Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-06-13
sAf N 4 HIsroRIc SENATE.
Thomas L. ciingman Was a Colleague Of
Clay and Webster.


Thomas L. clingman Was Colleague of
Clay and Webster.
The news that ex-senator Thomas
Lanier Clingman has entered home |
for Confederate soldiers in North Car
olina, 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 1t was only lately thai his
presence was missed from the corridors
and the-aoor Of the senate.
1t was 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 unobtru-
sive corner.
Snow white hair. scant of growth,
partly covered his head, and snowy
whiskers served to hide the hollow
cheeks. Occasionally 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
Calhoun. Yet he 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 Kentuekian'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 hall of representa-.
tives, now Statuary hall, to hear John
Quincy Adams deliver his eulogy on
Lafayette.
His friendship for Clay led him 10 a
duel between himself and Congressman
Yancey of Alabama, growing out of a
speech delivered about the causes that
led to Clay's defeat. The ground select.
ed for the meeting was near Washing.
ton, perhaps at Hildensburg Pistols
were the weapons and one shot was fired
without effect. Here the seconds, Charles
Lee Jones, the noted exponent of
code duello, for Clingman and Con.
gresham Huger of South Carolina for
Yancey, endeavored to bring about an
adjustment and they finally arranged
the matter satisfactorily. During the
first week he served in congress Cling
man had passage at arms on the floor
with Henry A. Wise of Virginia
The public career of Senator Cling
man has been a remarkable one. He is
now 50 years at age, and more than 30
of these were spent in Legislative as
semblies. Graduating from the uniper.
sity of North Carolina at 90 he was
soon after elected to the state eglsla
ture, and in 1890 was promoted by the
electors to the state senate. From De-
cember, I643, to June, 1858, he served
North Carolina in congress, with the
exception of one term, participating dur
ing this extended period in nearly all
important debates, particularly In those
relating to foreign affairs, from his
prominent position as chairman of the
committee having that field in charge
During this service he established a
record for attendance, never missing a
days session.
His senatorial career began in 1855
through the appointment to fiji the un.
expired term of Senator Asa Biggs, who
resigned to accept federal judgeship
He was subsequently elected to secceed
himself from March 4. 1901. but the
term was never begun. In the proceed
ing January Clingman Withdrew