Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-07

meridian he was almost invincible before
the people, and may of the most august
bodies in the land. into whose membership
his adrniring fellow-citizens voted him,
conceded 10 him high place and to oil OF
his utterances profound attention. lie
was earnest. able, sincere, and courteous.
Few men could Guido him in grace OF man.
ner or of expression. He was States
right Democrat in -belluDl times, a loyal
and true Confederate in the war-days. and
a Conservative Democrat since that period.
His latest conspicuous appearance IN
public life was as member of the Virginia
House of Delegates at the time that the
Bocock- Fowler compromise debt bill was
framed. For five years past he had had
very poor health. and his death was clearly
foreseen by himself, his family, and friends
weeks and months before he died.
SO ends, at ripe old age, buoyant. bril-
liant. lovable Tom Bocock.
Biographical sketch of the Deceased.
Mr.. Bocock was born in Buckingham county
Nav rs, 1915 mot June 18th. as sometimes
printed His father and mother came OF excel
lent stock and were goGly people. An account OF
hs parentage il given by DR.. {. X. Vaughan In
the recently punlished Selections rom mo
cock, ID. D." Deceased went 20 school 10 his
eldest brother, Willis =. Bocock, afterwards At
torney General OF Virginia, aud he entered the
Junior class Of mpden-Sldney College and
took bis bachelors degree with first honor after
n brilliant two years course, during which time
his speeches in the old Union Society became
famous. After leaving college he studied law
priyetely with his brother Willis.
ELECTED TO THE HOUSE,.
As soon as Mr.. Bocock reached tho requisite
legal age he was elected 10 tho House OF Dele
gates from Buckingham county and was re-
elected.
In 1s45. when Appomattox county was
formed. his home being In that part OF Backing
ham divided of, he was elected Commemorative
attorney by the justices. and In 1886 he married
Miss Sarah r. Flood, by whom he had ono child,
who Is still living. His wife died afcw years after
the marriage.
IN CONGRESS.
Mr.. Bocock was elected TO Congress in 1S47
and served continuously until 1861. He was for
ten years chairman OF the Committee on Naval
Appropriations, and through special reports ana
speeches he was instrumental In somo OF tho
most radical and useful naval reforms In the his
tory OF the country.
During his terms OF service In Washington he
married his Second wife. Annie, the daughter Of
Hon. Charles james Faulkner, Buchanans MILL
ister 20 France.
THE sHERMAS-B0c0cx CASE.
When he went 10 Washington 10 serve In tho
last session OF the Federal Congress before the
war Mr.. bococx was nominated for Speaker by
the Democrats. John sherman, now Senator
from Ohio, was the Republican nominee.
When the first vote was taken a tie resulted,
and tho contest lasted for eight weeks, one Of
the longest In the history Of Congress-perhaps
the longest.
AT last both nominees withdrew and William
Pennington, Of New Jersey. was elected as a
compromise but members had Cotton so accus-
toned TO answering Bocock" or fisherman
when tho roll Was called that long afterwards In
moments OF preoccupaiion many OF them when
they should have answered yea" or may
used the names OF these two famous party
leaders, and were unconscious OF error until loud
laughter recalled them TO knowledge that the
speakership contest was over.
During his congressional career Mr.. Bocock
was always conservative, and often bis oppo-
nenis called him 10 the chair e preside, having
the utmost confidence In his fairness. lie was q
model presiding of1lcer, being quick, decided,
firm, but courteous and considerate, and above
all well informed In tho history and rationale OF
parliamentary law.
IN THE CoSPEpERACY.
Mr.. Bocock was elected to the Confederate
House when Virginia sent her first members
there, and was elected Speaker OF that body at
the regular organization, position which he
filled with brilliant ability. He did not always
agree with Mr.. Davs's policy, and was once the
chairman Of the Virginia delegation which went
TO MI. DAVIS III " W ptOtrst hktii'l Sptuc VI
his administrative ideas. Though he had been
conservative at the breaking out OF the war, as
compared with the hottest secessionsts, he was
always one OF the most loyal and able upho.ders
Of the Confederscy.
vIRGiNIANs IN THE coSFEDERAcY.
