The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-06
Tne I..lcEaor, =; 81, 9SnTason..

the; ;RishmRpd Dispas brought us the:
news IL the; e;death Of The Hon. Jah. Muir,
Tray MRsoni at his residence, ClarenH,;
near Alexsndria, in the;sBeyen enty-fourth
ycar OF his age. Mr.. Mason yves born.
| on Analostan Island, near Georgetown,
in 1898. Ho graduated in 1913 at the
University of Pennsylvania, studied law
at William and Mary College. in this
State, was admitted to the practice in
1920, after q term of probation lin the
office of benjamin Watkins Loigh, Of
this city, and soon after established him.
self as a practitioner ut the bur in Win
chester, Va. He was repeatedly elected
to the Legislature as Representative of
the County Of Frederick, and in 1887 he
was elected a member Of Congress from
his district. In 1847 he was elected by
the Virginia Legislature Senator OF
the United States. which high position
he held until 1861, when he resigned his
ssat and took sides With his State in the
! struggle for tho division of the Union
and the establishment of the Southern
Confederncy. He served ten years in
| the House of Representatives. and in the
Senate fourteen, making the long period
of twenty-four years service in the ma
tional councils. His subsequent career
is fresh in the memory Of all. He was
appointed with Mr.. SlideIl commissioner
to England, and embarked with that
gentleman on tho British steamer Trout,
from Havana, but was soon after given
mp to Captain Wilkes, of tho San ia
cinto, who overhauled the Trent aud de-
mauded the surrender of the Confede.
rate ENJOYS and their secretaries. For
some weeks they were detained at Fort
Warren, from which they were delivered
on the most peremptory demand from
England. They sailed for England at
the Gloss of December, 1861.
During Mr.. Mason's residence in Eng
land, he was much esteemol. Tue
greatest possible consideration, and
every attention., were shown him. He
| was invited everywhere, much sought
after, and did much to educate the
minds of enlightened Englishmen, and
especially Of leading members of Parlia-
ment. in regard to the true causes OF the
American war. After the olose OF the
war, Mr.. Mason returned to America and
took up his residence ut Ningnrn, to-
| gether with Gen. Early, Gen. .Breckin-
ridge, Commissioner Helm, and others,
| with their families, who we're not willing
to take the oath of allegiance. After
President Johnson's second proclama-
tion, he determined to spend the re-
mainder of his life near his relatives,
and purchased n-smsll place near the
Episcopal Seminary. three miles West Of
Alexandria, his own beautiful home near
Winchester having been sacked and laid
in ruins by the Federal forces who
ravaged the valley during the war. Gen.
Cooper and Capt. g. Smith Lee married
sisters of Mr.. Mason, and resided also
near Alexandria. ,...r'.'i,. 'A
Mr.. Mason was not man of geRius,
but he had a strong mind and. good
and for public virtue and personal integ
rity, was o fit companion of the mobiles:
men of the revolutionary age.
The Mason family was Que of diatino-
ton in England, and its descendants in
this country have maintained its fame
and influence. Mr.. Mason WAS the
grandson of George Muson, one of tho
most distinguished OF the fathers Of the
revolution, the personal friend of wash
ington, and the author of the Vir-
ginia bill OF rights. We copy ths fol-
lowing tribute to the worth of Senator
Mason from the Washington PahDt:
"He was the cotemporary Of Calhoun,
MoDuffie, Mangum. Webster. Clay,
Southard, Dayton, Davis, Cass, Wright,
Badger, Douglas, Johnson, living,
King, buchanan. Evans, Pierce, Gorwin
and others Of that stamp Of grestness,
but few OF whom yet linger on thescene
While Mr.. Mason was not regarded as
broad statesman, or remarkable fer gifts
Of oratory, he preserved an individuality
which always commanded the respect Of
the Senate. Solid education, training ut
tue bar. and large experience in public
affairs. necessarily fitted him for the
Influential position which he long occu-
pied as Chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations. He was man Of
earnest and upright conviction, and Of
the most sterling integrity. His opinions
might be erroneous, but no oao ever
doubted their entire sincerity, or attri-
butcd to him m unworthy motive. True
chlvnlry was part Of his nature. and
strong ns were his feelings, le vas inca
pablc of nuy net or thought inconsistent
with manly character. strict d,ty, or
; generous aetermjnation
The system of cumulative voHng has
inst been practically tested ut Blooms
burg, Penn. and to the great satisfac
ton of oil parties. Three sets If candi-
dates were in the field, and Tho city