Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-05-05
The Nominee.

interest in the result of our elections, his
personal and political antecedents may not
be entirely familiar. We propose, this
morning, to lay before our readers of all
parties, brief history of his career.
Mr.. HATToN, though not born in Tennes-
see, has been reared from early childhood
in this State. His fatherhas been for many
years, and now is, an active minister Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He has UNI
dergone much service as an itinerant, and
is well known as man of strong and vig-
orous native intellect and great practical
piety. Devoting himself to the spiritual
interests of his fellow-men, and being far
more anxious to secure eternal and incor-
ruptible treasures, than to accumulate large
stores of worldly things, he has been una
BILE to lavish upon his family the higher
grades of scholastic advantages. What
has been achieved by his son, has been the
result of untiring self-exertion. As soon
as he was able to stand between the plow
handles, Robert Hatton, was put upon the
farm, and for several years performed eve
ry service incident to that pursuit and con-
dition of life. Notwithstanding the feeble
ness of his physical constitution, he never
shrank from the most arduous duties of the
field; but went with alacrity, early and
late.
From the farm, he went to the village,
and became store-boy and clerk in the
town Of Galatin, in our adjoining county
of Sumner. By his industry, honesty and
punctuality, he gained the fullest confidence
of his employer. By strict economy he
was enabled, in few years, to pay his way
to school with his own earnings He be-
came astudious pupil in respectable
school, and so remained, till his means were
exhausted He then became teacher in
rural district, and by this means and by
practicing the most rigid economy, was able
to lay by sufficient, to still further prose
cute his studies. This all occurred before
he was eighteen years of age.
In l845, he went to Lebanon and enter
ed as Junior in CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY;
and at the end of two years, graduated
from that institution, with honor. He was
now again out of means. Bat his talents
and requirements, his urbanity and exem-
plary course through college, had so en-
cleared him to teachers and students, that
he was rendered the position of Tutor in
his Ann Mater. He accepted the hatter-
ing proposal, and remained in the Univer-
sity one year longer. In 1849, he enter
ed the Law School at Lebanon, which was
then in its infancy, and continued there
one year. At the end of this time, ''this
consumption Of the purse" had made its
inroads, and again Slapped its entire con-
tents.
But ROBERT HATToN, heretofore the frai
STRIPPING and pale student, had now become
the man and the scholar. He possessed
what was infinitely more valuable than
gold--a character, in every respect, above
reproach; a mind, thoroughly trained to
able aud systematic exertion; will and
an energy, which defed every obstacle; a
steady, but transformations ambition for an
honorable fame, or none; and a modesty
and dignity of person and manner, which
had endeared him to all his acquaintance
and associates. At the end Of his first
year as a law student, he was taken by the
hand, by Col. Strokes, of Lebanon, law
yer of distinguished ability aud large prac
tice, and rendered partnership. Having
now, the advantages of share in a wide
practice, and large and varied library,
he commenced his career as lawyer and
citizen. 1t was at this juncture that We
became personally acquainted with Mr..
HArFoN We were then sojournng at
Lebanon, under circumstances which gave
us an opportunity of witnessing his true
character; and We can attest the ardor
and singleness of purpose, with which he
devoted his energies to his calling; the
patient and untiring industry with which
be awaited himself of the advantages
thus placed at his disposal. 1t was not
at intervals nor upon the eve of Courts,
that be bethought himself Of his eli
entage aud betook himself to his books
Night after night for mouths we have seen
him renew his labors and continue his
silent toll till long after midnight. When
other minds reposed in slumber, his was
eagerly bursting the letters which il
spurned, aud driving rapidly to new cor.
quests upon the fields Of knowledge. His
Industry met with its appropriate reward
lie at once took a proud position at the
Bar; and bis generous and appreciative le,
gal preceptors, at the end Of the second
year, awarded him voluntarily the honor.
OF graduation, as merited compliment "a
his ability, perseverance and requirements
and this though be had spent bat one year
ia the Law school, when il required two
years OF study in ne saAosl 10 enlitle one "a
rs honors.
Nor we're the people Of his county slow
10 perceive bis merit. Ii iss6. ten year.