Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-20
Judge Porter and Con. Jackson.

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in the human breast, which we feel when
we stand in the presence Of master
spirit, and there is something that tells
us the stranger we see before us was born
to command Few men could look Mr..
Clay in the eye when he was in earnest,
and say no and when the gray eye OF
jackson fell on friend or foe, an instinct
told them that he was master spirit,
and they acknowledged his superiority.
Judge Porter, of Louisiana, used to
relate an aneedote connected with Gen.
Jackson and himself, which may serve TO
illustrate this principle The Judge was
personally and politically opposed du-
ripg~ the whole of his life to General
Jackson, and he related this anecdote
merely to show how much more highly
priced trihing honor or distinction
gained in youth was than the highest
honors received in mature or old age
An Irishman by birth, he was elected
a member of the first convention to form
the Constitution of the State of Loui.
siana, was fourteen years on the Supreme
Beuch, and was twice elected to a full
term in the United States Senate All
these honors did not afford him half so
much pleasure as was derived from the
distinction, when not out of his teens, to
which he was indebted to Gen. jackson.
1t is well known that during the
threatening difficulties between the
United States and Great Britain in 1872,
public meetings were being constantly
held all over the country, to express the
sense of the people upon the subject
matter of these grievances. The city Of
Nashville, deeply interested, at least in
domestic commerce, in the maintenance
Of free trade and sailors rights, was the
scene of an immense gathering of the
masses far and near.
1t so happened that there was to be
found in Nashville, and vicinity, a mum
Der of very remarkable men, not so dis
tinguished perhaps at that time, but all
of them became subsequently known to
the whole country Hugh Lawson
White, once a candidate for the .Presi-
dency; Felix Grundy, the distinguished
jurist, Senator and Attorney General;
George W. Campbell, Secretary of the
Treasury and Minister to Russia; be-
sides General Jackson and Alexander
Porter, young clerk in his uncle's store.
81 After the meeting had been regularly
organized President, Vice President,
Secretary, etc., ETC., appointed, a large
committee was selected to draw up the
necessary resolutions expressive of the
sense of the meeting. Besides those
whose names we have given, others, at
that time scarcely less distinguished,
were added.
The committee having retired to a
suitable place to deliberate, General
jackson, without invitation or solicita-
ton, but of his own moving, said: "Tll
tell you what we must do. First send
word to the meeting to 20 on with their
speeches until they get tired, and then
tell them to adjourn to five o clock, when
we will be ready to report; in the mean.
time, each one OF the committee will pre-
pare an address and such resolutions as
he may deem proper, and we can meet
few moments before, and after hearing
the several addresses and resolutions, we
will adopt those most expressive of the
sense of the meeting, and the best inter
est of the country" No man ventured
to express any dissent, but all acquiesced
at once in the suggestion. At that time
General jackson was by no means as
well known or distinguished as a lawyer,
speaker or writer as most Of the other
members of the committee. He was but
"A county court or saddlebag lawyer
and a militia General. The members of
the committee then withdrew to prepare
their resolutions, aud at the time desig
mated reassembed.
On their return TO the room, General
Jackson called by turns upon White,
Grundy, Campbell, and the others, all of
whom had no doubt prepared very ap
propriate and patriotic resolutions.
After they had all read their produc
tions, except Porter, who was at that
time mere lad, whose modesty had
kept him in the back. ground, General
j Jackson said to him in very kind and
conciliatory manner: Well, Porter,
have you not something to read ?"
1t will be remembered by those who
know the family, that Judge Porter's
father was a Presbyterian clergyman !.
was tried by military tribunal for wr-
ting revolutionary articles, and was
hanged at his own church door. From
this circumstance, and the impetuosity |
of youth, it may be presumed that his
address and resolutions were more than
ordinarily severe against the English
government, apd went somewhat further
than others had been induced to recon-
mend or to GO As be read the details
of the indignities and agyressions upon
our seamen and our commerce, he OBJ |
served the chest of Jackson heaving with
anger, and his eye dilating, which con-
Linued until the close of his resolutions.
Without consultation or waiting for
others, the General rose, stamped upon
he floor, and exclaimed in his usual
vehement way "By the eternal, those
are exactly my sentiments; we will re-
port Porter's address and resolutions"
No man ventured to oppose that iron
will, and without the formaliiy of vote,
he preamble and resolutions of the
young Irish exile we're reported to the
Meeting, and by them unanimously
adopted. This, my first honor (said
oorter), gave me more real pleasure and
thaR all which | have since
eceived.- Exchange.
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