The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-11-25
VOLUME XLIII.
Biographical Sketch Of Hon. ]. FIN
Claiborne.
From the West Point News
BY W. B. F.


Ills mother was q native Of Natcbez
Miss, daughter of Col. Anthony Hutchins
a British officer, who obtained a large gran
from the crown, while this was a British
province, and settled upon it man n
mark and influence in his day.
q Their eldest son was named after tn.
Baron John Francis Hamtramck, a German
.thcer, Colonel of the First Regiment T.
;. Infantry, Wayne's Legion, ihwhich the
father had been Captain and Adjutant.
The ClalbOrne's of Virginia Missouri
tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas
are all descended from Col William Clai-
borne, the famous Secretary of Virginia.
during the reign of Charles LIST, Crom well
and Charles ID. He is STYLED in history
: The Evil Genius of Maryland" because,
IN defense of territories of Virginia, he
made war on that province, and twice seized
and occupied It's capitol. He came from
the manor of Claiborne or Ceborne, West
moreland, England, where the tombs and
mural monuments of the family still remain
Gen. Patrick Cleborne, who fell in the
assault on Franklin, Tennessee, was of the
same lineage, branch of the family hav-
ing emigrated to Ireland.
After the death of General Claiborne, his
| eldest son was sent to his relatives in Vir-
ginia to be educated On his return to
| Mississippi, he entered the law office of
/ Griffith d Quitman, at Natchez, but his
| health failing, he went to Havana, and
/ there applied himself to the study of the
/ French and Spanish languages, Six months
thereafter, he entered the law school of
! Gen. Alexander Smyth, Wytheville, Vir~
! ginia, and was in due course, admitted to
the bar.
His intention was to settle at Liberty,
Bedford county, a district where he had
many friends, but it was thought that a
warmer climate was advisable, and he re-
I'm 70 Il Il IL,
excitement of Presidential election, and
being an ardent Democrat, and of impul-
slve nature, was soon drawn into the con-
test a speaker and writer; catching,
readily the contagion of journalism, vo-
cation which once entered upon, is rarely
ever abandoned
Before he was twenty-One, he was brought
out for the Legislature, and elected by a
decided majority. He was again elected
and reelected, each time by increasing ma
jorities. When the Legislature (I833) con-
vened, Mr.. Claiborne was presented by the |
eastern members, as their candidate for |
speaker; and in caucus it was ascertained |
that his election would be unanimous, but |
he declined in favor of his relative the |
venerable Col. Joseph Dunbar, of Jefferson |
county, who was then unanimously chosen. |
Of the gentlemen who ran for State offices |
at that election and of the members of the |
Senate and House of Representatives at |
that session, Mr.. Claiborne, then the feeblest |
Of them all, is the only survivor
Mr. Claiborne now left his native county, |
and purchased what is known as the ''Stand
ley Prairie" neaf the line of Holmes and |
Carroll counties, neither of which had been
organized In a year or two, he removed 10
Madison county, and directly afterwards,
(lS3j) was nominated for Congress, by the
first Democratic convention that ever as
sembled in the State. The Hon. j. W.
Wright, of Monroe, and himself, were nomi
mated by reclamation. Judge Wright de-
clining, Col. B. w. Edwards, Of Kinds, was
substituted.
Martin Van Buren, had then been nomin-
ated as the Democratic candidate for the
Presidency. Judge White, of Tennessee,
who had been a Democrat all his life, was
an Independent candidate, supported by
hosts of personal friends, and by the South
ern Wings generally, This had produced
dangerous scism il. TIE Democratic party in
Mississippi, and the coalition confidently
expected to carry the State for White, and
for representatives to Congress on his ticket
These were Gen. David Dickson, of Kinds,
and Col. James G. Wilkins, of Adams, two
of the Oldest, most influential and worthy
citizens of the State, hOnored and respected
by men of all parties. The canvas was
active and thorough. Van Buren, received
1919 votes White $685. But Dickson
[ VI '
elected by very large majorities.
Gen. Jackson was still President, but his
successor would soon be inaugurated. The
ilustrious triumvirate, Clay, Calhoun and
Webster were in the Senate surrounded
by many distinguished colleagues. John
Quincy Adams was a member of the House,
and it was crowded with the most brilliant
men of the nation, nearly all of whom have
passed to their final accounts. Not more
than half dozen survive. !
OF Mr.. Claiborne's standing in Congress, I
there is abundant evidence in the Journals !
IF the House, and in the leading newspa- d
DerS of Mississippi and elsewhere. He was {
placed on the Committee on Foreign Rela- :
ions, at a period when northeastern bound !
Try involved the question of war or peace, l.
md was there brought into association with
he most eminent statesmen. His speech |
n reply to Mr.. Chiffon Allen, of Kentucky,
n defence of the settlers on public lands, c
established his reputation as a debater.
The New York Evening Post, (then con- 0
lucted by William G. Bryant, the distin-
,uished editor and poet), of February I'd,
ays
The cause of humanity and equal rights q
las gained an able advocate, in the Hon. o
Ir. Claiborne of Mississippi. High-spirited, .
earless and independent, possessing natural f
alent of the first order, and extensive acquire
nents he bids fair to be an ornament to the Q
louise and country. Hisspeech in defence of g
he settlers on the public domain, delivered A
pom an amendment offered by him to the II
asolution of Mr.. Allen, of Kentucky, h
'ould do honor to the orators of Greece or n
tome The best judges pronounce 1t h
nished specimen of logic and eloquence. n
should be ia ake hands of every friend OF F
and equal rights" &c
His speeches on other questions of the n
ay were highly commended. His vener~ n
bic colleague, Gen. Dickson, (between
HON and Mr.. Claiborne the warmest friend -
Zip existed) died before the expiration OF = =
is term, and Mr.. Claiborne communicated ~
le intelligence to the House in terms that al
ne press everywhere pronounced affecting q
nd eloquent. >,
Col, Samuel J. Gholson was elected to "
Il the vacancy, defeating Gen. Jno. A. o.
uitman After the adjournment OF Con. ~
ress, these two gentlemen intended to stand &c
n reelection, at the regular election In q u
ovember. But the condition of the coun- p
" induced President Van Buren, to call an p
ctra session. and the Governor of Mlssls- - u,
mi issued his proclamation for a special "
eetion in July. In that instrument he ~
ated that the persons then elected would t =.
rye until the regular election IN NoVem- - ~
,r. On that point, however, the press and ls
le people generally, differed with MN;
was apparently, universally conceded ,
,at he possessed no authority to abrldge y.
- term fixed by the constitution, and y
'cb marty assumed that the persons elected ~
nder his proclamation would either be n
enied admission altogether, or be admitted =
r the entire Congress. Messrs Gholson "a
"a Claiborne were announced as the Ad- O.
illustration candidates, and Mr.. :.
rentiss, the renowned orator. ana Gen l. h.
Co.'S distinguished lawyer of Columbus, n p'
tha onnosition. After a thorough can % %
80 the two former were elected by large ~ a.
When Congress net, and the members a.
ere being sworn in, the right Of the gen F.
sman from Mississippi to be sworn vas =