The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-05-15

The brief limits of a. newspaper sketch will not
permit am elaborate review of Mr.. Thompson's sub
sequent career public man it must suffice briefly
to indicate its outline.
He one of the earliest advocates of the annex
alton of Texas and in the session of lS4243 urged
upon the government the adoption Of that measure
A member of the Baltimore Convention of 1874 he
contributed largely to the nomination of Mr. Polk in
defiance of the positive instructions Of the party in
Mississippi to cast her vote for Mr. Van Buren, The
reason he assigned for this course-Mr. Van Bmens
hostility to the proposed annexation--was, however,
considered satisfactory by the people of the State,
and they cordially endorsed and sustained him.
Near the close of the session of Congress in 1874
a commission was made out and forwarded to Wash
ington by Hon. A. G. Brown, then governor of the
State appointing him senator of the United States
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation Of
Hon. r. J. Walker who had accepted an appoint
ment in the cabinet of President Polk This commits
sion failed to reach him to enable him to take
his seat in the called session of March, 1915 After
his return TO Mississippi another commission was
forwarded to him by the executive of the State but
he declined to serve. 4,sa
|
the largest majority ever given in the State He
gave warm support to the tariff of 1916, the indie
pendent treasury, and sustained the war policy of
Mr.. Folks administration with distinguished ability
and unwavering stcadness.
| In 1847 he was again elected to Congress- by-a
large and decisive majority After his service in
that Congress it his desire to retire to private
life but his constituents, believing that trying
crisis in the history Of the government had arrived
the slavery question threatening, in their judgment
| to dissolve the Union-and confding ii his ability
firmness, and energy, again pressed him into the
vice. and he was returned to Congress by sweeping
majority 1t was during this Congress that the fa-
| nous compromise measures adopted, and in the
protracted and angry discussions upon the exciting
issues involved Mr.. Thompson took an active part
Ever ready to meet the responsibilities devolving
upon him the representative of southern constit
uency whose rights under the constitution were
sailed, he occupied prominent position among the
southern-righs' men, and opposed the series of
measures with unfnching determination
| In 1851, pursuant to his previously -announced
purpose he declined reelection, desiring TO give
his attention to his private interests But although
thus terminating his congressional career he had
filed too large space in the public eye to be per-
mtted to retire into absolute secusion and still con-
tinucd to exert powerful influence in the direction
of the politics of his State. When, after the cleo
ton in 1851 had gone against the southernrights
wing of the party, the schism in the ranks of the
democratic party which had produced that result
threatened its Generalization and permanent over
throw Mr.. Thompson addressed letter to the peo-
pie of Mississippi and succeeded in reconverting tho
conflicting elements the basis proposed in it,
He was an active member of the delegation, thus
harmonized by his efforts to the National Convention
Of 81; and, when it became evident that it was i'm
possible to obtain the nomination for Mr.. Buchanan
his first choice flor whom he cast the vote of his
State thirty three successive ballots mainly in
strumental in securing it for Mr.. Pierce.
Mr. Thompson participated actively in the canvass
that resulted in the brilliant victory which brought
Mr.. Pierce into power, delivering speeches at
meetings in several States, and at many points in
Mississippi. He then retired to private life, and de-
voted his time and attention to his private interests
up to the period when called by Mr.. Buchanan to
seat in his cabinet At that time the press and the
people of Mississippi had, with great unanimty,
centratcd on Mr. Thompson as the candidate of the
democratic party for governor of the State He
would have been elected without opposition from
any quarter.
Mr.. Thompson drank deeply at the fountains of de-
mocracy, as promulgated by Mr. Jefferson, and even
in his early manhood slept within the sinner tenn
Pies of that party The whole Of bis long public
career has been marked by consistency, straight
forwardness and fixed devotion to principle, that
title him to the respect and confidence of all parties
bold and incorporating champion of State-rights
doctrines as understood at the South yet moderate
and concilatory in his policy, his appointment
emincnty satisfactory to men of every shade of po-
litical opinion; while his long public experience, in
deatigabe assduity, systematic and orderly habit of
mind and intimate acquaintance with the subject,
furnish the strongest reasons for anticipating that
the department Of the government intrusted to his
care will be administered to The entire satisfaction Of
the country.
AN APT QUOTATION.
The Lecompton (Kansas) Union of the I'd instant
has pleasant account of visit recently paid by
Acting Governor Stanton to the citizens of Lawrence
After partaing Of the hospitalities kindly extended
to him by Governor Robinson, he addressed, by re-
quest, crowd Of some five hundred freosstate men,