Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-26
From Frank Leslie's illustrated Newspaper
HON. GEORGE WASHINGTON JONES
OF TENNESSEE

Ldso LIS rAAfobo hAAsAOos
| From Frank Leses illustrated Newspaper
HON. GEORGE WASHINGTON JONES.
OF TENNESSEE
In the life of Mr.. Jones we have striking in
stance Of that unbeatable spirit the tru aracter
istc Of a superior intellect which forces its way
from social Obscurity to the highest stations in the
public service. He is descended from the people"
his ancestors having neither rank nor fortune and
he never forgets the class from which he sprung
He was born on the 18th of March 1906 in King and
Queen county, Virginia his estmable mother Whose
msidennsme was Jane Slaughter died when he was
young and in l8l6his father James JOnes) married
/ for the third time; and emigrated into Tennessee
He settled in Giles county. where he resided until
his deoease, in 1920 Young George, thus forced to
gsinhis daily bread by honest labor, was appTen-
| tceo, when in his sixteenth year, to Robert and
William Dickson, ofFayetteville to learn the art and
trade Of q saddler He served his apprenticeship Of
four and half years faithfully and at its expiration
worked jOUrneyman saddler for the Messrs
Dickson until the fall Of $780, when he formed a
copartnership with Mr.. John I. Morgan, with whom
ne carried the saddlery business in Fayetteville
until the year 1884 During all this time he had but
a short term Of education at the County Academy,
in addition to hisprevous boysh attendance at cold
Field, or rather the New Country Schools but he
let no opportunity pass of improving his mind and
of acquiring useful information. This naturally
brought him to the notice of the community in which
he lived, as young man who was worthy of conf
dence.
In October, 1882, he was appointed and commits
stoned by the Tennessee Legislature Justice of the
Peace for Lincoln county. In 1884 his fellow JUS
tees chose him Of the Quorum 10 hold the Court
of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions He also
had charge, during the year 1884 Of the Office and
be discharged the duties of County Register Of
Deeds In January, 1885, ne resigned the office of
Justice Of the Peace and Of the Quorum, and took
charge Of the Office Of Clerk Of Common Pleas and
luarfpr Sessions In March 1874 no naonla oFI
Tennessee adopted new Constitution by which the
county Of Lincoln became entitled to two Represeu-
tGives in the popular branch, and when the time Of
election approached, Mr.. Jones, with five others, !
became a candidate and was elected by a majority |
Of five hundred and fifty votes over his opponents
In August, 1887, Mr. Jones was the first in that |
Legislature to state his approval Of that part Of Mr.
Van Burens message which recommended the Sub
Treasury, Jas the proper way OF divoreng the public
business from that OF baking associations.
In August 1882 Mr. Jones was elected to repre- /
sent in the State Senate the district composed Of the
counties Of Lincoln and Giles, by the handsome /
majority Of two thousand three hundred and ftysix
votes over his Wing competitor, the former Senator
In the spring Of lS43 he became a candidate for |
Congress in the Lincoln District most of which had
been in the district originally representsdb by James
*. Polk, and although opposed by Democrat who |
had high legal and private reputation, he was |
elected by majority Of two thousand two hundred |
and seventy votes. Advocating at Washington the .
same doctrines winch ne supported at home, and /
carefully attending to the interests Of his consttu-
ents be was rejected in l845, In lS47 in 1919 and
again in 1851, without caucuses. conventions nom
nations or opposition. In 1852 the boundaries Of
his district changed, but he again re cleo
ted in August 1858, without opposition, or cOnven-
ton, or nomination. In February, 1855, he address
sed letter TO his constituents, declining re-eec
ton at the coming August, and as several aspirans
for the succession presented themselves conven-
lion was called 10 select q democratic candidate.
After repeated bslotings, however, without any
approach to harmonious choice, the name of Mr..
Jones was presented, and the discordant elements
we're at once united by his nomination. He was
prevailed upon to accept, aud although opposed by
the candidate Of the mysterious "Sam, at the close
Of the contest he honored with eight thou.
sand four hundred and sixty-fve votes, while his
antagonist received but four thousand two hundred
and forty-hve-a victory indeed.
During his long services in the House of Repre-
sentatiycs, Mr.. Jones has been active member Of
the Committees on the District Of Columbia Terri
tories Post Offices and Post Roads. and Ways and
Means. He served on the Committee of Ways and
Means durins the Thirty-tirst, Thirty second and
Ihiriy-third Congresses, and was assigned to a
place II at the first session Of the Thirty fourth
Congress but the House in compliance with his
urgent request, excused on the account Of feeble
health.
In March, 1858, he was selected as bearer Of des-
patches, authorizing Judge Sharkey, United States
Consul at Havana, to administer the oath of Of
fee TO W. R. King, Vice President elect.
Mr.. Jones is not only one Of the oldest me nbers
Of the House, and one Of the time-tried champions
Of the Democratic party, but he is famed as an OPP
pOnent Of eItravagant and unconstitutional expen-
diture Of The public money. The acuteuess with
which he exposes the dishonest sophistry of those
who seek to plumber the treasury is proof Of the
true patriotism which has marked his whole official
career.
Let, however, deserving private claim or pro :
per proposition for expenditure be brought to his
notice. and let him be certain that il is Just and
Mr. Jones will aid in obtaining its pas.
sage with his natural warmth of heart snd kindness
Of disposition. He speaks with eloquenee, and his
arguments are often remarkable for the clearness
with which he explains the intricscies of q o0mpi-
gated subject, and his knowledge of the principles
IF constitutional law. ID expresses himself with
luency and energy, and as be owes more to expert
,nce than TO books his remarks always original
md impressive.
In private life Mr. Jones is universally esteemed
md he enters warmly into the hopes aud the plans
If his friends Witty without being sarcastic he is
most agreeable companion, and his close observa-
ION of what trauspires around him renders his So
ety both amusing and instructive. In short, he
nay best be described in the language of the poet:
Statesman-yet friend to truth of soul sincere
In action faithful and in honor clear.
Who broke no promise-served no private end,
Who gained no title, and who lost n friend.