Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-27
dniun aud 9ispatfh.
SUNDAY, JANUARY "a, 1897.
Largest ClrcnIatlOn in City and State.
TIE LATR HON. GAVE JOHNSON.
A sketch ef His Life, and Tribute 20
rEis Character RHd Memory by she

At meeting Of the Clarksville Bar on
the 7th inst, to do honor to the memory Of
the late Hon. Cave johnson, the committee
reported the following oniliRe biography
Of the distinguished deceased
Our distinguished and venerated friend
/ and brother Cave johnson died in Clarl,B-
| vile, Tenn, on the 28d Of November, 1866.
Born in Robertson county, Tennessee, in
/ January, 17sS-While a youth removing to
! Montgomery county, and continuing his
residence until his decease. Selecting the
/ law as his profession, be commenced the
| practice Of il at ClarksviiIe, and By his
talents, industry and assidHity, he acquired
a large and lucrative practice and cOnsid-
/ erable influence az a lawyer. Attaining
| the position Of Attorney General, he ac-
| quilted himself in the performance Of its
duties with high credit and IN lnieP years
be occupied the position Judge Of this Cir
cult, and discharged Responsibilities with
signal assiduiiy and success. After acquiF-
ing a competency and becoming thoroughly
known to our citizeas, he became, at their
instance, a candidate for Representative in
| Congress, and was elected TO that position,
| which, by sIiccessiYe elections, he held for
seventeen years, with but . sin gle excep-
tion; and on the Aoor OF Congress, com
posed Of the highest talent our country has
produced attained a high character for
vigilance, integrity and ability, and BY his
continued and close scrutiny, into public
expenses, acquired the distinctive appella
tion Of Watchman OF the Treasury. In
l845, President Polk who had served with
him in Congress many years and was his
intimate friend appointed him Postmaster
General, which office he held during the
term ofthe President, and by his system,
diligence and energy managed its COM
plicated affairs with marked success, re-
ducing what had been chaos TO order, and
prOhigate waste 10 iudiciOus expenditure.
To the many and great questions coming
before the Cabinet he gave his earnest at
tention, and portion Of the great success
which attended Mr.. Polk's administration,
may be attributed 10 the clear intellect ex-
tensiye knowledge and craftsmanship Of
the deceased
At the close Of that administration he
voluntarily retired 10 private life; but a
vacancy among the Circuit Judges occurr-
ing he was, by the Governor of Tennessee,
appointed Judge OF this circuit, and on the
bench, by his iirmness, impartiality, quick
ness Of Apprehension and clearness Of per-
ception, together with his strict discipline
and dispatch Of business, he acquired a
high character for probity and ability.
Declining 10 canvass for election to that
position, for a short time he was again in
private liie bat soon he was appointed
President Of the Bank Of Tennessee, which |
position he held for six years, and dis
played the same high abilities ard integri-
" as elsewhere; he conducted said Bank
through several financial crises with much
credit and success.
Invited by his old friend Presiden.
Buchanan, in 1857 TO a seat in his Cabinet
-anofer based on known and acknowledged
merit-he declined the position on the
ground of inirmity.
The Paraguay claims for damages were
iutrusted to him az Commissioner, and his
clear intellect and inHeTible Justice were
conspicuous ia the settlement made, and
those who have heard him tell Of the in
trigues brought TO hesr en- him while ad-
juating these claims. remember how be
glowed with Indignation and fervor as lac
exposed astute and deep laid schemes for
base purposes. Again retiring TO private
life, he remained at rest until the election
in 1861 for a Constitutional Convention.
when he was nominated as q delegate and
elected without opposition-but the Con-
vention being voted down he did not take
his seat Again, ia March, 1866 the posi-
ton Of Senator, in his district, in the State
Legislature becoming vacant, he was elect
ed az by one voice, and on the floor Of the
Senate, made his expiring public effort in
behalf of the rights Of the people, but was
s,l 4. =. h.. - M
turned among us no more to rRingle in po-
litical strife
The remainder of his days he spent
among us in attending to his private af-
fairs, and enjoying the society Of his
friends.
Mr.. johnson possessed a very high order
Of talent, better fitted for use than display
and became master Of every subject he con-
sidered and was peer in any company with
the highest. He accomplished distinguished
success in everything he undertook, and
TO his eternal fame, it can be said, that no
charge OF corruption, or suspicion of a
bribe or unworthy motive in a public
career Of near forty yars, was ever alleged
against him, and when he retired from
public life, it was 90 regain has strength
spent in public service, and to retrieve his
private affairs from decay and loss. accruing
while untold thousands of public money
was passing through his handg
In social life, Mr. Johnson was genial,
bland dignifed and courteous. Having
been intimate fer forty years, with the dis
| iinguished men and events OF the country,
his memory was stored with anecdotes and
recolleCtions, pleasing and instructive and
| he detailed these with great urbanity and
10 the delight of his auditors. To young
usan, ne was invaluable in his Instructions
aud advice and in generously extending
| 90 them the aid Of has purse He was kind
10 the poor, aud charitable to all, and when
mistaken, it was of the head and not Of
| the heart.
Mr. johnson, endorsed by the President.
has Ieft memey Of exalted intelligence,
pure patriotism, incorruptible interiiy, as
| siduity, accuracy, generosity and uyhsnity
aud all the attributes constituting gentle.
man and q statesman.
"A combination and form. indeed
| Where every God did seem 90 set has seal
| 10 give The world assurance OF a man.
Truly. our loss Is great that Of his iami-
| ~ greater-but that of his country great
| est As for her in the tented field, he Of
/ iered his young life, and devoted all bis
! DAYS 10 her service with unsurpassed sbili-
| " and success
an the war Of 1912 he served as a yoluu-
teer, under Gen. Jackson in the army, with
courage and patriotism.