Tho following, showing.who were our members
in the Confederate Congress. Will DO interesting
at this moment:
In the Provisional Congress Of the Confederacy
Virginia was represented By John Tyler, W. b.
Preston, X. N. T. Hunter, James A. Seldom, W.
Rives, X. E. Scott, j. NJ. Mason, j. w. Brocken-
brogh, c. w. Russell, Robert Jchnson, Waller X.
Staples, and Walter Preston.
First Congress under the permanent Constltu-
tion Senators r. NJ. T. Hunter and William Bal
lard Preston, (Mr. Preston died and was sue
ceeded by A. T. Caperton.l Delegates-M. X.
II. Garrett, John X. Chambiiss John Tyler: X A.
Pryor, Thomas 4. Bocock, John Goode, Jr., James
2. Holoombe, d. G. DeJarnette, William Smith,
A. X. Boteler, John b. Baldwin, Waller X. Sta
pies. Walter Preston, Albert q. jenkins, Robert
johnson, and G. w. Russell.
Second Congress: Senators Hunter and Saper.
ton and Delegates Robert L. Montague. Robert
II. Whitfield, w. G. wi,kham, Thomas 3. Ghol-
con, thomas $. Bocock, John Goode, Jr., Will an
C. Rives, Daniel Z. DeJarnette, David Funston,
+. W. n. Holiday, John b. Baldwin, W: II.
Staples. Fayetto McMullen, Samuel A. Miller,
Robert johnson, and Charles w. Russell
Hon. Howell Cobb WAS president OF the Pro-
visionAl Congress. Ho Resigned to enter the
army.
Inc States represented in tbs Confederate
Con xress we're: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Mis-
sour, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,
lona, the Cherokee nation, the Choctsw nation,
and Creek and the Seminole nations, each had
one delegate In the House.
nURr AT The CAPITOL DISASTER.
After the war, deceased served In the vir.
gtnia House OF Delegates and had a leg broken
In the famous Cap!t6l disatser April 81, 1870.
During the frst OF the debt troubles he was
Joint author with Mr. I. c. Fowler OF the COM
promise measure known IS the Bocock-Fowler
Soon after the war Mr.. Bococks Democratic
friends In New York city, notably Augustus
Schcll, begged him TO settle there and practice
bis profession. promising him liberal support
and political preferment, but he chose 10 remain
In his native State In the time OF her trials.
ALAwrER.
He served a. attorney for the Atlantic, Missls-
slppi and Ohio Railroad Company, aud later for
the Richmond and Allegheny. As lawyer ~
the bar Of Lynchbure, and Appomattox ana the
surrounding counties he stood the peer Of such
men a. Hon. John w. Daniel, Major Thomas J.
Kirkpatrick, X. q. n. Kean. and Others. On tn Z
lie had . special tact ~ pesccmaker and
many dificulty did he amicably settle.
rLNSss.
He had been an invalid for about nve years,
though able 10 travel some and TO take lively
interest In the politics Of tho country. He often
expressed himself In hearty sdmiration Of Clevo'
lands standardization.
Hls LAST B0OK.
just before this last serious illness came on
week before last, Mr.. BQc0ck read with keen
delight the lately.publish3d book OF seiectioni
from his brother Johns writings, and the religi.
Gus and devosloasl psrts no lees than the purely
literary he bad hsd for many years simple
and beautiful faith In Christ, and Was On cldel
OF the Presbyterian Church. Hc WIS conscious
q his sinking ccaditioa end was pselscsiy ~
dgned
yAxlLy.
His childrno ase BAHIA hQ NJ llsst wife, and b
bis second ivho survives hlp), 1asie, tho vito ol
SAss~ n. noakss. IL. a tSnnshssas Els> Ne