Cornelius Clarkson Watts
Encyclopedia
Cornelius Clarkson Watts (1848–1930), or C. C. Watts, was United States Attorney for the District of West Virginia and Attorney General of West Virginia. In 1896, he was the Democratic party
candidate for Governor of West Virginia.
He was born April 23, 1848 at Amherst, Virginia
. His parents, James D. and Lucy A. (Simms) Watts, lived in Amherst until the beginning of the Civil War
, when they removed to Albemarle County, Virginia
. At 16, he entered the Confederate Army and served as a private soldier in Mosby's Command
. After the war, he studied law and was educated at the University of Virginia
. In 1870, he moved to West Virginia and began the practice of his profession at Oceana, West Virginia
. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Wyoming County, West Virginia
in 1872, and held the office until 1875. In that year he moved to Charleston
and became a member of the law firm of Kenna & Watts.
He was nominated and elected by the Democratic party, in 1880, as Attorney General for West Virginia, and served his term of four years. While Attorney General, he argued many important cases for the State, and with Maj. 0. D. Cook, his faithful assistant, got out nine volumes of Supreme Court reports. He argued the tax case of Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. Co. v. Miller, 114 U.S. 176 (1885) on March 22, 1885, in the Supreme Court of the United States
. In that case, he served as Attorney for the State under the employment and appointment of Governor Jacob B. Jackson
, after his term of office as Attorney General had expired. In this litigation the State was successful, and besides gaining for itself and the counties through which the road runs, some $200,000, it established the right to forever tax, not only this railway, but all railroads now or hereafter to be built in West Virginia.
In August 1886, President Grover Cleveland
sent his name to the United States Senate
to be Attorney of the United States for the District of West Virginia. The appointment was confirmed on August 3, 1886, for the term of four years. However, after the election of 1888, which resulted in Mr. Cleveland's defeat, General Watts began such a vigorous prosecution of what are known as the "Election Fraud Cases
," that on March 9, 1889, Attorney General William H. H. Miller, by direction of President Benjamin Harrison
, telegraphed General Watts requesting his resignation. Whereupon he immediately replied by telegram:
On April 4, 1889, he was notified by the President of his removal. In 1891-1894 he served as a member of West Virginia State Senate
from the 9th District. He was the Democratic party candidate for Governor of West Virginia in 1896, defeated by Republican party
candidate George W. Atkinson
. He died in Charleston on May 28, 1930, and was interred at Spring Hill Cemetery
, Charleston. His home, Breezemont
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1982.
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...
candidate for Governor of West Virginia.
He was born April 23, 1848 at Amherst, Virginia
Amherst, Virginia
Amherst is a town in Amherst County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,251 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Amherst County.Amherst is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. His parents, James D. and Lucy A. (Simms) Watts, lived in Amherst until the beginning of the 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...
, when they removed to Albemarle County, Virginia
Albemarle County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...
. At 16, he entered the Confederate Army and served as a private soldier in Mosby's Command
43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry
The 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, also known as Mosby's Rangers, Mosby's Raiders or Mosby's Men, was a battalion of partisan cavalry in the Confederate army during the American Civil War...
. After the war, he studied law and was educated at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. In 1870, he moved to West Virginia and began the practice of his profession at Oceana, West Virginia
Oceana, West Virginia
Oceana is a town in Wyoming County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,550 at the 2000 census.-History:Established in 1797 by early settler and Revolutionary War veteran John Cooke, it was county seat of Wyoming County until 1907, Oceana, when Pineville was designated after a series...
. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Wyoming County, West Virginia
Wyoming County, West Virginia
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,796. Its county seat is Pineville. Wyoming County was created in 1850 from Logan County and named for the Delaware Indian word meaning "large plains."-Geography:According to the U.S...
in 1872, and held the office until 1875. In that year he moved to Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
and became a member of the law firm of Kenna & Watts.
He was nominated and elected by the Democratic party, in 1880, as Attorney General for West Virginia, and served his term of four years. While Attorney General, he argued many important cases for the State, and with Maj. 0. D. Cook, his faithful assistant, got out nine volumes of Supreme Court reports. He argued the tax case of Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. Co. v. Miller, 114 U.S. 176 (1885) on March 22, 1885, in the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. In that case, he served as Attorney for the State under the employment and appointment of Governor Jacob B. Jackson
Jacob B. Jackson
Jacob Beeson Jackson was the sixth Governor of West Virginia from 1881 to 1885. In 1855, he married Maria Willard....
, after his term of office as Attorney General had expired. In this litigation the State was successful, and besides gaining for itself and the counties through which the road runs, some $200,000, it established the right to forever tax, not only this railway, but all railroads now or hereafter to be built in West Virginia.
In August 1886, President 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...
sent his name to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to be Attorney of the United States for the District of West Virginia. The appointment was confirmed on August 3, 1886, for the term of four years. However, after the election of 1888, which resulted in Mr. Cleveland's defeat, General Watts began such a vigorous prosecution of what are known as the "Election Fraud Cases
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
," that on March 9, 1889, Attorney General William H. H. Miller, by direction of President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
, telegraphed General Watts requesting his resignation. Whereupon he immediately replied by telegram:
- "Your telegram of this date, by direction of the President, requesting my resignation of the office of United States Attorney for the District of West Virginia, has been received. I know of no act of mine, either official or otherwise, which, in the absence of cause being assigned, would, under existing circumstances, justify me in tendering my resignation. I therefore respectfully decline to make such resignation. If the President wants me to vacate the office of United States Attorney, without cause being assigned therefore, let him assert his prerogative."
On April 4, 1889, he was notified by the President of his removal. In 1891-1894 he served as a member of West Virginia State Senate
West Virginia Senate
The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature.There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms....
from the 9th District. He was the Democratic party candidate for Governor of West Virginia in 1896, defeated by Republican party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate George W. Atkinson
George W. Atkinson
George Wesley Atkinson of Ohio County was the tenth Governor of West Virginia. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives and was a judge on the Court of Claims.-Biography:...
. He died in Charleston on May 28, 1930, and was interred at Spring Hill Cemetery
Spring Hill Cemetery Historic District
Spring Hill Cemetery Historic District is a national historic district located at Charleston, West Virginia. The district is a site located on a series of tree shaded and landscaped hills overlooking central Charleston and includes the following cemeteries: Spring Hill Cemetery , Mountain View...
, Charleston. His home, Breezemont
Breezemont
Breezemont, also known as the Gen. C. C. Watts House, is a historic home located at Charleston, West Virginia. It was built about 1905 for Cornelius Clarkson Watts an individual who contributed quite significantly to the history of both Kanawa County and the state of West Virginia...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982.
Sources
- Google books reference George Wesley Atkinson and Alvaro Franklin Gibbens, Prominent Men of West Virginia (Wheeling, W. Va.: W. L. Callin, 1890) p. 812-813.
- The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Watts