Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-08


he know of an ungenerous o. dishonOrabis,
act In John Hu Smith. He may have hal
ms faults, but they were few. He had been
nonored with various Offices of honor and
trust. As member of the Ilegislsture
Mayor OF the city, Judge Of tbs court, h
was faithful to ali has trusts, upright and
| impartial IN the discharge of every duty.
| High -sOulsd and generous to a fault eie-
waited and true in ali the relations Of hfe,
ne was one of Gods nohlemen
Mr. Z II McEwen, Jr., who was with
him shortly before his death, paid a FEELING
tribute to the memory OF the deceased
| A MeCampbeIl alluded briefly to toe
deceaaed and the loss sustained in. his
| death.
! Col Baxter Smith said that he hsd
known the deceased for many Years IN re
iahonships OF the friendliest character. BE
never knew man more warm and devoted
to his friends than he. He had been sud
denly struck down in the midst of his use
tnlness; showing that in life we were in
| death.
Judge Parker alluded in appropriate
terms to the many virtues of the lamented
| dead. t-.--.
John L. SpurlOck stated that his person
al acquaintance with the deceased had not
| others present, yet be had long known
| him by reputation He knew his many
noble qualities. He had never asked him
favor but what was granted. He was i'm
partial as judge, and true In all the rela-
tons of life. he saw the deceased yester
day morning. No thought Of death OBJ
truded during the interview. He was
aware of the asthmatic affection under
which he was laboring. but thought
it only aggravated Iy cold.
But a short time had elapsed after he
had left before he learned that he was
| dead. Tbs congestion had taken place,
and he was numberedwith the dead. Here
was lesson for us. But a few days since
he was well and presiding over this court,
and expected to have been side by side
| with US in tie discharge of official duties
to day Now, alas. he was no more among
the living -
Mr.. Wede, although a new mem
Der of the lar Of Nashville, craved
the privilege of paying fit tribute to his
friend and professional brother.
Through their chairman, Gov. Brown,
the committee presented the following re-
port:
The members of the Nashville bar have
heard with the deepest regret Of the death
Of Judge Jno. Hugh Smith, which occurred
on this day at his residence. in this city,
after a very brief Illness. To all who have
known the deceased intimately, this event
will inspire melancholy reflections.
Judge Smith was man Of strong and
vigorous intellect, and Of fine attainments
He was also man Of unhinching integrity
and of great frmness of purpose. But 1t
was his goodness Of heart that rendered
u II. IL r. "a
ment among his friends and acquaintance.
| He was particularly kind 70 the poor, and
| never turned his back upon distress.
The positions which be held in this com
| munity furnish in6isputable evidence of
his high worth. He became a member eff
| the Nashville bar in 1885, In the years
| 1916 81 and 1852, he was Mayor OF the
| city, and in 1858 he was elected as one Of
| the Representatives to the Legislature
from the county of Davidson, and served
with credit. In the years 1924 and >,
he was again Mayor of the city. He was
appointed Judge of the Criminal Court Of
Davidson county in 1867, and regularly
elected in January, 1868, and held that pO-
sition at the time of his death. In all these
stations he acquitted himself with credit
and to the satisfaction Of the public.
Resolved, Therefore, that we deeply le-
greet the death of Judge Smith, and that in
his death We, as well as the public, have
sustained great loss.
Resolved, That we will attend his funer
al in body.
Resolved, That We tender our sincere
| sympathies to the relatives of the deceased
Resolved, That these proceedings be
published in the city papers.
| Gov. Brown paid a heartfelt and sincere
j tribute to his legal and deceased friend.
| Though his senior in years their acquaint-
| ance and friendship was close, warm and
| intimate. Mr.. Smith was a man Of en-
larged charity and hberality; it made 70
difference with him as to the political com
plexion of his friends, he was true alike
to all No one who needed aid and sym
pathy ever applied in vain to Judge John
Hugh Smith This sudden bereavement
| should be e warning and an admoniGOn TO
us all, who were jOurneying toward the
same port to which our fread has been
| called. When our times come, as come
| they must, he would prefer 10 have the
| same record and eulogy, than to be called
great in the political arena and wealthy and
| famed in the worlds plaudits without these
attributes
T. w. Haley joined in the general re-
marks of eulogy passed upon the deceased,
and cited many personal examples Illus
trating his character. He joined in the
| general sympathy and with unaffected sad
ness mOurned the death of Mr.. Smith
Maj. William Clare also eloquently al
luded to the virtues and many excellent
| qualities Of the deceased, and joined IN the
| general regrets. But day or two since he
| was apparently IN the most vigorous health.
When he heard of his sudden death be was
| overwhelmed He involuntairly looked
upward to see if he could penetrate tie
insclItible ways of Providence. He could
testify to the correctness Of Judge Guilds
| remarks, that no innocent man ever had
been or could be convicted in John Hu
Smiths court, nor could any be arraigned
without fair and impartial triaL.
Gen. w. B. Bate said that he was here
among others to shed tear of regret over
the death of our friend. He knew him
well, and had known him for fifteen years.
He was a warm and generous man.
His charity was full and open handed He
never turned the back of his hand to the
widow in her needs. These was not poor
woman or barefooted boy or girl IN the
city but who would weep ct his death. He
was the most forgiving mon he ever knew
He had his faults, as every man had, but
that the Nashville bar had met here as
mouners over his bier. Peace be to his
ashes, and may his bright records ever be
cherished in our hearts.
Abram L Demoss spoke briefly, and a.
luded in BETTING terms to the memory OF
the departed. He was as good and true
man as ever lived. We may have had
more learned men and brighter profession
al lights among Us, but we had never had
member of the bar of more native ability
than Mr.. Smith. Several instances were
cited in illustration of this. He closed by
moving the appointment of committee TO
present copies of the report of the commit
tee TO the several courts II II Harrison,
Il Tuthill, Thomas Malone and Abram
Demoss were appointed on the Committee.
The meeting then adjourned to meet at
o'clock this afternoon to attend in a body
the funeral of the deceased
LOCAL NEWS IN BRIEF.
The colored citizens of Nashville last
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