The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-10-31

NEwronr, Ky, May IS.

i . = ai ]
The facile and gifted pens of, vari-
our correspondents throughout our
State have recently furnished us with
glowing sketches Of numerous dirin.
guished gentlemen who are mentioned
In connection with the Office Of Gov
ornor. Permit me to add to the list
one who is peer Of the highest and
noblest and truest there-one who,
in every quality Of mind and heart,
in every attribute cfloity manhood, is
eminently fitted to adurn and dignity
the chief Msgistracy of,the Common
wealth, ! refer, sir, to Hon. Thos.
L. Jones, who has long, with signal
ability and fidelity, represented this
district in Congress. ] do it., never
having spoken to him on the subject,
as a free-wiIl offering on the altal Of
private friendship and public duty,
relying upon my own knowledge, the
representations of bis intimate asso-
ciates and the public records Of bis
life, for the brief statement Of his
claims which / design to make.
Thomas Laurens Jones was born
January 81, 1919, in Rutherford
county, North Carolina, so, as his
father was at the time q citizen and
resident Of South Carolina, it may be
said Of him in Hibernian phrase, that
he was born out Of his native State
He was reared in Spartanburg, South
Carulina. After pursuing his stud
les at Columbia aud Yale Colleges,
he graduated at Princeton, in 1870
and afterward at the Cambridge Law
School. ae then spent two years in
European travel, and, returning, re-
sumed the study oflaw, aud was ad
mitied to the bar in 1916. He re
moved to this Safe, and settled II
Newport, in lS49, where he had mar.
fried the granddaughter of GENERA
james Taylor, and on the moIher'l
side Of the distinguished orator ant
statesmen, William I. Barry. HI
was a member Of the Kentucky Leg
lislature in 1853 and 1854, aud a dele
gate TO several State and nationa
conventions. He was elected t,
Congress in 1879, but, on account 0
bis strong Southern principles ant
record, the radical majority refuse
| him bis seat. His district returne'
him by an increased vote In 1857
aud he was admitted in December q
that year was re-electedin 1869 an
4 1874, and declined to allow his nam
to be again presented in 1876. /" \
In every position to which he ha
been called by the partiality Of hi
people, he has shown himself pre-
eminently worthy of their conGdenc
and admiration. His whole career |
Congress during the stormiest perio
of American political history, bs
been marked by statesmanlike breadt
, Of views and unfaltering devotion I
liberty and right, combined with RAJ
sagacity, firmness, courege, and III
blemished integrity. Inallhis armt
there IL no flaw in which envy {
malice may lodge a shaft Of criticism
He comes out Of a long term Of NJ
tional service, IN an era Of venalit
and corruption unparalleled sins
the days Of Baracalla, without a sha'
ow Of suspicion upon the stainle
J escutcheon Of his honor. Daring q
the years Of turbulence, rowdyis
: and shame, while never wavering
hairs breadth from the line Of b
convictions and his duty. and ev,
: fearless in the assertion Of the one Of
q the discharge 90 Of the other. lie utter,
3 no word, was guilty Of no act, unb
Q coming a high-souled Christian ge
ileman. He never committed q blu
:, der, or expressed an unpatriotic
g indellicate sentiment. His voice "
i, ever raised in behalf Of the wei
g against the strong, Of freedom again
!, usurpation and oppression, Of Il
ID Constitution and the laws against q
10 arnby, violence and misrule. His Q
q cry deed was brave and honest; !