The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-10-12
ss,SKETCHES AND
"REMINISCENCES.
The Noble Character and Exalted
Service Of Gen. Jesse ]. Finley
Discussed by Col. Davis.
Robert W. Davis in Tampa Tribune.l

Sydney Smith says that manners are
the shadows of virtues-the outward
display of those qualities which our fell
low citizens love and respect. II this
be true, | never saw man whose man
ners bespoke better qualities than those
of Gen. Jesse ]. Finley; nor were his
manners misleading as to the genuine
ness Of his qualities, for If they were
captivating his character, justified them.
He was tall, stately, manly and firm,
yet suave, polite and agreeable always
and on all occasions. The first time l
ever saw him he was addressing an au-
dience at an open-air political meeting,
and / thought he was Grand. The last
time ! saw him he sat in his invalid
chair at his sons home with the shad-
ows drawing nearer and nearer around
him, and his fine eyes growing dim |
knew then he was grand, because
between my first and last meet
ing with him many years of intimate
association had impressed his character
upon me.
He was born in Tennessee, in 1912,
and grew to manhood in that State.
When "a years of age he raised COM
pany of cavalry, was made its captain,
and came to Florida in 1886 to fight in
the Seminole war. His first entrance,
therefore, into the Land of Flowers was
when he rode on horseback across the
border line of the Territory, sword in
hand, to succor and rescue its sparse
population. When hostilities were over
he returned to his native State, but his
destiny was, in after years, to come
back again to find home amongst the
people for whose preservation he first
came at the head Of his troop.
t. 1Qd0 ha vronf RI A rLFanaoo tn live
and within a year after locating there
was elected to the State Senate. From
Arkansas he moved to Memphis, Tenn,
and in 1845 was mayor of that city.
One year later, 1886, we find him again
facing towards Florida, this time, how
ever, not with hostile purpose, but with
his law books and his license, intent
upon the peaceful pursuit of his chosen
profession, and with the bright hope of
attaining the goal of his ambition,
When some pen, guided by a willing
and competent hand, shall record the
deeds, in peace, and war, of those who
have gone before us in the upbuilding
of this commonwealth in greater detail
than has yet been done, much must and
will be said of the part played by Gen.
Finley.
He located in Mariana, and after
four years residence was elected to the
State Senate. An ardent Wing, he was
a friend and admirer of Henry Clay,
He had battled for the great Kentuck-
ian before leaving Tennessee, in the
race between Clay and Polk in the cam
paign of 1874, and as he brought all of
his party ardor with him to Florida, he
was in 1852 chosen Presidential elector
on the Wing ticket in the race between
Winfield Scott and Franklin Pierce, and
assisted in canvassing the vote of the
State for Gen. Scott. This, | believe,
was the last appearance, or at least the
last formidable appearance, of the Wing
party in national politics. The follow
ing year he was appointed circuit judge
of the western circuit. Gov. Edward
A. Perry and Judge George G. McWhor-
ter wer admitted to the Florida bar by
Judge Finley while he presided over
this circuit, on presentation, as | think
have heard them both say, of their
licenses from Alabama. And those two
giants of the profession loved Judge
Finley as long as they lived. / shall de-
part somewhat from chronological order
to recite an incident which demon
strates the love these two great law
yers retained to the last for the subject
of this sketch. 1t was in 1885 when
Edward A. Perry was Governor Of
Florida and George G. McWhorter was
on the Supreme bench. There was
circuit Judge to be appointed in the fifth
circuit. Hon. Milton II. Mabry, who
vas then Lieutenant Governor, was
presiding over the Senate then in ses-
sion, and the writer was Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
We were each pressing upon the Gov
ernor the names of friends we wanted
appointed, Gov. Mabry urging the name
OF one friend, and the name Of anoth
err. The cotest, though friendly, was
warm and active, and letters and tele-
grams Of endorsement of our Iespec-
tive candidates were being hurried to
the Governor as rapidly as we could
them. One day received a summons
TO the Executive office, TO which | re-
sponded with alacrity, for / fully ex-
pected to learn that my particular
friend had been selected. Upon arrival
| found Gov Mabry there. tor he also
had been summoned. Judge McWhor-
ter sat in the room, evidently there by
Encouragement Gov. Perry said to
us that we were urging the claims Of
good men and splendid lawyers, either
one of whom he would ordinarily be
glad to appoint, but that he could APP
point neither. He said that there lived
in Ocala a man, then poor in purse and
growing old, who, although he had not
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