Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-29
GOV. WIN. BOWEN CAMPBELL.
A Tribute 60 His Memory BY "a Friend.
pnr fha rninn and nisnalch


distress over the community where he is
known. But it is inexpressibly so in the
death Of the distinguished citizen, whose
name heads this article. On Sunday eve
ping, the 18th inst, he retired to rest in
bis usual health, at his own home, sur
rounded by his motherless children end
the other members Of his household, and
on Monday morning, the 18th, about
O'clock, be died from q sudden attack of
disease Of the heart. No language can ex-
press the deep distress and sorrow that this
unexpected and terrible afiiction has
visited upon his family and kindred And
in suehlan hour words of coincidence and
tears ofsympathy fall far short Of soothing
the heart bowed down and broken by the
loss of q son, who was the idol and pride
Of an aged and devoted mother, kind and
manly brother, and a provident, tender and
sfectionate father. If tears of sympathy
could relieve these kindred hearts OF their
deep grief, and restore to them and the
country their irreparabIe loss, thousands
Of friends throughout the State would Join
me in weeping with those that weep"
over the grave Of the much lamented Will
liam B. Campbell.
When our little children, or our wives,
or those Of eur kindred whose only sphere
Of life has been peculiarly our own, are
taken from Ms, il is a sweet privilege
peculiarly belonging 10 the surviving mem
bers Of the family to gather mp and cherish
every memento 10 them that they in their
limited circle have left behind. But it is
not 40 when prominent and distinguished
citizen passes away. His example and
70 tuaIT fn and "a
the common property Of us all, and make
up portion Of the history Of the times.
and his death is common calamity. 1t
is, therefore, alike due 10 his own memory
and the public, that some mention should
be made Of the character and services of
Gov. Campbell. --ts bees t.-a
He was a native Of Tennessee, and had
much TO do with the public affairs of the
country. His first appearance in public
life was in the capacity Of Attorney Cen
eral, for one of the judicial circuits Of this
State, in the year 1888. In 1885, lac was
elected member of the Legislature ofthis
State. In 1886, be resigned his seat and
headed a company Captain in the Florida
war, where he distinguished himself for his
kindness to his companions and his gal
lantFy. la 1887 he was elected TO the Con-
gress Of the United States, and again re-
elected in 1889 and l84l, the last term
without opposition. At the close of his
term in Congress, in l843, he retired from
politics and resumed the practice of the
legal profession at Carthage. la l845 he
was elected Major General of the middle
division of the Tennessee militia. In 1876
he was elected Colonel of the first regiment
Of Tennessee volunteers, in the war with
Mexico. In this position he acquired great
character, and thrilled the nation with his
chiyalrous and gallant bearing at Monterey.
Upon his return from the army in l847, he
was complimented with the unanimous
vote of the Legislature, for Judge of the
fourth judicial circuit Of the State,
which position he filled with credit
to himself as an honest and upright
Judge until 1851, when bis friends through
out'the State called upon him to become a
candidate for GoreTnor Having volun~
tsrily retired from Lviitical life in 1S43, he
had no desire to again resume it, and was
only prevailed upon to do so at the earnest
and united solicitation of his political
friends throughout the State, who looked
TO him as the only man Of their party who
could make a successful canvass. He ac-
cepted their nomination and was elected.
| At the end of his term he again retired,
with fixed determination to never again
mingle in the political conflicts Of the day,
which determination he adhered to until
the unseen and unexpected events Of 1861
again forced him from his retirement to a
participation in public affairs. He took
ground for the Union, and used his infu-
ence to maintain the government and to
suppress a rebellion that he believed and
publicly declared TO be causeless, and would
result in the ruin Of those leading men
who were getting it up. In 1863 he was
prevailed upon by his Union friends in
| Tennessee to take position in the Federal
army, and with the distinct understanding
that he should not be assigned TO active
duty in the field, and with the hope that
he might be able to do good and useful ser
vice 10 his native State and her, as he be-
lieved, erring people, he accepted the ap
| pointment of Brigadier General in the
Federal army from Mr. Lincoln. He
held this position until the emancipation
/ proclamation was issued. He was for
the Union as Il Was, and believing thai
the Presidents proclamation was a revolu
tionary measure and not a military neces.
sity, aud that the object was not alone tC
mdintdin the government but TO reuOlHtiOR}zt
it, he at once returned his commission and
gave Mr.. Lincoln's administration no fur
ther support. Upon the reorganization o.
the State government in 1865, which he
helped 10 establish and maintain, not be
cause It was in all respects in harmony with
his views, bat because he believed it was the
best that could be done, and hoped that i
would restore law and order to the State
he was again elected TO the Congress of thu
United States, which was his last publ,
service
1t will be seen from this brief sketch tha
he has 6lled more high places of homo
and responsibility than any other publ
man whose name has ever adorned tn
annals Of the State That he always dis
charged his duties with fidelity and abiit
is sbundantly shown from the fact that h
was never defeated when a candidate, an
the of repeated and long continued mani
festations of public confidence and trus
that was repOsed in him.
He was not man Of brilliant talent;
neither was he gifted with the powerful
charms of oratory, but in justice to trut
aud his own fame, / will say that he di
possess talent OF a far higher order tina
the general public ever gave him credit fol
He had a strong and well cultivated prac
tical mind, and a clear and almost unerrin
Judgment. He seldom il ever made a mi.
take and / hazard nothing in saying tha
if the line Of policy he generally advocate
throughout his long and eyentiul publ
career had been adopted and maintained
thatthis country wouldhsve attained heigt
kiory and msgnihcenee unpsrslleie
in the history of nations. We would hav
steered clear of many of the brakers upo
which we have drifted, no blood woul
have been shed, and the country woul
now be in the full enjoyment OF conten
ment, prosperity and happiness. But IT
not my purpose 10 write a eulogy upon hii
but simply 10 present TO the people th
facts Of his history. His own name is hi
brightest eulogy
He vas a man Of determined will an
untiring energy. de had a sanguine an
nervous temperament that sometimes mad
him irritable, but it was like the fash
powder and gone in a moment He hs
no mslace or i'll will towards his fello
men. he was warm, genial and eminent
social ia his nature, talking and associ;
ting with all men, and all classes eoul
! ,-A sSN -r,f,roach ard fsfl- ,r.th H.. -.