Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-10-23

From a Photograph by Lindsey IL Brown
For fifty years Gen. Clingman has beer
conspicuous in almost every phase OF life
in North Carolina. He stood in the
United States senate the equal in many
respects of any Of his compeers, when
that body was known throughout the
world for the great ability of its mem.
bers.
Thomas Lanier Clingman was born in
Huntsville, n. C., July ~, 1912. He
was graduated at the University OF
North Carolina in 1882 with high hon.
ors, after which he studied law and was
elected member of the legislature He
settled in Ashcvillr in 1896. and was sent
to he state senate in 1910. Later he
was elected as whig to congress, and
served continuously y from Dec. 4, 1913 till
June Il, 1858, with the exception OF the
Goth congress. During his long career in
the house, extending over thirteen wears,
he participated in nearly all Of the i'm
portant debates, and as chairman of the
himself with ability. His first week in
congress was marked by an encounter
with Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, in which
he displayed great readiness and self pos
session. His speech against the SO called
"2lst rule was extensively published,
and his reply to Duncan coon speech"
made decided impression
Later his speech on lie causes OF Henry
Clay's defeat led to a duel between him
sell and William l.. Yancey, OF Alabama.
He also made important speeches on the
slavery question, on Gen. Scott's con-
duct in Mexico, the tariff, against COM
mcrcial restrictions, on mediation in the
eastern war, Texas debts, British policy
i'll Cuba, and especially against the Clay.
ton-Bulwer treaty.
1t is said that while a member OF con-
gress Gen. Clingman attcndedevery days
session of the house without single ex-
ception. He was originally whig, but
subsequently Joined the democratic
party. In 1858 ON the appointment OF
Asa Biggs United States Judge for the
district OF North Carolina, Gen. Clingman
was selected by the governor to ill the
vacancy in the senate, and subsequently,
elected for six years.'atter March 4, 1861;
but he withdrew with the southern mem
bers on January 2l, 1861. In May OF
that year he was sent as a commissioner
to the confederate congress to give as
surance that North Carolina would CO.
operate with the confederate states and
was invited to participate in the discus
sions of that body. He entered the con.
federate army as colonel. and on MAY
II, 1862, was appointed a brigadier
general in command OF the Sth, 3lst,
51st and 61st North Carolina infantry.
He served through the war, surreddcr-
ing with Gen. Joseph Z. Johnson in
April, 1865. He was a delegate to the
national democratic convention held in
1868. In 1855 he measured and made
known through the mithsonian institu-
ton the highest point of the Black noun
tain since designated as "Clingman'S
peak" and in 1858 he determin-
ed the highest point of the Smoky
mountains designated on the maps OF the
coast survey as Clingmans dome" He
also made known the existence in North
Carolina of the diamond, ruby, plati-
mum, corundum and many other rare
minerals. and the important mica mines
in Mitchell and Yancey county were first
opened by him.
Since the close of the war Gen. Cling
man has devoted his attention to mining
and to scientific and literary pursuits,
He has published volume OF his speeches
(lS7S) and minor works, including
"Follies OF the Positive Philosophers"
(Raleigh, 1871.