The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-29
,OBITUARY.
Ex-senator James Nj. Maso,


A despatch from Washington announces the
death, near Alexandria, Virginia, or the Hon. James
Murray Mason, for many years Senator of the
United States, and celebrated in connection with
his seizure by Admiral wilkes on board the steamer
Trent in the early stage OF the recent civil war. He
was the lineal descendant OF an English Cavalier
who escaped from the fatal field OF Worcester in
1861, and came to America purchasing a
plantation in Virginia, where his descendants
became one OF the leading and most influential
families in the State under the old slave regime.
James Murray Mason was the grandson OF Colonel
George Mason, the first OF the family who rose to
prominence in this country and was born on Ana
lostan Island, Fairfax county, Va, on the Sd OF
November, 179S. He received good education,
which was completed at the University of Pennsyl-
vsnia, in this city, where he graduated in 1915 He
then studied law at the College OF William and Mary
in Virginia aAd was admitted to the bar in 1920.
Entering upon politicallIfe MIR. Mason was elected
a member OF the Virgihia House OF Delegates in
1896 and from that time forward TO the outbreak OF
the Southern Rebellion was seldom out OF ONCE. He
was twice reelected TO the Virginia House OF Dele
gates serving meanwhile q Representative in
Congress from 1887 to 1888; In ls47 entered the
United States Senate az successor to Senator Pen
nvpacker, serving by successive reflections until
the outbreak of the Rebellion the last for which
he had been elected not expiring uRtl 1868. For
several sessions he acted chairman OF the Senate
Committee Oh Foreign Relations, In which position
prominence. He belonged to the extreme Southern
wing OF the Democracy, aud was a devoted cham
piOn OF secession from The start and January &C.
1861, was the FIRST to sign address to the people
OF Virginia from their representatives. in Congress,
warning them that sit vain to hope for any
measures OF conciatOn or adjustment from Con-
gress which they could accept" This address
further declared that the signers were Satisfied
that the Republican party designed, by civil war
alone, to coeTce the Southern States,
under the preteEt of enforcing the laws,
unless it should become speedily apparent
that the seeding States were so numerous,
determined, and Hnited as to make such an attempt
hopeless" Pending the vote OF the people OF the
State on ratfying the ordinance OF secession, Mr..
Mason also made direct appeal TO them to vote
afnrmatiyely, and in short, proved himself to be
arrant traitor the Old pOminion produced
througho ut the war.
Mr.. Mason withdrew frem the Senate with the
rest OF the Virginia dees alton, bat formally
PEELED by resolution in July 1861. He became dele
gate from Virginia to the Provisional Rebel Congress
which assembled at Montgomery, bat resigned in
the fall OF 1851 TO 60 TO Ragland com nissisRer
OF the Confederate Government On October l2 he
sailed from Charleston, accom- npsnied by E. j.
Mcfarland secretary, and By John Blidell, OF
Louisiana, the Confederate Commissioner to France,
and his secretary, George Kusts. On the Path the
party arrived ct Havana, where they emu parked on
November on the ROYAL EDglish mail stea mer
Trent. On the following day, Admiral then Captain,
" W1kes, " command VI tAS Unitsd STATES Ran-oE.