Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-12
rIIE 80 W. x. PosTON.


The community Of Memphis, who kney
the deceased SO well and admiringly, paid th
highest honors to his remains and memory
Every respect was manifested ON the occa
sion of his funeral We present below tn
tribute Of the Bar of Memphis, Of which h
was a distinguished ornament, to his ABILITY
and virtues:
We are called together upon a most saC
! and melancholy occasion. Death has agaiI
visited our professional circle, and sum
/ moned from all earthly cares an honOred anC
/ esteemed friend and brother WILLIAM X
| PosroN is dead. In the midst Of his useful
ness as a citizen, in the zenith Of his careel
! as a lawyer, at a period Of time when his
loss is almost irreparable to the people; moi
/ only Of this immediate community, but to
! the entire State, he has by the inscrutable
| decree Of Providence, been suddenly taken
away from us.
! Mr.. POsTON was a native Of Montgomery
county, in this State, where he was born in
1919. He was graduate of the University
at Nashville, and soon after his graduation
commenced the study Of the law, and upon
going through a regular course was admitted
10 the bar. In the year $50 he located in
this city, then a small village with view
10 the practice Of his profession.
A the time Of his death he was the oldest
surviving member of our bar. For a quar-
ter Of a century, he had been among us, dill
i,ently, faithfully and earnestly pursuing
his profession, and at the period Of his
death, had attained professional eminence
and distinction second to that of none of u.s.
As a lawyer, he was always courteous, dig
niied in bearing towards the courts and his
brethren Of the bar, and enjoyed the highest
respect and esteem Of both. lie was IN
usually attentive TO all professional busi-
ness, regarding it as his solemn duty to de-
vote all his capacity and skill to the inter
ests committed to his charge. ...-..
As citizen, he was one Of the most ex-
emplary that ever resided in any communi-
ty. A Christian gentleman during the
whole Of his manhood, he so kindly and so
humbly demeaned himself in the perform
anoe Of all Christian daty as to acquire the
love and affection of his own immediate
Christian, and Of all other sects. As a hus-
band and a father, it is hardly proper to
speak in this place. To the sorrOWing fam
lily he has left behind, no language Of this
earth can ever bring consolation. They
will seek and find it from that high source
whence alone can come consolation and
peace. Our Almighty Father, "who tenn
pereth the wind to the shorn lamb" will
watch over and protect them, and bring,
through His ever-enduring love, comfort to
their bereaved and stricken hearts.
But the noblest record Mr.. PoSToN has
left, is to be found in his career in this city
during its occupation by military authority.
With a frmuess almost unequalled, he re-
sisted all military and arbitrary usurpation,
not only IN his own person, but In behalf of
all who were UnfortuI ately subject to its
power lie stood as a "St0newall" between
military authority and his friends, and all
others who called on him for assistance
Honest, firm, dignifed and calm, he COM
manded and received tie esteem and respect
Of the military rulers Of this city, and there
by became the source Of aid 20 many suffer
ings citizens Of West Tennessee and North
Mississippi, and when the sad news Of his
death shall come, many an eye will be
dimmed and many heart be saddened at
the remembrance Of his many kndnesses
and great virtues.
The death Of such a good and virtuous
citizen, such an exemplary Christian, and so
highly esteemed and respected brother, is a
very great loss TO this entire community;
therefore
Resolred, That we regard the death Of
WILLIAM X. PosTON as a most sad and
greivous afiliction TO the bar Of Tennessee,
to the Christian community, and to she en-
tire State at large. .s .-E rr--
Rcsolred, That we deeply sympathize with
the afflicted family in this, the hour Of their
bereavement, and offer 70 them our SINGER =,
est coincidence. ... p. 'r'
Resolrcd, That the Chairman of this
meeting appoint a member Of this Bar to
present these resolutions to each Of the
courts now in session in this city, the Cham
Gerry Court, the Law Court, and the Criminal
Court, the Circuit Court of Shelby, and also
the Circuit Court Of the United States, at its
next session in this city, with a request that
a copy Of the same, under the seal of the
eourt be transmitted to .he family of the
deceased, by the Clerk Of each of said courts.