Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-30
Aninn and gispatfh.
TUESDAY. APRIL 80, Ise..
Largest Circnlation in City and State.
EMERSON ETHERI1GE.


other Conservative journals in the State
have given well-Writien sketches of the
public services and political antecedents
Of this gentleman. His record is, or may
be familiar TO all, and in the leading acts
and events Of lis life, as with most states
men, may be found the true Interpretation
Of his character and principles.
But there is an unwritien history, made
up Of minuter and more personal events
which do not appear in Legislative
journals and published speeches, and with
which Of conrse the public cannot be pre-.
sumed 90 De familiar, that g farther, II
possible, 10 devei T. he real character alii
10 present the actual man.
The writer who is familiar with both
the written and unWritten history of Mr..
Etheridge, offers to the reader this brief
sketch, without the colOring of personal
eulogium or partisan panegyrie.
He first entered public life as Clerk OF
the Tennessee House of Representatives in
lS43. The next session he represented
Weakley county in the lower house. Al
though Wing, he defeated his Democratic
opponent, where the usual majority was
several hundred
From that time until 1853 he was exten.
sively engaged in the practice of the law,
in which he won fair distinction and gen.
eral success, although competing with bar
among whom numbered some of the ablest
and most learned of that honorable
profession In 1853 he was elected with
out opposition TO the House of Representa-
tiyes in the United States Congress Twas
during that term that the celebrated Kan
sas- Nebraska bill was introduced and
passed.
Mr.. Etheridge was the chief Of the eight
Southern Representatives who recorded
their votes in opposition to that measure,
which the great mass of the Southern peo-
pie we're taught to regard as so Just and
beneficial, and upon which they looked
with so much favor.
In 1855 he was opposedby Mr.. Freeman,
a gentleman Of no ordinary talents and
requirements, who severely arraigned him
before the people of the district, but he
was triumphantly returned OF the eight
Southern Representatives who opposed this
measure, 50 immensely popular at that time
in the South, Mr. Etheridge was the only
zone re-eleeted-all the rest were either de-
ieated or voluntarily retired before the in
dignant frowns Of their Southern constitu-
encies.
But Mr.. Etheridge believed this bill TO
be PandOrs's box for the South and he
braved the fierce tide Of popular resent.
ment, and with a moral courage that knew
no fear-a matchleRs eloquence and with
ceaseless energy and untiring iDdustry-he
succeeded where all others failed. Very
many supported him for reelection who
differed with him, but they believed him TO
be controlled by the deepest convictions of
right, and gave him credit for sincerity and
honesty.
In 1851, the Congressional district had
been changed under the new apportion-
ment, and there was a Democratic majority
Of a few hundred. After an animated can
yass, he was defeated by Colonel j. ID. &.
Atkins obtaining a small majority.
In 1859, Mr.. Etheridge defeated his for
mer successful opponent in a contest uIeslr-
passed in Tennessee for warmth and
energy.
During all these campaigns, Mr.. Ether
idge did not retreat from his record but
boldly and eloquently defended il, and had
the proud satisfaction TO receive the rein
dorsement by the constituency of his course
as their Representative.
II was during the thirty-fourth Con-
gress that he offered resolution strongly
condemnatory of the revival of the Afri-
can slave trade, and which passed the
House of Representatives BY large ma
jority. For that he was greatly compli-
mented by the Republican party, Just then
organizing. That resolution was held up
by his opponents North and South, in Con-
gress and on the hastings, and by the press,
as conclusive proof of his opposition TO the
institution of slavery as an abstract propo-
sition.
Everywhere he answered his prO-slavery
assailants with defiance, fearlessly defend
ing the resolution, and denouncing the bar
barities Of the "middle passage" and the
immortality and criminal cupidity of the
Yankees, which prompted the original alb
duciion and enslavement Of the unfortunate
and oppressed African.
This position, taken in connection with
his opposition TO the Kansas. Nebraska bill,
in which he avowed himself in his can
vass as the determined enemy of the extern
sion of slavery TO any more territories,
rendered him great favorite with the anti
slavery party everywhere. Mr.. Etheridge
was the first freesoiler in Tennessee.
His whole course before the war tended
TO the restriction and extinction Of slavery.
He may be said TO lepve been the first
great breakwster which rose up in the
South to stay the surging tide of pro-slavery
extension. In that light he is the pioneer
anti-slavery man in the State, and that too
at a time when there was no one to help,
not even Brownlow, for he was then de-
nouncing Etheridee as a Black Republican,
and debating with Pryne, and writing
books to prove African slavery on the
American continent to be divine insti-
tuition" and perpetual one.
We have often heard Mr. Etheridge
assert on the stump that there were only
three hundred and fifty thousand people
out Of eight millions in the Southern States
who were personally interested in slavery,
and that their interests should not be
| allowed to stand in the way Of all other
| interests.
Times without number have we heard
him declare that he would surrender the
institution Of slaicru to sdue The Union.
The drifl and animus Of his speeches
and positions on the stump tended to
weaken the bonds of slavery.
This was at a time it must be borne in
mind when il required both moral and
physical courage in a high degree to as
sumo such positions and defend them, ss
he always did, unhinchingly. II was at a
time, too, when no one expected soon the
emancipation Of the race, and certainly did
not suppose that there was any room for
selfish expectations or aggTandizement.
Mr. Etheridge always combatted the
dogma of transplanting slayary by hot-bed
experiments, and for political purpose.
lie argued that slavery in Virginia
Kentucky. Missouri, Maryland and Ten
usssee, would notlong continue bat would
WELD 70 inevitable causes, and finally sink
in liberal and gradual emancipation. He
did not believe, with Brownlow, thatit wa
! 90 last f1rotr,
He ridiculed with mercileas severity the
/ idea of extension and oDIaHi-sti0R.
lie oantended that there was not enough
labor in any Of che Southern States, and
! that While slave labor was not profitable m
/ the border States a. free labor, il would he
o