Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-04-04
JAMEs ID PORTER.
The Past Career of the Nes Assistant Sec
retaEy Of State
Nashville American.


The Past Career of the Nes Assistant Sec
- retaFy Of state
Nashville american,
The nomination Of ex-Goy. PurirT
to the position OF Assistant Secretary
of State, which was published in the
American yesterday, not only in the
headlines but in the newsmatfer fol-
lowing, was the topic of general inter
est on the streets yesterday. Gov. Poi-
ter, it is learned, was proffered the
Office of Assistant Postmaster General
last Monday aud within day or two
the choice between that and the office
of Assistant Secretary OF State. Be
fore sufficient time had elapsed for due
consideration Of either offer tele-
gram was received from Washington
asking his immediate presence at the
capital, in response To. which he left
the city and proceeded at once to the
national capital
The entrance of ex-Gov. Porter into
the arena of national politics, and the
greater prominence this brings him
into before the public, make a short
sketch of his career thus lar timely
and interesting.
James ID. Porter is Of English ex-
traction, and Twas born at Paris, in this
State, Dec. z, 1923 where the family
has been resident since 1923 Gov.
Porter was the third son and the third
child of his parents. He was educa-
ted by David Cochrane, an alumnus OF
Belfast, Ireland, and for many years
principal Of the academy at Paris,
Tenn. At sixteen he entered the jun
Tor class in the University OF Nashville
then under the Presidency OF DIR.
Phillip Lindsey, and was graduated
two years thereafter in The class OF
1916, but was in poor health for many
years after that date. He studied law
in the Office OF Gen. John III. Dunlap,
in his native town, and at the Law
School at Lebanon, Tenn, and COM
menced the practice in 1851; was mar
ried in June of that year to Susanna,
eldest daughter and eldest child Of his
legal preceptor. Soon thereafter he
settled on n farm near Paris, Tenn
where he has always resided, except
when absent in the public service
He was elected in 1859 Representative
in the Legislature OF Tennessee fTom
the counties Of Carroll, Gibson, 'Nadi-
son and Henry, and was an active par
ticipant in the memorable proceed
imgs Of tho extra session of 1861
through which Tennessee dissolved
her relations with the Federal Gov, IN
M nt. tie was the author OF the POP
t..r Resolutions" passed January, 1861
which pledged Tennessee to co oper-
ate with the South in case Of war hc
tween the Stltes. The resolutions Mt
tracted the attention OF the entire
country. They were almost unani,
mously adopted by the Legislature 81
Tennessee, and were adopted in S-sen
other Stites in the South.
When hosulilies commenced he
joined Gen. Cheatham, and was with
| him as his chief Of statf during the
four years Of war, and ~as paroled
with him in May, 1865, NJ the surren
4 der OF the Army OF Teniiessce.
lie resumed the practice Of his pro
fession in the fall OF 1866, and WAS &C
lively engaged in it until 1870, when
convention was called to provide new
Constitution for Tennessee. He wal
unanimously elected by the people !
I
/ delegate from his native county.
lgrIn the summer OF 1870 he was elect
ed by avery large majority Judge o
the Twelfth Judicial Circuit OF Ten
nessee, composed of the counties o
Henry, Benton, Carroll, Weakley
Obion and Lake. for the term OF eleh
years, resigned the judgeship IN Feb
ruary, 1874, and in the August follow
i ing received the nomination for Gov
ernor of the State at the hands OF tl'
State Contention of the Democratic
partv over ex Senator Bailey and 9th
ers. He was opposed by Horace May
lnard, the Republican candidate, an.
made Joint canvass OF the State viii
him and was elected by majority o
1900. Two wears thereafter he wa
re-nominated without opposition an'
reelected. over ID. b. Thomas, inde
pendent Democrat, by a majority O
over 10000.
He went out of office in January
1879 At the State Democratic Con
vention Of 1880 he was elected dele
gate for the State mt large to the Nat
fonal Convention Mt Cincinnati, nn'
was made Chairman of the Tennesse
delegation. He advocated the nomi
nation OF Senator Bayard, OF Dehwar
for the Presidency.
In july. 1880, he was elected Presi
dent of the Nashville, Chatt fnooga !
st. Louis Railway Company, and wa
four times annually reelected and re
i tired from the railroad service in Sel
Z tember, 1884.
1 His alma mater (the University
j. Nashyille) years ago conferred upo
: him the degree of L. l.. ID. He is ais
! trustee of the university, and a mem
Der of .the Peabody Board of Trustee
which is charged with the manage
ment of the educational fund left 10
4 the educatiqp OF the children Of Tn
, South. He is Vice President of Tn
Tennessee Historical Society for We'
Tennessee, director OF the Firs
National Bank of Nashville, directo
in the Equitable Fire Insurance Con
pany OF Nashville, and was Tor sewers
wears a director in the Tennessee Coz
& Iron Company Of Tennessee, an
, declined a reelection at last election
; and is President OF the Hermitag
Club of Nashville.