The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-02-25
YistOriral.
Some Curious Facts About Members
of Congress.


of Congress.
During the first forty-fve congresses, all
but l42 out of the 5,337 members were
born in the United States-New York hav-
ing 705, Pennsylvania 599, Virginia 535,
Massachusetts, 439, and Connecticut $40.
Most of our foreign-born statesmen have
come from Ireland, England, Scotland and
Germany; have followed in about equal
proportion. There have been two who
were born in Bavaria, two from Bermuda,
FIVE from Canada, seventeen from England,
FIVE from France, twelve from Germany
fifty-two from Ireland, one from Madeira,
one from the Netherlands, one from New
Brunswick, one from Nova Scotia, twenty
one from Scotland, two from Switzerland,
four from Wales. and four from the West
Indies. Out of that long list there have
been some 2,000-considerably less than
half-who received classical, collegiate,
or liberal education. 1t has been the Gus
tom, more observed in the Eastern States
than in the West to send their representa-
tiyes TO congress for long continued periods.
The occupations Of congressman EN-
brace nearly every branch of modern in
dustry and the professions. Yet there have
been representatives of some occupations
with whom the newcomers viii hardly think
il an honor to be elassed. Among them
may be mentioned one prize-Gghter. one
murderer aud one barber
From the colonial days to the present it
has happened that several generations of
the same faD.iiy have served in one or both
branches Of congress. The most notable
among these are the Adamses. Bayards,
Breckenridges, Harrisons, Chandlers. Stock
tons, Frelinghuysens. and Holsters.
4 complete record Of the number of
congressman who have been engaged in
duels has never been kept; but the num-
Der who have died in Affairs Of honor IS
pretty well known,
Alexander Hamilton. secretary Of the
treasury under Washington, leader Of the
Federalist party, and leading spirit in the
formstica of the Constitution, was mortally
wounded by Aaron Burr, at Hoboken, July
;. 1904.
Richard Spaight, Of North Carolina, was
the iirsi To die in = duel lie served in
the constitutional Congress, and sat in the
convention which framed the Constitution.
He was killed BY his SUCCESSOR in Con
grCss, John Stanley The latter was tried
and sentenced 10 imprisonment but was
parlancd by Gov. Williams, Of North Car
olins, in year. Stanley Was subsequently
electcd to CongreSs
Thomas X Harris. Of Tennessee, died
in 1916 from wounds received in a duel
with Colonel Simpson.
Spencer Pcitis was killed in a duel
fought with Major Thomas Biddle, at St
Louis, August 26, 1881. The duel arose
out of 4 quarrel over the United States
Bank, the president Of which, Nicholas
Biddlc. WAS the hFosher &C the challenger
Armstead T. Mason, ex-senator from
Virginia, fell in a duel fough, near Wash
ington city with John McC'arty, his broth
er-in-law, in 1919
Joseph Pierson, Of North Carolina, died
from duel fought in 1894, with John
jackson.
Jonathan CiIlcy, Of Maine, died from
shst recriyed ia a duel fought Feb. >,
ISIS, 6rcd BY William J Graves, az Ken
taeky. Graves was subsequently, elected
20 Congr,=S
Geopgc a wagsaman. United States
Senator from Louisiana, host his life in a
duel near New Orleans, March %, 1S43.
George Poindcxier, representative from
Mississippi fought duel with merchau,
and killed him about ls35.
There have been many duels which were
hles-dlezs. Among them the following are
the most notable
Those between Henry Clay and Hum
phrvy Marshall, and between Clay and
John Randolph, of Virginia. Samuel W
Inge, Representative from Alabama, fought
az Bladensburg with Edward Stanley, Of
South Carolina, in the Thirsy.frss Congress,
neither being seriously injured
John $ jackson, of the Thirty-seyenth
Congrs~S, fought several duels, one with
Thomas F. Marshall. none resulting 50
rionsly
Leonard JARVIS, member from Maine,
challenged colleague, f. o. j. Smith,
from the Portland district, in about the
Twenty.fourth Congress, but the latter de.
elined TO igh,
There have been number Of members
who have committed suicide
Haywood Chauneey Riddle shot himself
through the head in Tennessee, about 1925.
lie was undoubtedly insane
james Blair, Representative from South
Carolina, blew out his brains at board
ing.house on Capitol Hin, April |, 1884.
Felix Mcconnell, member from Ala
banla, committed suicide in a fit Of deli
rum, at the St Charles Hotel, Washing
ton, by stabbing himself and then cutting
his throat, September 10, 1876
Representative james Ashmore, from
South Carolina, blew out his brains at
Sardis, Miss, December 6, 1861.
Elijah Hise, Representative in the Fer
tieth Congress, committed suicide at Rus
scllvilie, Ky, May s, 1876.
John White, Representative from Ken
tueky, committed suicide AT Richmond,
Ky, September %, ls45.
james g. Wilson, United States Senator
from New jersey, threw himself from his
htucc ih y NJ VI uNtiftuiil Va ACO-s anu WIS
killed.
William Ramsey, Representative from
Pennsylvania, committed suicide at Bar
NUNS hotel, in Baltimore, by shooting
himself through the eye with pistol, about
1910.
John Ewing, of Indiana. was found dead
in his room at Vincennes in 1899, and on
his table the following epitaph:
Here lies a man who loved his friends,
His God, his country and fincenncs
Representative Alfred H. White, of Ohio,
suicide by taking poison on the
grave of his two children, at Columbus,
August l, 1865. He was charged with
improper acts in connection with cotton
speculations.
James Henry Lane, United States Sena-
tor from Kansas, committed suicide at Fort
Leavenworth, about 1866.
James $. johnson, Representative from
Kentucky, committed suicide while suffer
ing from Ill health, at 0wensboro, KY,
February II, 1873.
A number of Congressman and ex-Con-
gressmen have met with accidental deaths
Clement S. Vallandigham died from the
accidental discharge of pistol in 1870,
while arguing murder case at Lebanon,