Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-28

and attended by no display of power, but in plain
citizens dress he assumes the helm of the nation.
He spends his four years at the White House, in
the execution OF the laws of his country and retires
10 private life. There Was something sublime in
| this, far beyond the pomp Of royalty.
Ho mentioned this for the purpose Of showing
the wide line of demarcation between these four
names and any other. Il will not do to urge that
such and such men have talents in equal degree.
He dare say that there were an hundred men in
Tennessee with as much talent as the President oil
the United States; but they had never been Presi-
dent. They had never attained to that seat which
will send their names down to the latest posterity
as the choseu Of this great people.
Il seemed to him, then, that there apropriety
in passing this bill with the that bad been
added. He would beg every member here not TO
think for moment. that he meant to disparsge the
services Of Gov. Sewer, or any body else. Ali he
meant 70 cay wss, we cannot take in everybody. II
could he would be most free and forward to do
So and could present list Of the names OF worthy
Tennesseeans as long his arm-of some that
bad slept twenty years in their graves, and some
whose graves were not yet grass grown-Whose vir-
tues would be ever green in our memory.
The people of Tennessee were peculiar people
they could wrangle, fall out and fight, but let
death come and epd the mortal life of one Of the
parties, and how all their strivings vanish
ed and their animosties forgotten He never abus-
ed dead msm in his life. However much he
might have disliked a man when living, when gone
from this world he never had the heart TO say a
word against him; but if he had virtues he looked
at them.
These were the reasons why be thought there
was propriety in taking in these four names We
were placing it upon principle which We could
make Ineligible to the country. Here were three
men who had been President aud one the choice Of
Tennessee, and eminent outside of that.
But, it may be said il will cost good deal Of
money. He replied If you provide for the cree
ton Of these four statues this would not be thing
to be done in four or FIVE years. 1t would require
ten or twelve, or perhaps fifteen years to complete
the work. These statues could not all be done at
once. They would have to be done in detail; for
it was required in the bill, that they must be exc
cuted by American artist. Perhaps half the
members who were now celebrating and voting on
this bill, would be settling another account before
the last of these statues could be lodged in its place
in this Capitol. It was to be an outlay of money
which would not be consummated in fifteen years;
and it would cost in all, perhaps, $500 $780,
600. Were gentlemen afraid of that? But we
had been voting money to bridges aud schemes of
improvement, and his friend from Wilson Mr. Hat
tom had ntimsted just now that be was afraid for
the treasury.
Mr.. Haiton (interruring aad Mr.. Brown giving
way) explained that he had said it would have that
effect upon other minds
Hr. Brown. Well, as to those others to whom
the gentleman referred, We had been voting State
aid for roads and bridges and for himself he might
say, be did not inteCd To carry that very far. He
intended to look narrowly and see first il project
were calculated to benefit the State, or any section
Of the State, and would not inure any other sec.
ton, be ore he would go for it, But while we were
in the habit Of voting money 10 develop the
sources Of the State and to promote the interests
of agriculture and commerce, asked here to
erect these statues 10 the most eminent men Of the
State and the country. " g certainly cannot stand
back on that account But be would simply ask,
Are these men worthy? And that being settled,
We cannot stand here and talk long about the cost
AS to Gen. Washington, he could never be eulo
gised enough. It was, however, ike holding a
candle TO the sun TO aid his beams, to attempt to
euogise him. He stands immessuraby above all
other men this country has produced.
Like some tall cliff which lifts its awful form,
swels from the VALE and midway leaves the storm;
Though round its base the rolling clouds spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its headi
He remembered that incident in history when Ma
poeon Was about enbarking for Egypt. Being in
the company OF some Americans in Paris, he eager
y asked them, How is your countrymsn, Gen.
Washington 2" They answered that he was well
And Napoleon responded, 'Yes, he is well, and it
will ever be well with Washington. His name will
go down with honor to the latest posterity, when
mine will be lost in the vortex OF revolutions" The
Highlander Of Scotland loves the name of Washing
ton, and he pauses in the chase or reposes by
his camp Ere in his own native wilds he weaves it
in song with those of his Bruces his Wallaces and
his Stuarts. Even the wild Arab reverences the
name of Washington; and all over the world it is
associated with all that is good and great of earth
He wanted our young men, when they should in
after years come up to this Capitol, to read the
whole of WashiBgton's Farewell Address, engraven
in enduring bronze, and learn to venerate the doc
trines 1t Observation-Disclosures as he thought, next
to divine inspiration. He knew not, indeed, but
they were inspired. 1t was truly an irmitsble pa
per, not only in style, but in wisdom and timeli>
ness and il its teachings were but followed by all
our countrymen, this government would live until
4" the crack of DOOM" 1t inculcated devotion to
the linton, and embodied the best rebukes to sec
tionalism. II there should be a sectonast in Ten
nessee he would thus, in the shadow of this Capt.
toll meet an appropriate and merited rebuke in this
document.
And what could we say of Gen jackson? Every
body had known him 10 be a remarkable man. He
lad left upon his country the impress of his genius
II Gen. Jackson had been born in 1880, and had
0nly accomplished what he did in 1852, he would
stand up here and vote him a statue. Gen. Jack
son did that in ! 49,, which all the great men in
,isely similar circumstances. And Gen. Jackson
had left motto that he could wish were engraven
upon every mans heart in this Un;on-"The Fed
sral Union il must be preserved" He wanted to
put that into marble, that it might be read forever
and carry back the memory Of men to that period
n our country's history of storms and lowering
clouds, and Of the triumph OF the genius of Jack
son.
He was one Of those who believed that the names
febo ~ Ips,lly
)ut so conspicuous in the history of Tennessee as
% deserve this distinction There were no other
names in the State that could reach them. Judge
White was q man Of remarkable intellect and Of
great hrmness, sagacity and moral worth. He 70
nembered and quoted this sentiment from one Of
his speeches There ought to be no distinction
but that made by vice and virtue" There lie some
hing noble in that sentiment Next came James
Knox Polk. That played no ordinary role in
his country. He knew him well in bOyhOod and
u his msturity-he knew and admired him to the
asst He did not stand here 10 euogise any body,
but this man, sssuredly, had no rival in the State,
except 10 the Sage Of the Hermitage.
This thing Of the erection Of statues was done
u g means Of awakening the patriotic impulses of
men, Go with him 70 London, and look out upon
Trafalgar Square, and he would show you the stat.
les of the Kings of England standing there in all |
he strength and grandeur and beauty Of art There
vas her Charles /, and her Georges, and long |
inc OF Kings. There these monuments stand in |
Wind aud weather, and every Englishman recog.
lises, IS he looks upon them, that bis government
$ Monarchy. But the English Government, is |
rot only Monarchy buI an oligarchy, and to rep
esent this, you viii find there the Duke OF Well !
ington and other heroes, done in marble The |
English Government is not only Monarchy and an !
)hsarchy, bui il il Democracy also And what !
iOesG il do for that element in its composition
by you viii End here also her Pitts and her Cam
lings, reminding the beholder that though be is in
government OF Kings aud Mobiles, here also the |
people have some role to play. And in her Uni |
Tersites, you will ind her Poets and Philosophers