The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-02

ihe day to the business Of village shop, acquired at
night IN the hours devoted by others 10 amusement o.
10 sleep, such simple rudiments OF law as he could
sean iron few elementary books, loaned To him by
those who ielt an interest in the joung student
With this scanty ,utGl Of learning he soon after
arriving at manhood, about the year 1909 emigraled
TO Lou,siana, aud established himself in the practice
OF the law in the western part Of the State. The
oest evidence Of the rapidy with which he establish
cd himself IN popular favor aud consider alton IN
land Of sTangerswss his election IN 1871 as incl ber
OF the convention for framing the Constitution Of the
State. lie attained distinction in his profession
and after years Of arduous and well
devotion to It's practice, he accepted seat on the
bench of the Supreme Court Of Louisiana the reported
decisions OF which, during his fifteen years service, at
test the industry and ability which he brought TO the
discharge of his Judicial dutiesdu,ies requiring,
from the peculiar character Of our Jurisprudence, a
greater range Of legal studies than ia any Of our
sister States He intimately acquainted with
the Roman, French and Spanish law, and required
with familiarity To the original Of infsrma
ton in those languages. He resigned his judgeship
about the year 1880, and soon after elected to
the Senate Of the United States his career while
there is familiar TO all who hear me- His health be-
came so feeble to induce him. for several years. to
withdraw from public life but he again elected
to the National Senate at the last session Of the lie.
gislature Of Louisiana. The disease which had long
been preying upon his body, without imparing the
energy OF his mind, assuming greater intensity, he
was unable to take his seat and he died on the 18th
utimo at his plantation, after protracted and pain
full illness
ALEXANDER PORTER was learned lawyer, an elo-
quent advocate, and an upright judge His exten-
sive and varied reading, his great colloqual powers
ready wit and social dist ostion, fitted him to appear
TO advantage in the most brilliant and refined society
His temperament was ardent, and he was jealous in
his political creed; but he did not permit political
differences TO affect his relations in private life
Widely differing from him the great party ques
tons, have been for many years honored by hi, in
timacy, an knowing him as did, can with conf
dence that the manifestations Of respect which
| am now about to propose, could not be bestowed
more tittingly.
MIR. VANCE rose to second the motion of the
gentleman from Ohio, and said that he would EN-.
brace the opportunity of paying just tribute of re-
spect to Alexander Porter, whom he knew well.--
His does not belong alone to this nation, but To
the civilized world with whom he would drop a tear
The name of Alexander Porter was closely associa
ted with the history of the State Of Louisiana, and
il is of true reflection that we should call 10
our minis the dispensations of Heaven that reaches
not only high, but low places. He concluded his
address by paying handsome tribute to the life and
character Of his friend and patriot, Alexander Por
ter
And then The House. adjourned.