John Goode
Encyclopedia
John Goode, Jr. was a prominent Virginia
Democratic
politician who served in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War
and then was a three-term postbellum United States Congressman, as well as the acting Solicitor General of the United States.
, Virginia
. He was graduated at Emory & Henry College in 1848, studied law at Lexington Law School
, and was admitted to the bar in 1851. In the latter year he was elected a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
, and in 1861 sat in the State convention that passed the ordinance of secession.
With the impending dissolution of the United States
in 1861, Goode was elected to the Virginia secession
convention. With the affirmative vote and Virginia's subsequent secession, Goode was elected to both the First Confederate Congress
and the Second Confederate Congress
, serving from February 22, 1862, until the end of the war, and during the recesses of that body acted as volunteer aide on the staff of Maj. Gen.
Jubal A. Early.
After the war, Goode resumed his law practice and again served in the state House of Delegates in 1866 and 1867. In 1887, Goode moved to Norfolk
and engaged in the practice of the law in Washington, D.C.
Shortly after he moved to Norfolk, he was again elected to the Virginia legislature.
He was then chosen to the Forty-fourth United States Congress as a Democrat. He was re-elected to the Forty-fifth United States Congress and the Forty-sixth United States Congress, serving from December 6, 1875, until March 3, 1881. He was Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor during his last two terms.
Goode was a member of the Democratic National Convention
s of 1868 and 1872, and was a presidential elector in 1852, 1856, and 1884.
In May 1885, President
Grover Cleveland
appointed Goode as the acting Solicitor General of the United States, and he retained the office until August 1886. During his term of service, he visited British Columbia
to represent the United States in an extradition
case.
He later served on the United States and Chilean Claims Commission and was President of the Virginia Bar Association
. He also was President of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901 and 1902.
Goode died at the age of 80 in Norfolk and was buried in Longview Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia
.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician who served in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and then was a three-term postbellum United States Congressman, as well as the acting Solicitor General of the United States.
Biography
Goode was born in Bedford CountyBedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He was graduated at Emory & Henry College in 1848, studied law at Lexington Law School
Washington and Lee University School of Law
The Washington and Lee University School of Law is a private American Bar Association-accredited law school located in Lexington in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Facilities are currently on the campus of Washington and Lee University in Sydney Lewis Hall...
, and was admitted to the bar in 1851. In the latter year he was elected a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
, and in 1861 sat in the State convention that passed the ordinance of secession.
With the impending dissolution of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1861, Goode was elected to the Virginia secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
convention. With the affirmative vote and Virginia's subsequent secession, Goode was elected to both the First Confederate Congress
First Confederate Congress
The First Confederate Congress was the first regular term of the legislature of the Confederate States of America. Members of the First Confederate Congress were chosen in elections mostly held on 6 November 1861.-Sessions:...
and the Second Confederate Congress
Second Confederate Congress
The Second Confederate Congress was the second and last regular term of the legislature of the Confederate States of America. Members of the Second Confederate Congress were chosen in elections held at various dates in 1863 and 1864...
, serving from February 22, 1862, until the end of the war, and during the recesses of that body acted as volunteer aide on the staff of Maj. Gen.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Jubal A. Early.
After the war, Goode resumed his law practice and again served in the state House of Delegates in 1866 and 1867. In 1887, Goode moved to Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
and engaged in the practice of the law in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Shortly after he moved to Norfolk, he was again elected to the Virginia legislature.
He was then chosen to the Forty-fourth United States Congress as a Democrat. He was re-elected to the Forty-fifth United States Congress and the Forty-sixth United States Congress, serving from December 6, 1875, until March 3, 1881. He was Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor during his last two terms.
Goode was a member of the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s of 1868 and 1872, and was a presidential elector in 1852, 1856, and 1884.
In May 1885, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
appointed Goode as the acting Solicitor General of the United States, and he retained the office until August 1886. During his term of service, he visited British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to represent the United States in an extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
case.
He later served on the United States and Chilean Claims Commission and was President of the Virginia Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association
The Virginia Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers in Virginia, with offices in Richmond, Virginia.- VBA Mission : is the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service.- History :The VBA, , was...
. He also was President of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901 and 1902.
Goode died at the age of 80 in Norfolk and was buried in Longview Cemetery in Bedford, Virginia
Bedford, Virginia
Bedford is an independent city located within the confines of Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 6,222. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Bedford with surrounding Bedford...
.