Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-05
For the ENQUIRER.
For The Enquirer.
SKETCH OF THE PRESENT POSTMASTER
GENERAL.

For the Enquirer.
SKETCH OF THE PRESENT POSTMASTER
GENERAL.
The Hon. AARON VENABLE BRowN. the present
ds,npui.hed Postmaster General the United States
rs. burn on the 18th August, 1875 in brunswick cOuu
| ~ Va His father, The Rev. Aaron Brown, was ont
ri the earliest and most faithful atherents TO the
causes which induced the American cOlonisls 10 comt
forward and strike blow for their own independence
aud oorrelative freedom of the American continent
He participated in the stirring scenes at Trenton AM
shared the prlvalione and perils Of his compa',o
IN arms in tho memorable winter encainpmeht a.. az
i-y Forge at the close of his career as soldier u
the Revolution, he returned to the county "i p'uuE
wick, where he continued to live for many years al
wards, beloved and respected by the sons ana 1auen
tiers of that splendid 6eneiaction' 10 whose a''ose
nent he had offered his earliest PATRIOTISM. "A repup
lcan of the old efersonian school; an lncorruptoie
marriott and faithful minister ot Inc Methodist per
suasioD; he was widely known as pure'hearted and
,ious pilgrim Of exemplary Christianity. Inc SUB
loot Of this sketch the issue OF Ills second mar
rage with Elizabeth Melton, of Northampton coun
ty, n. e. o,.,,o,...
preparation under the best tutors, Gov Brown enter
ed college proper at Chapel Hl'i' the University o.
North Carolina, in 1872 III 1914, after having pass
I'd successfully through the trying scholastic ordeal
he graduated with the first honors OF his class and
the institution. In the same class oi which Willie
ManguIn and Ex.Gov. Manly were members, Gov
Brown was, with great unanmity, selected to deliver
| the annual valedictory Grafton on commencement,
| day-an honor Ms grateful to the high hearts and
swelling bosoms of young and enthusiastic coliegans
as it is complimentary to their genius and learning
and the bestowal of which, in this Instance was hand
somely acknowledged by the youthful orator III the
excellence and graces of his address, and in the
striking impression produced upon his large and in
,eresting auditory. His college career, however,
like that of most other young men, was not marked
by any incidents peculiar IN themselves, other than
his cheerful conformity TO the rules of the institution
and his multiplied proofs of fu:ure usefulness.
Having escaped the restraints which the system Of
the schools had long imposed upon him, Governor
Brown ushersd from the walls OF his beloved alma
mater into the wide world, with an intellect so una
tured and disciplined, that when experience should
add the treasures of her household, he might 20
forth safely presunng upon welsustained part IN
the diverse dgadistions OF life its busy fluctuations
and irs vast concerns. Casting about him for some
the O e W ounr
growth and development OF Iennessee, anu the ~iue
field of labor and enterprise open to the emoarkmen
of his untred fortunes in that sectioD Induced hin'
together with his aged parents, to remove there IN The
early part of the year 1914. Immediately after his
removal to tennessee, he entered upon Inc study OF
the law in the office of the late Judge Irlmb'e, OF
Nasbyille-a gentleman TO whose high legal attain
ments and laborious learning Gov. Is. owes much OF
his subsequent success at the bar-and where, alter
having devoted himself to his chosen profession Tor
the length of time then prescribed by the statutes Oh
that State he procured license and opened an oce
Commencing the practice at a bar remarkable alike
for it's numbers well as it's talents, he soon found
competition of powers aud al amount OF learning
that required no childs play to match, much less
overcome. The bar of Nashville, at that day. con
tanned an array of names, some Of which have since
become widely known in the civil and criminal an.
nal. of our law judcsture. The most splendid gus
were in constant exercise and the mastery OF NINA
touched and frightened everything IN the way OF II
tpstion. The face philosophical, the heart
orobed the nerve tested, the brain guaged, the VII
weighed and every weakness detected by the quick
penetration, and turned upon its possessor with the
force of an avalanche by the fertile gifts Of the legal
gentlemen. Nothing save the rarest union and most
delicate combination of all the powers Of mind and
the most instantaneous varied, complete and perfect
command Of all the resources OF thought, speeca ana
acon-those amplifed aud ductile expedien;s OF the
advocate-could save young man from outright
discontinue il not actual and ultimate professional
,mmulation. To have achieved success ut such bar,
where the tinsel of words and the prettiness OF ex-
preston were overshsdowed and lost in the rough
grasp of the law aud the fact, and where bold
thoughts aud rapid and intuitiye sagacty were the
staple and pictorial power and beauty of language
were the hand -nsidens, is ofitsslf capital common.
