Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-05-22
Thomas L. ClIngman Was Colleague of
Clay and Webster.


The news that ex-senator Thomas La
MGR Clingman has entered home for Con
federate soldiers in North Carolina, broker
In health and in purse, has excited the
deepest sympathy among those who knew
tho old man in his palmy days and In re
cent years. Ho has been a familiar figure
about the capitol, and it was only lately
that his presence was missed from the cor
ridors and the floor of tho senate.
1t was daily sight, just after the SEES
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 u scat in an unObtrusive corner.
Snow white hair, scant Of growth, partly
/ covered his head, and snowy whiskers
served to hide the hollow checks. Ooca-
sionally senator would stop for a word,
and the aged Scion would seize the oppor-
sunity to tell of his antitObaccO cure, which
has been his hobby for many years.
To SEQ Clingman in his poverty stricken
old age one found it hard to picture him
rs a power in body of great mep, such as
Clay, Webster and Calhoun. Yet he was
quite prominent, IL not so famous, in the
proceedings which marked the historic
time when they were his colleagues. Clay
was his idol, and when Webster made his
great 9TH of March speech he sat on the
arm of Clay's chair, his hand affeotionately
resting on tho great Kentuckian's shout
der. That was in the old senate chamber,
where the federal supreme court now holds
its sessions. With Andrew jackson as his
companion he led tha senate into the old
hall of representatives, now Statuary hall,
to hear John Quincy Adams deliver his
eulogy on Lafayette,
His friendship for Clay led to a duel be-
tween himself and Congressman Yanoey
of Alabama, growing out of a speech de-
livered about the causes that led TO Clay's
defeat The ground selected for the meet
ing was near Washington, perhaps at Bla-
densburg. Pistols were the weapons, and
one shot was exchanged without effect.
Here tho seconds, Charles Leo Jones, the
noted exponent of the code duello, for
Clingman and Congressman Huger Of
South Carolina for Yancey, endeavored to
bring about an adjustment, and they
finally arranged tho matter satisfactorily,
During the very first week he served in
congress Clingman had q passage at arms
on the floor with Henry A. Wise of Vir-
ginia.
The public career of Senator Clingman
has been a remarkable one. He is now SO
were spent in legislative assemblies. Grad |
uating from the University Of North Caro- /
lima at 20, be was soon after elected to the |
state legislature and in 1910 was promot- /,
ed by the electors to tho state senate. From /
December, 1S43, to June, 1858, no served |
as a representative of North /
Carolina in congress, with the exception |
of one term, participating during this ex-
tended period In nearly all important de-
bates, particularly in those relating to
foreign affairs, from his prominent position .
Of chairman Of the committee having. that /
field in charge. During this service he es-
tablished a record for attendance never
missing a days SESSION,
His senatorial career began In 1858
through appointment to I'LL tho unexplrod
term OF Senator Asa Biggs, who resigned
TO accept federal judgeship. Ho was sub
elected to succeed himself from
March 4, 1861, but the term was never be-
gun. In the preceding January Clingman
from the senate with other
southern members, participated as a COM
from North Carolina in the Con-
iederate congress in May, and in July was
formally expelled from the senate. Then
10 entered the Confederate army and be-
anne brigadier general and did not fig
ire again in politics after 1868, when he
vent us delegate to the Democratic ma
ional convention
For years prior to the war and for long
lime thereafteF Senator Clingman had de-
'Oted himself To scientific pursuits, and 1t
S tribute to bis knowledge and epthasi-
Ism that he determined the highest points
# Black mountain and Smoky mountain,
10Th Of which have been called In his hon
n, North Cardinals valuable mineral de-
losits were also made known through his
Washington Post