Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-11-22

Upon putting the motion IL was unanimously
agreed to, and the Chairman appointed Messrs T.
B. CEn.DKEss, n. E. ALLOwAY, WIN. SrOoKELI7 WIN. A.
CHEATHAM and J. J. WILLIAMS said Committee.
The committee having retired for few moments
returned and
Mr.. CH1DREss said: Mr.. Chairman have been
requested by the committee to report the following
preamble and resolutions for the adoption of this
meeting do not know that can add anything to
what has been said in the preamble. As far my
acquaintance with the deceased has extended, can
fully endorse everything the preamble expresses
My acquaintance with Mr.. PoNDExTER was not as
intimate as many other gentlemen here present, but
as far as knew him, he was honorable in every re
spect. The preamble, though, 1 think expresses my
feelings better than can do here. will therefore
read it,
WHERE'S, We the friends and fellow citizens OF
GEO. G. PoNDExTER Esq. having with feelings of I'M
affected sorrow heard of his sudden and untimely
death, deem this proper occasion to meet toge-
Their and express eur great grief at so sad and
| expected an event. Mr. PONDExTER departed this
life yesterday morning, the 18th inst, about the
hour of nine oclock-although he had risen few
hours before in huOyant spirits and in anticipation
Of continued health and life. Our deceased friend
and fellow citizen native of the State Of Virgi-
mia, and descendant of family distinguished for
November, 1929, and was therefore, in the thirtet
year of his age. He graduated at Dartmouth Col
ege in the State of New Hampshire, and in the Law
School of the Cumberland University at Lebanon.
In 1856 he the Democratic Eector for the Eighth
District in this State and was in 1857 appointed by
the Postmaster General Chief Clerk of the Post Of
fee Department. He held this Office only about one
year. when he resigned it and became one of the
Editors of the UNION AND AMERICAN newspaper, pub
lshed in this city. In this position, well in
all others occupied by him, he manifested high or
der of talents, courage and industry. As a writer,
he was bold and fearless, yet scrupulously just and
| forbearing towards his opponents Never for a mo-
ment submitting to anything which his sensitive dis
position might colstrue to be intended assault, he
was always ready TO make an honorable PREPARATION
to others for any offence given by him. Kind and
social in his disposition and possessing sanguine
spirits in eminent degree he never depressed
even under the most trying and adverse circumsan-
ces. To those intimately associated with Mr. POM
DEXTER, he was particularly attractive. Having adj
ded to his kind and genial disposition and natural
good sense, high order of intelligence he was, TO
those closely associated with him. both agreeable and
instructive. And whereas, We regard the death of
such man great public loss:
Be Il therefore ReSOUsd, That we deeply deplore the
loss of our friend and fellow-citizen, GEORGE G..
POEDExTER, and tender our heartfelt sympathies to
his relatives.
Resolved That as an evidence of our respect for
the deceased we will attend his funeral from
the First Baptist Church on tomorrow afternoon at
p o'clock.
Judge HUNPHREYs said Mr.. Chairman: I cannot
let this occasion pass without an expression of my
feelings of respect to the memory of the deceased
He came to Nashville some two years ago, a young
gentleman without family connections, without
wealth. without any means of sustaining himself ex
cept his industry and his good business capacities.
/ think knew Mr.. PoISDExTER we'll My associations
with him were tOlerably intimate, and l think
had an opportunity of understanding and appreciat
ing truly and properly the man. He presented him
self before the community here a stranger, without
wealth and without anything to buoy him up in So
ciety, one of the great mass of community and
worked his way by the exercise of those good quail
tiles which recommended him to his fellow-men in
dustry, truth and integrity. GEORGE G. PONDExTER
had these qualities, Mr. Chairman. He posses
sed of those manly virtues of industry truth and in
tegrty with close attention to the duties he owed to
himself and to his fellow-men Kind gentle, modest
he had as candid and generous heart as ever beat
in any human breast. He tried to do to others
he would have others do to him. That was his cha
Tacter-the highest that belongs to mortal man. A
gentleman who through life tried to do to his fell
bowman as be would be done by; such, believe,
was the character of GEORGE G. PONDExTER, whose
memory we have here mettO testify our respect for
He is gone, Mr.. Chairman His body will be inferred
tomorrow afternoon, at half-past two O'Clock. He
had wealth, family connections, nobody to raj
ly lengthy Pagesntry at his funeral; but he had
those good qualities of head and heart which entitled
him to the respect Of the human family. could
not let this occasion pass without rendering to the
memory of this gentleman the respect due him from
one who never knew him but couple of years ago,
and since he came to this town. This much have
to sayy and after his remains pass away, when he
mingles with the thousands who have gone before
him, shall go to his grave and exclam: Here lies
the body of man as true 70 his Ofduty as ever
died in this community.
Mr. RAY said: Mr.. Chairman: / am not here to
eulogize the character Of our deceased friend and
fellowcitizen but my feelings on this occasion will
permit me to say something in relation to GEORGE L.
PonDRxrER. 1t has been nay pleasure to know him
for the last ten years and during great portion of
that time Ihave known him intimately. have known
him well, and a truer man or better friend than
GEORGE G. PlISDExTER never lived or died in this or
any other community 1t would be unnecessary for
me on an occasion of this sort to commend his good
oHaties to the citizens of Nashville for those who
knew him know much of the good qualities of his
heart IS do. We ell deeply regret his death, and
have met here to pay this last sad tribute to his mem
ory, did not rise for the pRyBOse of passing
euogy upon the character of the deceased Spt sim
ply to give nv testimony that he was gentleman
Of the pprest water.
TINY. CLyTTT said: Ma. Chairman: do not feel
like speaking: and it would be unnecessary for me
to attempt to add anything in the way Of an eulogy
of our deceased friend, but can say what perhaps
few here can: that knew him in the school room.
knew him a classmate. l knew him there one
who was always cautious and prudent, possessing
fine intellect and genius. He was, sir characters
tic of having good heart possessing friendship for
all who knew him. and must say he had the good
will of his schoolmates aud classmates, as far as
was associated with hR IN that capacity. J have
not met him SO often since, but when l have l have
always found him the same thing-givipg evidence
of that purity of heart which commands our admir-
alton. expect to attend his funeral tomorrow as
one of my best friends twas with feelings of the
most profound regret that heard the news of his
death and only here to pay him that last tri
butte of respect
Tbs resolutions were then unanimously adopted.
Upon moJop of THOs. J. HAIL, the Secretaries of
the meeting requested to furnish the relatives
of the deceased with copy Of these proceedings
On motion of H. L. CLAIBORNE, the following gen
tlemen were appointed committee to make suitable |
for the funeral, tO-wit II. L. CIAT-
BORNE J. E. 3. RAY and JOIN \. FISHER
Upon motion, the following gentlemen were ap- |
pointed to act as pabearers on the occasion: WM |
G. HARDING, j. ], WILLIAMS, JOHN A. MINIS, S. X. An
DERsON, R. W. HAYWOOD, j. B. CLEMENTS. ROBERT |
JOHNSON THOs. J. Hail, J. L. THOMPSON, G. c. Tor
BETT, JAMES JOHNSON, and W. C. WHITTB0RNR.
1t was further moved and carried that the city |
papers be requested to- publish the proceedings Of
his meeting.
Upo2 motion the meeting adjourned
THOS. L. BRANSFQRD, President,
J. E r. RAY,
JQES G. THOMPSON,