The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-11-26

hazard nothing in saying that
no more gifted or hrlli1anf orator
than tho distinguished gentleman.
whose name stands at the hai % TINS
article. over sat IL the Senate Of the
Tinted states. He was not only great
% an orator but he was rs off-hand
1ebater and was uuicK. alert. re
sourcefui and remarkably aggressive
rs an antagonist He was #ondeTfuliy
Nell equipped and dealt pondFrous
blows in debate. holding his own
against any antagonist who entered
into the lists against him.
The records Of the nat VIII sho"
that Vest made powerful ana abe
speeches supon al the great N~ationai
questions that attracted the pu8ltt
attention during his term OF service
In that body. He was a member Of
the Committees on Finance. Com
merce. Public Buildings and Grounds,
TRANSFORMATION and Sale OF meat
Products and international EHposl-
lions a. of which ne rendered most
raluabie and conspicuous service. lie
uas born in Frankfort, Ky, Deem
Der 6. 1880. and graduated at Centre
college. Ky. in 1913. Ee read law
with James Harlan. Attorney General
Of the state 0f Kentucky VINO was
the father of the present Associate
Justice OF the Supreme Court OF the
tinted states. and graduated - the
i J diISf ~ i/' " ~
He settled in Georgetown, Mo, ana
practiced his profession unti' 1856
when he removed to another county
In the same State. Ins 1850 he wa
selected as Democratic Elector ana
was made a Representative in the
General Assembly Of Missouri. He
ACTIVELY ~espoused the cause of the
the C~Onfederacy upon the
breaking out Of hostiIities and served
during the summer in the army OF
General Price and was made Judge
Advocate General of Il General court
Martial convened at Lexington. He
was elected in the fall Of 1861 as a
member of the Provisional Congress
at for two years and was
subsequently, appointed by Governor
Reynolds to the Senate of the Confed-
crate States.
After the war he returned to Mis-.
souri, and resumed the practice of the
law at Lebanon in partnership with
Colonel John f. Phillips. who subse-
%uuentlv became Judge of the United
States District Court. He was elected
to the United states Senate in 1878,
and reelected without opposition IN
1S85.1S90 and 1897. We was the last
survivor of the Confederate States
Senate and died full of years and full
of honors. belOved and lamented by
all who knew him. AS a Senator, he
was one of the ablest and most elo-
qupnt statesmen III J1e enLlTe coul-
try and was a distinguished Senator
In the c~ounSels of the nation. To the
highest gal ability and most power
full grasp of Constitutional questions,
he added a broad, bold and conserva-
tive craftsmanship which caused him
to take rank among the foremost Sen
atOrS of his day.
While on his way to California. Vest
was unexpectedly detained at George
town. Ky. and on July 4th, 1858, he
was employed. by a mar named
France t. defend a colored boy accus-
ed Of numbering a white woman and
her two children. He entered into
the trial with all his accustomed zeal
and energy and the negro was ac.
quilted. but he was seized by a mob
and publicly burned in the presence
Of 1900 citizens who had assembled
to witness the execution. Threats