Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-03-15
saauel n. RolecFs.

There il, in each of tho United States elsz Of
very able men and valuable ctsiseG seasvel! Known
or evet heard OF outside their own State baSaase
they happen nos d hare hcn CONCERNED n lne con-
dha or natksnai Affairs. TbiE results GAtufAiiYs AZ
snpsa necessarily Nom Cur peculiar system Of Ma
tiohai and State governments. To ihlselAs eeiengs
the President Of The late important Convention 81
Tennessee A landahlc desire in The public mind g
know scmethiag more OF one thus brought pfomi.
uently before the country fron the reire.aens o.
private life requires al least tkatek 81 his PET
Samuel Ramsey Rodgers wss born in tireeaeyille
Eass TENNESSEE one Of 4 numerous family of IONS
and daughters, In early life he was employed IN
the calling Of his father that Of blacksmith, thus
laying the foundation Of = vigorous physical eonst-
tuition and healthy sympathy with labor that aaye
contributed no little 10 bic success and usefulness
In addition 10 mechanical skii bis nature aspired
TO intellectual culture. His academic studies we're
pursaed at the College, now the University Of East
Tennessee, then under the Presidency Of Mr., David
Sherman a gentleman Of Northern birth, branch
Of the family made 'illustrioIs By the memory Of
Roger Sherman, and understood 20 have been an
uncle Of Major General W. T. sherman. Few bet
e- instructors have le name in the schools Of East
Tenneesee and 20 we'll did bis pupils profit by his
Instructions that amer his graduation he was fetzn
ed several years % an associate member OF the No
ege Faculty To his hshs.a o. Illustration and eS-
pianation acquired by teaching is attributable in
no small degree Doubtless his Subsequent skin N 50
presenting 70 iurics the meet intricate legal pnopoEi
tons that they become clear 10 The unprofezsienal
mind, however little versei in the matters OF law
For although Of religious psreBiage, and hiTaseif
from early youth eonnectsd With the Presbyterian
Church, leading comfortably rrepruachable life
that seemed 70 many Indicative Of peculiar fitness
for The christian ministry, his own tastes led him
into the abstruxa realms Of legal study. His law
preceptor was the late distinguished Judge Hugh
Lawson White. He came 70 the bar in 1881. The
twsaty years Of uninterrupted study-iacubration
vieanti annorum-p powerfully required by the law,
= condition preeedeat Of success, were never more
faithfully rendered BY the most enthusiastic votaTy
bis lahors have not been without reward, both IN
professional reputation and the more solid adyan-
tnges Of worldly increase. He attained such
standing Of lawyer that in 1919 he was appointed
BY Gen. Taylor the United States District Attorney
for the District Of East Tennessee and held the Of
fee until the close Of Mr. Fiilmores naturalization
When the Black Hawk war broke out in 1884, Il
pe satd e Aisa -i.h literal exactuass ss u A~s
been said Of Abrahsau LiupulR s.hg safpsss velaEs
tser company and vas inside Captain" TIE services
Of the company weEn rendered 20 the Government
through Gov. Carroll; bat the exigency was not
deemed sueh a. TO require their presence In The fed
subsequently,. he held the position Of Comrissary
General on the staff Of Major General CaRwell with
the rank Of Colonel. The military titles, fret OF
Captain and then Of Colonel the latter ssiil assca-
ted with his name in the community where he lives
every one deemed 90 have been werthiiy bestowed
until the experience Of the present war has restricted
their use 70 those who have been actively engaged
in belgerent operations
His views on the subject Of slavery we're early
pronounced and unsguivoeAl When the state Con-
vention Wa called in 1894, 70 reyise the Conssita
ton a strong effort was made 10 have incorporated
in n the principle Of gradual emancipation 50 that
all slaves skonld be made frye against the yeaf
ls60n Meetings Of citizens in various parts OF the
State prepared memorials 80 that effect. Such an
ore was held IN the county Of Knox. Mr. Rodgers
- u. AhEl al 4 "a
Robert NJ Anderson, w. b. A Ramsey, late Secrc-
tary Of State and Dr. W. J. Baker, an eminent cit
zen Of the county al elsVeholders well Is him
self be reported the resolutions, adopted and pre-
paFed the memorial. Their efforts failed IN The
Convention, bat their contamination has been e.
footed In raknner no one then coald have antiSpa-
ted Largely interested In this species Of property
bis treatment Of bic servants has exhibited more The
nrote4ion Of guardian than thu authority of mas
Tar In bis intercourse with hA friends he had con-
stantly expressed wish that the time should como
when they might, with pfopristy BE-. enRneipaied
In 1855 he was elected TO the SsnBte Of the State,
from Tho Fifh Senatorial District over very pop
ular e0mpettr, by majority % decisive ~ 10 make
the vote almost unanimous. As the chairman OF
the judiciary committee he let record upon the
legislative journals, during single term, that sell
dom follows years Of service.
Az a citizen Of KnaxVtile, where he has resided
the principal part Of his life and in the municipal
government Of which he has largely shared few
| have been more useful on honored. His tact and
readiness As the presiding officer OF public assem-
blies, have led 70 his being called 70 that duty
oftsneF than all others Of his iellew-ctiEens- The
practical skill and facility thus acquired combined
with his recognized ability and moral worth, % de-
siguate him a. The President Of the Crest Union
state Convention, ut Nashville, the 9th OF JAN
| uary last His temper and ofhciAl bearing IN the
difficult and trying position, have won fcf hlm ex-
uressions Of unqualified admiration, and IL Is not
| strange that bic name, now, Is prominent As
the candidate for Speaker OF the Senate, IN lew
! ds7s 10 be elected.
ar. Rodgers Is now in the vigor OF life, IN the
! enjoyment Of tbs best development Of his mentSl
I'll shsre Nn active and prominent part in restoring
order oat Of present confusion, and bringing bacs
our afflicted snd injured State 70 the prosperity Aaa
s0eiaI tranquility 30 abundanty eAioyed before she
vss trayed by the treachery Of some Of her mos
hoaorsd and trusted sons. In this time Of trouble
such men OF mAtarsd manhood, OF unoiehonlne
courage and Of patriotism that knows neither aoup'
nor cbanga are Of priceless value.