Clopton was born in Putnam County, Georgia near Milledgeville, Ga., on September 29, 1820.[1] He attended the county schools and Edenton Academy in Georgia, and moved to Alabama in 1844, graduating from Randolph-Macon College in 1840 and being admitted to the bar in 1841.[2] He practiced law in Milledgeville, Ga. beginning in that year.[3] In 1844, he moved to Tuskegee, Ala. and practiced law there.[4]
Clopton represented Alabama's 3rd district in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat beginning in 1859.[5] During his term he was a strong supporter of states' rights; in a speech delivered during the struggle for the Speakership of the 36th Congress, he said the following: "We do not desire war. The policy of the South would be peace. But whenever this Government, in the opinion of the Southern people, shall have failed to accomplish the ends for which it was instituted, the Southern States, exercising their right, will abolish it, and institute a new Government, laying its foundation in such principles, and organizing it in such forms, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Whenever they see proper to exercise these rights, then, if war comes, it must come from the North. If war must come, let it come".[6]
Clopton withdrew from the United States House of Representatives in 1861 and enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army in the Twelfth Alabama Infantry for one year.[7]
Afterwards he represented Alabama in the First Confederate Congress and the Second Confederate Congress. He was among a group who wrote to the Alabama governor petitioning for the pardon of Robert Wynn, doorkeeper of the provisional Congress, who had been convicted of assault with intent to murder but later reconciled with his victim.[8] As part of a Macon County consortium, he contracted with the Alabama Salt Commission to manufacture salt in Saltville, Virginia.[9]
After the war, he served in the Alabama state legislature in 1878 and as an associate justice of the Alabama Supreme Court from 1884 until his death in Montgomery, Ala., February 5, 1892. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.[10]
david, clopton, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, march, 2013, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, sep. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message David Clopton September 29 1820 February 5 1892 was a prominent Alabama politician David CloptonMember of the U S House of Representatives from Alabama s 3rd districtIn office March 4 1859 January 21 1861Preceded byJames F DowdellSucceeded byBenjamin W NorrisMember of the Alabama legislatureIn office 1878Personal detailsBornDavid Clopton 1820 09 29 September 29 1820Putnam County GeorgiaDiedFebruary 5 1892 1892 02 05 aged 71 Montgomery AlabamaPolitical partyDemocraticBiography EditClopton was born in Putnam County Georgia near Milledgeville Ga on September 29 1820 1 He attended the county schools and Edenton Academy in Georgia and moved to Alabama in 1844 graduating from Randolph Macon College in 1840 and being admitted to the bar in 1841 2 He practiced law in Milledgeville Ga beginning in that year 3 In 1844 he moved to Tuskegee Ala and practiced law there 4 Clopton represented Alabama s 3rd district in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat beginning in 1859 5 During his term he was a strong supporter of states rights in a speech delivered during the struggle for the Speakership of the 36th Congress he said the following We do not desire war The policy of the South would be peace But whenever this Government in the opinion of the Southern people shall have failed to accomplish the ends for which it was instituted the Southern States exercising their right will abolish it and institute a new Government laying its foundation in such principles and organizing it in such forms as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness Whenever they see proper to exercise these rights then if war comes it must come from the North If war must come let it come 6 Clopton withdrew from the United States House of Representatives in 1861 and enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army in the Twelfth Alabama Infantry for one year 7 Afterwards he represented Alabama in the First Confederate Congress and the Second Confederate Congress He was among a group who wrote to the Alabama governor petitioning for the pardon of Robert Wynn doorkeeper of the provisional Congress who had been convicted of assault with intent to murder but later reconciled with his victim 8 As part of a Macon County consortium he contracted with the Alabama Salt Commission to manufacture salt in Saltville Virginia 9 In 1887 he married Virginia Tunstall Clay widow of Clement Claiborne Clay After the war he served in the Alabama state legislature in 1878 and as an associate justice of the Alabama Supreme Court from 1884 until his death in Montgomery Ala February 5 1892 He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery 10 References Edit Bioguide Search Bioguide Search Bioguide Search Long Durward Alabama s Secession Commissioners Civil War History 9 March 1963 55 66 Bioguide Search David Clopton 1820 1892 David Clopton 1820 1892 Alabama Governor 1861 1863 Shorter pardons paroles and clemency files 1862 1863 Alabama Salt Commission contracts to manufacture salt 1861 1864 The Political Graveyard Index to Politicians Clinton boyd to Clynick United States Congress David Clopton id C000530 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008 10 01 Political graveyardExternal links Edit This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress U S House of RepresentativesPreceded byJames Ferguson Dowdell Member of the U S House of Representatives from Alabama s 3rd congressional districtMarch 4 1859 January 21 1861 Succeeded byDistrict inactive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Clopton amp oldid 1096522846, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
