Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-06-12
SAT IN a HISTORIC SENATE.
Thomas L. clingman Was a Colleague of
Clay and Webster.

J. for Confederate soldiers in North Car
Il has excited the deepest sympathy
n among those who knew the old man in
r his palmy days and In recent years. He
e has been a familiar figure about the
1 capitol, and 1t was only lately tina. his
presence was missed from the corridors
and the floor of the senate.
II 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 seat in an unobtru-
sive corner
Snow white hair. scant of growth,
partly covered his head. and snowy
whiskers served to hide the hollow
cheeks. Occasionally a senator would
stop for word. and the aged Scion
would seize the opportunity to tell of
his ant.-tobacco cure, which has been
his hobby for many years.
To see Clingman in his poverty
stricken old age one found it hard to
picture him as a power in body OF
great men, such as Clay, Webster and
Calhoan Yet ne was quite 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
9TH of March speech he sat on the arm
of Clay's chair his hand affectionately
resting on the great KentUckian's shout
der. That was IN the old senate cham
Der. where the federal supreme court
now holds its sessions. With Andrew
Jackson as his companion he led the
senate into the old ball of representa- I
tves, now Stamary hall, to- hear John
Quincy Adams deliver his eulogy on
Lafay cite
His friendship for Clay led him 10
dael between himself ard Congress- rDan
Y ancey of Alabama, growing out of a I
speech delivered about she caases that &
led to CLAWS defeat The ground seleet- /
"a tor the meeting was rear Washing t
on, perhaps at ENldensburg. Pistols S
vera the weapons and one shot was fired n
without effect. Here the sesonds, Charles Il
Lee ZONES, the noted exponent of e n
ode dueilo. for Clingman and Com b
,ressman Huger of South Carolina foy a
Eaneey, endeavored to bring about an "
and they finally arranged I
ne matter satisfactorily During the a
irst week nc served ia' congress Cling n
nan had passage at arms on the doos o.
With Henry A. Wise os Virginia. m
The public career OF Senator Cling w
nan has been a remarkable one. as4stgi
low years at age, and more than 20 th
# these were spent IN Legislative as III
emslies. Graduating from the univer- pl
ity OF North Carolina at TO- he was 81
DON after elected to tine state leglsla- ri
ure. and IN 1870 was promoted by the W
lectors to. the state senate. From De bi
eusber. F343. to June, 1883, he served eJ
oniinuoasly as representative o. b'
,orth Carolina in congress, With the bl
xceptioa. of one term participating dur y
x this extended period in nearly all
l,portant debates, particularly In those
elating to foreign affairs, from his in
sentiment position as chairman of the ar
having that field in charge.
'uring this service he established a Ia
,cord for attendance. never missing iva
avs session. su
His senatorial career began In 1888 g.
,roagh the appointment to fill the un-
xpired term OF Senator Asa Biggs, who -,
.ssgned TO accept federal judgeshlp. -,
lie was subsequently, elected to seccsed
lmself from MAzch =. 1901. but the 81,
.Em vas never bagun. In the proceed ~,
,g January Clingman withdrew :.
ON the serate with other southern =
lembers, participated as commissioner :,
ON North Carolina In the congress in =,
lay, and In july was formerly expelled
om the senate Then he entered the
army and became briga-
and did not figure again in g.,
,itics after 1903, when he went as -
.legate to the democratic national CON \.
,ntion
For ears prior to the war and for
ng time thereafter Senator Clingman va
"a devoted himself to scientific pur. Hs
its, and it is a tribute to his knowledge me
ia enthusiasm that he determined thi
e highest points of Black mountain Ed
COZ