When I had the money in hand, I told
him I had charged him five hundred dollars for attending to his case,
and five hundred for setting his dogs on me.
"'I been tink dat all de time,' he said, as he left the office."
There were then several men of eminence at the Bar in the Opelousas
and Attakapas country--Brent, Baker, Bowen, and Bronson. The superior
abilities of Porter soon began to be acknowledged. His practice
increased rapidly, and when a convention was called to form a
constitution for the State of Louisiana, Porter was elected from
Opelousas as a delegate. Still very young, and scarcely known in the
city or along the coast parishes, he came unheralded by any
extraordinary reputation for abilities. Very soon, however, he was
taking the lead amid the best talent in the State.
In every feature of this Constitution the mind of Porter is apparent;
and to-day, to one who has witnessed the forming and passing away of
many constitutions, and their effect upon public morals and the
general interests of the country, it appears the best that was ever
given to a State in this Union.
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