Middletown transcript., 1873-05-31
JOHN NJ. CLAYTON.

statesman, born at Dagsborough. Sussex
county, Delaware. July "a. 1856, died at
Dover, Kent county. November 0. 1856
He was the eldes, son af James Clayton.
Ga descendant Of Joshua Of that name,
who came to this country with William
PENN and Sarah Middleton. Of Virginia
ancestry. The pecuniary disasters that
befell the country soon after tho close Of
war Of 1912. reduced his father from af-
fluent to restricted means, and he almost
despaired Of educating his son, who gave
evidence Of talents Of high order but
he became able to place him in Yale Col
in 1915. In 1919 he completed his course
Of study at the Law school. and ent, red
Immediately upon the labors of his pro-
fession. in his own State On bis ad-
mission to the bar, he at once acquired
large practice, which be retained until ap-
pointed to the bench. This was achieved
no. less by his ability in the highest
court. than BY his skill before jury In
noted trial where ho was employ
ed to prosecute for the high offence Of
kidnapping, he succeeded, by his great
power Of cross-examna,ion, in so convict
ing leading witness for the defence Of
filsehood that the pcrjurer fell at the
stand and on all occasions where the
least suspicion Of equvoca,ion rested upon
a witness. he was sure to exact from him
the truth and the whole truth With
jurics he had great power His fine per-
sonal APPEARANCE. case and familiarity Of
address copiousness OF language. and
rare powers Of illustration, aided hy
thorough knowledge Of his case and Of the
feelings which influence the judgment Of
men, insured him the victory in all cases
where the subject { the contest called
those controlling qualities Into full exer.
else In January. 1887 he was nppoin.
ted 10 the chief justicc.hip Of Delaware,
but resigned inlt office after having held
It three years From more of bis lecis-
ions on the circuit wa. writ of error
ever taken They, aud those 10 the court
Of appeals are % be found in vol il Of
liarrlngton's . Reports A, the close
Of that book is decision made b. him in
the court Of general sessions, in the case
of an iudictmen, for blasphcmy. in which
the law upon that subject is thoroughly
discussed and settled Ia ls3l be was
elected by the voters Of Kent county. 10
the convention 10 revise the constitution
Of the STATE, aud was most active AMI
influential member Of that body. A
member # what was then the Adams aud
aiterwari the whig party he was elected
to 4 seat in the ; Senate in | ls29 sa.
reelected in ls35 rsigned in ls31 was
again elected in lsij resigned IN lsl9.
to take seat in the cabinet wa. again
elected in 1913. aud continued in the Of.
fee until bis death The first resignation
was ocaasionei by his acceptance from the
Governor Of the Office of chief Justice
the last by becoming secretary Of State
under the administration Of President
Taylor. Soon after he entered the senate
the famous debate on Foo,s resolution
occurred and. although the youngest
man in the chamber he made n speech
which secured for It's author place among
the leading members Of that body T.
the French spoliaiion question he also
gave his attention. and mode All impress
i've argument in favor Of paving the
claims. tue Of his most remarkable ef-
forts was speech delivered in 1853
against the message Of Pfcsiden, Pierce
vetoing the act celng public lands for an
insane asylum, commonly known as Miss
Dix's bill. During his career as chief
minister Of state We negotiated the cele-
brated treaty of 1880, with England
commonly called the Clayton Balwcr
treaty. a convention which it, friends have
ever regarded as the Inauguration 81 a
new ern in diplomacy, and memorable
also for tl.- debate in relation to it, inter-
probation during the session Of ls53, in
which Mr Clayton yindicated Taylor's al-
ministraton. and his own Character as a
statesman. from the assaults made upon
them, aud elIborately and powerfully SCI,
forth his views rs 10 the real meaning Of
the treaty From the year 1911, Mr.
Clayton turned his attention 10 the subject
Of agriculture, and became farmer upon
a tract Of land near New Castle. which in
a very few years he made one Of the
most productive estates in that rich coan-
try. No man of modern American times
has enjoyed a greater personal popularity
in his own State than Mr. Clayton Al
ways aeeesshl. to the humblest rs well rs
the highest he secured for himself de-
gree Of afee,ionatc regard, which his gc-
nal disposition and unlimited conversa-
tional powers were well calculated TO es-
tablish Notwithstanding his decided po-
ltical attachment and arden; advocacy Of
the doctrines which he espoused bis frank
ness Of manner and evident sincerity.
joined II an undisputcd love Of country
aud Of republican institutions. challenged
the respect Of his opponents; and when
he died none were more ready than they
to show the estimate in which they re-
garded his abilities and his patriotism In
1922, Mr.. Clayton was married - the
daughter Of DR.. James Fisher. Of Dtla-
ware who died after the birth of their
second son. This affliction became inter
woven with his whole existence, and be
never married again. The sons both died