Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-19
Cant. John MAR.


we would, in the next add TO what we then said IN
relation 20 the loss Of valued fellow-eitizen and
friend, the late Capt. John Q MARI. We meant b,
this TO give them a brief memoir Of the life and
character of this inestimabe gentleman and soldier
In the latter character his career, though bright,
was unfortunately tor our country, so brief that
little need be added to that which has been so often
rehearsed. But a. a man and citizen much may
be said afford useful reflection and instruction.
Capt MARI was in the thlrty-slXth year OF his age
at the date of his untimely death. Of his father,
the late John MARI extract from the Flag OF the
18th June, IS48, the following passages nom his
obituary as properly pertaining to our subject:
Died. on Saturday, the Sd inst after DrieI III
ness in the 6Oth year of his age, John Hsrr, Esq.
1.-The deceased resided in this place for the last
forty years and was born in the county OF which
his forefathers among the early settlers IN the
18th century, giving their name TO some OF ITS To-
calities They WERE IN their successive generations,
plain unpretending "a mers, freely sharing In the
burdens which fell to the lot Of citizens IN the early
history of the colony and commonwealth, unamof
tious Of other praise or rewards than that Ihey
were true soldiers in and quiet, peaceaDle cltl
zens in peace. The subject OF this notice, IN the
ontset of life commenced the mercantile business,
in which in a very short time, he found himself be-
reaved of everything except an unspoited reputa-
ton and an increasing family. This he supported
tor long series of years as Commissioner III IMAM
cery in the Supreme and County Courts. and other
very labsrious Off ;es of trust which the confidence
of b neyhburs and fellOw-citZens was fond 10 De
stow on him. To the intelligent but lrksom9 per-
| foruauce of these trusts, which yielded frugal
support to his family and education TO hls children
he added the gratuious services of Justice OF the
Peace"
At the time of his father's.,death Capt MARI was
an assistant professor of Tactics. &c OF the Mill
| tary Academy at Lexington, in this State, and al
though the teachers at that valuable institution.
who saw and duly appreciated his fine mind and
aptitude for the learning there taught assured him
Of their sense of his progress IN science, and nat
tered him with the hope Of future eminence II ne
would remain still his sense of duty to his mother
and orphan sisters impelled him to return, and by
| some work which he might get be hoped to obtain
| the supplies of which they had been deprived Oy
| his fathers recent death.
Happily the Courts learning the sacrifice the
Young man had made to flial duty, and learning
| from reliable report his capacity, gave TO him the
| a,pointment vacated by the death of his father.
| With what intelligence and probity, and with what
general satisfaction he labOred AID pertormed these
| irksome duties. is known everywhere IN the com,
| munity To these he also added as his father mao
done, the gratultous services OF JUSTICE Oh 'he
| Peace
When the latter office submitted to the popular
suffrage his neighbors elected him without ds-
senting voice and upon the death OF the lamented
| Hunton, the magistrates of the county apPolnteu
him the Presiding Justice Of the Coart. This Wnen
we regard his youth ct that time and the knowledge
which the electors had of the qualifications OF their
several brethren. must be acknowledged as sure
tribute and sign of their respect TO lhtellSehce
and dignity of department. The next Testimonial
| of confidence came from the people VINO elected
him the Sheriff of this large and opulent county
and after performing its aFduous and Responsible,
and often delicate and painful duties for fuil term
of two years, he again elected without any op>
| nosltion For this second term, however, upon a
! mn and calm survey of its troubles and response
billties he declined to actspt, and voluntarily sur
| rendered an office that is coveted by many for It's
pecuniary gains and patronage, but which he, upon
a calm survey and full experience OF It's troubles
anxiety, distressing scenes and responsiveness ue
termlned to foregO.
TWAS at the late election for delegates to the Con
yention that the most decided proof was exhlDlted
Of the peoples confidence in his safe Judgment anC
| ability to serve them, when we regard the danger
ons crisis the magnitude of the trust committed Il
his hands and the overwhelming vote which mani
tested the general confidence When before thu
peopIe for this important trust he gave no pledges
for any specific beyond that winch declared
that all measures of coercion he decidedly opposed
| and the general expression OF devotion ana Stach
ment to the interests of his native state. Beyond
these he declared he should. in his action, be gov
| erned by events yet TO be developed-hls course
upon which he must be left to the guidance Oh MI
. | own Judgment upon them as they occurred. ANT
such was the peoples trust in that judgment and i
the purity of his purposes and the probity Wnlcl
| would govern and control it, that they conhded thu
mighty trust to him by vote much larger than the.
) gave even to his talented and trusted colleague.
tering TO a lust pride, be imputed 10 any othe
cause or agency than to the just confidence Whicl
all classes of men and politicians had in both M
mind and heart He had no wealth to bestow TO
favor even could he have stopped so low as to Blu.
il which in his nature he would not and could not
nor had he any graees of countenance, eloquence o
manner to win it by these arts. HIS countenanc
and manner was stern and repulsive to the az
breaches to familiarity, almost we had said to gen
al sociaty while his elOquence had neither charm
of voice or decoration from ancy or Imagination
He spoke well. because he spoke sound sense.
j, spoke from his reason and Judgment to the reason
and Judgment of his listeners-whilst there was ths
in his countenante which expressed an honest con
viction of sincerity of purpose which won the truf
of his hearers
To his military company, composed chiefly o.
q his neighbors and his neighbOrs' sons, whom tn
parents would have trusted TO no other guide an
} leader he was most justly dear. Gallant yet pr
dent, there was no peril which they could encoui
| ter which he would not fully share with Them
= and but for the accident which at first separate
| them and the shot that deprived them would NJ
: only have been victory of repulsng the enem
and standing on the battle ground after the fgl
!, | was over, (ths usual pledge of victoryO but wou
Z have resulted in their entire slaughter or captur