Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-09-04

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home. ClarksviIle had been long dis
tinguished for the high order OF talents
and learning possessed by its members
OF the legal profession, and the young
barrister, fresh from his studies, was at
once thrown into competition with for
midable veterans. An almost immedi-
ate success proved the temper of his
ability and equipment, and the contin-
ued renown OF the Clarksville bar Is, in
a great degree, due to the brilliant ad-
dition it then scquired in his person.
By instinct and conviction a Wing,
as the country was then politically di-
yided. it was in the following year,
memorable for the last national strug-
gle OF that party in an organized form,
that Mr.. House entered the field OF po-
litical digladiation, as sub-elector for
the county OF Montgomery, in behalf
Of the candidacy of Gen. Scott. In the
next year--1s5S--he was sent as the
representative OF that county in the
General Assembly, the FIRST which sat
in the present capitol. His talents at
tracted attention in that body, contain
ing, as it did, more than.a usual num-
ber of men OF ability. Aspeech in op-
position to measure aiming to insti-
tute a radical scheme oflaw reform,
was conspicuous effort, and illustrated
the sound conservation he has always
displayed. The term reform was, in
that instance, perhaps, ,.as 1t nearly al
waysis, in matters Of public concern,
an alluring title to some charlatanioal
project which usually changes things
for the worst. The speech elected
commentator from eminent lawyers
OF the State. During the session, a
brochure came from his pen in the form
Of report from the committee on Bum
combe, which was specially appointed
on his motion to consider aproposition
to alter the constitution by legislative
enactment, reducing the per diem Of
members of the General Assembly.
Retrenchment--the twin besetting leg
islative folly with reform-and its GUS
tomary motive, was mercilessly carl
catured In that humorous paper, which
was published at that time. 1t finely
exhibited the power of ridicule which
Mr.. House frequently uses when the
occasion is pertinent.
In few years, Mr.. House had at.
tanned a commanding position in his
profession, both as counselor and advo-
cate, and was retained in a large mum.
Der of the important causes arising in
the extensive circuit OF which Clarks-
vile is the center. In every political
contest, however, his eloquent voice
was heard and notably in that Of 1856,
when the conversation of the South,
under the lead Of Fillmore, endeavored
to stem the tide of the sectionally ag-
gressive forces which had been set in mo.
ton by the repeal Of the Missouri com.
promise act two years before. Some oi
his deliverances OF that year were equal
to any OF his best efforts subsequently
and achieved for him wide fame as 8
powerful debater. In 1850, he reluc.
tantly left his lucrative business at the
call of his party, but the duty was one
he would not avoid, and he became the
district electoral candidate for Bell and
Everett in that decisive contest in
which the banner of 'the Union, the
constitution, and the enforcement o
the laws" went down, not to rise again
untilit emerged rent and disfgurei
from the blood and fire OF civil war
In that distempered hour, the utter
ances OF no man in the State were NOR
persuasively eloquent and forcible il
attempt, to allay the passions which
precipitated that result.
Early in 1861, under the authority o
the Legislature, an election was helt
for delegates to sovereignty conven
tion to consider the impending crisis il
! public affairs, ,,and to deliberate on tn
attitude OF the State thereto, and ais
an election submitting the question o
the assembling of such body. Mr.
House was chosen as a delegate, but tn
popular majority was largely agains
its assembling, and the proceeding
was nugatory. Had the convention
been organized, it may well be conjec
tured that, in some aspects at least, tn
relationship Of Tennessee to subsequen
events might have been different. an
I the fortunes Of prominent actors i
that era have had another history. j..
: very decided majority OF the delegates
9 elect were devoted to the maintenanc
: of the Union, and representing the ID
e test expression of the popular vii
might have organized preponderatin
v sentiment adverse to an alliance wit
Ia ~ . n A.. A