The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-09
@essengm.
This DEATH OF GEN. CL,NGMAN

EHE DEATH OF GEN. CLlNGMAN
THE death Of General Thomas Laniar
CiEgman at Morganton on 3rd Of Nov
enber 1897, is an evnt not to be over
looked. We believe that intellectually
when in his mental and physical prime
he had no superior among the living
men of the state in this year. He was
n man OF excellent parts and has play
ed no mean figure in his day. He was
born at Huntsville, N. c., on 9th July
1872, and was therefore, il his Seth
year. He was a distinguished
% the university Of North Carolina,
where so many of the foremost men
OF our state have been educated. Long
may it prosper! Mr.. Clngman read
law and settled at Asheville. He went
TO the state senate in 1910, and in 1843
sentered the lower house Of the congress
as a whig. He served until 1858, with
h exception of two years composing
the 18th congress. He served for years
Ook a conspicuous part in the debates
and during his thirteen years in the
house made several speeches that gave
him decided reputation and attracted
public attention in the north and in the
south. He had a memorable duel with
the eloquent and famous Alabamian,
William l. Yancey. Mr.. Clingman was
n man Of marked physical courage as
his life showed. In 1858, he was ap-
pointed by the governor to the United
States senate to fill the unexpired term
of Senator Biggs who had retired. He
was elected by the legislature 1861,
but the war soon came on and he re-
tired. He entered the SER
vice as colonel in 1862, was promoted
TO b~rigadier general and served to the
close when the armies surrendered and
the great calamity came. In 1878, he
published an octave volume containing
speeches, addresses, lectures and polit-
1cal letters. We ave had occasion
more than once to refer to their excel
Hence and value. To this time no
North Carolinian, except Senator H..
Benton and Hon. Hannis Taylor have
published a volume Of as much import
ance and merit. 1t is by odds the best
collection Of speeches and addresses we
have seen issued by a native of u
state. Mr. Benton's speeches thus en-
bodied would be of more ability, and
public interest.
General Clingman was unusually well
up in some fields of science, specially
geology. He was not u~nacquainted
with many of the standard works in
literature. He was quite Entertaining
when he became reminiscent and told
of his political life and the famous men
he had met. He was a genuine North
Carolinian, and was true to her alike
in war as in peace. He served the
state well and faithfully and richly de-
serves to be held in remembrance with
her men of renown and distinguished
abilities. We never heard him on the
musings or in debate, but he was said
be dexterous, bright, keen of tongue
land ready in replication as in agrees
:sive attack. We heard him in the state
convention Of 1875, n heard him de-
liver a lecture on the Bible and science
-at Raleigh, which was a well thought
out production and of genuine excel
hence. The best bred audience we ever
saw heard him. He accidentally got a
heavy fall on the stage, but there vas
not a smile much less a, senseless giggle
in all the hall. A gifted and once pop
nlar and very influential citizen full of
years and full of honors, has passed
away, and North Carolina is indeed
hereaved. 1t is a positive loss to any
state when one of it's foremost men is
removed. Such a man is an intellec-
1ual factor, for he is q builder of
thought, and his influence for good is
wide spread and potent. A man of
force and infiexibility Of character,
with the wisdom that age should bring
with a wide observation and a clear
mote of passing events as a remember
ance of those that marked the distant
past, with high honor, unbroken faith,
true manhood, sobriety Of conduct, n
fine intelligence, with a knowledge Of
books as Of men, must surely exert an
Influence for good, when his moral life
and his faith in God are established.
General Clingman died a m Of
the Episcopal Church. His last years
were Swallowed by a decaying body and
n weakened mind, but dying he has left
n record of usefulness, Of ability, of ac-
sQuisition, of influence, of an u~nstained
reputation for honesty, fidelity, cour-
manliness above all price. Doubt
less he had his faults, as all men have,
x~x,+ SIo cool onI noble in him nrpyof1-
led. Peace to his soul and all due remem-
y ksrance of his virtues and public SER
vice.
LITERARY OS5IP