Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-06

pacity to make a few remark 1t may be said
on this occasion that good and a great man
Is fallen. 1t had been well said by previous
speakers that his greatness was greatly en-
HANGED by his goodness. When such men
passed away we were called upon not only to
condole with his family and relatives and
friends, but with the whole community. What
renders any place distinguished and famous
among the cities of the country? What con-
stitutes the interesting feature to please and
delight the citizen and stranger? Surely you
will not say its palaces. its public buildings.
| its location the arts and sciences? 1t is not
| these things to which it is mainly indebted,
but rather to her men. These are our jewels
the jewels of every city, and when one OF
| them PASSES away. a precious stone Is lost
| from our diadem. and we are deprived of
| portion of its light and brilliancy. The speak
er said he well remembered his first acquaint-
ance with the lamented deceased. He was
then student in the University. He then
assigned him high position among bis fellow
| men. That position he attained. His life
was model worthy of the study Of all young
men. He has passed away. While bis alb
| sence leaves Us full of sorrow. his departure
results in good to him. He might have truth
! fully said with The Apostle that to depart
were better for him. But We feeRt would
have been better for Us for him to stay. He
| achieved by his talents, industry and energy.
! a high position He would be remembered
| by his friends. by the bar, and by his fellow
! citizens. as one who labored for the greatest
good of all--labored zealOusly, nobly, disin-
| terestedly. and. the speaker hoped a stately
| monument would be erected to commemorate
his virtues and usefulness.
His Honor the Mayor. r. w. MCGAvOCK,
followed. He said the day was in keeping
with the occasion. His feelings were too
| G.. of
all around him were shrouded in gloom be-
cause man has fallen, and not only man,
but a gentleman. In that one word was en-
bodied all that he could say. Those who bad
preceded him had said much in eulogy of the
deceased-tbey might have said mOre-but
his career itself speaks louder, clearer. and
more eloquently than words. of the character
of the man The speaker occupied differ
ent relation to the deceased than those who
had preceded him. They had been boys to-
gether. Their fathers were neighbors, and
when they were mere children they pursued
their bOyish sports together. At College the
deceased was his tutOr-in the world they had
been friends, and to-day the speaker had the
honor of standing as his successor in the pO-
sition which he occupied but a short time
since. The speaker said his feelings were too
strong to permit him to proceed. All knew
John A. McEwen. In all his transactions
he was the champion of truth wherever it,
banner was nnfurled, and was known as
useful and charitable citizen. In the latter
respect be could speak pointedly, remember
ing the deceased as a prominent member of a
charitable Association of which the speaker
had the honor to be the head, and remember
ing that his purse was always open to carry
out its work As man, a. a member of the
bar as a classical scholar, as EhilanthrOpist
a ma tha oil of Shxyill hos
lost in him one of its most cherished jewels
and noblest friends.
JOHN G. FERGUSON, Esq, followed:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN:-It will not be unbecoming
in me, and indeed could not resist the incli-
nation to pay my poor tribute to the memory
of John A. McEwen. Coming to the Bar about
the same time with him, as did. | have had
every opportunity of knowing him long and
intimately. and a better man | never knew.
Standing here in this Court room this morn
ing, and hearing the remarks of Mr.. Ewing,
with reference to our departed friend. there is
brought to my mind "a touching story of q
family who had lost well beloved and faith
full son. Even after his death his chair at the
table was always placed for him, and the mo-
Their would tell his virtues and endcavOr to
inculcate them in her remaining children,
saying. although he is not here, his spirit
still fingers around us" Thus with our de-
parted friend, although his body is of clay
and we shall see him no more in his accus-
toned places. Yet his spirit may still linger
about these halls, and the memory of his vir-
tues and success be an incentive to renewed
energies on our part. Byron has said, and
Misanthrope as he was, sometimes agree with
him that
"When some proud or man returns to earth,
Unknown TO glory, but upheld by birth,
The Sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And storied urns record who lies below;
When all is done, upon the tomb is seen,
Not what lac was, but what he should have been ~
Not so with John A. McEwen, for, sir. let the
sculptor Exhaust the pomp of VICE." and he
would rear no monument of which his MEM
DRY was unworthy. and the poets lines upon
the ''StOried Urn' can no more than record
his virtues.
From my acquaintance with Mr.. McEwen,
| have often thought that he had more of the
elements and bearing of an accomplished man.
and as many of those of great man, as any
one of his age | ever knew. He was poet.
Not in the poetry consisting in rhymes and
measures; but of that poetic Imagination,
bright as the evening clouds tinted by the
setting sun. But, not only this-he was
logical thinker, sound reasoner, and an elo-
unent speaker; and no man ever had within
his bosom purer heart Peace to his ashes;
and as for me- | have an abiding confidence in
his glorious immortality.
francis b. FOGG, Esq, said that he was
wholly unaccustomed to that kind OF elOquence
suited TO an occasion like the present, but he
could not forDear bearing his testimony to the
moral and social worth of the deceased. He
had not perhaps seen as much OF him in many
respects as others present, but he had seen
much TO admire and esteem. We regret that
circumstances prevented us from taking notes
of Mr. Fogg's remarks. His testimonial 10
the talents of the deceased was very high,
giving it his opinion that there were produc-
tons of his pen extant which. had they been
blazoned by the concomitants of public posi-
ton and circumstance, would have excited
the admiration of the world As citizen,
devoted 10 the prosperity of his native city,
Mr.. Fogg placed the deceased prominently be-
fore his hearers. Having been associated with
him rs member of the Board of Education
he could speak knowingly of his disnterested
devotion to the educational interest of the
city, never relinquishing his post until the III
roads of disease forced him to leave home for
the mountains of East Tennessee and Virginia
in search of health.
After Mr. FOGG bad concluded,
NJ. VAUGHAN, Esq, moved that a committee
be appointed in pursuance of the resolution
adopted to await upon the city authorities and
request their participation in a public funeral.
The motion prevailed and the Chairman APP
pointed as such committees: NJ. Vaughn, Tho
mas Wa hington. Esqs., and DIR. c. X. Winston.
Thereupon the meeting adjourned.
X. c. FOSTER. ST., Chairman.
JNo. f. GLEAyEs, Secretary.
City Council.