Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-20
DEATM OF EX-GOV. WILLIAM H.
CAMPBELL.

Of disease of the heart. Onlya few of his
intimate friends were advised of his true
condition, and the sad event was,wholly I'M
expected by most of us.
His death is a calamity, not only TO his
family and personal friends, butto the whole
country. No man in public life was more
devoted than he was in his efforts to restore
the ancient order in the government; and
his heart was trained to grief as he wit
messed the decadence of so many of the
great constitutional principles he labored
so long to maintain. write hastily to in
form you of our misfortune, and cannot
enter into biographical details.
w. II. w.
From. another source we learn that
Gov. Campbell retired night before last
in usual good health, and that be died
from dropsy Of the heart Thus hasgone
hence one Of TENNESSEE ablest and most
cherished sons-one whom she has trust
ed and honored, and who in turn has
conferred lustre upon her name.
:, Gov Campbell was a native Of Ten
nessee, and was between ffty~fve and
sixty years Of age He was bred a law
yer; but socn after coming to the bar he
was elected to the Legislature of the
State in the year 1885 Before his term
expired, ne volunteered in the Florida
war He sprang from 8 patriotic and
martial ancestry, his grand father being
an officer h Gen Greenes army In the
Revolution and his father commanding
a regiment at Kings Mountain. In the
Florida campaign Gov Campbell was a
Captain in the line, and participated in
the battle of the Withlacoochee, and the
two battles of Wahoo Swamp On his
return home he was elected to Congress
in 1887, and served out the term to the
satisfaction of his constituents, who re-
turned him again in 1889, and still
again in 1S4l In one or more of these
elections, the strongest opposition was
arrayed against him that could be found
in the district, and he was considered in
vincible
In 1916 he promptly volunteered in
the war with Mexico, and was chosen by
the First Tennessee regiment as its Col
onel His gallant conduct at the head of
that unsurpassed body of troops, won
for it the soubriquet Of "Tbe Bloody
First He fought, during his services
in the Mexican war, in the battles of
Monterey, Vera Cruz, the Madeline
Bridge and CerrO Gordo.
On his return from Mexico, he was
unanimously elected Judge of the Circuit
Court, in the Carthage district, by the
Legislature, which position he filled with
marked ability until 1851, when he was
nominated as the Wing candidate for
Governor, by reclamation, and elected
over Gov Trousdale, the most popular
and influential man of his party at the
time In the closing sentence Of his ac-
ceptance of the nomination he gave the
key to his political faith, saying Il
accept with pledge to my friends of a
heart devoted to the Usion of these Uni
ted States, and to the honor and prosperi-
ty of my native State On the occasion
of his nomination, Hon. NJ P. Gentry,
who had served in the Legislature with
him. as well as, in Congress for many years,
said of him Although Tennessee is
rich in noble sons-though like the mother
Of the Grachie, she can proudly point
to her children, and say with truth, these
are my jewels; yet in my opinion, she
has not within her broad limits a nobler
sou than VIM. b Campbell In integrity
and honor, in fidelity and truth, in cour-
age and patriotism, in all that constitutes
a high, noble and manly character he has
no superior.
At the close Of his gubernatorial term
he voluntarily retired from official station,
and though retaining lively interest in
politics, and to degree continued an
active politician, devoted his time to his
family and private affairs, which was
made the more necessary by the loss of |
his wife.
During tbs late war he held an un
equivocal Union position, but never en-
tered actively into the war Throughout
its duration he looked with anxiety to i
its possible weakening of the popular re-
speet for the principles and restraints of
the constitution. He regarded every in
vasion Of the constitution, under whats
ever pretext, as fearfully dangerous to
public liberty. Sincerely deprecating
the necessity for the continued effusion |
Of blood, in 1864 he concurred with those
who proposed to resort to negotiation for
a termination of the war-and though |
his name was not brought forward, it was
freely canyassed as proper one for the
Vice Presidential ticket with Gen. Me-
Clellan. When the war was over, ear
nestly desiring the speedy restoration |
Of the ancient fraternity, he heartily |
the policy of the President,
and was in 1865 elected to Congress
by the friends of the Administration in
this district His service was brief, not
being admitted to his seat until near the
close of his term; and though importuned
by his friends, he declined to stand for
reelection he also refused to permit
his name to be used for the position Of |
Governor, being resolved to forego all
public station
Governor Campbell was only ambitious
for the good Of his country and people,
He was modest to absolute difidence, and
constantly distrusted his capacity, yet he
always succeeded in winning distinction
in every post to which he was called
He ,,,,ro ~, srEacrsAo ~ m 800,