Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-05

his comrades laundering at the gates for hls reeHre
Gov. Is. has never allowed this influences Oh ,e'
meni 10 Interfere with his duty 10 his party ou "
whatever time his efforts needed, and tle Spi
of the Democratic Central Committee aviied iii'a
TO the -d there remains no instance 10 he res""
by she writer, al his having relusru 10 ~ io'''
meet the battle shock. alt. c,-
In 1879 Gov. Brown first became candi'a.e, ioi
Congress against the Hon. f. j. Shields WIN nov
been twice elected in that district by mhJo' ~
ranging from eleven 10 twelve hundred VOTES !"
Shields gentleman Of fine talents ana
capacity debater; but after the eiecl'on ia. ,
passed of, it was found that Gov. Brow az: nov
only overcome the large majority against n. IN, wv
had actually gained nearly sixteen Dunu, 10
In 1911 he was reelected without npi,os''o
suning his Congressional career i'll loo9 anu e,u;us
it in 1916, he WAS an active working me'hoe' uu,s
that time, both in the COMMITTEES room ani u. .'ro
hall; aud upon all the great questions VI puo'o po
cy had under advisement, during thar por'on VI oui
eveutful history, he prominently before l,le
people as n statesman, and az an orator' WIN
had the willing ear of the House, as wei
the grateful conf lence OF Inc country :"
1913, Wing Legislature had' ny resort W
crafty hocus. pocus and with especial reference 10
himself so re.apportiUned and gerrymandered MS
Congressional District rs greatly 10 dinii'h tue De
mocratic p-eponder8nce, and whilst the NICE sl.hsuie
was lsavening, it authors nVmeu t'e 1oh' Nrn .
Brown at that time the soul and embodiment OF the
Wing organization in Tennessee, and who was alter
wards sent across the water with the diplomatic ro
bon fiuttrring from h breast as Minister to Russia
to take hold Of the golden gu-rdon Tor which MS
heart had 20 long fevered. and which they had pre-.
pared in The fiIness of their wits In pursuance of
the invitation hs entered with aacrity and Zeal into
the contest aud measured lances with his foenan 10
the last day of the canvass which brought defeat TO
himself and chGgrin to his ireEds. 1hs was one OF
the closest contested elections ever witnessed in
State where parties have for many years been nearly
equal and where nothing but the port and bear
iug of the Democratic nominee. his personal popu'
larity aud the fact that he was, and is to-day the
,nos; deIterous, trough and ready debater in that
State or out of it. could have triumphed over the
skill eoquence aud enthusiasm of his distinguished
competitor.
In regreting, again, the limited scope of this Off
hand proiraiture. simple recital of some OF the
speeches delivered by Governor Brown, whilst in
Congress, will serve our present purpose. Sometime
in May. 1870 h- replied. at length, to Mr. Bells in
elton of the bill to "secure the freedom Of cleo
New JERSEY e Gaze, Having been member Of the com
,ntee which reported the saHe Ills eitort IN the
House upon the burning Of the Caroline was l'sieh-
I'd to with the profuundest attention, ana was circu
lated and read by thousands, all over the country,
with the deepest emotion. Upon the COMMITTEES
which framed the tariff of 'I2 he united IN the mi
nority report, and opened the debate on me Demo
cratic side of tho House. In August 1871 Governor
Brown spoke against the fiscal bank BILL IN 1874 on
The remission of the fine imposed on General jackson
at New Orsans-against receiving and reporting
abolition petitions, aud, likewise upon the right OF
members elected by general ticket to their seat; but
il WAS in December Al, that Governor Brown made
his great speech in reply to John Quincy Adams
upon tho negotiation Of the Florida treaty. On the
18th Of March, IA, as Chairman OF the Committee
on Territories he reported bill to extend the civil!
and criminal jurisdiction of the several courts OF
Iowa over the Territory of Oregon, and at the next
session of Congress he reported bill for the organ
ization Of the Territorial Government of Oregon,
which passed the House by very decided majority.
Gov. Browns Congressional career terminated up
on JAMES X. PoLK's investiture with the Presden-
tal robes, aud leaving the national metropolis with
the hope of securing that retirement and repose 30
r.uvenang 10 the wasting energies and 80 solacing
to The fsvered brain OF him whose life has passed in
the service of his country, he had scarcely reached
his home in Tennessee, before the news OF his nornl-
nation as the Democratic candidate for Governor
reached him. Wasted in strength and worn out with
care, hs sense Of obedience to his party overhore
the invitations TO retirement, and without Mating Do.
tween opinions he at repaired to the theatre OF
conflict. The omens of success were all against him
and the political horoscope of tine Democracy was
drawn with black lines Unused 10 Tnurnur. he gave
himself freely TO the contest. President Polk having
twice failed to carry the State for Governor and hav
ing lost it in his Presidential canvass tho hopes of
the Democracy were everywhere dlspirited. Col.