tary as we'll upon the ingenuity Of the special speak
or as upon the arts and felicity of the advocate
Like Sergeant =. Prenliss, who came in youth from
Maine to Mississippi to win immortal fame Aaron
V. Brown came in youth from the Old Dominion 10
Nashville, to win name and place in her local
demesnes; and, like him, heraded by no great ances
trail name, and endorsed alone by his genius, he
walked straight up the first practice of the bar,
both civil and criminal, aaking leave of ts vete
rams couciiiating no patronage, stunning no respon
sibty, begging no favors, and winking at all prece'
ience; ready and willing at all times to show the ring
of the metal that was in him. The rapidity OF his
success at the law was more matter OF surprlse 10
the people and establishment TO the profession, than
the general ability with which he sustained himself
after securing his position.
Some years afterwards. Alfred NJ. Harris, very
eminent lawyer of that region ut country, and who
had so large and lucrative practice in the south
ern counties of middle Tennessee, that he was unable
10 give it that personal attention and supervision
which its importance demanded, made propositions
to Gov. Brown which induced him to remove from
Nashville to Pulaski in Giles county. short time
after the partnership between Mr. Harris and Gov.
Brown ceased, JAMES h. POLK commenced hi. c.
reer in the adjoining county Of Maury. A personal,
professional and business intimacy soon sprang up
between these distinguished gentlemen, which lasted
until Mr.. Polk commenced his political career, when
il was dissolved, but that dissolution brought no ter
miua,ion to their cordial friendship, personal and po-
tcal, and which ended alone with the death OF the
amented President whose mortal dissolution was wit
messed and softened by the presence OF his early
friend and partner. Gov. Brown continued his pro.
fessional pursuits up to the year 1921, when he was
elected to the State Senate from the county OF Giles,
and from that period until 1889, save one term in
which he was not candidate, he served the people
of that county either in senatorial or representative
capacity with distinguished ability and fidelity. The
intervals occurring in his service TO the State were
chiefly employed in the courts. and from which he
derived as much real pleasure as substantial proht.
The limits of this sketch allow the writer no scope
for the elaboration Of Gov Browns career az State
Legislator. Suffice it, that one of the trainers of
the permanent statutes of the State, he was known
far and wide for his efforts TO build up and sustain an
able enlightened and liberal system of Jurisprudence;
and for which he was accounted one OF the ablest
men of his time in view of his capacity as lawyer,
and therefore presumed TO have understood the de-
fects, az we'll as the mode and measure OF the RENE.
dies TO be applied At the session OF 1872. Gov
Brown prepared at the instance of the Legislature
very elaborate and able report upon the subject OF
capital punishme nt-which contained arguments at
once new, novel and more than ordinarily attractive
and interesting. This report awakened new interest
and attracted a large share of public attention
throughout the country, and evinced we'll matured
disposition to diminish the number OF offences com
ing within the purview of the capital code. Upon
this as upon all other subjects Of reform and re-
trenchment, Gov. Brown was the Conceded cham.
plon, and wherever and whenever the honor was af.
fected the interests invaded, of Tennessee her
sons, he stood the ready Warwick, with his visor up
About this time parties began TO range Themselves
along aide their political principles with tenacity
and virulence heretofore unexaDped. Then, as
now the people of Tennessee considered party com.
motions the only safety valve 10 let of the accumu-
atng discomfort. and exp-nd the surplus energies of
her sons and political excitements we're as common
ba. 1t was in the second term of Gen. Jackson's
Presidential career Mighty events were on the wing.
The then insulsr framework of the commonwealth
of Tennessee, shaken to its very centre by the
fslds and divisions of the party leaders That party,
since appropriately styled the "old Wing party
was just forming its egions in Tennessee, in opposi'
ton to Andrew jackson, and the OF ideas and the
measurement of intellect WAS fairly engaged in the
hand o-hand conflict. 1t was the heroic age
of politics. Gen. jackson was at the White House,
in the hey-day of his potent agsncy over the popular
minds, throtng his political opponents at every
point by the FIRE and flood of his resolution and bold
ness aud making them spout like 80 many harpoon.
ed monsters, while he sent, thrilling along the official
nerves of the country, the OVERLOOKING contagon of
his own great spirit. In the contest going on in Ten.
political principles he felt because it his home,
more than an ordinary interest; and when Grundy,
Polk Brown and others, catching the later and fresh
- 80 ,;,.,, .a,no i;iTu neesaY tho