Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-17
GEO. c. DROMGvoLE.
4 Host Brilliant Career Cut Oh 10 the
Prime Of Manhood.
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATER.
Tho Peer Of MarshalI, Prentiss, Wise, and
Adsms-In Congrcss-Innuence Of the
Digger Duel on His After Life.
Written for the pIspatch.l

(Written Tor the Dlspatch.D
That was a fine saying Of Mr.. Calhoun
that the "OId Dominion was like the
mother of the Gracchi; when asked for
her Jewels she pointed to her sons"
But should future generations neglect
their history and records as those of the
past have done. the Commonwealth will
soon have no sons to point to. except such
as local tradition may rescue from OBJ
Iivion. William b. Giles, the first debater
of his time, sleeps unknown In the woods
of Amelia, and the huntsman follows the
chase undsturbed over the tomb OF Will
liam s. Archer. senator OF the repub-
lie.
Perhaps no man in the annals OF South
side Virginia filled larger space In the
public eye OF his day or possessed more
remarkable attributes of mind than
George C. Dronrsooie. Of Brunswick
county. 1t Is doubtful IL any constitu-
ency in the Union have made more bril-
liant record In State and Federal politics
than the people from whom he sprung
Boston. with its Adamses. Its Ameses,
and Otises, can claim no prestige over a
people who sent Giles, Archer, Aniston
Jones, Dromgoolc, Kidder Meade, and
Pryor to the halls OF legislation
LINEAGE.
Dromgoole was born about the begin
ming of the present century, In that part
OF Brunswick lying on Roanoke river,
next the Carolina line. His father
was the Rev. Edward Dromgoole. Meth
odist clergyman and presiding magistrate
Of his county half a century. The son
was sent to Chapel Hill in early youth,
but was expelled on account OF a Demo-
cratic speech delivered at the college
against the orders OF the faculty. Poli-
tics then were of the Federalist type. and
the young student was prescribed for
part In this performance. He then at
tended William and Mary, where he was
graduated in 1913.
PUBLIC SERVICES.
About 1sz2 ne was elected To the Vir-
gina Senate, IN which body he became
the presiding offscer and esntinued such
many years. HIS first stand for Congress
was In 1893 Alexander Knox and Will
liam o. Goode, OF Meckienburg. both
Democrats, and James II. Gholson, OF
Brunswick. Wing. opposed him The
Dt1DOCTdllC vote mus otflbtAs ShOtoDi IL
ceived the return. In 1875 the vote was
straight between Gholson and Dromgoole.
when the latter was easily successful
Thereafter he was invincible. and was
never beaten before the people OF the dis
trict for any Office in their gift. He died
quietly at his home in 1S4S. In the prime
of manhood, when the powers OF life
were scarce full-orbed: thus cut of in
mid-career, his untimely end afflicted
thousands Of friends and disappointed
hopes OF the highest honor to his country.
CHARACTER AND CAREER.
II the Southside people are asked to Sc
lect from their annals three men most
renowned for genius-who had left the
most lasting impression upon their gene
ration-they would unhesitatingly name
John Randolph, George c. Dromgoole, and
Roger A. Pryor. Old citizens OF that
community. at a distance of fifty years,
recall wildly the discussions In which
Dromgoole participated. and quote whole
sentences from his speeches as II dellv-
cred but yesterday.
William s. Archer, who sat In Congress
twenty years and knew the national lead
ers, said Dromgeole was the ablest man
IN the Democratic party.
CONVENTION OF 90.
Though member. he took no part I'm
the debates of the great convention. The
other delegates from his district were
General William +. Brodnax, William -.
Goode, and Mark Alexander. His couNe
In that body was "a surprise 10 his friends.
as he had lead in the agitation Of that
subject before the Legislature in 1928 In
the Senate OF that year he delivered a
mastery argument against the call OF d
convention, which John Randolph, who
had come on from Washington TO hear
the debates, pronounced the abest
speech he had ever heard in behalf OF
conservative institutions" Upon the con-
vcntion floor Randolph tried to call Drom-
goole out, saying he had looked 10
Brunswick for display OF the talent which
he knew it TO possess. but had looked In
vain"
IN CONGRESS-.
AS president of the Virginia Senate.
DromgOole acquired extensive knowledge
of parliamentary procedure. and was
among the best parliamentarians OF the
House of Representatives. In this con-
nection Is related an amusing incident OF
his later life. when intemperance had
made inroads upon the habits of the
statesman. The House had become In
volved In one OF those interminable ques-
lions Of order and in a deadlock, unable
TO proceed for hours. Whereupon MEM
Der inquired for the Virginia member TO
aid the situation. He was found out OF the
Capitol, and under the weather." but
was conducted to his seat. aud the rou-
BILE briefly explained. Rising slowly at
his desk, by mere operation OF the in
tellect, he had recovered self-possession.
stated the point Of order and WAS sus-
tanned by the Char. Turning to his COM
panion, he inquired III the House was
straight and. being assured In the
affirmative. raid: well. I'll go down and
take another drink. then"
AS parliamentary debater. he took
high rank. He belonged to that class
of speakers OF which Thomas +. Marshall,
Sergeant S. Prentiss, and Henry A. Wise
are conspicuous examples in Congress,
perhaps not 50 eloquent as the former,
but a stronger debater and more learned
than any OF these. Blaines Twenty
Years ranks Dromgoole with ]. Q.
Adams, Wise, and Bynum, who. he says,
We're able and brilliant men. but not OF
the first order" Adams said he feared
Dromgoole more than any OF his COM
petitors in debate.
Politically. Dromgoole belonged to an
elder generation OF Democrats from that
which came upon the scene before his
death. His was the Democracy of An
drew Jackson and Silas Wrght-the De-
mocracy which remembered the early
days of the government and was more de-
voted to the Union than to slavery, as
distinguished from Calhoun and Davis,
who were less national and saw the only
safety TO southern institutions in advance
ing State rights TO the furthest limit.
When factions in the New York Democ-
racy disrupted the Democratic party and
threw away the presidency In 1SiS 1t is
said the followers of Silas Wright pro-
posed the name OF Mr.. Dromgoole TO the
national convention as one they were will
ing to support for the presidency.
CONTEST WITH BOILING.
Many now living remember the con-
gressional fight between Dromgoole and
Colonel George Boiling. OF Petersburg,
the Wing candidate in lS4S. That was the
day OF stump-oratory In the "Old Domi-
nion''-the day OF Shelton Leake, Thomas
st. Bayley, Winston Jones' and John Y.
Mason-when Henry A. Wise led the
Democrats OF T1dewater and Walter Pres
ton charmed the voters Of the Southwest
into Whiggery. Intemperance-a besetting
sin with the jamestown stock-the mon
ster which had mastered Prentiss and
Marshall. and all but conquered Webster.
the Puritan. had wrapped Dromgoole in
It's tolls. Emboldened by these delin-
quencies OF the Democratic leader, the
Wings sought his complete overthrow and
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