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

shall have been more fully developed
George GI1mer POIndexter.
To large majority of the readers Of this paper
the subject Of this notice was only known through
its editorial columns, over which he had chiefly
presided since his association with Withssuch
as did not know him in the intimate relations Of
social life, it is hardly possible to conceive the
perfection Of the man. Ii is not our purpose to
indulge in idle panegyric, in the least exagger
ate those noble attributes Of character which so
distinguished him, and which 30 endeared him 70
the hearts of all who knew him. To do so would
not only be unjust to the public, but would be an
offence against that native medesty and high sense
of propriety which were striking points in his
character. He is dead to this world--dead to the
friends who so warmly loved him-and it is chief
ly for the living that there is any occasion to
speak of him at all. Praise cannot reach him, and
calumny, however malignant falls harmless at his
grave.
He was endowed by nature with strong and
vigorous intellect, to which be had added the ad-
vantsges Of q ripe scholarship. We have met with
but few men in life, at his age, SO thorough in all
that they had studied. Fond of intellectual pur-
suits and quick in comprehension, he had acquired
an amount of general knowledge rarely attained by
one so young.
he delighted in the true and the simple and the
result that he pursued facts to their logical Sc
quence, and adopted as his mode of argument, the
plRinest and simplest style Gifted with brilliant
imagination he was fond Of the beautifully but fond
was he of the truth that he permitted even the
beauty of imagery to obscure in the least the Prac
teal reality. For his personal qualification as q
writer he was fond Of cultiVstng the art of style
but so sincere was he in his nature, that when nee
esssry he lost sight of all the mere ad0rnments of
composition TO present the more boldly the sonvic-
tions of his mind. When the occasion required, he
was an elegant and finished writer; in evidence of
which he had received the highest testimonials in
connection with the College of which he was
graduate. AS studentat of the Oldest and most
eminent Universities of our cOuntry-in his prepare
ton for and brief practice at the bsras political
speaker when canvassing this district one of the
Democratic Electors in lS56-as public officer,
and as the editor of this paper, he had impressed
all who came in contact with him. as 4 gentleman
of high order Of talent and excellent attainments
As means of giving usefulness to his talents he
possessed energy, earnestness and resolution in an
eminent degree. Though fond of social intercourse,
and but reasonably ambitious, and entirely indier
ent to pecuniary gain he seldom neglected the de-
mands of business for pleasure. These attributes
of character had he been permitted to live, would
in q few more years have secured for Kim high
rank among the most intellectual and useful men Of
Our country.
Having said this much, we cOmenOw to that which
was the charm of his soul Of the man,
the heart the gentleness of disposition, the love Of
friends the sterling integrity, the sense of right and
fhe unsullied honor which pervaded his every
Thought feeling, and action, and which won the con-
fdence and esteem Of all who knew him. he was
As gentle as a child-he was bland and modest as
ysoman-he was as devoted as brother-Ee was as
chiTalrous as knight of Old-fortifed with an ap
proving conscience in all be did be was the most
fearless man we ever knew. Such was the warmth
and gentleness of his disposition that he never met
child that did not love him. So entirely unselfsh
was he in every feeling, and SO happy was ne in
obliging every friend that he rivsted them to him as
If with hooks of steel. 1t has been & frequent re-
mark to u.s. by those who knew him. that they never
knew . man that won such universal admiration
Rnd love from those who came in contact with him.
He was a man of boundless love. He loved every
thing that was beautiful and true. He was so deli
cstey constituted in all those finer sensibilitles
which relieve the sterner features Of our nature
that it amounted almost to eceentPicity. He would
weep with the unfortunate and be merry as child
with the joyful He bestowed his kindness in such
manner as to make the recipient feel unconscious
of obligations He would willfully harm nothing. He
respected the helplesSness of the worm upon the sod
His unfortunate difficulties in endeavOring to defend
his honor may have created upon the minds of
strangers not conyersant with the facts the impress
sion that he loved strife. Never was an opinion
more erroneous. We have personal knowledge OF
the fact that the fear of being regarded gave him
anxiety and pain We never knew a man who had |
greater contempt for the character Of bully. AT
the same time he placed the highest estimate upon
an unEullied reputation aud had little patience with
those who by language or otherwise, would wanton-
" defame He seemed indifferent to pecuniary !
cain and had but little desire for public distinction,
His great ambition was to live in the maintenance |
nj truth and Justice, to serve all who came in bis
way. and to preserve an unspotted reputation TO |
Az this no sacrifice was too great-he made no esti
mate of cost-life itself he was ready at any mo-
ment to Law down rather than to submit to a stigma
unon his honor. il has been said by some that he !
was morbidly sensitive. This is mistake, unless |
10 be stung BY words which reflected upon has IN |
tegrity, honesty of purpose or courage was morbid
sensitiveness He respected the personal rights OF
Dthers and gave them f. understand that be would |
require them to respect his. When he felt author
lied to be offensive, he wsS so in unnstakable Ian
image and held himself in readiness 70 be called to
, proper account He escheEed, as far - posi-
bic newspaper controversy of personal character
and epdeayored from sense Of respect to the pub
lie taste and his own feelings to settle differences in
, private way. His whole history will bear US out
IN this He never sought the advantage of an ad-
rsrsary in any manner whatever. He was serupu-
ously particular in regard 10 this. he would VIII
inulr hare given up his Life rather than to have
AIKEN that of . foe under circumstances that would
nave been dishonorable to him. Wsk never MS
wish 10 "a ke the life of enSther and be would nSTer
nave done SO except under mat great law OF sen
defence. when seeking to relieve bis character OF
supposed injury
This is as much Is nsed be said 10 the public of
ne fine talents and high moral worth Of our de-
ceased friend. To those who knew him well no
word of comment was necessary. The tears Of eV-
nv friend viii speak his praise in language which
he pen cannot write nor the tongue syllable There
s funeral bell tolihg 10 the hearts OF All OF them
there is q sad dra2ing of tie mind hanging upon
ne countenances of each, to which silence now
would be better shifted
10 the many strangers to Mr.. PoNDEEIER. who
nav read this notice, estimate Of his virtues
nay seem overweight, but we assure them that
the nstursi tendency Of friends I'M
Ter such circumstances to exaggerats their praise
Z the dead, we have studiously avoided saying one
RprS. the fEl soFce. Of which wIlpQtbs thoroughly