The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-11-25
IN MEMORIAM.
DEATH OF HON. OSCAR ]. DUNN
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
OF LOUISIANA.

Adeath of Louisiana's black Lieutenant
Governor, Hon. OSCAR j. DUNN, who
{breathed his last a few minutes before
six o'clock Wednesday morning, at
Rhis residence in New Orleans, after a
brief illness from congestion of the
brain,
The news of this death will spread
h gloom of sorrow over the hearts OF
thousands of people, both within and
beyond the borders of this State, fol-
1.-THE eminent. deceased was widely
known and as universally respected
5having been pre-eminently endowed
with those qualities of head and heart
(which enable us to win the esteem and
affection of our fellow beings.
OSCAR J. DUNN was born in New
Orleans, we believe, in the year 1926,
and was consequently 46 years of age
at the time of his death. He was born
under the ban of slavery, remaining
hin bondage until freed by President
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation,
and followed-or was rather forced to
follow trade of a plasterer up to
THE time of his liberation. After that
event he opened an intelligence office
bin New Orleans, but soon abandoned
! the business as unremunerative. We
are but partially informed of his sub
sequent career up to the time of his
appearance in the political arena. He
twas naturally very apt and intelligent,
displaying a remarkable faculty for
+ the acquisition of knowledge, hence
from the time of his Identification with
the Republican party he rapidly rose
i'm distinction, filing with honor and
efficiency several minor positions of
public trust, until at last he reached
! the second Office of the State govern
sbnent.
Of the manner in which he full
filled the duties of this exalted posi-
, tion there is little need for us to speak,
as it is almost universally known that
Ihis official uprightness and efficiency
!.
have never been excelled by prede-
cessor, and furnish an example worthy
of imitation by those who may here
after be selected to the Office of Lieu
tenant Governor.
As presiding officer of the State
Senate, his department impaired new
dignity to the position, and his impair
.tial rulings won for him the respect
,of every member of that august body,
irrespective of party preferences.
Physically, OSCAR J.DUNN was per-
shaps the finest specimen of his race in
Louisiana. He was tall, heavily built
|and finely proportioned. A full blooded
negro, his skin was black and his hair
I very short and curly. His department
was ever lofty and dignifed, yet pos
'sessing naught of pompous vanity,
.but scrupulously polite and pleasing
BIN the extreme. In private life he was
the centre of q large circle of admiring
and affectionate friends, being of q
social, warm-hearted disposition, and
generous and confding to fault. He
was man who exercised complete
control over his passions, and was
never known to lose his self possession
even under the most aggravating cir
'crmstances.
He was, in the fullest sense of the
term, a self made man, rising by his
individual exertions, aided by super
ior natural talent and ability, from the
forced ignorance of slavery, to AN ex-
allied position among the most cultiva-
ted and able men of the State. His
record Will furnish everlasting evil
zdence OF what energy, dignity, and
moral uprightness may do for man,
.nO matter how low he commences in
the scale of life and his memory will
Five for years in the hearts of his Peg
aple as one whose life was credit to
himself and to them.
But why proceed? 'Twould require
IAN ADLER pen than ours to pay just
tribute to the memory of the noble
man who but few days since rejoiced
in bodily health and strength, in the
love and admiration of friends, and
! in the universal respect of the whole
people of the State, but now hes stark
and cold, sleeping the long, last sleep
Sof death. But let us hope that his
Hast words, sc Come. ,kasus: .Tesus