Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-10-18
JOHN YOUNG MASON.

4 telegraph despatch, in yesterday En-
'ouirer.' informed the public of the death Of
the Hon. Jouy Y. Mason, our Minister Pieni-
''poten,ia-y at Paris. In announcing the death
'of an eminent statesman. one who mas filled so
man. high positions with honor 10 his country
and himself, short sketch Of his life will not
be unacceptable to our readers. We find, in a
Dictionary" Cleric il!Sto'ique
let Cyliauc du Dix.Neuyicmc Steele edited
|5y Henry Lauzac, the following short sketch
'of NJ. Mason:
Tr,asa'vd from the Galer!c ,;oraUe q Crlue' q the
Niae;eeI'h cvI,ury
II hiS capacity Us Envoy Extraordinary
land Minister p!eniPotenliary Of the United
Estates in France, during the last five years, the
'ilplonatist Hon. j. Y. Mason IS certainly one
If the most eminent men OF his nation, where
,hc has filled the highest Offices tia, one could
'ob;a.n next To- that o! the Presidency Of the
United States Republic
HIS Excellency, John Young Mason, was
born in the county OF Grocnsvillc. Va, on the
s!Sth Of April. 1899 lie graduated as Il. y. in
s,i,e I University of North Carol:ua. in lSlG.-
This first university honor, conferred upon him
At so prccocjou- al asS, proves a0rc than suiii-
;cicuty all the VOwe. and utility o, the studies to
NEicn this gentleman devoted himself and who,
sln.rty wears ait.rwaId, was destined to receive
;trom his lima Mater the highest degree in the
Faculty t. which lie was attached, namely, that
aof /. l.. d. Thus, then. Mr.. Mason, WHO had
resolved ON the practice Q. law, began his pro-
sfesslon hv being an attorney. m which capacity
;nc rapidly acquired a mos, distinguished rcPu-
ia,ion at toe bar by his cloquemcc, talents and
forensic lore Later he WAS elected 10 the
shghcst judicial functions III his country, in
J winch his brilliant qualities Were rs fully and
satisfactorily displayed Is when he proved him
s>eit 4 good attorney. Having been elected
sJuGgc OF the General Count Of Virginia, unani-
smously by both Houses Of the Legislature, he
l!ikcwiSe received the appointment Of Judge Of
slhc United District Court in Eastern Virginia.
sWithout any solicitation on his part, Mr.. Ma
Son was appointed To- these high and response
bile Offices by the President O? the United
States, aud lac received his nomination 1T
smomcnt when he least expected It.
IL was III ls2J 10, the first tine. that Iir. Ma
|. son was sent, as representative from his coun-
sty to the State Legislature. Durin. nearly
ten years successfully after every election, he
continued TO take par; IN the Legislative duties
sof this great political State body. Next, he
was elected during three different terms, mem.
,Lcr OF the |. :. Congress. At the expiration
!of his term. he resumed his former duties of
Judge While in Congress Mr. Mason acted
Is chairman of the Committee on Foreign Af
fairs, and starting from that point hc devoted
.hlmscif with especial ardor 20 the study Of IN
'tcrnational laws In iSii he was member OF
tine Cabinet under President TYLER, filling the
'ofice Of Secretary Of the Navy. When Mr..
Polk assumed the executive duties, Mr.. Mason
vas the only one 0: the ministers of the FOR.
mer Cabinet who took active part in public al.
FAIRS. and he was appointed b. the new PrcSi-
den; TO the office of L. 5. Attorney General.
Soon after this the war having broken out with
.Mc%iCO. caused Mr.. Mason 10 resume the office
HI Secretary Of the Navy. After the Conclu-
sion Of peace with Mexico, and the expiration
jpf Mr.. Folks term as United States President,
|Mr. Mason retired i.oin the political arena
lie returned to MS native county and only oc-
|cnpied himself with the particular interests OF
Virginia
In lso". he was elected by his former cons,i.
|tuent>, member OF the Convention then formed
to revise the Constitution Of Virginia, and he
bad the honor TO be elected TO the presidency
over this body by the unanimous votes Of this
|lSscmblagc OF lueu--ihc most eminent Of his
country. Three years later lac was solicited by
the President OF the United States to accept
the important post Of Minister PIenipo,cntiary
20 the Court at Paris, the distinguished and
delicate duties Of which Office hc has accom-.
pliShed 10 the present time with satisfaction TO
all parties.
The career OF this statesman has hcvu hap
py, fortunate and 4 varied one, aud yet nuSt
say that Mr. Mason never sought eagerly after
The high positions 10 which his tellow-cillzcE>
or the different executive departments called
him or honorcd him with. Perhaps there was
no other statesman in the United States who
knew 80 well as Nv. Mason, how to attract and
WIN most generally the esteem and the respect
oi ms countrymcn, or TO perform his political
duties, so As not only to effect such without
drawing upon HIM the slightest blame, but
also 10 obtain full appreciation for his conduct
and acuon Very lew, therefore, II, indeed,
any, can 6e found, who, like Mr.. Mason,
have been able t" retain So great 4 number of
true friends, rs well as secure public conf.
dence. May not We IN good truth, apply 10
him this term from Horace:
"NNate:5i:, quod non ornu,H'
Mr. Mason was elected from SOUTHAMPTON
county to represent that district in the Con.
vent;on to revise the Constitution which met 9TH
October 1899. At the early age Of thirty this
distinguished honor held out hopes OF future
usefulness that have been amply fulfilled
a seat in the Convention OF lS29-"o,
with Madison, Monroe and Marshall, with
Tyler, Giles, Randolph Talaferro, and Taze-
well! with Leigh, Scott and Johnson; with
Doddridge, Dromgoolc and S,anard, indicated
an appreciation Of Mr.. MaSon's abilities by the
people of his Dis;ric, of which every friend
may well be proud. In the discourse" on the
Virginia Convention of lS29-30," by Hugh |
D. Gr!ssby, though mainly speaking Of
those members who are no longer living" the
GiStinguiShun hnrl.n1,hn &C Nirninin'S illnc-