The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-05
The Civilian Leaders Of the Confedera,
BY John Goode, Of Virginia.
Sometime Member Of the Confederate Congress Of the Virginia
Secession Convention Of the Congress Of the United State. and
President Of the Virginia Constitutional Convention Of l9Ol-2

/ wire, Dut declining tho rec ne vOlun-
tecred his services as prosecutor with
out fee or reward. and the trial res
suited in n conviction.
In 1910 he was n candidate for re-
election to tho State Sennte, but was
defeated. as he preferred to accept do
feat rather than to make a promise
to do what he felt was lnimcal to the
best interests OF the people. In the
sumner Of 1861 he became resident
OF the town of Palestine, one OF tho
largest towns In the district, and hav-
Ing the most prominent lawyers. In
December, 1852. he was married to Miss
| Edwina Moss Nelms, OF which mar
riage there were six children, three
OF whom are still living. He continued
to perform the duties OF Judge OF the
District Court until 1855, when he was
reelected as district judge for another
term of six years.
Fought Sum Houston and Won.
In the year after his election as
| Judge, tho Democratic party Of the
First Congressional District OF Texas
held convention to nominate a can.
dldate for seat in the Congress OF
the United states. Although much OPP
posed to entering the race. no finally
| yielded hia assent, and offered his
resignation MS Judge to tho Governor OF
the state, and announced himself as a
candidate. He was opposed by gem
tloman OF ability and was also handl-
capped by the fact that he encountered
the opposition of General Sam Houston
| who was candidate for the Office OF
Governor OF tho State and the ncknowl-
edged leader OF the Know-Nothing
party. AS soon as he accepted the
nomination he published a list OF the
times and places at which he proposed
to address the people OF tho district.
His list was accepted by his compete
| tor, and he opened the canvass In an
address delivered at Palestine on the
| 9Th day OF June. Between that time
and the first Monday In August. they
canvassed sthirty-six counties. which
embraced the country extending from
| the Mexican Gulf. on the south, to the
Red River, on the north and the Sa-
bine River, on the east, to the Trinity
on the west He based his canvass on
the Democratic platform. and three
objections to the policy OF the Know
Nothing party; frst, that there should
, be no religious test In politics; Sec
ondly, that the place OF birth of a
citizen should not be made poll
teal test; third. that secret political
societies were un-American and un-
wise.
He was elected by majority OF
| between 1000 and 1000. He took his
| seat In Congress az the member from
the First District OF Texas on the 7th
day OF December. 1857, and was APP
pointed a member OF the Committee
on indian Affairs and on the Commit
| tee on Expenditures of the Post-Ofice
Department.. On the 10th day of jan
| uary. 1858, he delivered an address
in the House OF Representatives on
the life and character OF General
Thomas ]. Rusk. to whom he was
greatly and devotedly attached. as one
OF the greatest sons OF Texas. On the
10Th Of March, 1858. he delivered a
| speech on the question OF the admis-
sion OF Kansas into the Union as a
| State under the LeComptoa Constitu-
ton. in which he insisted that the Ter
ritories We're the common property Of
all the people OF all the States.
He announced himself as a candidate
for recollection to Congress, and en-
forced on the canvass witt several
other speakers opposed to hin before
the convention met, that male the
nomination. They objected to HIN first,
because he was too national In his
views, and secondly, because lie was
opposed to filibustering and reopen
ing the African slave trade, to which
he replied that he favored the pre,erva-
| tion OF the Union under the Cofstitu-
ton, as made by the fathers; that he
was opposed to the abolitionists Of
the North, and to the seccssionists OF
the South: that he was opposed to
| filibustering as matter OF political
policy and was opposed to the African
| slave trade because majority OF the
people of the United States Were OPP
posed to it, and In common with them
| he regarded 1t as impracticab!e, un-
/ reasonable and unjust
In the contest that followed his COM
petitor was Judge William b. Ochn-
tree, Il strong States rights man. whom
| he defeated by a very large majority.
| When the Thirty sixth Congress as
sembled, in December, 1859, the House
was made UP of thre, parties-the
Republican,, the Democptic and the
Acknowledging Party. Afer long and
animated contest for spqker between
Thomas S. Bocock, of Virginia. the
( Democratic candidate; JOIN Sherman,
Of Ohio. Republican candidate; Galusha
Grow. Republican candidate; Thoma )
1 A. r. Nelson, American candidate. with
other scattering votes. be House
finally concentrated on Villain PEN.
nington. of New Jersey. as \he favor
| ite candidate, and he was accordingly
i elected.
On the 18th OF January. 1A1, Judge
Reagan delivered an addresAin Con-
eress. in which he explained \Illy the
reasons which actuated him y with
drawing from that body. and MAS in
4 tended sto show how fully the people
OF tho South realized the ditculties
which would ensue upon the Access
4 OF abolitionism and the inauguration
Of what was known as they fire.
i pressible conflict. In his speed de-
livered on that occasion, he ind Atook
to prove that the people OF the 3puth
desired the perpetuation Of the tion
and the preservation of peace. ifShey
4 could be had under conditions Nich
would preserve the rights OF the SITES
and Of the people. Up to this ttmshe
had been an ardent friend Of Me
4 Union. but when told by the doninpt
majority that he was REQUIRED to sN-
\ nit to the violation OF the Constltr
4 ton, the overthrow Of the rights
i the States, recognized by decisions
i the Supreme Court of the United States
4 he could no longer acquiesce In such
A Union, and was determined to With
i draw from It,
1 Houston ms Prophet.
4 Soon after retiring from Congress
d he left the city of Washington abou
4 the end OF January. 1861. Upon reach
h Ing New Orleans he ascertalned tina
Il he had been elected a. member Of tn
Texas state Convention. While In New
y Orlaa MS II had long and interesting