The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-01
SAT IN A HISTORIC SENATE.
Thomas L. Clingman Was Colleague of
Clay and Webster.


The news that ex-senator Thomas La
nier Clingman has entered q home 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 palmy days and
in recent years. He has been a familiar
figure about the Capitol, and it was only
lately that his presence was missed from
the corridors and the floor of the Senate,
says a writer in the Washington Post.
1t was a daily sight, just after the ses-
sion of the Senate began, to see the gaunt,
gray figure, straight as al Indian, despite
the burden of age walk into the chamber
and take a seat in an unobtrusive corner.
Snow-white hair, scant OF growth, partly
covered his head, and snowy whiskers
served to hide the hollow cheeks. Occa-
sionaliy Senator would stop for word,
and the aged solon would seize the oppor-
tunity 10 tell OF his anti-tobacco cure,
which has been his hobby for many years.
To see Clingman IN his povertv-stricken
old age one found it hard TO picture him a
power in body II great men, such as
Clay, Webster and Calhoun. Yet he was
quite as prominent, ii 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 7th OF March speech be sat on
the arm OF Clay's chair, his hand
affectionately resting on the great Ken
tucklan's shoulder. That was in the old
Senate chamber, where the Federal Su-
preme Court now holds its sessions. With
Andrew Jackson as his companion, he led
the Senate into the old hall of representa-
tives, now statuary hall, to hear John
Quincy Adams deliver his eulogy Of
I af,x ~ 10 fc frin lob fAr
led to duel between himself and Con-
gresham Yancey of Alabama, grow
ing out of q speech delivered about
the causes that led to Clay's defeat. The
ground selected for the meeting was near
Washington, perhaps at Bladensburg.
Pistols were the weapons and one sho5
was exchanged without effect. Here the
seconds Charles l.. Jones, the noted expo
nent 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 passage at arms on the
floor with Henry A. Wise of Virginia.
The public career of Senator Clingman
has been remarkable one. lie is now SO
years of age, ana more than 20 of these
were spent in legislative assem- blies.
Graduating from the University OF North
Carolina at 20, he was seon after elected
TO the State Legislature, and III 1910 was
promoted by the electors to the State Sen
ate. From December 1S43. TO June, 1853,
he served continuously as a representa-
tive of North Carolina in Congress, with
the exception of one term, participating
during this extended period in nearly all
important debates, particularly In those
relating to foreign affairs from his prom
inept position as chairman of the commit
tee having that field in charge. During
this service he esta biished record for at
tendance, never missing days session.
His Senatorial career began in 1858
through appointment to fill the unexpired
term of Senator Asa Biggs, who resigned
to accept Federal judgeship. He was
subsequently elected to succeed himself
from March 4, 1861, but the term was never
begun. In the preceding January Cling
man withdrew from the Senate with other
Southern members, participated as COM
missioner from North Carolina in the Con-
federate Congress in May and in July was
formally expel!ed from the Senate. Then
he entered the Confederate army and be-
came a brigadier-general, aud did not
figure again in politics alter 1868, WREN he
went as delegate to the Democratic Ma
tional Convention.
For years prior to the war and for long
time thereafter Senator Clingman had de-
voted him self to scientific pursuits, and it
is a tribute 10 his knowledge and enthusi-
asm that he determined the highest points
OF Black Mountain and Smoky Mountain
both OF which have been called in his
honor North Cardinals valuable mineral
deposits were also made known through
his efforts.