The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-14
HUGH LAWSON WHITE
Famous Tennessee Senator
Was Born In lredelI.
His Career in Politics Clash With Andrew
Jackson. Received 26 Electoral Votes
for President in 1886.

time of public service round dozen of
public offices, and who was to leave
name always to be remembered in ma
tional annals.
The grandfather of Hugh Lawson
White, Moses White, emigrated to this
country from ireland about 1743 He had
six sons, James. Moses, John. William,
David and Andrew James White was
the father of Hugh Lawson White. He
was born in 1887. He was soldier in
the Revolutionary War, and for his ser
vices received from the State a grant of
land on the north bank of the Holstein
river. In 1856, when Hugh was thirteen
years Of age, his father moved west to
take possession of the land. Indians were
numerous and hostile in that part OF the
country, so he erected fort on his place.
He also built a grist mill, which was
great luxury to the people in the new,
wild country, who had had to do every
thing for themselves. In this way he
started a little settlement around him,
and here at one time treaty was ratified
with the Cherokee Indians. This at
tracted the attention of the Governor of
the Territory William Blount, who de-
cided to make this place the capital OF
the territory. James White then laid off
his land in lots and, selling them, became
quite wealthy. This was the beginning
of the city of Knoxville, SO named for
Washington's Secretary of War. Thus
James White became a prominent man in
his community. He was at one time
commander of the fort which he had es-
tablished. He served in both territorial
and State Legislatures, and was terri
torial delegate to Congress. When the
territory became the State of Franklin,
he was elected president of the State
Senate, and later resigned his position in
favor of William Blount, who had been,
as his friends believed, unjustly expelled
from the United States Senate.
Hugh Lawson White received classical
education, his teachers at different times
being Judge Roane, DR.. Patterson and
Rev. S. Carrick. The latter was a Scotch
Irish Presbyterian minister, who, in COM
mon with most of his race and calling,
taught a classical school in addition to
his ministerial work. By contemporary
he was characterized as liberal, tolerant
and refined, HE became president OF
Blount College when it was founded in
Knoxville in 1894. The young student re-
ceived his law education at Lancaster,
Pa, under James Hopkins. He was ad-
mtted to the bar at the age of %, and
began to practice law in Knoxville. At
the age of % he was elected a judge of
the Superior Court, After serving out his
term of six years, he was elected to the
Stat Senate. and later became United
States District Attorney. As soon as the
Supreme Court of Tennessee was estab-
lished he was elected to serve in it, and
at the expiration of his term of six years,
he became president of the State Bank of
Tennessee at Knoxville, and in the man
agement of this institution achieved great
success. He held this position for twelve
years and in the meantime, served four
years on the commission appointed by
President Monroe to adjust the claims of
American citizens against Spain.
When Andrew Jackson was elected
President. White was elected to fill out
his unexpired term in the United States
Snate Calhoun was President, but
on account of a rupture with his head
strong and overbearing chief, he resigned
and soon after became an active member
of the Senate. In 1892 three years after
his entrance into the Senatorial arena,
White was elected president pro tenn. OF
the Senate. Up to this time the arlsto-
cracy of the nation had held the prin-
cipal places as leaders in the government.
The Presidents had all been men of edu-
cation, comparative wealth, and social
station, and the men who composed their
cabinets had been of similar stamp. With
Jackson was ushered in the millennium
of the minnows." Out went every incum-
bent who had nothing more than fitness
TO recommend him for his office to make
room for the politicians who had won the
victory in the campaign. The overflow
of ability and craftsmanship from eXecu-
tive positions found an outlet in the Sen
ate In the Senate there were never
before nor since so many men of COM
handing intellect and powers" says
Theodore Roosevelt in his Life of Ben
ton" 1t was over such body as this
that White presided.
At this time there were three parties
in the Senate; the Jacksonian Democrats,
led by another great ex-North Caro-
linian, Benton; the Nullifers led by Cal
hOun and the Wings led by Clay and
Webster. White, although allied with the
first named of these, did not find it's ex
actions very easy yoke to wear. His
spirit was not subservient enough to the
ideas of his leader to make him a spe-
cial favorite. While the struggle with the
Nullifiers was going on, Jackson sent for
White to endeavor to persuade him not
to include Clayton of Delaware in the
committee to which the tariff bills should
he referred. The committee had already
been made up and White refused to
change it, This accumulated the estrange-
mcnt between the two. The name OF
White had been mentioned in connection
with the Presidency. The year after his
election as President of the Senate the
Legislature of Tennessee had desired to
put him in nomination but he had re-
quested that it should not be done. To
Martin Van Buren, Jackson owed his
second election more than to any other
person and him he selected as the heir
apparent of the administration. 1t had
been the custom to appoint the probable
successor TO the President as Secretary
of State This position Van Buren, held
when Jackson to cover up his plans,
ostentatiously announced that no mem
Der of his cabinet should be a candidate
President. Soon after he offered the
place of Van Buren, to White and the offer
not accepted. Then Jackson sug