Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-04-06
THE LATE GENERAL SAMUEL P. ALLIsOl

IHE LAVE GEA4hAL GAMAEA r ALLAcO0s
In our issue Of Friday last, We performed the
painful duty Of inserting the usual brief obituary
notice Of the death Of our friend and felOW-citizen
General SAMUEL P ALLISON and on Saturday we
gave the proceedings Of meeting Of the Nashville
bar. ct which suitable remarks we're made by Gov.
Brown and others; and resolutions passed. express
ing the regret Of his professional brethren st his
untimely death, and their high appreciation Of him
as a man and lawyer. We cannot permit the OO-
oasoo to pass, without contributing cur mite to the
memory Of the deceased due alike to our friendship
for the individual and esteem for his character
As private persons, and IS public journalists, We
feel called upon to pay something more than pass
ing tribute to the character Of one with whom we
have been so much associated, and who had already,
st so early an age taken high stand in this COM
munity.
Only q few months since, General ALLISON was in
the enjoyment, to al earthly spPearanoss, Of the
most robust health His hold upon life seemed bet
ter than that Of most Of his assoostes and the world
opened fair and promising to his youthful vgOr To
8 handsome and manly form was added an express
sive eOuntenanse, where extreme fairness was the
only indication Of that seeds Of that disease then
undeveoped against which neither youth nor intel
Isc norintegrity any protection He had scarce
ly began to feel the power in him. and TO look for
ward to increasing usefulness, when the destroyer
came. The insidious disease rapidly assumed fatal
character and left him but the shadow Of his vgOr
Gus manhood He bore up manfully against the
weakness incident to wasting consumption, suffered
patiently the aeoompanyingpa prepared fearlessly
for the coming DOOM and met calmly the inevitable
hour.
General ALLISON was born in Williamson county,
in this State in the year 1927 and, after the usual
preraratory training, entered Yale College, and
graduated at that institution in Is47. Upon leaving
college he removed once this to place, determining
10 make it his future hsme. After few months
study Of the law in private, he Joined the Law
School at Lebanon, and we believe, passed through
the regular course prescribed at that institution.
Returning to Nashville, he entered upon the prsc-
tee Of his profession with considerable energy and
success. Having adopted the principles Of the Dem
ocratic party he was induced by his political friends
TO enter into the race for Congress, in this District
with one Of the most distinguished members Of the
opposition and, although unable to overcome the
large majority against his party, the result was high
" fsttering to his feelings, and Immediately gave
him position as political debster Up to his fatal
illness, he continued his business lawyer took
an active interest in public affairs, and was, in all
respects, an enterprising and efficient citizen.
We knew General ALLISON well, and can say with
TRUTH that he possessed the elements of character,
which lead to success and eminence. To a strong
and vigorous mind cultivated by liberal education,
was added great decision, frmness, and sincerity
He had no hesitation in his composition but prompt
" adopted, and boldly and warmly advocated
aud pursued the determinations Of his mind
No fear Of consequences could in him fettsr the
free expression of opinion, or restrain his
action. He was open and sincere to fault-n the
excess of such qualities be attributed as fault
There is no doubt, that to those who did not know
him we'll these qualities presented the appearance
Of bluntness, and to the morbidly fsstidious, Of
rudeness but they qualities which improve upon
acquaintance ard their pOssessOr need only be
thoroughly known to be highly appreciated. He
always spoke what he thought, and this downright
openness and sincerity constituted the great charm
Of his character 10 those who knew him intimately.
His friends never expected fatery from him, but the
truth; and the truth they always received, however
unpaatable His horror Of even the appearance Of
fattery, made him slow to praise, at the same time
every person brought in contact with him felt cen
scious Of full appreciation. So also he never dealt
in protesting on assurances but let his acts speak
for themselves. His friendship exhibited in deed,
not words-and, accordingly. he was deemed by
many cold and selfish because he never made use
to them of the conventional phrases which mean
nothing, and had no opportunity Of showing his
true character II the only way consistent with itself
These high qualities and high they are Of decision,
frmness, and genuine sincerity, would have devel-
oped themselves with years, and have correspond
iuglv elevated the subject of notice. They are
qualities which necessarily mark their pOssessor as
one to influence human affairs and to make an i'm
press on his day and generation And such, We
doubt not, would have been the case with General
ALLISON, but for his untimely death. Although so
young, he had already taken high stand in the
career which he had marked out for himself That
career would have been an honorable one, for he
fully appreciated the Importance to the young Of
having a high aim in life. No matter what may
have been his actual position, be would always have
been equal to the station, and every way worthy Of
it, We feel satisfied, to use the language Of one Of
the speakers at the meeting of his professional
brethren that the legal profession has lost IN him
an ornament, our county good citizen, our State
rising man, and our country one who would, had
life been spared, have made his mark in history.