Foster, his Wing competitor was man, too, OF RbIl.
Ity TACT and popularity, aud the prospects OF Gov
Brown and his friends were gloomy enough. The
canvass opened however, and the old political feeling
began TO resume lite accustomed eyci;abili;y. Like
81. Xavier, ringing his bell amid strange cities and
calling upon the hayward multitude, Gov. Brown
went before tbs people OF tho State an apostle OF the
pure Democracy. mistaking no ianaclsm tor the
voice of sober reason and thrilling startling and fix
ing their attention by the boldness of his thoughts,
the safety OF his principles and the intrepdy of his
manner, winning the vscilang, inspiring the tlmid,
aweing the bold by greater holiness, and dividing
the opposition while he consolidated his own
ranks. A Of the people, he was ground.
sculer who understood the touch that propi.
tised tn. favor of hsrd-sensed and vigorous people,
In the appositeness of expression, the mesmerc
touch of thought, the pungent witcisn, the sharp
and sudden repartee, and the captivating anecdoe,
he showed himself more than match Tor the trained
powers and captivating skill Of his able antagonist
The excitement and interest of the contest had risen
to their highest pitch, and the political fires burnt
brightly on every hilltop and in every hamlet of the
Commonwealth. Gov. Brown. on flame with the I'M
portance OF triumph, stood out as "pillar of fire"
to his party, and, as McClung aays of Clay treason
held the helm, while passion blew tine gale The
contest over his party triumphed by majority Of
ncarly | 800 with which to mark the event Of his
return tu the State. AS Governor OF Tennessee, du
ring the Mexican war, he sustained, by the prompt
tude force and efficiency of his measures, the calls of
patriotism upon the State and contributed, by his
own enthusiasm, no small sharo to the slacrity with
which her people responded TO the call and sustained
their renown uuOn the battle fields of Mexico. Sub
sequently in lSiS the Democratic elecor for the
State at large he canvassed Tennessee with Governor
best abilities As a popular debaier. In 1850, MEM
Der Of the Southern Convention, he would listen TO
no proposition 10 dissolve the fair fabric of our Fede-
raj Union Tor then existing. Dissenting from
tine views submitted by the committee on resolutions,
Gov b. drafted, as expressive of his own, whit is
now known as the Teunessee Platform. In the Con-
vention at Baltimore. which nominated Franklin
Pierce delegate at large for the State Of Tennes
see, he selected for the 'pos of honor" and az
chairman Of the committee on resolutions reported
the Democratic Platform that was approved by the
Convention and ratified by the people in the election
of Pierce in 'j2-and affirmed with but slight al
teration or addendum by the Convention that nOini-
mated, aud the people who elected, James buchanan
in So.
Here the writer might take leave of character ar
fresh and attractive in its political amplitude M it is
lovabe and genial in its more softened and subdued
aspects. The natural tone and inclination of Gov
Browns mind is essentially political than other
wise but looking away from those grosser views i,
tastes have not lost the polish and keenness which the
purple halo of early education impressed upon a
fervid heart and in the intervals coming like CLEANS
of sunshine between the periods OF his service 10 the
State and the country, he has found time 10 devote
himself TO the higher walks OF literature. With an
exuberant but rectitied imagination, highly cultivated
tastes, an ardent temperament, familiarity with tbs
standard poets, and conver-ant appreciation Of the
most approx ed tCr0curS of the past and present age
he hae delivered 10 of the most ancient and ho
norabe institutions of learning in the county, ad.
dresses which, in themselves regarded by those
VINO have heard or read them as among The most
choice and delightful souvenirs the polite learning
Of the times. His heart.ofering TO his own ws be-
Lived Alma Mater on the 3lst May 1854, at Chapel
Hill, contains blending of historical imagery and
sweetness of thought that is rich the picture
OF posts ,.roam. and reminds one of nothing 80
mrcb of the finer touches Of Phillips in his
memorable defence of the Irish m1den. or brilliant
Jack Curran in thet raptures Of hs rocsome fancy.
His lofty and imprisoned aposrophe 10 the "Digni-
ty of Labor, embodied in one OF hs literary addresses
at jackson, Tennessee, is also chef dGuvre in its
way. His literary, agricultural and other addresses
have been many and varied To pursuit which
owned for its honor-d son, him who fret bore the
purple fasces of the Grecian Republic, well as the
great Father of our own country, Gov. Brown has
always been devoted and still like Them after going
forth in obedience 10 the old Roman Injunction to
''see that the republic received detrinenl he ha,
always returned with favor 10 the more unpretendng
field of Agricultural science. A planter himself of
handsome estate his wants have been frugal and his