Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-11-14


g Though young man at that time,
u evineed considerable talent as aspea
! er, and was regarded as man OF de
{ tined distinction in the political areI
When thewar between the States col
menced, Mr.. House cast his fortun
with those of the south, and procee'
|, |, ing to Richmond, his ability and jud
: : ment in matters of law and questiol
OF State commended him to the atte
tion of the Confederate government
! He was soon assigned an important D,
sition, the responsible duties of whic
he discharged with promptness an
honor. At the close of the war he r,
turned home and devoted himself |
his profession, in which he had rapic
ly risen to a front place. He was
member of the Tennessee constitution
al convention of 1870, and proved Nc
only an active, but a valuable membel
whose views upon more than one sub
| jeet of importance, then pending be
fore that intelligent body, were regard
ed as judicious and wise. His speec
favoring the payment of a poll-tax 70
purposes of public education, was no
only splendid specimen of the keel
and bitter sarcasm, which adds so mucl
pungeney and force to his orat0ricca
attacks upon an enemy, but was mag
| nificent speech, and great argumen
in support of the question that hai
since been agitated more than one,
upon the political rostrum, and By
Porter and Maynard in their recen
gubernatorial canvass. As a lawyer
Mr.. House is thorough, studious and
comprehensive as an orator, be has
perhaps, no superior in Tennessee
He is sarcastic without being Insulting
is logical without being tiresome, and
combines beauty and simplicity oi
language, with cogent reasoning and
lofty sentiment. His oratory is grace
full, smooth and winsome. Mr.. House
is consistent member of the Metho-
dist church, and is respected for his
purity of character, as he is admired
for his brilliancy of intellect and no.
bleness of purpose. Tennessee has
not yet selected better or truer man.
one who will be actuated by nobler
purposes, or guided by higher prinei-
Piles.
General W. C. Whitthorne, of the
seventh district, resides at Columbia,
Maury county, and is about fifty years
of age. He has seen great deal of
political life, having been first elected
to the Tennessee legislature in 1S49,
and was at different periods a member
of the general assembly until 1861.
But whether in or out ofthe legislature,
during part of the above time, he
was speaker of both houses, and as a
presiding officer was distinguished for
his clearness, readiness and prompt
ness in disposing of business. In 1860
he was Democratic elector for the
State at large, and if we mistake not,
canvassed with Horace Maynard that
year. When not in the legislature he
engaged in the practice of law, proving
himself thorough lawyer and sue
cessful attorney. At the commence
ment of the war he became adjutant-
general of General Sam. r. Ander-
sons brigade, and went with that com
mand to Virginia, where he served as
a true soldier. Shortly thereafter
Governor Isham G.. Harris commits
stoned him as adjutant general of
Tennessee. and ordered him back to
the capital at Nashville. In that po-
sition he served as an efficient officer
through the war on the staff of Gov
ernor Harris. While his position did
not require him to perform field duty,
he passed through several of the blood
lest battles Of the war. Like a true
soldier as he was, he followed the ban
ner of his country wherever it was car
ried. At Murfreesboro and Chicka-
mauga, and through all the severe bat
ties of Hoods campaign, General
Whitthorne proved brave and gal
liant soldier, and won the commenda-
ton of Governor Harris and other Of
fcers who shared the hardships and
encountered the dangers of the war.
Returning to Columbia, General Whit
thorne did a profitable law business,
and in 1870 was elected on the Demo
cratic ticket to congress. In 1872 he
was reelected, and again have the good
people for whose welfare he has labor
ed so zealousiy, and whose rights he
has defended so eloquently, recognized
his worth. his ability and his services.
General Whitthorne has always been a
Democrat, andis one of the ablest re-
representatives. Tennessee has ever had
in congress. He is gentleman of un-
integrity anda young states
man of decided talent.
General j. ID. C. Atkins resides at
Paris, Henry county. He has been
lifelong Democrat, and figured quite
prominently in politics before the war,
having been a member of the Tennes-
see legislature as far back as 1S47, and
again in 1851. In 1853 he was defeat
ed for congress by Emerson Etheridge,
the Wing nominee. In 1855 General
Atkins was le-nominated for congress
by the Democratic party of his dis
tirct, and, after brilliant canvass, de-
featej his competitor, Mr.. Etheridge
In 1857 these two able speakers, were
again nominated for congress By their
respective parties, and after one of the
most exciting political canvasses ever
made in Tennessee Mr.. Etheridee was
elected over General Atkins by only
seven votes. In 1859 the Democratic
party again nominated General Atkins
and he was elected over Mr.. Etheridge,
who at that time was considered one
of the ablest stump-speakers and most
successful canvassers in the Whig
party of Tennessee. General Atkins
remained in congress until the Stlte
seeded, when he returned home and
was made ieutenant-eolonel of the
fifth Tennessee regiment, organized in
Henry county by Colonel Travis. He
was soon afterward elected to the Con-
federate congress, in which body he
served until the close of the war
Upon reaching home in 1865 he re-
mained In private life until nominated
by primary election over Hon. Dor
sey b. Thomas as the Democratic
candidate for congress in 1872. In
that canvass he was opposed by Gener-
al Murry, the Republican candidate,
who is now United States attorney for
the western district of Tennessee, but
was elected by handsome majority.
General Atkins is not only an excel
lent speaker, but is a thorough literary
and classical scholar, and a gentleman
of most courtly manners. Though
educated for the law, he has never
practiced that profession, but success
fully engaged in farming. In any po-
sitiou of life. whether military or civil,
public or private, General Atkins has
Justly won the esteem and confidence
of all who know him. He is a gentle
man of brilliant talent, has a ready
command of language, and is well