Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-08-28
The New Senator.

David M. Key was born in Green,
County, Tennessee, January q, 1924
/ and is now in his fifty-secopd year
His father moved to Monroe county
when Senator Key was about ten year,
old. Senator Key resided in Monroe
county until 1853, when he removed tC
Chattanooga, where, he has resided
ever since. He worked on his fathers
farm In Monroe county until he was
q years of age, and then sought col.
legiate education, preparatory to enter
ing the practice Of law. He became a
student at Hiwassee College, in Mon
roe county, and graduated at the age
of 26, obtaining his license to practice
law soon thereafter. In the practice
of law he soon developed faculty for
close reasoning and a quick perception
of legal points which rapidly carried
him to the front rank Of the profes-
zion, aud at the commencement of the
war he stood among the first lawyers
of East Tennessee. ' ti'1i'i
From his first vote until the present
time he has cast his fortunes with the
Democratic party. He was Elector for
the District on the Buchanan ticket,
and also on the Breckenridge ticket in
1860, but never ran for any Office, al
though often solicited to do 80. At
the outbreak of the war in 1861 he
joined the Confederate army as Lieu
tenant Colonel of the 43d Tennessee
Infantry, and remained in that posi-
ton during the entire war. Col. Jas.
w. Gillespie, of Rhea county, com
manded the regiment.
After the expiration of the war
Judge Key was one of the first to re-
ceive a pardon from President John
son, with whom he had been on terms
of friendship all his life up to the
year 1861. He made an eloquent re-
ference to this fact in his speech at
the public meeting in this city August
2, called to take action in regard to
the death of Mr.. johnson. On re-
turning to Chattanooga, Judge Key at
once resumed the practice of law, and
was Immediately accorded high posi-
ton in the Bar of Tennessee. After
the enfranehisement of the people
through the election of Senter, he was
elected member of the Consultation
al Convention of 1869. of which be
was recognized leader, and his pres
ent appointment is probably due to the
impression he made upon Governor
Porter, who was also a member of the
convention.
In May, 1870, at the earnest solicita-
ton of the Bar and the citizens gener-
ally, he became candidate for Chan
cellor of the Second Chancery District,
and was elected by an overwhelming
majority. ~ af
He has remained in this Office ever
since, discharging its grave duties with
such ability that he has kept the docket
clear, and has rarely been reversed by
the Supreme Court. In 1872 he was
nominated for Congress, but was de-
feated by Hon. William Crutehfeld,
of this city. aH
In politics Senator Key is Nation
al Democrat. He is no Bourbon, and
feels no bitterness on account of the
past.
In regard to the financial question,
he fayoss the resumption of specie
payment at AS early day as possible,
without too violent disturbance o
the methods of doing business. Heis
neither an lutiitionisU nor contrac-
tion.st. but believes that the industry
and enterprise of the American peo-
pie, untrammeled by unwise legislation.
will be amply sufficient to settle all the
financial difficulties under which they
are now laboring.-C Chdttanooga Times.