Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-03
.ooo.ooo.Ie
TRIBUTE OF RESPECT.
Meeting Of the Nashville Bar-Ex-
Presstons of Regret for the Death
of Abbott L.. Robertson, ESQ.

ID. Steger, Esq, requested to act as Score
tary. 10 taking the chair, Judge Shsckle-
ford briefly explained the objects of the
! meeting. r. Il. McEwep, Esq, spoke Of
the personal worth and intellectual ability
of the late A. L. Robertson, ESQ.,, who YVES
highly respected as a member Of the Nash
vile bar. In closing his remarks, Mr.. Me-
Even moved the appointment of the fol-
lowing named gentlemen as committee
| to prepare resolutions expressive of the
| sentiments of the bar upon this melan-
eholy occasion: Frank Reid, John @.
Burch, T.. Il. Malone, Henry s. Foote,
| and Frank Moore. During the retirement
of the committee, S. w. Ohildress, Esq,
addressed the meeting, saying that he had
intimately known the deceased, and held
him in high esteem because of his indus
tSious habits and sterling integrity of char
acter. Col. McClanahan spoke in impress-
i've and eloquent terms of Abbott L Rob-
ertson, whom he had intimately known
since 1861, and ss soldier, citizen and law
| yer, the deceased was in every respect
worthy the high esteem and high regard in
which he was held by all with whom be
was associated Gen. Stubblefield made
| appropriate reference to the moral charac-
ter and incorruptible integrity Of the de-
ceased, saying that in this respect NJ.
Robertson was worthy to be pointed out ss
an exemplar to the younger members of
the profession. He was gratiRed to learn
that shortly before death, he made hope
full profession of religion. As Gen Stub
bleield closed his remarks, the committee
on resolutions returned, and their report
as follows, was read by Frank Reid, ESQ. :
Abbott L. Robertson, a member of the
bar Of this city, died at quarter to seven
| this morning.
Ii may fairly be coDjectured that had life
been spared him, ultimately he would have
attained high reputation for legal learn
ing and acumen. For he was indefatig-
able in the prosecution of his legal studies,
and possessed clear, logical mind, i'm
proved by considerable literary research
and thought. His mind was of that order
that not only would have taken delight 10
tracing the minutest threads as it were, of
the law, but also in seeing and appreciat-
ing the beauty of the entire network.
His mind was not only metaphysical, but
logical, and even iutuitive. He had many
admirable qualities. Outwardly he was
somewhat cold and reserved in his deporG-
ment, and was not apt to be carried away
by gusts of passion, or the excitement Of
the hour. At all times he was calm and
self-possessed His will had complete
mastery over his feelings, and it was in
nowise possible for him ever, in sny event
to have become the creature of cir, um-
stance or vscillation.
swell for him whose will is strongi
He suffers, but he Will not saffer long;
| He suffers, but he cannot suffer wrong:
| For bin nor moves the lower worlds random mock
| Nor all calamitys hugtst words confound.
| But Ill for MIN who, bettering not with time,
Corrupts the strength OF heaven. descended viii,
| And ever weaker grows thro' acted crime,
Or seeming genial venial fault,
| Recurring and suggesting still
He seems as one whose footsteps halt,
Toiling in Unreasonable sand"
Alb. Robertson was ambitious, no doubt,
but his ambition was not Of that petty
kind that finds its highest reward in the
noisy plaudits If the crowd Heaven 8
stars shine brighter than Vsuxhalls pyro-
technic displays He did not talk much. He
did not allow himself to be pulled up with
eItrevsgant hopes and snticipations, and
therefore was never cast down into des-
pondency. He acted as if he had measured
his strength, and felt that either to over OF
underwent it was both foolish and wrong.
He was quiet worker, a close student,
and a genuine, unaffected gentleman. He
was brave, and patient, and persistent in
quiet work; he was sincere, genuine man,
With 10 hypocrisy or sham in him. Suoh
as God had made him, he tried to appear
before all men. The outward details of 6
mans life ale as nothing when compared
with the true inward secrets of it. Thai
this brother man had his faults and follies
his temptations AID disappointments, biz
aspirations, and hopes and fears, we may
be sure. But of one thing also we may b:
equally as sure, that amid them all he re
NAMED himself, genuine. honest, without
deceit or affectation. May his faults liz
gently on him.
Resolved, That in his death the bar O
this city hes sustained the loss of quiet
thoughtful student, an energetic, risips
yeurg lawyer, and an honest, kind hearted
gentleman.
Resolved, That we attend his funeral IL
body.
Resolved, That copy of these resolu
tons and proceedings be sent to the mem
bers of his family and published in the cit!
papers.
Ia moving the adoption of the above a
the sense of the meeting, which was done
VIM. q. Brien, Esq, said that it had beer
his good fortune to know intimately tn,
Il b'
kindly cherished by the members OF tn,
legal profe ssion. Mr.. Brien said that thi
large attendance of his professional breth
rem was an expressive and fitting testlmo
NAL to the worth and promise of the de
ceased.
Col. John @. Burch next addressed tbs
meeting. He had known Mr.. Robertson
intimately since the year 1861, at which
/ ar ID If Al. n
| Nashville and went to Union City, in Yves
Tennessee, to act as drll master for Con
federate troops, under the command o
Gen. Cheatham, at that that place. YOUNG
Robertson subsequently became membe
of Gen. Cheatham's staff, and as such al
ways did efficient and satisfactory service
To him, while thus laboring aud fighting
in support and defense of cause to which
, he was earnestly attached, there was NJ
work he was not willing to do-no peril b.
was not brave enough to risk. An ACTIVE
part cipant in all the great battles tough
in the Western department, ht
had shown degree of patriotic devotion
to the cause of the South fully as remark
, able as had been the zeal and industr,
with which he had, since the close of tn
war, applied himself to the study and prsc
tlce OF DIS pIOltSSiOu. AltoI Luo CIObo Y
/ the war, he became student at the Lsba
non Law School, and after completing hi
3 studies there, located in this, his nativ
city, in the practice of his profession. Hi
high literary attachments had made him
man of generous sentiments and compre
/ hensive views. Brave, ambitious and de
Q termined, brilliant future was opened t
r Abbott L. Rober, son, which would hay
2 been fully realized couid his health an
: life have been prolonged.
On motion of X. II. McEwen, Esq, til
following named gentlemen were az
pointed to act as pall-bearers: s. w. Chi
# dress, George j. Stubbledeld, John {
Q Burch, Robert Winstead, Ell. Doaglss
d Frank Reid, II. O. Maury, +. Porterfel
4 and w. Fl. billiard Phe following name
t members of the bar were appointed to sui
NIT the resolutions adapted to the ditferer
courts: To the Circuit CoHrt, Frank ReiG
TO the Law Court, A G Merritt; to tn
: Criminal Court, George j. Stubblsheld; {
l T.