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SKETCHES or EMINENT AMERICANS.
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character, rendered him peculiarly fitted to train a young mind of such noble and generous impulses.
He was admitted to the bar in March, 1843 ; yet such was his desire to become thoroughly acquainted with the theory of law, that he did not commence the practice until 1846; and, as had been predicted, the ambitious student soon rose to eminence in his profession, and the expectations of his friends were fully realized. The powers of his mind were soon called into action. Being engaged in some important land cases, growing out of old Spanish grants, his arguments showed a clear and discriminating mind, and were uttered with that force and precision which have since rendered him so successful with the jury, and while yet young, was considered fully competent to grapple with the ablest counsel in the state; and although employed in almost every criminal case arising in his district, yet is said never to have lost a single case.
In the summer of 1849 he was married to Miss Charlotte E. Orr, of New-Orleans, daughter of Captain John D. Orr, late of the United States army, and removed to Biloxi, his present place of residence, where he had previously been engaged in the practice of his profession. Berng a highly intelligent and accomplished lady, endowed with an elasticity and sprightliness of spirit, her pleasant society contributed much to sweeten the pathway of his life, surrounded with all the difficulties and perplexities of the young practitioner.
In the fall of 1849 he was elected to the state legislature by a large-majority over his opponent, who had the decided advantage in the political issues of the day. So high was the approval of his course as a legislator, that on his return after a long and exciting session, he was received and welcomed by the public authorities of Biloxi; and the speech delivered on that occasion, so fraught with fervid eloquence, will long be remembered by those who were so fortunate as to hear it. ,
He was re-elected to the legislature in the year 1851, in which he took an elevated position. His high legal attainments, connected with that integrity of principle and force of character which have always characterized his life, rendered him peculiarly fitted to modify and restrain the excited feeling which so strongly marked that session; and the fearlessness and independence with which he advocated his measures, were looked upon with astonishment by the trafficking politicians of the day.
Being placed on the committee of education, one of the most important in the House, he showed his thorough knowledge of the wants of the state by strenuously advocating and finally passing a bill appropriating three hundred thousand dollars for educational purposes, remembering the want of an institution of this kind in his early days; and whatever may be his future destiny, he has the gratification to know that his public life thus far has received the approbation of both parties, and his private is not stained with dishonor.