The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-27
TIE NOMINEE.

Judge James d. Porter, of Paris,
if he lives, Will certainly be the next
Governor Of this State. Although
opposed by many of the best men III
the State, he was triumphantly nomi-
mated by the largest and most harmo-
nious convention which has assembled
in this State for years. Our people
will support him en- masse. For the
following sketch of his life we are in
debtcd to the Union and American:
James Davis Porter is now forty
five years of age; he was born in Paris,
Henry county, Tennessee, where he
hasever since resided. His father, DIR
Thos. X. Porter, was an eminent ply
stefan, one Of the earliest settlers In
Henry county, and was a prominent
citizen until his death. His mother
was Miss Geraldine Horton, sister of
the late Joseph W. Horton, Of Nash
Vile.
James ID. Porter graduated at the
Nashville University in 1916, and was
always noted as a good scholar, and
prompt and punctual in his classes,
and leader in the debating society.
Though 4 hard student he was a gent
al, joyial school-teIlow, and an active
participation in all boyish sports.
He studied law under James T.
Dunlap, at Paris, and then graduated
il the Law school at Lebanon. Locat-
iHg at Paris, ne married the daugh-
ter Of Mr John Dunlap, of that pace,
a.d began the practice Of his profes-
SION. He soon gained Il high standing
ut the bar by the practice Of those
sterling virtues, industry and atten-
lioa TO business; and, though he pos
scssed a strong will and great perse-
VeralCe and determination, vet his
Ia.id manners and his being, under all
circumstances, a gentleman in the
highest sense Of the term, he won
friends q all The bar, and usually won
his case.
In the midst Of a successful and
popular practice, he was called out for
the legislature in 1859, and WAS elect
el 10 tn House from the counties Of
Henry, Carroll, Gibson and Madison,
and be served his constituents with
great satisfaction 10 them, and was
tie author of the celebrated "Porter
RESOLUTIONS, which were Immediate
~ adopted by Kentucky and other
Southern States. These were passed
| y Tennessee when Only three States
Id seeded.
When Tennessee decided to cast her
lut With the o:har Southern States Mr.
Porter at once volunteered, and was as
signed soon after as Assistant Adiu-
tent General 70 Gen. Frank Cheat
han.'s command as chief of staff. and
lee vas with Gen. Cheatham in the
battles n Belmont and Shiloh. At
Io-Ih-l he was Frustrated by the dis
eases which proved fatal to 50 many
t"ntedeiatoS, and left the army for a
h.iet period on sick leave. He soon
T"-Umed his duties, and WIS ever at his
}o,t Ni!h Gen. Cheatham's command
Ea;ii the eEd Of the war, performing
al! his duties and sharing in all the dan
gers which his hard-fghting comman-
Ger encountered. " hen the army
f2d surrendered at Bentunyille, North
Carolina, and hid gone to Salisbury
T. draw their last rations, a South
'Arolma Major at the head Of mob
1; siN e. seven hundred soldiers
n2sIchcd up to sack the ccmmisSarv
s."ra't'a-@. Gen. Cheatham parceiv-
al the movement, and calling Col.
l,T.gT 70 his all, they two, maidcd,
la-aed ~ ..cnt cf the mob. and bv
their determined stand saved the SUP
pcs drove back the marauders, and
eyeGteI the suffering which would
have easUeI 10 the Western troops
had the stores been robbed. Gen.
Chcatham, in his emphatic way, hay
IL ihrottlod and thumped the Major
Who had lei ihe mob.
CD. Porter had the Unlimited con-
i;dcnce q his superior and fellow Off
Gers and discharged the arduous du-
ties Of Assistant Adiutant General for
fiur years wiki the greatest ability and
promp.lcsS, and received the highest
commentators from General Cheat
ham As , courteous and chivalrous
gentleman, an able and trusty officer,
., gallant soldier in the field, and a
~. gacious counsellor in camp.
Col. Porter on his way home from
North Carolina after the surrender
with his side arms and parole, was ar
rested near Knoxville and carried IN
that point where he was robbed. dis
armed, ard was, by Gen. Stoneman's
order, thrown into prison in violation
Of the terms OF the surrender. Upon
his release from prison, Col. Porter re-
turned home and resumed the practice
Of law with success, and in 1870 he
was elected, without opposition, to the /
constitutional convention where his me-
thodlcal business habits his sound
Judgment and legal and legislative ex- /
Ierience caused him to make his mark
End enabled him to render valuable
-ervice 10 the formation of the new
The rexf wear after the convention