St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-12-17

Nothing party SpfdDS 1nLO existence
Judge King gave in his adhesion to il
and was one of it's most ardent advo-
Gates. He was delegate to the Ma
tional convention of the party holden
in Philadelphia in 1856, and though he
withdrew with the rest of the Louisiana
delegation when the attempt was made
to mingle religion and politics, was
made one Of the Fillmore electors in
this State. In 1859, solicited by large
number of the members of the bar OF
his district, Judge King ran as an in
dependent candidate for Associate JUS
tice on the Supreme bench and was de-
feated by Hon. A. VOORHEES,, the regular
Democratic nominee.
In 1860 the Union party of the country
nominated John Bell of Tennessee for
President and Edward Everett of Mas
sachusetts for Vice President. The plat
form of the!party was terse and simple:
81 the constitution, the Union and the
enforcement of the laws Soon after
the nomination the Opelousas Patriot
was made the organ OF the party in St.
Landry under the editorial supervision
Of committee Of three at the head OF
which was placed Judge King. The
campaign was an exceedingly animated
one. Judge King was the soul of
the party in this part of the
State. With his pen and on the stump
he advocated it's principles with all his
might. He not only delivered string
speeches, at almost every political gath
ering in this parish, but in neighboring
parishes, and on one or two occasions
at public meetings in New Orleans.
Bell and Everett lost the parish, but
by majority so small as to elicit from
the late p. D. Hardy, who had met Mr..
King in debate at almost every politi-
cal gathering in St. Landry, when the
result of the vote was announced, the
remark that somebody had struck the
Democracy of St. Landry an awful
lick and that he believed King was the
man." In fact, standing majority
of about 400 or 500, had been reduced
to less than so.
The result Of that Presidential cleo
ton was the death knell of the Union
for the time being and the ruin Of the
South. Immediately its result was
made known, the tocsin Of war was
sounded throughout the country. All
existing party lines were forgotten.
The withdrawal of South Carolina from
the Union threw the whole South into a
blaze. Two parties at once arose in
Louisiana. The Secessionists and the
Co-operationist. Judge King at once
allied himself with the latter and was
selected as a candidate to represent the
parish in the convention ordered to
assemble at Baton Rouge in January,
1861, to deliberate on the condition Of
the country, and advise as to the ex
pediency of Louisiana's withdrawing
from the Union. The Campaign was
short and sharp. There has never been
any question on which the people were
SO equally divided in this parish. Judge
King obtained very large vote, but
was beaten by a majority of seven.
Dr., afterwards, Col. Gober, who ran
on the ticket with him was defeated by
1 votes, whilst DR.. Cooke was elected
by only Z and C. L. Swayze by very
few more.
When Louisiana seeded, Mr.. King
went with his native State and though
a Union man by nature and education
and though he foresaw and predicted
the result as nearly us mortal man
could, gave in his adhesion to the South.
He was in the service with the rank of
Lieut.. Col, but only for short time.
subsequently he served the Confederacy
in civil capacity. After the war he
resumed the practice of his profession.
In the fall of 1865 he was elected to
represent this District in the Congress
IF the U. S. He Immediately repaired
% Washington City, but was denied
admission with.the rest OF thelLouisiana
delegation. During the next few years
Louisiana has but little political history.
Judge King was occupied in the practice
# his profession, delivering occasionally
/ public address, and taking a lively
interest in the politics of the nation.
n 1870, Judge Porter of the Sth District
court died, and Judge King was APP
pointed his successor. There had from
S61 up to that time been an immense
OF business and an at
empt to clear the St. Landry docket
vas regarded almost as an impossibility
D single term of Office. Judge King
owever, accomplished it in much
horter time. He brought to the her.