Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/391

 THE

���RANITE neNTHLY.

A NEW HAMPSHIRE MAGAZINE.

IDevoted to Litt'rature, "Biograpby, History, and State Progress.

��Vol. X.

��DECEMBER, i88

��/

��No. 12.

��HON. MASON W. TAPPAN.

��Mason Weare Tappan, son of Weare Tappan, Esquire, was born hi Newport, New Harapshii-e, Octo- i)oi- 20, 1817. His boyhood and youth were passed in Bradford. He received his education at the Hop- kinton and Meriden academies, stud- ied hiw with Hon. George W. Nes- inith, and was admitted to the bar in 1841. He soon acquired an ex- tensive practice, and by his power as an advocate became a man of note. He represented Bradford in the legislature in 1853, 18.54, and 1855, during the second year re- ceiving the nomination of his party for the speakership, and coming within two votes of an election. Forgetting past contentions, and moved by the prominent stand he had taken in the legislature, the Whigs, Free-Soilers, Independent Democrats, and Americans came to his support, nominated him, and elected him to the Thirty-Fourth OoQgress. He was twice reelected. He served the state with distin-

��guished ability, and won the repu- tation of an able and fearless cham- pion of the cause of the Union and the great principles of the Republi- can party. He was ''^ active, enthu- siastic, and alwa^'s conciliatory, when conciliation is needed. With a heart forced by its very nature to hate falsehood, oppression, and wrong, he is just the man whom a free people should delight to honor, and in honoring whom they most honor themselves."

Mr. Tappan's course throughout, as a member of congress, was characterized by a conscientious re- gard for the right, and by the true spirit of independence. His eloquent speeches were not only a power in the house, but were used broadcast throughout the laud to awaken pat- riotism.

During his term of office he served on the Judiciary Committee, and was chairman of the Committee on Claims.

At the breaking out of the War

�� �