New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-02-05
Congressional.

Massachusetts. and lion. HICKMAN NJ i ICE GR.
Member elect from Mississippi. took their seats
in the House.
Mr.. GIDDlNGs of Ohio continued his remarks
in favor of resembling the XXIst Rule He had
not concluded when the morning hour expired
Mr. BARROW in the Senate and Mr. SLIpfLL
in the House, appropriately announced the death
of Hon. ALEXANDER PORTER, late Senator from
Louisiana. Mr.. Benton seconded the usual reso-
utions in the Senate and Mr.. VANCE of Ohio in
Housc-briehy but feelingly. The following are
the remarks Of Mr.. Barrow
Mr.. PRESIDENT: 1t is with unelgned sorrow that
announce TO the Senate an event OF the most pam
fpl character. Nv colleague and friend, the zion.
ATryAyDER PORTER departed this life on the 18th
utimo at his residence in Louisiana, aged ttye!ght
Bv the death of Senator PORTER Louisiana loses
one of her most talented and llOnored citizens and
the nation is deprived Of the valuable services IN
This body of pure patriot and an enlightened states
man and, under such national calamity, 1t would
he 1neet for me TO speak of the personal bereaTc-
rnent have sustained by the death OF my friend 1t
is the usage on occasions like this to present brief
sketch OF the life and character OF the deceased, and
[ should most deeply regret my limited knowledge
OF Judge PoRTER's parentage and early llle II md
and genius and distinguished public character, and
that she looks to other sources for information con-
corning the lives OF her great men than TO the eie-
maral eulogies of partial friends.
Judge PORTER was born in the land of Curran.
and his father contemporary and Trend oil that
brilliant orator and incorruptble patriot. The father
of Judge PORTER man OF pety and classical
education and was by profession minister of the
Gospel; but the fire OF patriotism and the love OF
liberty glowed so warmly IN his bosom that he
threw aside the sacerdota robe and put the bur
nished armor of a soldier, and resolved to conquer
or die in defence of his counry's freedom. History
informs US what was the result of the patriotic but
indiscreet attempt, made, in l798 by some OF the
purcs and most gifted sons oflreland, TO emancpate
her from the thraldom of England; and from the
pages ofhe same history we learn that the father OF
| Judge PORTER fell martyr in the cause of free
| dom, and was executed as rebel. Judge PORTER
,hus became in early life fatherless and without
home, and he was forced to abandon his own, his
native land and seek refuge in land of strangers.
To this country, the asylum of the oppressed OF all
nations Judge PORTER, in company with his
widowed mother and q younger brother, emgrated
and settled in Nashville Tennessee, amongst whose
generous citizens he found many ready to comfort
the widow and protect the fatherless In Nashville
he entered mercantile house in the capacity of
clerk, and while he engaged in that vocation he
did not neglect the cutivato of those high tncul-
ties with which nature had so beautifully endowed
him.
In a few wears, while thus laboring for his own
and widowed mothers support, nc not only extend
ed the sphere of his general knowledge, but he laid
the broad and deep foundation of that legal learning
which was the pride and ornament OF his matured
age, and which will transmit his name to the latest
poserty as of the brightest Judicial lights OF
this age. At this period of his life we find Judge
PORTER once more seeking new home and about
the year 1909 he removed from Nashville to the Ter
rtory of Orleans, and settled in the parish OF Atta-
kal,as where he lived and died, loved and admired
for his many private virtues, and honored for his ia
Tents and public services.
The first high station of trust in which we find
him placed by the confidence of the people among
whom he had settled is in the Convention OF 1872,
to form Constitution for the Territory of Orleans.
In that body, which numbered the abest men of the
Territory, Judge PORTER soon acquired reputa-
ton for integrity, learning and craftsmanship, which
placed him at once most conspicuously before the
people; and he was, not long after that period, ele-
waited to the Supreme Court Bench of the State Of
Louisiana, which station he occupied for about fl
teen years.
TWAS in that Office that Judge Porter rendered
services TO the people of Louisiana above all appre-
ciation and acquired for himself reputation I'M
pershabe as the civil law itself; and, as that sys-
tenn of Jurisprudence has survived the wreck of en-
prcs, is likely to continue as long as civilization
finds resting place on the EARTH am confident
that the distinguished jursts of the nation TO whom
Judge Porter's judicial character must be we'll
known, will not consider it the exaggerated Ian
guage of eulogy when say, that the opinions
which he delivered as Judge of the Supreme Court
of Louisiana, display depth of learning, power
Of analysis, force Of reasoning, and a comprehcn-
siveness and accuracy of Judgment, which justly
entte him to niche in the temple OF Fame IN
juxtaposition with even the great, the pure, tie
immortal Marshall.
The health of Judge PORTER at last sunk under
the severe and incessant labors of his Office, and he
was compelled to retire from that bench from WI ch
he had for so many years dispensed Justice with the
inhexibe integrity of Hale, the intrepidity Of n
| Holt, and the legal acumen OF Mansfield.
He was not, however, long permitted to enjoy the
ease and happiness of private life; but called
upon 1888, by the people OF his State, 10 serve
them in the councils of the nation and here in this
| chamber, he acquired new aurels and added new
lusue to his already bright fame. Some Of you,
Senators, we'll remember his eloquence and high
powers as a Gcbater--hs brilliant tact his infinite
humor, his general courtesy, and gentemany bear
ing; and | know that with me, You sincerely la
ment that he has been struck down by the cold hand
of death, at the moment he was for a second time,
summoned by the State OF Louisiana 10 take his
on this floor Of the Representatives of her sove
regnty. While consider that the nation has sus-
tanned grievous loss by the death of Judge PoR-
TER | know that the loss TO Louisiana is irrepars-
| Bile. His vacant seat here cannot be filled with his
equal, no matter who may become his honored sue
cessor.
NV feelings, Mr.. President admonish me to tor
bear further observations this sad occasion. and
| therefore commit TO history the character and re-
putaton of my late colleague; and, slight les
tmonia of the high respect felt by that body for the
memory Of my deceased colleague, submit for the
adoption of the Senate the following resolutions:
Resolred That the Senate has received with deep sensib
ty the information of the death of the Hon. ALExANDER
PORTER Senator elect the State OF Louisiana and IN
token of tn high respect for the memory OF the deceased
the members OF the Senate will wear the left as
mourning for thirty days.
Resolred That as further mark of respect for the memory
of the Hon. ALEXANDER PORTER, the Senate do ad-
journ.
Unanimously adopted, and each House ad-