The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-09
i whicb nog,tlons he resigned upon

ia5u, nn WIN apNolnteu o''e VI wv ie-
gents of 4the Smithsonian Institute
and was for long time very active
Iin the management of that institutions.
When he entered upon his duties as
Senator there WIS very great interest
manifested In the fate OF u pill pro-
Nldlng territorial form ol EoNefh-
nrent for Oregon. Mr.. David PtWllmot
member from PennsylvanIn, ottnrcd
an amendment to one Of the bills, which
provided that 'neithcr slavery nor in
voluntary servitude shall exist in SAID
territory, except for crime, WHEREOF the
party shall first he duly convicted
AS matter Of course, the proposed
amendment created much excitement IN
congress and throughout tho country.
~ large number of petitions were pre-
scented from the Northern states pro-
testing against the extension Of slave
ry In any manner whatever, and call
ling upon the Northern representatives
10 resist 1t at all hazards
Delivered CnIhouu's Speech.
In 1850 Henry Clay. of Kentucky,
called the Great Paciticator was eN-
pccted to afford some relief In the
then perilous condition OF tbs country.
On January 20. 1850, Mr.. Clay intro
duced in the Senate Il series of resolu-
tons which were designed to cover all
the points at issue, the result of which
was the report OF an omnibus bill,
which finally became a law. Mr. Call
noun being too feeble TO read the re-
marks which ho had prepared, selected
Mr. Mason for that purpose, who re-
sponded in way to show that the
most responsive chords Of MS mind and
heart had been touched.
The term for which Mr.. Mason Was
elected having expired on March 4,
1851. the Legislature reelected him for
another term of SIX years, which eX-
hired March A. 1857. by large ma
Jority against all his opponents. This
action of the Legislature was received
with very favorable comment by the
press and by public assemblages
throughout the country. In 1859 he
had occasion to comment with some
severity on the visit of Kossuth. the
Governor of Hungary, 10 Washington.
While he considered him man OF
genius. he condemned the occasion OF
his visit because lie regarded 1t as one
intended TO induce the government, II
possible, to depart from It's neutral
position in questions affecting foreign
interests. IT Is said that Kossuth. In
his visits throughout the country. col
lected and took with him to Europe
lat least 100000 to be used for revolu-
tionary purposes.
Hrooks-sumncr EmbroRlio.
In the year 1856 a very exciting
llClueuI occurred III lue StHdte Oh tUc
United States Mr.. Preston s. Brooks,
u member of the House of Representa-
Itlves from South Carolina. after the
adjournment of the Senate, came into
the hall and said to Mr.. Sumner, seated
at desk:
MIR. Sumner have read your speech
carefully and with as much calmness
as l could be expected to read such
speech. You lave libeled my State
y . . to-, he.
ond absent, and / feel 1t my duty to
punish you for It.
Whereupon lie struck Mr.. Sumner
with a walking stick and gave him
several severe blows, which prevented
him, for time. from attending 10 his
duties In the Sonute. Committees of
Investigation were appointed, and the
Eouse committee adopted a resolution
providing for tho expulsion of Mr..
Brooks. but he was promptly returned
by the people OF his district, and, be-
fore the close of the session, was per-
ritted to qualify.
In the summer of 1857 Mr. Mason ac
tcepted an invitation To attend the cere-
monies connected with the unyeiling
of the Statue of General Joseph War
rem. on Bunker Hill. The visit was
one of great interest. and enjoyed to
the fullest extent by the distinguished
preston Upon all with whom he came
In contact by his genial manner and by
the qualification he evidently felt on
account of the cordial civlity extended
to him.
The Disrupted Democracy.
| During the years 1S59-'G0 there was
great excitement throughout the coun-
TRY on account OF the disruption of the
democratic party, an account of which
hn fpt in, 10 mi E-t1 Of
the Confederate Government showing
that four non, nations for the presi-
doncy and vice presidency were made,
to-wit: Stephan A. Douglass of Illi-
tos, and Hcrschel V. Johnson, of
| Georgia, represented one wing of the
Democracy; John c. breckenridge. of
Kentucky and Joseph Lane, of Oregon
represented The other wing; john Bell
of Tennessee, and Edward Everett, of
Massachusetts, representing the Ameri-
can party, and Abraham Lincoln, of
Illinois, and Hannibal Hamlin, OF
Maine. representing tho Republican
party. The result as is well known,
Twas hopeless division in the Demo-
loratic party.
On the 26th of January 1861, paper
vas prepared and signed by the two
Senators and all the representatives
from Virginia, which gives a full and
succEct account OF the lecert cccur-
ronces in Congress, and concluding by
expressing the opinion that prompt
aud decisive action by the people OF
Virginia in convention will afford The
lsurest means under tho Providence of
lGod of averting a civil war and pre-
)scrving the lope OF reconstructinG g
Union already dissolved.
In February, 1861. Peace Congress.
SCALED, was assembled In the city
CT Washington, and presided over b.
the venerable John Tyler, ex-President
OF the United states. IT was composed
OF 1913 delegates. They agreed upon
certain measures embodied in the form
of en- amendment to tho Constitution
which they submitted to Congress. with
, the request that it should be submitted
to conventions in the States, to be
, ratified or rejected. as Article 1S OF the
amendments to the Constitution. Con
) gress, however turned deaf ear to
!. the request Of tho Peace Consress' and
; accordingly 1t passed. into history as
failure.
Tho Trent Affair.
, While Mr.. Mason was member OF
, The Provisional Congress at Mon'gom
t cry he was charged with a very deli
liant ia "A nj mis- SiOn. which re-