Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-03-24

nave spent many nours In his once. ana
know the man. And / have been no indif
ferent observer of his political course which
has made me no feigned admirer of his pru-
dence and wisdom, yet. in this humble trib-
ute to his merit and worth, / shall not exag-
gerate in praise.
He is a native of this State, born In that
fraction of Bedford now embraced In Marshall
county, and will be forty-nine years old the
22d of April next.
Fortune denied him the advantage OF any
education than such as was afforded by the
ld-field schools of that day, with the exccp-
ton of brief period. after he was seventeen
wears old, when be enjoyed the instruction of
a mere competent instructor. Alter which
he engaged as teacher and taught several
sessions himself, but determined while thus
engaged TO study the law. Closing his en-
gagement as teacher, he repaired to tayette-
viile Tennessee, and read law two years IN
the office of James Fulton, Esq.
After this, in 1885, he settled in Shelby
vile as lawyer, and has resided there ever
SINCE He made his debut at the Shelbyville
bar, stranger-witbOut wealth to sustain
him, or friends to cheer him.
But indomitable viii and cool perseverance
led him TO labor patiently and diligently,
until he has achieved a name, character,
and reputation as a citizen, a lawyer, and a
statesman, not surpassed by any in similar
sphere of action.
To have acquired at once lucrative prac-
tice in the presence of such eminent lawyers
as Erwin J. Frierson, Medicus a. Long, Thos.
G. Whiteside and Charles Ready, was not to
have been expected, under the most favorable
circumstances -
But success at length and long since has
crowned his indefatigable efforts, if result
ing not in wealth, as such a practice as he
soon obtained would have done, to less liberal
and public spirited men, yet, in establishing
a reputation among the first lawyers OF Ten
nessee-
He is now and has been for many years,
small STAKEHOLDER, and believes in the moral
right TO hold them, and ever has. and ever
will maintain the right, but never has. and
perhaps never will believe, the way to do so
most securely, is TO break up the Union OF
our fathers.
Once a non-slaveholder, now a STAKEHOLDER.
bis experience identifies him with both in
sympathy and in interest, and qualities him
in an eminent degree to appreciate and un
derStand their mutual interest and happi-
nes=.
His close application and study of the law,
aud desire for legal lore. did not reconcile
him to remain in ignorance of the general
history of his country, and formation oil our
government. But with view to his coun-
| tryis veal. as well as his personal gain, he
had prepared himself by appropriate reading,
to take an early interest and asdecided stand
| in regard to the doctrine of notification and
secession now cOnvulSiDg our country, and
first brought prominently before the Ameri-
can people in 1882, while be was yet stu
| dent at law In common with the entire peO-
| pie of Tennessee he sustained the views OF
Gen. jackson against those of John q. Cal
houn, the leader of those regarded by all
Teunesseans in that day as POLITICAL heretics.
He then held, as now, that the doctrine is
destructive of the government, leading SOON
er or later to anarchy, and from anarchy
probably TO monarchy, as preferable TO no
government.
He approved and sustained most of the
measures of Gen. Jackson's first term, dis
Senting from him, as he nav does from Mr..
Lincoln in regard to the binding force of de-
cisions made by the Supreme Court. He
thinks decisions made by that tribunal
should be regarded final on the points de
cidcd; and that any other doctrine leaves us
without any final arbiter. involving US in I'M
ceasing agitation and uncertainty. Mr.. Wise
ner's support of Judge White in 1856, for
the Presidency, was cordial and hearty, sup
led to-connecting himself with the county pa
per then published in Shelbyville, in behalf OF
the claims of Judge White; first as a contribu-
| tor then as proprietor and editor, and which
connection was continued for about eighteen
! months, then relinquished that he might de-
| vote himself to the law exclusively. He
| continued, however, to act with the Wing
party, and has voted invariably for its nomi-
| nees for President. whether such nominees
| were his first choice or not He was an cleo
| tor on the Fillmore ticket ia 1856, and Ia
| bored and voted for the Bell and Everett
| ticket in 1860.
| He first became candidate for the Legis-
| lature in 1847, in opposition to Col. Thomas
/ Black, former representative and popular
man with his party. The party strength
against him, according to the preceding cleo
iiOn for Governor, was 124 votes in The
| county, and was reduced in this contest to
| Is, aud Wisener was elected by AZ votes,
| showing strength In his first race over his
| party of 60 votes.
In 1919 he was again candidate short
time, retiring voluntarily, for the sake of har-
monny and success of his party, of which he
was a most loyal member.
In 1851 he ran and beat Gen'l Daniel Bar
ringer, who was thought to be, and NO
doubt was, the most popular man that could
have been started against him. His COM
petitor in this race, was thorough politician
aad very able DICTATOR, and had been mem-
Der to Congress from North Carolina. The
party strength against Wisene- was 134; it
was reduced and overcame, aud Gov. Camp
bell carried the county by 80 votes, and
Wisener by 134.
In 1858 he was again candidate and was
opposed by the young and talented Col
Simpson Bobo. The affable and social quail
ties OF Col. Bobo and his very popular man
ners, inspired his old and young friends with
the most sanguine hopes of success, which
added to the fact that Esqr. Wisener was pre-
vented by sickness, during the last month of
the canvass, from filling his appointments.
caused manyof his friends to almost dispair of
his success in this contest; but when the bal
lots were counted, il was demonstrated that
he had too many friends to suffer him beat in
the absence of single plausible objection
against him as man, or political public ser
want. a gain of 20 votes in party strength
attended this contest.
In 1859 he was opposed by another spright
ly and talented young man OF popular man.
ners and address, Barclay Martin, Jr. In
this contest some of Esqr- Wisener's former
political friends felt impelled (and justly SOY
by their relationship to Mr.. Martin to either
go against him, or withhold their support,
and which again inspired hope in those who
had tried so long to beat him, to make
another desperate effort. His political re-
cord was searched to see if some vote of his
could not be made to yield some election
eering capital to defeat him. But all in vain,
not q solitary vote cast in three preceding
Legislatures, could be adduced, when the
circumstances and facts connected Herewith
were explained, to shake the confidence of a
single supporter in the prudence, Judgment
and wisdom of the old tried representative.
His triumph again was complete and thor
ough, and his inyineibllity in his county es-
tablished by the seyerest political ordeals.
Such have been his political conflicts and
triumphs, and none the less successful and
honorable will appear his political acts as a
Representative, when viewed in the light of
impartial candor and truth. During his first
presence in the Legislature as member, the
subjectaof internal improvements by the
State, was the paramount question of State
policy. He took ground in favor of the poll
cy, and was among the first, if not the first
member west of the mountains to see and
admit the Justice and importance of. and