Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-03-15
Samuel X. Rodgers.

Thorc is, in each of the United States, u clus- u
very able men and valuable citizens scarcely known
| or ever heard Of outside their own State because
| they happen not TO have been concerned in the
duct of national affairs. This results naturally ul
most necessarily, nom our peculiar system of Ma
tonal and State governments, To this class belong,
| the President Of the late important Convention OF
Tennessee A audable desire in the public mind t,
| know something more of one thus brought promi-
| nently before the country from the retirement OF
private life, requires Mt least, II sketch of his per
sonal history
Samuel Ramsey Rodgers was born in Grccncyillc
East Tennessee, one of n numerous family of sons
and daughters. In early life he was employed in
the calling Of his father that Of blacksmith thus
laying the foundation of vigorous physical consti-
tuition, and healthy sympathy with labor that have
contributed no little to his success and usefulness
In addition to mechanical skill, his nature asprod
to intellectual culture His academic studies were
pursued at the College now the University Of East
Tennessee, then under the Presidency Of Mr.. David
Sherman, gentleman of Northern birth, branch
of the family made illustrious by the memory of
Roger Sherman, and understood TO have been an
uncle Of Major General W. 7. sherman. Few bet
ter instructors have left name in the schools of East
Tennessee and SO well did his pupils profit by his
instructions that after his graduation he was retain
ed several years as an associate member of the Col
lege Faculty. To his habits of illustration and oN-
panation acquired by teaching is attributable, in
no small degree, doubtless his subsequent skill in
presenting to uricS the most intricate legal PROPOSE
tions that they become clear to the Snproicssiona
mind, however little versed in the matters of law
For, although of religious parcntage, and himself
from early youth connected with the Presbyterian
Church. leading a comfortably rrcproachable life,
that seemed TO many indicative Of peculiar fitness
for the christian ministry his own tastes led him
into the abstruse realms of legal study. His law
preceptor was the late distinguished Judge Hugh
Lawson White. He came TO the bar in 1881. The
twenty years Of uninterrupted -lucubrationcs
viginti proverbully required by the law
as condition precedent of success were never more
faithfully rendered by the most enthusiastic votary
His labors have not been without reward both in
professional reputation and the more solid advau-
tages of worldly increase He attained such "a
standing of lawyer, that in lS49 he was appointed
by Gen. Taylor the United States District Attorney
for the District Of East Tennessee and held the Of
flee until the close of Mr.. Fillmores administration.
When the Black Hawk war broke out in 1882 it
may be said of him with literal exacness as it has
ses UgS' -. of AhTshSSs hSSs made Captain Tho svn
of the company were rendered to the Government
through Gov CARROLL but the cxgcncy was not
deemed such as orequire their presence in the field
Subsequently, he held the position Of Commissary
General on the staff of Major General Caswcll, with
the rank of Colonel The military titles first OF
CAPTAIN and then of Colonel the latter still associa-
ted with his name in the community where he lives,
every one deemed to have been worthily bestowed,
until the experience Of the present war has restricted
their use to those who have been actively engaged
in belligerent operations.
His views on the subject of slavery were carly
pronounced, and uncquivocal, When the State Con
venton was called in 1884, to revise the Constllu-
ton a strong effort was made to have Incorporated
in it, the principle of gradual emancipation SO that
"all slaves should be made free against the year
1866 Meetings Of citizens in various parts OF the
State prepared memorials to that effect. Such nm
one was held in the county Of Knox. Mr.. Rodgers
was prominent in its action. with the lalc Judge
Robert NJ Anderson, w. b. A. Ramsey late Sccrc-
tary of State and DR.. W. j. Baker, eminent cit
izen of the county, all Shareholders rs well rs HIM
self he reported the resolutions, adopted and pre-
pared the memorial Their efforts failed in the
| Convention, but their consummation has been Ell
fccted in manner no one then could have antlcpa
ted Largely interested in this species of property
his treatment of his servants has exhibited more the
protection of guardian than the authority ol mas
ter In his intercourse with his friends, he had CON
stantly expressed wsh that the time should come
when they might, with propriety, be emancpatcd
In 1856 he was elected TO the Senate Of the State
from the Fifth Senatorial District, over very pop
uar competitor, by majority SO declsvea to MAKE
| the vote almost unanimous. As the chairman o
the judiciary committee he left a record upon th'
legislative journals, during single term, that sci
dom follows years of service.
As citizen of Knoxville, 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 or honored. His tact an'
readiness as the presiding officer of public Assem-
blies, have led TO his being called to that dut.
oftener than all Others of his feow-citizens. Tn
practical skill and facility thus acquired combine
with his recognized ability and moral worth, to dc
sicnate him as the President of the Great Unio
State Convention, at Nashville, on the 9th of jar
uary last His temper and official bearing in tina
difficult and trying position, have won for him cN
pressions of unqualified admiration and it Is nc
!, strange that his name, even now, is prominent d
the candidate for Speaker OF the Senate, in ie
days to be elected.
Mr.. Rodgers is now in the vigor of life, in tn
endowment of the best development of his menti
powers; and il is not too much to expect that h
will share an active and prominent part in restorn
order out of present confusion, and bringing oac
our afflicted and injured State to the prosperity an
social tranquility so abundantly enjoyed before sh
was betrayed by the trcachery Of some of her mo
honored and trusted sons. In this time of troubl
9 such men of matured manhood of unbenchr
courage, and of patriotism that knows neither dou
nor change, are of priceless value.
"The Nat Avenged"