Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-01-09

the General Assembly of Tennessee and was
argely Instrumental In shaping and carrying
out the policy OF internal improvements in
Tennessee through state aid. A Wing by
birth and education, he adhered 20 the faith
and fortunes OF thatparty as long as any frag-
ments existed claiming TO support It's doc
trines.' lie was an earnest Union man so
long as there was any hope of It's mainten-
anee. lie was elected in January, 1851, along
with Hon. Cave Johnson and Hon. John i.
House, as n Union delegate TO proposed
convention TO consider the attitude Of the
state. The same vote, however, which elected
these gentlemen, was cast against the assem-
bling OF any convention, thus defeating the
call by an enormous majority. When, how
ever, warhad begun, and Tennessee was called
upon TO either aid in the coercion of the
Seceedel States, or aid them IN resistance, he,
Ia common with the great mass Of the people
Of his state, warmly espoused the cause of
the South. At the outbreak OF hostllities, he
was called upon by Gov. Harris TO serve as a
member OF the state Military Bureau charged
with the duty OF organizing and coupling the
troops Of the State He served zealousiy in
this work for several months, and then re-
solving to take the field, he raised company
from among the young men of his county, Of
which lie was elected Captain. He was shortly
afterwards elected Colonel OF the regiment
TO which his company was attached, the
Forty Ninth Tennessee Infantry. lie, with
his regiment participated in the battle of
Fort Donelson, where his partner. the Lieu
tenant-Colonel Of the regiment, was killed
Upon the surrender of the garrison, Colonel
] -
Warren, in the harbor of Boston, where he
remained until exchanged in September, 1852
He rejoined his regiment at Vicksburg, Miss,
| it having been exchanged at about the same
time, and commanded it until the Spring Of
| 1863, at Port Hudson, La. Here his health
gave way 10 such an extent that he was COM
PEELED to seek service less exposed He re-
signed the command Of his regiment and was
appointed member of the permanent mill
tary court OF the corps of Gen. Hardee. lie
held thispUsition until the close of the war.
Returning 10 Clarllsvllle after the surrender
of the Confederate cause, he resumed the
practice of the law. The business that poured
in upon him was enormous The work re-
quired to keep it in hand was horculean.
| In 1874 his name, without any previous can
vass, was presented TO the Democratic state
Convention as a candidate for Governor. The
support he received was large and earnest,
! bat the nomination was given to James d.
Porter He was twice appointed to the SUI
preme Bench Of the State TO I'll temporary
/ vacancies, once setting a whole term in the
| place of Chief Justice Nicholson. Permanent
| position upon this high tribunal was always
open to him, but he preferred the labor of a
practitioner.
In 1876 during the Presidential campaign,
he canvassed the state in the interest Of the
Democratic party, speaking as many as fifty
times, and winning great reputation as an
able political disputant.
IN January, 1877, after the most protracted
ba'ioting ever known in a Tennessee Legisla-
ture, he was elected to the United States Sen
ate to fill the uneXpired term Of Andrew
Johnson. Colonel Bailey's competitors We're
Judge d. NJ. Key and Gen. w. B. Bate. He
took high rank in the Senate. His speech
upon the Thurman Pacific Railroad BIZ at
once placed him among the greatest of the
lawyers of that body. His speech in favor OF
bi-mctaliSm and the restoration of the silver
dollar to the currency, was universally re-
garded rs replete with information and uu-
answerable in its conclusions The contest
over the seat of Kellogg, of Louisiana, which
was claimed by SpoffOrd, afforded him a great
opportunity TO again meet the great lawyers
of the Republican party upon great legal
question, and his discussion in that case added
much to his fame. While member OF the
Senate, divisions arose in the Democratic
party OF the State in regard to the settlement
l.,Tf sE,t, i Al
state in favor of his views upon the subject
The divisions and differences of opinions
sprnging ont Of this question resulted in cut
ting short a political career which had given
promise of great honor TO the State. lie was
defeated for reelection on account Of the
divisions in his party over the settlement o
this question.
His health began to fail the last winter o.
his service in the Senate, and continued, will
occasional periods of recuperation, to decline
unti his death. For some months imme
diately preceding his decease ne was grea
and almost constant sufferer. This he bore
without complaint or murmur, maintaining
to the last cheerfulneSs and hope remarka
ble
A more thoroughly well rounded character
&,
difficult to depict. He had a full. sound ant
well balanced brain. Study, reading and re
Election had cultivated his mind until i
, worked as a well oiled piece of machinery
Slow to reach a conclusion, and cautious IL
: its statement, conservatism in every depart
ment of thought characterized him. AS
, lawyer he was extremely lab0rous; no cas-,
was lost by his neglect. He was a great stu
dent and had mastered his profession as
science. Never given to quoting many case
; or books, his habit was to resolve the ques
ton presented to its first principles. He wa
eminently logical, so much so, that if his cas-
did not bear the test of logic he general,
, noted for his candor and frankness In debate
His custom was to surrender all doubtful pro
positions of law and fact and plant his caus
: upon what he considered its central or pivota
point. The readiness with which he discov
cred the turning point of cause was akin t
genius. His general information and learn
Y ing was considerable, and In his management
d of cases came much to his aid. He was full
d ofresources, rarely at a loss to know the bes
e thing the circumstances would admit of. A
a aspeaker he was extremely earnest and forci
e BILE His logic, earnestness and readiness ele
d waited him to high rank as DICTATOR at tn
d bar, and while he had few of the graces c
e oratory, he was entitled to rank as forcibl
5. and eloquent speaker. His ability to clearl
/, AID compactly state his case, was pre-emi
IS nent. 1t was the secret of many a profes