The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-09-21
Mangum and Badger.
TWO DISTINGUISHED NORTH CAR
OLINlANS.
Hannibal Hamlin's Estimate of Them
Both Eminent Men in their Time
"A Brief Sketch of their Lives.

40 1>Ol III NdlOlIilldIlS Sttul 10 Dc at
tracing a share of public attention this
year, perhaps something regarding two
distinguished sons may be interesting.
Those two men were prominent thirty
five years ago, but in the confusion
arising from changed conditions have
been nearly forgotten by many who
knew them.
The X0utHs Companion, some years
ago, published series of articles on
the political institutions of the United
States. The venerable Hannibal Ham
lin, in time past member of the Maine
Legislature, then of the House of
Representatives of the United States,
Governor of Maine, United States
Senator, and from 1861 to 1865 Vice
President Of the United States, was
selected to write the article upon the
Senate. In this article, which was
descriptive chiefly of the powers and
duties of the Senate, he stepped aside
to pay the following high tribute to
the men who represented North Caro-
lima when he was there with them.
Coming from this source these words
of praise are deserving of attention
and merit a wide circulation among
those who care for the reputation of
their State:
There is another class of Senators
who in the public estimation, are placed
in the second, while the Senate, we'll
knowing their true value, will put
them in the higher or first class, and
who are really some Of the most
valuable men of the body-more so
than some who rank above them.
There were two Senators from one
State, North Carolina, who, for some
cause, in popular opinion, did not rise
to standing in this higher classifica-
ton, although they were readily
assigned to it by their colleagues
Willie p. Mangum and George E.
Badger.
They were both men learned in the
law, and of large experience. They
were both eminent men OF their time.
They had both been learned justices
of the Supreme Court of their State for
a term of years, and each was twice
elected to the Senate.
Mr.. Badger was Secretary Of the
Navy under President William Henry
Harrison and Mr.. Mangum was elected
president pro tempore of the Senate
during the administration of President
Tyler, and was er oticio Vice-Presi-
dent. The men were estimated by the
Senate at their true value and regarded
as among the foremost men in it. They
hardly reached, however, leadership in
the popular judgment, as they did in
the Judgment of the Senate itself.
Mr.. Mangum was one of the ablest
men of his time, and one Of the most
useful and valued members of the
Senate. He was not quite SO regarded
by the community at large, and why,
it is hardly possible to tell, as he was
so able and worthy and entitled to the
highest standing.
Perhaps it was largely, if not wholly,
owing to his indifference to popular
applause. Circumstances, as in many
other cases that could be named, did
not conspire to produce that result.
1t is sometimes said that genius itself
will create the circumstances. Perhaps
that my be so. Circumstances beyond
the power of man do conspire in pro-
ducing results.
Though this extract is valuable on
account of showing how this distin-
guished man regarded them, unfor-
tunately there are some errors of fact
in it. Neither Mr.. Mangum nor Mr..
Badger was at any time upon the
Supreme Bench, though both had
served as judges of the Superior
Courts. Also Mr.. Mangum was
member of the Senate three terms
instead of two.
Willie Person Mangum was born in
Orange county in 1892. He was
educated at the University, graduating
in 1915; was member of the House Of
Commons in 1918; was elected a
Judge of the Superior Court in 1919,
and then in 1928 was elected to
Congress. In 1926 he was again
placed upon the bench, but in 1881
was elected to the Senate Of the United
States. At the expiration of his term
he was succeeded by Robert Strange.
This year he also received the eleven
electoral votes of South Carolina for
President of the United States. In
1S41 he was again elected to the
Senate and served two terms, being
president of that body from 1912 to
1S45. He died in 1861, just as the
storm of war was breaking.
George E. Badger was born in New
Berne in 17o5. He was educated at
Yale and studiend law under John
Stanly, who was near relative. This
was the Stanly who killed ex-Gov.