e.h II would be useless, if not id
ors for me 10 dilate upon his command ing g. .pows
red I'D debate, which most Of those aroapd me ha
nay s,i ,iften Witnessed 9nt s~isi SsHsS
sto fIe may have differed with inaliy Of sus
u'd opinion, bnt'none can deny The eminent cour
a.aAdls5 andsbilay which he displayed Ia spstaini
fn9Rs sstB A'''' \ -