The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-09-24
The Late E.P. McGiuty, Esq.

The late z. P. McGinty, Esq.
Whether or not there be any thing peculiar
in the mental constitution of the American,
which enables him to meet and surmountdit-
ficulties in his pathway, seemingly insuperaole'
wa know not, but we cannot be mistaken in
tho conclusion that larger number of obscure
American children attain the higher planes OF
human greatness than exists In the grand az
,rrecata of all the other nations of the earth.
The political philosopher accounts for the TACT
nv supposing that the popularity OF our lnstl-
tutions-opening up the road OF preier'llen'
alike TO all-would naturally secure such a
result. But the political institutions OF Great
Britain keep as widely open every avenue 10
real greatness, for that idea OF greatness Wnlcn
associates it with hereditary wealth or title, IS
q nerverted one The fact then, II admitted
is not to be explained by any popularity in our
nol;t;cal institutions, for they are not peculiar
IN those points having any bearing upon the
cue.tion. Nations, like individuals, have their
spring time, their summer and decline. "heh
budding into national Importance, feeling the
yigor and bouyancy Of youth, and alive TO the
pospective glory towards which her lmPetnous
blood is precpitating her, it is not strange that
her children, however humble, should receive
the impress of the circumstances which con-
stantly surround them, and finally to individu-
alze their nationality, and struggle for the
plane of elevation towards which all things
around and about them seem Fastening The
most ungainly physique transplanted IN the
ranks of well appointed soldiery, will imme"
diately and instinctively struggle to bring MS
bearing into harmony with the rank and file,
and finally secure perfect rythm of military
step in lieu of q hobbling locomotion. "'Tis
circumstances shape our ends, rough-hew them
as we may" There are some pictures that our
mind delights to dwell npOn, composed, indeed,
of the poorest elements of individual history
yet constituting volumes in illustration OF ma
tional progress. One of these pictures pre-
sents wounded man, supported upon poor
old horse, by a companion on foot; behind
these an humble woman on horseback, while
the rear is brought up by poor little boy,
sick and in rags, and barely able to walk. 1t
is mother returning from the enemy's camp
with her two sons, to her cabinin the wilderness.
The next presents solitary boy on foot, with
a small bundle, and walking rapidly in the
direction of the capital of bis State. The last
exhibits young man, Of thoughtful counte-
nance. in his shirt and buckskin trowsers, hold
ing his moving plough, and seemingly watch
ing the pale, unproductive soil as it creeps la
zily from the furrow What mighty history
was in reserve for these three boys-Andrew
jackson, Henry Clay and Patrick Henryl-
Their history is the history of an empire,
springing from its nucleus upon the Atlantic
slope 10 the far distant waters Of the Pacific
Ocean.
For more than twenty years, the people OF
Tennessee have been familiar with the name
of Z. P. McGMrY, ESQ. First, as Editor Of
the Chronicle at GAINESVILLE, and since lS49, as
Editor of the True Wig of this city. As the
conductor of public journal his record is
publicly made, and his memory must abide the
result. 1t is a record which his friends will
ever point to with pleasure, and which his 20
litical opponents may search in vain for an ex-
preston evincive of hate or malignity. lie
was a partisan editor and claimed to be no
more. In partisan conflict his voice was al
ways heard at the head of the column, excl
ting and encouraging his Comrades to press
home the battle, and until victory perched
upon one standard or the other, his proud spirit
scoYned sleep or inaction for moment but
sought recreation in the most arduous labors
of the camp. If required TO express the most
conspicnous element of his political character
in a single sentence, we should say, 'valorous
caution" This il was that enabled him 10 en-
iey longer political life, blurred with fewer
corrections, than perhaps any other editor
whatever. Newspaper editing was with him
n profession, and TO become eminent in 1t he
cultivated il with all the ardor of bis nature.
The most sensitive of men himself, he not only
felt. but constantly cultivated the most chris
tan charity for those who differed with him
Ia religion or politics. The adroitness and
ability with which he conducted the last can
yass in this State, by far the most exciting
since that of 1874, placed him beyond all con-
troversy, in the very front rank Of American
editors. II was his last and greatest effort,
and made under the pressure of physical dis
ease and suffering that would have crushed a
spirit less endowed with steadness Of purpose
and fixed determination of viii. In the heat
of this conflict the brain seemed to be gradu.