John Randolph Tucker.
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what he believed right; for on many public his action in 1890 by Mr. Tucker's argument questions — tariff reform, sound money, and of ten years before, and the last Democratic house practically engrafted his proposition the Blair bill.— he was opposed to the opin ions generally held in Virginia. in its rules. Mr. Tucker also did good work From his first appearance in Congress, upon various important committees. As John Randolph Tucker was recognized as member for eight years — at one period one of the foremost members of that body chairman — of the Ways and Means Com for ability, integrity, and accurate legal mittee, he gave diligent study to the tariff knowledge. He had question, which he hone'stly believed embodied in his great that, under the Con argument upon the stitution of 1788, a tariff in 1878. Dur State had the right ing his last two terms he was chairman of to secede. He now the Judiciary Com acknowledged that mittee. the arbitrament of After his retire the sword had de stroyed any such ment from Congress, right; but he stood John Randolph manfully forward in Tucker practiced his defense of the South, profession, and was and made forcible engaged in very im and brilliant replies portant cases. His to attacks upon her, splendid argument especially those made before the Supreme by Blaine and GarCourt of the United field. States, in the debt case of Virginia, elic Following the ex ited high praise from ample of his father and grandfather, John the justices and law Randolph Tucker de yers who heard it, and won his cause over voted his attention the brilliant rhetoric especially to consti of the opposing coun tutional law, and had HENRY ST. GEORGE TUCKER. sel, Roscoe Conkling. scarcely an equal in the house in that department of legal learn His distaste for the strife and wire-pulling ing. His great speeches on the Electoral of political life induced Mr. Tucker to with Commission bill; on the constitutional doc draw from Congress. trine as to the presidential count; the Ha In 1870, he gave up his large and lucrative waiian treaty; the use of United States sol practice to take once more the law profes diers at the polls; the reduction of the tariff, sorship in Washington and Lee University, and Chinese immigration, were all based formerly Washington College. Teaching was upon the ground that the action proposed as congenial to him as it had been to his was contrary to the Constitution. father and grandfather, and he felt it a noble In 1880, Mr. Tucker introduced a rule for work for his advancing years to instruct his the counting of a quorum to prevent a dead young countrymen in the principles of law lock in the house. Speaker Reed justified and government. He was untiring in study,
