Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-03-24

Win many distinguished men among
whom were Henry Clay, General
Harrison, subsequently President !;
Henry Baldwin, John Sergeant,
Philip p. Barbour, John Floyd, r.
NJ. Johnson, subseQue ntly Vice.
President Henry st. George Tuck
err, Charles Fenton Mercer, etc. Al
though but young man and a young
member, he took an active and prom
inent part in the proceedings of that
body. His speeches on the Com
mutation Of soldiers pay" for relief
to the surviving Revolutionary
soldiers" in favor of 1.-THE Internal
Improvement powers OF Congress,
upon 1.-THE Migration of Slaves"
upon "the Reduction OF the Staff of
the Army" and especially his elab-
crate speech on the resolution Of the
Military Committee condemning the
conduct of General Jackson, for
the execution Of Arbutnot and Am
brester in the Seminole war, show
not only his ability and self reliance
but the extent of his information,
and his capacity to take leading
part in any deliberatiye assembly.
He seems to have participated in all
the discussions of that body to have
grappled in debate with the foremost
intellects, and to have maintained
his opinions with firmnesS and abil-
ity.
After the close of his most credi,
table service in Congress, Mr.. Col
ston found it necessary, in conse-
quence Of the increasing age and in
firmities of his father, to give his at
tention to the Honeywood estate in
this county and also to the extensive
landed possessions of his father, in
Virginia and Kentucky.
Mr.. Colston was elected to the
House of Delegates from this coun-
ty in 1923 and 1924, and was again a
candidate for Congress i'm 1925 In
this contest he was defeated by VIM.
Armstrong of Hampshire. The Mar.
tinsburg Gazette of the 2Sth of April
1925, in referring to the defeat of
Mr.. Colston
1--WE were present on Monday last
and heard Mr.. Colston address the
voters. He exposed in a concise, elo-
quent and convincing manner the
glazing calumnies that had been in
dustriOusly circulated against him,
and left deep impression on the
minds Of the people of the gross in
justice which had been done him by
these ISLANDERS and which had result.
ed in his defeat"
No doubt Mr.. Colston was grossly
illuminated in that canvass, but
the real cause Of his defeat was the
Reorganization and disruption OF
the party Of which he had been so
conspicuous a member. The Fed
eralists ceased to exist as a National
Party after the close Of the war with
Great Britain, and whilst that may
not have been the direct issue invol,
we'd, yet he had been too distinguish
ed in its history, not to be made to
share the consequences OF it's fall.
Some amend, however, was made to
his disappointed ambition by his
unanimous election to the House of
Delegates, in 1928, by the voters Of
Berkeley. He was again reelected
in 1927, 1888 and 1884.
Whilst in Richmond he formed
the acquaintance Of Miss Sarah Jane
Brockenbrough, the intelligent and
accomplished daughter of Judge
William Brockenbrough, to whom
he was married-from which mar
riage has resulted highly educated
and interesting family OF sons and
daughters.
Mr.. COlston was commissioned a
magistrate of the County Court in
1918, and no one could have taken q
more lively interest in the perform
ance of its important and responsible
duties than he did. His intelligence,
his knowledge of law, his integrity,
his high sense of justice, gave to all |
his decisions, whether on the Bench
or in pals, a weight and authority
accorded to but few of his brethren.
He was also commissioned High |
Sheriff OF Berkeley county and acted |
as such in 1874 and 1845.
Although a Federalist and concur
ring with his party in opposition to |
the declaration OF war against Great |
Britain, yet when war was declared |
ny tlC COl6titubcu oubuOtiticos h0 |
as a member of Captain
Artillery Company soon
reached the rank of Lieutenant and
was present, near Norfolk, when
the combined military and naval at.
tack was made by the British upon
the defenees Of that important city.
He bore the reputation OF a brave
and concentrations soldier.
Mr.. ColStOn was member OF
the Episcopal church, sincere and
practical christian and an ardent
promoter of all institutions and en-
looking to the advance
ment of religion, and to the spread
Redeemer of the world.
Mr.. Colst0n died suddenly-unex-
in the twinkling OF an eye
from some affection Of the heart,
on the 23rd of April, 1851. He left