Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-13
THE SUPREME JUDGESHIP.
Col. James Burch Cooke, Of Chatta-

nOOEa.
To the Editor of the Union and American:
NASHVILLE, July II, 1S72.-Being in
| your city On business, | hear occasionally
something said concerning the present can
vass for Supreme Judgeship between Judge
| Mcfarland and Col. James Burch Cooke.
am citizen of Jackson comfy, and have
a general acquaintance in that and sur
rounding counties. l do not wish to dis
| parage the claims of Judge Mcfarland; he
has the character of being a gentleman, a
good lawyer, and well qualified. l don't
know him personally. do know Col.
Cooke, and can unhesitatingly endorse him
as being in every way worthy and well
qualified for the high and honorable posi-
ton to which he aspires, and have no hes
itation IN saying that the people of my sec
ton Of the State will give him rousing
vote in the coming election.
Col. Cooke is nephew Of Maj. Richard
+. Cooke, deceased, who was for many
years citizen Of Jackson county, in that
portion of the county which was cut off
into Putnam county. Maj. Cooke was one
Of our most hOnored and highly respected
citizens. He was twice elected to represent
the counties of Jackson, White and Macon,
in the Senate Of Tennessee, and established
the new county of Putnam while in the
Senate, the county seat of which, Cooke
vile, was named for its hOnOred founder.
Maj. Cooke raised among us a highly re-
speCted family, some of whom still reside
in our section, and two Of his SONS lived
among US for many years; from thence re-
moved to Nashville, and are now among
the most highly respectable merchants of
your city.
This family have numerous friends all
over our section, and the bare fact of Col.
Jas. 3. Cookies relationship to that family
viii weigh heavily in bis favor in our sec
ton. But, Mr.. Editor, aside from this, Col
Cooke has many acquaintainces and warm
friends and admirers in our section. Quite
a number Of our citizens met him in the
Congressional Convention at McMinnville
two years ago, and if l remember right,
delegate from jackson proposed to put him
in nomination before that body, but he
modestly declined the profered honor on
the ground that it was then believed that a
Rebel soldier, such as he was, as brave and
gallant as ever drew blade,
would not be received in Congress
if elected. Col. Burch Cooke
is not an obscure man, he is known and has
a character all over the State. He was
raised in McMinn county, East Tennessee,
educated and graduated at Knoxville Uni |
versity; entered upon the practice of the
law about 1S45; by his fine tact and
talent rose rapidly to distinction; was ap-
pointed Attorney General of his district !
in 1S47, which position he filed with credit |
to himself and honor to the country. He |
was elected to the Legislature in 1851, in
which position he distinguished himself: |
was returned by his constituents in 1858, |
during which term he was chairman of the |
Judiciary Committee, and if remember |
be came near being elected |
Speaker Of the House of Representatives
in 1858.
He is regarded among the members of |
the bar wherever be is known as one of the |
ablest lawyers in the State. He is a pleas
ant, kind and aftabie gentleman; was brave.
true and gallant Confederate soldier. He /
is eminently qualified to fill the high and |
honorable position to which he aspires. |
Now, taking ali this to be true, which is |
vouched for by the writer and tens of thou
sands of other TennesseeaDs who know |
him, what will hinder him from getting a |
good vote everywhere in the State? We are |
all for him in the mountain section Of Mid |
die Tennessee, and will prove it to you on |
The day Of the election. .s
A MEMBER OF THE BAR.