ɐ sˈʌðɚn jˈuːniənˌɪst, hiː ɡˈɑːɹnɚd ɹˈiːdʒənəl fˈeɪm ænd nˌoʊɾoːɹˈaɪəɾi ɪn dʒˈænjuːˌɛɹi wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti wˈʌn wɛn hiː ɛŋɡˈeɪdʒd ɪn ɐ hˈiːɾᵻd dᵻbˈeɪt wɪð fjˈuːtʃɚ kənfˈɛdɚɹət stˈeɪts pɹˈɛzɪdənt dʒˈɛfɚsən dˈeɪvɪs æt hɪz fˈæmɪliz tʃˈætɐnˌuːɡə hoʊtˈɛl.
A Southern Unionist, he garnered regional fame and notoriety in January 1861 when he engaged in a heated debate with future Confederate States president Jefferson Davis at his family's Chattanooga hotel.