Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1896-05-15
SAT IN A HISTORIC SEAT
ONCE A UNITED STATES
SENATOR.
Now Old Broken in Heart and
Purse, an inmate OF the
Confederate Soldiers
Home.
SIWHE news that ex-senator


N Thomas Lanier Cling
man has entered a home for Con-
federate soldiers in North Caro-
lima, broken in heart and in
purse, has excited the deepest
sympathy among those who
knew the old man in his palmy
days and in recent years. He
has been a familiar figure about
the capital, and it 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 session 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 all
-l,nobtrusive corner. Shows
white hair, scant of growth,
partly covered his head, and
snowy white whiskers served to
hide the hollow cheeks. Occa-
sionally a Senator would stop fol
a word and the aged Scion would
seize the opportunity to tell OF
his anti>tobacco cure, which has
been his hobby for many years.
To see Clingman in his power
ty stricken old age one found it
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, if 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 7tn of
March speech he sat on the arm
of Clay's chair, his hand afec
tionately resting on the great
Kcntuckian' shoulder. That
was in the old Senate chamber,
where the Federal Supreme
Court now holds it's sessions.
With Andrew Jackson as his
companion, he led the Senate in
to the old Hall of Representa-
lives, now Statury Hall, to hear
John Quincy Adams deliver his
eulogy of Lafayette. His friend
ship for Clay led to a duel be-
tween himself and Congressman
Yancy, of Alabama. growing out
of a speech delivered about the
causes that led to Clay's defeat.
The ground selected for the meet
ing was near Washington, per
haps at Bladensburg. Pistols
were the weapons, and one shot
was exchanged without effect.
Here the seconds, Charles Lee
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 the
matter satisfactorily During
the very first week he served in
Congress Clingman had a passage
at arms on the floor with Henry
A. Wise, of Virginia.
The public career of Senator
Clingman has been remarkable
one. He is now So years of age,
andranore than twenty of these
were spent in legislative assem-
blies. Graduating from the
University of North Carolina at
twenty. he was soon after elected
to the State Legislature, and in
1870 was promoted by the cleo
tors to the State Senate. From
December, IS43, to June, 1883,
he served continuously as Rep
resentative of North Carolina i'll
Congress, with the exception of
one term, participating during
this extended period in nearly
all important debates, particular
ly in those relating to foreign af
fairs, from his prominent posi-
ton of chairman of the commit
tee having that field in charge.
During this service he establish
ed a record for attendance, never
missing a days session.-Wash
ineton Post.
NH,.A