The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-20
SAT IN A HISTORIC SENATE.
Thomas l.. ClfnEman Was Colleague
Of Clay and Webster.
Washington Post.


The news that ex-senator Thomas La
nier Clingman has entered a nome for
Confederate soldiers in North Carolina,
broken in health and in purse. has excited
the deepest sympathy among those who
knew the old man In his pallmy days and in
recent years. He has been a familiar fig
ure about the Capitol, and 1t was only late
ly that his presence was missed from the
corridors and the floor Of the Senate.
1t was a daily sight, just after the ses-
sion of the Senate began, to see the gaunt
gray figure. straight as an Indian, despite
the burden of age. walk INTO the chamber
and take a seat In an unobtrusive corner.
covered his head. and snowy whiskers
served to hide the hollow cheeks. Occa-
sionally a Senator would stop for a word
and the aged SCION would seize the OPP
portunity to tell of his anti-tobacco cure,
which has been mis- hobby for many years.
To see Ciingman in his poverty-stricken
Old age one found 1t hard to picture him as
a power in a body OF great men, such as
Clay, Webster and Calhoun. Yet he was
quite as prominent. IL not so famous. In the
when they were his colleagues. Cay was
his idol. and when Webster made his great
7th OF March speech he sat on the arm of
Clay's chair, his hand affectionately resting
on the great Kentuckian's shoulder. That
was in the old Senate chamber, where the
Federal Supreme Court now holds It's ses-
sions. With Andrew jackson as his com.
panion. he led the Senate into the old Hall
OF Representatives. now Statuary Hall, TO
hear John Quincy Adams deliver his eulogy
OF 1dIaNtLlc- MS lTlcnuSntp u Sldy e
TO a duel between himself and Congressman
Yancey, Of Alabama. growing out a speech
delivered about the causes that led to Clay's
'sfeat. The ground selected for the meeting
near Washington, perhaps at Bladens-
bu. Pistols were the weapons. and one
shot as exchanged without effect. Here
exponent . the code duel.o. for Clingman.
and Congr> man Huger. OF South Carolina.
for Yancey, >deavored to bring about an
adjustment, ar they finally arranged the
rnaf.er arisfactesals During the very first
week he served in ConSiSs: "''ngman had
a passage at arms on TIE floor with Henry
The public career OF Senator Cnngman has
been a remarkable one. He IS now eighty
three years of age. and more than twenty OF
Graduating from the University of North
Carolina at twenty. he was soon alter elected
to the State Legislature. and an lsp was pro-
From December. 1S43. to June. 1858. he served
continuously as a Representative OF .North
one term, participating during this extended
period in nearly all important debates, par
t!cularly m those relating TO Foreign anairs.
the committee having that field in charge.
During this service he established a record
for attendance. never missing a days ses-
His senatorial caSeer began in 1858 through
appointment 20 All the unexpired term OF
a federal judgeship. He was subsequently
elected 10 succeed himself from March 4. 1861.
cut TIE term was never begun. In the pre-
/ cedlng January Clingman withdrew from the
Senate with other Southern members. par
t~icipated as a commissioners from North Car
Dina In the Confederate Congress in May.
aud in July was formally expelled from the
Senate. II then entered the Confederate
army and became A brigadier general. and
aid not figure again In politics after 1868.
when he went as a delegate 10 the Demo-
cratic national convention.
For years prior 10 the war and for a long
tire thereafter Senator GU lgman had devot-
ed himself 10 scientific pursuits. and IL is a
rribnte 10 rs knc Wedge and enthusiasm that
re determined. the slightest points OF Black
mountain and Smoky mountain. both or
rnlcn ntse osen caiiea IN ms honor; North
also made known through his efforts.