Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-08-13
The Death of Gen. Isusk.

chOiy news, which we published yesterday, of the
tragical death Of Senator Rusk:
GEN. RusK IS DEAD.-A great calamity has be
fallen the State Of Texas One of her most disiin-
guished and noblest sons has fallen. Thomas j.
Rusk is DO more.
A gloom hangs over our people-a mystery, thus
far, is connected with the matter. We can only
give the facts, and mourn the sad stroke which has
thus deprived Texas and the South of a valued and
useful champion.
Gen. Rusk has, ever since the death of his lady,
suffered under mental dcpre ssiOn which at times
bore him down beneath It's weight. He has to
great extent, secluded himself from society, and
lately that dependency has been more marked and
apparent to those familiar with him. severe i'll
ness from which he was just recovering, had pros
trated him for weeks, and he was suffering great
ly from a rising on the back of his neck.
On yesterday evening, about o'clock, his fmi-
ly, hearing the report of gun and the fall of
body, ran to the spot, and found him lying dead
upon the ground, behind the gallery at the ok OF
the house, with rife under him. coroner'sjury
was summoned, from whose verdict we extract tue
following:
"The cause of his death was guu-shot (rile)
wound on the fore part of the head, inflicted from
rife gun held in his own hands and discharged
by himself"
No further clue can be given to this mystery.
No papers writings of the same day have been
found, except letter addressed to a gentleman in
New Orleans, ordering tombstone for his wife,
with this inscription:
Bessed are the pure in heart they shall see God"
Letthe people mourn the loss of man who, on the
field Of battle and in the councils of the State and
nation has proven himself to be worthy the proud
place already accorded him in the affections OF the
people.
A duplicate of this extra sent us by a c0rrespon-
dent in Nacogdoches contains the following hasty
poscript:
"An inventory of all his property was found in a
portfolio, and the value of the same divided by the
number of lis children. He buried this even
ing with masonic horOrs. Au obituary address
was delivered by the Hon. W B. OchiItree, which
will appear in the next Chronicle, along with the
full evidence in the matter"
These comprise all the circumstances that have
reached of Gen. Rusk's death They betoken
generalization, and show disturbed and disOr
dered condition of mind. Great indeed must have
been the Affections and the trials which could
drive into such a state Of despair of heart so
brave and understanding solid, and temper so
serene, as were those of Senator Rusk
Wd have not at hand materials for an extended
notice of his life and career. These will doubtless
be fifty cOmmemOrated by those who have access
to authentic documents, and it is not likely that
which has grown up so steadily into such
wide and well merited popularity, and was increas
ing in greatness and influence, will be permitted to
fade away for the want of record.
We may, however, state in brief, from memory
that Senator Rusk native OF South Carolina,
and an early emigrant to Texas. He was there
DeIOTe lnuepeuueuCe anu was one OF the early pa
triots who took up arms to resist the Mexican OPP
pressions. He held the rank of colonel in the
dictionary army and the declaration OF indie
peudence, and the organization of the Republic of
Texas, was the first Secretary of War His energy
In the management OF that department was OF Infinite
value to the cause of the new State, and is spoken
of 10 the highest terms of eulOgy, by men of all
parties, who we're engaged in the great conflict;
and it must be noted that there is no theme upon
which partizanship has been more fercely mapi-
no history n tho TaYaa rpVOlutiop
AL men, OF all sides, however. have conceded the
most unhinchiug courage and patriotism, and the
most Jealous and successful labOrs, to General
Rusk.
lie was with the army at San Jacinto, and Hous-
tons opponents that to Rusk is due the great
credit as the. hero of the day. Be that as it
may, his fame continued to grow, unsu!lled by re-
pTOaCh. He had subsequently, temporary command
of the army, from which he sierred to
in the Cabinet Of President Houston. This place
he resigned in order to attend to his private affairs
but was not long permitted to remain in retire
meht He called out to suppress the Mexican
revolt at NacOgdoches, in 1888; led a regiment
from Eastern Texas against the Cherokees in 1889
10 lS43, when the law passed for the prOtec-
lion OF the Western frontier, creating the Office of
Major General for that special purpose, it
toed by the President unconstitutional, because
the command of the army made independent
of the Executive. The Legislature passed the law
over the veto, and elected Gen. Rusk &c the high
Office.
On the annexation Of Texas to the United States
and her admission into the Union, Gen Rusk
chosen one of the first Senators; anud in the draw
ing for terms with his colleague, Gen. Houston, he
drew the long term, which expired in 1851. He
was re-elected-unsnimOusy, we believe, and had
been just reelected again, without opposition, for
a third time
What has been Gen. Rusk's career in the Senate
is well known to the whole country. 1t has not
been marked by detached acts Of high statesman
ship, or by brilliant oratory special occasions,
so much by steady performance OF his whole
duty, on all occasions with ability fully up to
the mark, and directness and integrity of purpose
which won for him frequent admiration and uuiver-
sal confidence. In the Senate of the United States
there has been no Senator for years to whom
more answering respect was paid on all sides, for
the solidity OF his Judgment the purity of bis pa
triotism, and the strength Of will and of capacity
with which he adhered to his convictions lie Was
a trusted leader OF his own party-one they de-
lighted to honor; yet its adversaries honored him,
and never vented upon him the reproaches which
they heaped upon his party.
lie was Southern born-trus to his section, aud
even fiery in the zeal with which he resented and
repealed aggressions upon the rights Of the South
yet he labored with energy, with hope and with
faith, for the preservation Of the Unon.-N D.
PicaylHe.