The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-09

lrads and Moses Hunter, the best wit Of
| them ALL"
A Natural Publicist.
| Mr.. Mason took high rank among
| them at the bar, but always looked to
politics for his field of distinctions: yet
he was no demagogue. and spurned the
ad captandum of the vulgar election
eerer.
His integrity was sterlins-exact to
truth: his firmness was rock-lke: his
sciise OF honor was of the highest tone,
and hts every word and action werc
guided by discretion always sound and
always on guard.
a man thus stamped with the seal of
lnobleness could not fail to attract the
homage of those around him or to be
afforded the opportunities for the as
| pirations he indulged. Honest. he was
trusted: discreet, he was relied on to
do Justice and Judgment; and brave, all
| felt assured that he could make the
sacrifice when called on. He did noby
make 1t at the last extremity without.
a murmur and without soling his es
cutcheon; che made no palinode' of his
principles. and soied not his faith"
In April, 1926, Mr.. Mason was elected
a delegate from the county of Fred
erick to the Virginia Legislature. and
was throughout his long and eventful
| life recognized as a Jeffersonian Demo-
crat of The "straitest sect of strict
/, constructionists."
During his first session lie advocated
and voted for the resolutions proposed
by Governor Giles which denied any
authority on the part of the general
government to construct railroads or
canals within the States. His vote on
/ those resolutions having met with dis
favor from his constituents, he pub
Ilished an address to the freeholders
| of Frederick county in the spring of
1887. in which he discussed fully and
lat large the important questions in
Ivolved in the resolutions. In sonce-
Iquence of his vote he was defeated at
the next election, but was, at a subse-
Iquent election. reelected by a large
majority. That remarkable man. John
Randolph of Roanoke. in a letter ad
dressed TO him on the 18th of April,
1928. says: Let me congratulate you,
Imy dear sir, as ! do most cordially, on
Iyour late signal and deserved triumph
over prejudice and ignorance and po-
litical fanaticism, not less blind than
that of relision--and not only you. my
dear sir. but my country and Virginia.
am now splitting blood, and may not
live to sec tho next meeting of the
Assembly. but Frederick county has
redeemed nobly her errors and expa-
Itiated her offenses. She has one rep
rcsentative at least Il have not at all
the honor 10 know your colleague)
worthy of the largest, richest and most
populous county in the State"
1t is proper to say that in April,
1921 and again in 1880. Mr.. Mason was
, rc-elected to the House of Delegates
! with the entire approval of his con-
stltuents as to the course he had pur-
sued.
Ercr nff
In 1929 the Legislature called con-
vcntion to amend the Constitution OF
Virginia. In the discussion that arose
Mi Mason advocated strongly the prop.
, oslton that the political power of a
community should be vested alone ir
the free, white people of the Common
/, wealth.
During the session of the Legislature
. In 1S29-'30 Mr.. Mason was elected tc
+ fill the vacancy created in the con-
! vention caused by the resignation Of
: IN the early part of 1881 he was a can
: ddate for tile House of representative
from the district composed of Fred
, lorlck, Shenandoah and Page but h
was defeated. In June, 1SSa tho Gov
crnor appointed him one of the "visi
tors of the University of Virginia" t.
o fill a vacancy. He continued to holt
'
Q years He was again nominated TO
q the House of Representatives, and wa
u elected by n very decisive majority
@ In May, 1887, there was called SEES
II sion of Congress, which hG attended
9 and In which lie differed from other
IS ION the question OF requiring specie t
! he paid in tho existing state of tn
], country for all government dues. A
It the close of the Congress the Demo
~ Ia = iS,. ltll n ts{f Ill
n clined to rcnominate him. After thi
d he returned to the practice OF the lay
IS with great asslduity, In the course Q
I which he found It necessary to atten
II many courts, While member O
p Congress he Joined a ''mess" consistin
l. Of Mr. and Mrs, Calhoun, Colonel an
1T Mrs. Pickens, Of South Carolina; MI
y Mallory and Mr.. r. NJ. IT, Hunter q
u, Virginia, Such friendly intercourse es
&c tahlished an Intimate friendship wit
4 al of the parties, including Mr.. Cal
~ houn, for whom Mr.. Mason continue
to feel warm and friendly ipteres
a. rs long as he lived, While Mr.. Maso
ne was unusually cheerful and buoynn
70, Mr., Hunter, on tho contrary, was know
cd to he very quiet and studious. and nc
: ~ all inclined TO mingle In the ga
In, NE OF Washington. They helpnge'
" however, To the same political schoo
IN, Iand did not often differ on any aue'
nj tons.
er' In January, lS47. he was elected
lis the United states Senate In opposltio
'o- to John w, Jones, OF Chesterfield, ar
n James Mcdowell, of Rockbridge. 4
en- nat time he enjoyed q large and lucr'
n tive practice from his profession, WI
az president OF the Farmers Bunk {
H. Virginia, at Winchester, beside fllin
u me position OF prosecuting attorney
e6 lhn superior Courts for the counties
m Frederick. Hampshire and Morgan; q