Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-11-06
THE LENGTH OF SERVICE OF OUR LEADING
STATESMRN

"None Of our great men have held so many Offices,
nor enjoyed such long and uninterrupted official
as John Quincy Adams He Minister TO the Neither
lands under Washington I79496; Minister to Portugal
1861 Minister to Prussia during the Administration of
his father l797ls03; Senator 1sO3s Minister Rus
STA, under Madison 1s09-l3; Commissioner TO Client,
1894; Minister 10 England, lSl5-l7 Secretary Of
State under Monroe lSl724; President, I82329; and
member of Congress from 1881 to lS47 the date Of his
DEATH Thus in period of fftythree years. the inter.
walls between the laying down Of Office and the
sumption of another amount, when added together, TO
less than two years. PHILADELPHIA Press.
The official of General Lewis Cass has been
longer than that Of Mr. Adams. Commencing 4 men
Der of the first State Legsatureof Ohio flo 1902 he has
been in high public position SINCE period Of ffty
eight years. Within that time he has been Governor Of
Territory Indian Superintendent, Secretary Of War,
Minister 10 France United States Senator for twelve
years candidate for President and Secretary Of State
When he leaves the Secretary OF States Department in
1861, be will complete service Of about sixty years in
the high Offices Of the Government. He is indeed the
patriarch Of our statesmen 30 far as length OF official
service is concerned.
Martin Van Buren, while he has not been in Office
long of statesmen is the only that has
filed the four highest most dgni6ed and powerful po
stions under the American Constitution. He has been
Minister to England Secretary Of State, Vice President
snd President His public life commenced in 1903, as
Surrogate Of Columbia county, New York. which he left
for the State Senate and then as Attorney General Of
the State United States Senator Governor Minister 10
England Secretary Of State, Vice President and Pres
dent He was constantly before the people as an i'm
portant parsonage down his retirement from tho Pres
idency in 1884, period OF thrythree years. Perhaps
we ought not say that his public then closed
for he was prominent candidate for President before
the Baltimore Convention In 1874, and he ran as the
Freesoil candidate for President 10 lS4S.
Henry Clay's public career commenced in 1907 as
member of the Senate Of the United States and conclu
ded as a member Of the same body in 1882 an interval
of oryfve years. He United States Senator, mem
Der of the House. Speaker Of that body for twelve years
"A longer period than any other ever served in
that capacity-Mnister to Client of the Commis
soners conclude the peace with Great Britain in 1874
and Secretary of State from 1925 to 1929.
Thomas H. Benton served longer period in Congress
than any other of our public He entered the Uni
ted States Senate when Missouri admitted in 1921,
aud continued there until 1884, period Of thirty years.
He never held any other Office
John O. Calhoun entered the House Of Representatives
in lSll served there until 1877 when he became Sec
rotary of War under Mr. Monroe. In 1924 6e elect
ed Vice President and reelected in 1928 In 1881 be
resigned the station of Vice President become U. s.
Senator from South Carolina The reason of this extra
ordinary step that he might champion the cause OF
notification in the Senate and reply TO the arguments OF
Mr. Webster on that subject, which producing an
extraordinary effect the country. He continued In
the Senate until 1884, when he became Secretary CT
State under John Tyler In lS45 he reentered the Sen
ate and was member of it in 1880, when he died.
Daniel Webster TO the House Of Representatives,
in 1914 from New Hampshire. In 1920 he was elected
from Boston, Mass, to which city he had removed. In
1928 he elected the u s. Senate. In 1871 he
Secretary OF State. In S45 he again Senator
In 1850 he again took charge of the Department Of State
and filled that position at the time Of his DEATH His po
liaca career lasted about 20 years.