The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-21
STATESMEN OF THE LONG AGO.
The Death of Senator King-Some Old
Timers Whom His Name Recalls.
From the New York Graphic

Ah0 OedCn Ol oeudICr h1ng-SOme Old
Timers Whom His Name Recalls.
From the Ne,0 York Graphic.
John P. King, who died recently. al
his residence in Augusta, Ga, al
the ripe old age of SO, served in the
United States Senate at an earlier date than
any other statesman now living He en-.
tered the Senate in 1888, when Martin Van
Buren, was Vice President, and he remained
about four years. ending his Congressional
career by quickly made resignation 1t
came about in this way. The era was one
OF intense slaveocracy, and vet here and
there from the little bands Of sturdy Adolf
honistS of the North petitions began to be
sent into the Senate praying for the aboli-
ton OF slavery in The District Of Columbia.
The extreme pro-slavery men in the Cham
ter resolved to refuse receiving any SUI h
petitions and the storm their actions raised
spread all over the country. When the
question came before the Senate for con-
Sderaiion Mr.. King stood up in his place
and elCquently denounced the attempt
which was being made to deny to the people
OF the country the sacred right of petition.
and when the vote was taken upon the mat
ter his name was recorded in favor of re-
celving the petitions. For this action he
was harshly censured by many of the news
gla was evidently in accord with the jour
nals He was of an independent and
cratic character, and he promptly resigned,
never afterwards entering public ife
NO Other man who was in the Senate when
he entered it is now living, and so far as
can be ascertained the same is true of every
member Of the house of Representatives Of
the Iwenty-third Congre s that met on Dec
1883, and choose Andrew Stevenson, of
Virginia as Speaker.
Of the old-time Congressman vet alive,
Georce W. Jones, Of Dubuque, Ia, is the
one whose service dates the farthest back
be is IN his S7th Y, ar, and away off in 1885
ne was elected as delegate to Congress from
what was then the big Territory Of Wiscon-
SIN and included the pre-. ent States of Iowa,
w SconSln and Minnesota, together with
Dig slice of what has since become Dakotl.
" nen Iowa became State NJ. Jones was
made United State Senator, and forwards
held other places in the public service He
was extremely friendly to the South during
ene war aud was imprisoned in Fort War
rem Tor some time on charge of disloyalty.
de Is now living on farm near Dubuque.
ana only the other day his friends and
nelghborS i'll that city raised a neat sum of
money, paid off the mortgage on his home
stead and invested enough more in good
securities, so as to save the waning wears
Vi Tue good old statesman from trouble or
care.
:. New York State can name four men now
uFlag who sat in the House of Representa-
yves at an earlier date than any others now
IN except Mr. Jones'
henry A. Foster, of Rome, aged now IS
years, was elected to Congress in 1887, the
same year in which Martin Van Buren, was
GcT6osen President. At the same election
hiram Gray, of Elmira, was also n success
1uI candidate for a seat in the House, and
70 was Richard p. Marvin, of Jamestown,
ana Amasa J. Parker, of Albany Mr..
gray has now passed his Seth year, Mr.
marvin is 50 and Mr. Parker 81. All of
mem have been Judges of the Supreme
court and are yet in the enjoyment Of a
green and hearty old age
4, BESIDES these statesmen of the long ag o
she man whose name is found the farthest
PACK IN the Congressional Record and ~ no
Is vet alive is the venerable Robert c. Win
Inrop, of Massachusetts, who was the other
nay elected one of the Vice Presidents of the
Washington Monument Association and
was IN the National Capital, clipper as
young man Of 40, though his fourscore
limestone IS looming mp in view. He was
rent TO the House of Representatives in 1910,
ana served ten years, and was twice elected
Speaker. -