The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-02-07
The FIRST Catholic Elected to Congress

Few American LAWYERS Of his day at
tanned a higher reputation for legal sci
ence or won more universal respect
than William CASTOR of New Berne.
N. G.. says the Catholic News. One OF
the handful Of Catholics in the Old
North State. he was elected to Congress,
and was raised to the bench, which he
honored bv his Wise and able decisions.
Judge Story, regarded justly as the
abest expounder Of our constitution.
regarded Judge CASTOR so highly that
he induced Harvard College to confer
on the Catholic judge, statesman and
LAWYER the degree of doctor OF laws.
He was born al New Berne, September
l9, 1778, his father, DR.. Alexander Gas
ton, having been an ardent patriot.
whose zeal in the cause of American in
dependence lea to his being shot by the
Tories in the summer Of 1871. The pa
triots widow--one of the noble mothers
of great men-.was a WON I'll of superior
mind, broad education and q devout
Catholic Grained by her, her son
acquired character, maniiDess, faith
and wisdom. When the illustrl0ns DIR.
Carroll succeeded in opening ate 3orge-
town his long projected Catholic COL
lege, Mrs, CASTOR was one OF the first to
appreciate the immense advantages OF
a Catholic education and resolved to
place her son there.
The first pupil TO enter was William
CASTOR, of North Carolina, whose
mother had trained her son zea'0nsly in
the faith of her forefathers. Or this
pupil We cannot do letter than quote
the words Of j. Fairfax McLaughlins an
aIumnus of the university, whose elo-
quent tongue and pen have more than
once placed attractively before all read
ers the annals OF the university: 1.-The
first BOY entered on the roll of students
was William CASTOR, of North Carolina
first not only in time. but in talents
and distinction in the whole history of
tie college. A profound scholar and All
orator of the first rank, William CASTOR
entered the House Of Representatives
in 1878 and delivered there one of the
half d " m really great speeches which
have been beard in Congressional upon
the tyranny of the previous question::
sat in the House for four wears, WAS an
acknowledged leader of the Federal
party and might have been President,
had he not been what was better-a
pious Catholic To HIM belongs the
honor of having endorsed Henry Clay
in debate-an achievement never before
or afterwards accomplished by any
other of the contemporaries OF the illus
trious Mill Boy Of the Siashes. CASTOR
also had the honor on one occasion OF
receiving the services of Daniel Web
ster as an amanuensis. He bad made a
wonderful speech in the House, and
when Mr.. Webster urged him to pub
lish it. MI. G aston replied that he had
spoken impromptu from few notes,
and felt an invincibIe Tepugnance to
writing out that Or any other speech la
ex1enso. VERY WE'LL said Webster,
seating himself at the table, take your
notes and dictate. that speech, and will
play amanuensis.
Young CASTOR made some terms at
Princeton, and desoting himself to the
legal profession, WAS admitted to the
North Carolina bar in 1898 and was
SOON the leading lawyer of the State.
The next year he was elected to the
State Senate from Craven county. In
1903 we find him Speaker of the House
of Delegates. During four years that
he represented North Carolina in Con
gress he ranked with Lowndes, Ran
doIph, Calhoun. CLAY and Webster.
Some of the best legislation, State AID
national. are due TO the wisdom OF Gas
ton. From 1884 till his death be, was
Judge OF the Supreme Court Of y orth
carolina. In 1885 he was . nember Of