The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-29
W. G. g. CLAIBORNE.

w. q, u. ULAIBURNH,
In our brief notice Of our late lamented and
venerated fellow-citizen, w. G. G. Claiborne,
we made few errors and omissions OF fact,
which it Is due to his memory should be cor
rected One Of these errors has been adopted
by our neighbor, the Picayanae, with the addi-
ton OF on even graver one, with which we
are not chargeable. This Is the error, which
would place an invariable and distinguished
oId-time chief of the Wing party In an atti-
tude of violent conflict with the whole tenor
OF his political life by identifying him with
another member Of the Claiborne family who
has always been m equally tenacious member
of the Democratic party. 1t was Mr.. J. i. Ell
Claiborne, now at on age exceeding that OF
his late cousin, residing near Natchez, who
was connected with Mr. Emile LaSere In the
editorship Of that staunch old Democratic
Journal The family Of the Claibornes has
| been so conspicuo1sly identified with every
era and every great event in the history OF the
| Southwest as to make 1t duty In all public
| chronicers to record with accuracy and fidel-
| ity their respective histories
Woo. Claiborne was the first son of the
| first American Governor OF Louisiana by his
second wife, Miss Durable, of prominent
Creole family. Gov Claiborne lost his first
wife, n Tennessee lady, In the first year OF his
administration. A daughter by this lady
died on the same day Or the day before. The
mother and daughter were deposited In the
same tomb, which may now be found in the
Old st. Louis Cemetery, on Basin street.
This great bereavement, followed by the sad
tragedy of the death of his wife's brother and
the Governors private secretary, brilliant
young man of twenty-four, saddened and
embittered the following years of the young
Governor 70 add to these griefs, q few
factionsts and selfish partsans had sought
to hindle and embitter against the Governor
certain local and race anmosities and preju-
dices which, while socially and personally an
moving, did not disturb the even tenor of his
wise, energetic and popular administration of
| the government of the State. Finally, he
conquered and extinguished all this antagon-
ism by marrying an accomplished and anna
BILE Creole lady, who became the mother Of
the subject of this sketch. The family Of the
| Duralde's had intermarried with that Of the
Clays of Kentucky, a brother Of Henry Clay
marrying q sister Of Gov Claiborne's wife,
and younger Durable marrying daughter
Of the great Kentuckian.
| w. G. c. Claiborne was born In 1903. He
was always o steady and studious boy and
young man, and was educated with great
care and with the view Of qualifying him for
public life. With good college training he
entered the Office of Henry Clay at Lexing-
ton, and devoted several years to the study
of law. Returning to his native city, the
| cares of d large estate prevented his entering
upon the active practice of his profession
His distinguished father, who, despite the
preiudces which had been aroused against
him in the first years Of his administration,
had managed to render himself SO popular
among the ancient population Of the State
that, In the first election for Governor, he
triumphed by large majority over Gen.
Villere, the most popular and influential
Creole in the State. Finally he reached the
summit of his ambition when he was chosen
Senator from Louisiana to the United States
Senate Before taking his seat he died, In
the year 1917, at the age OF forty-five.
The sons first public service was in the po-
sition of Secretary Of Legation to France,
when Edward Livingston was appointed Min
lister to that court No one was better quail
fled or discharged with more dignity and ur-
banity the duties of this office than W. q. g.
Claiborne Whilst residing in Paris he mar
ried the estimable lady who became the
, mother Of those sons and daughters who 80
nobly represent the virtues and high qualities
of their proud and distinguished lineage.
Though never an ambitious or Jealous poll
/ tcian, and always patriotic and public
spirited citizen, Mr.. Claiborne had performed
q well and honorably much public service. He
: was for many years member OF the Legls-
~ latrre and Speaker Of the House Of Repre-
= sentatives for several terms. He had served
G. in the constitutional convention Of 1885, anC
q in the Municipal Council, and in the first
, Board of Aldermen under the consolidated
city charter, ex-president of the Citizens ant
!. other banks and of various other corpora
# tons.
4 In politics he was an earnest devotee to thu
q fortunes Of the old Wing party as long as BIZ
q friend and tutor, Henry Clay, welded tn
v baton of chief Of that great party. When In
Wing party disappeared from the politica
arena, Mr.. Claiborne retired from all concern
d and interest in national politics and identified
d himself with the fortunes and defense Of hi
j. native State and section Throughout tn
l. irving scenes of the past fifteen years thi
L. State and section had no more devoted, loya
1t and patriotic son than W. G. G. Claiborne. t
r his native city his loss is q great one. Ell
n leaves behind him few, indeed, whose descend
j. ants may point to record so honorable, III
IS blemished so consistent and harmonious a
"a examplar, so worthy of the study and imita
" ton of the present and OF future generations
g, ~~---------
st The Mortmart vs.. MOrtmard case show
le how much of republic France is. TIL
in