Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-07-04

Shelbyville, Gallatin, and before
the faculty and students of the
Nashville University; and he
was called upon to repeat it in
the prominent cities of the United
States, for the benefit of the
Mount Vernon Association, but
circumstances compelled him to
decline. The Nashville "Jour.
nal of Medicine and Surgery
edited by part of the medical fac
ulty of the university, in the Jan
uary number, 1859, thus reviewed
the grafton: ellis theme was
Charity, and more eloquent COM
position or a more heart-stirring
address we never listened to. 1t
was the perfection of poetic i'm,
agery and masterly thought. We
have never listened to an orator
who could so well stir the hearts
blood of his hearers. We hear
him named the Everett Of Ten
nessee.' For our part, we say we
have heard the original Everett,
and never wish to hear him again;
but to Bright we could return
many times. He is a natural ora,
tor; each motion has its origin in
his own head and heart, and con-
sequently tells the better on the
hearts of those around him; it
strikes home" The Nashville
"PatriOt" of that time also noti-
ICED the grafton: "As glowing
imagination, polished and re-
strained by close thought and
sound judgment, and all ardent
and generous nature. In addi-
tion, his powers of elocution, aid
ed by a naturally strong and
pleasing voice, are of a very SUI
perior order, and his action was
easy, graceful, and impressive"
Others of his published speeches
were the following: an oration on
the Life. Character, and Public
Services of the Hon. Felix Grun,
dy," before the Historical Society
of Tennessee, at Nashville, May
3, 1859, published by the Histori-
cal Society, and highly commend
ed by the press at the time; al
speech on the estate Of the Coun-
try" at Fayetteville, Tennessee,
December 3, 1860, published at
the request Of the citizens, an a
BILE, eloquent, and timely effort,
giving tone and direction to the
public mind an address on Law,
Lawyers, and Law-Schools" be-
fore the Law School of Cumber-
land University, Lebanon, Ten
nessee, January 25, 1866. This
address met the highest expecta-
tions of the faculty, ana is said to
be the best ever delivered at the
university. He was elected to
deliver the anniversary Grafton |
before the Literary Societies
of Washington Lee College, Vir-
ginia, in 1867, but great pressure
of business forced him to decline.
Some Of the best political and
forensic Efforts of Mr.. Bright have
never been published.
In 1861, he was elected from his
county to proposed State Con-
vention; which, however,.wa de-
feated by the vote Of the State.
During the late war that followed |
he espoused the cause Of the South.
He was made Inspector General
of Tennessee, with the rank Of |
brigadier- general, under Governor
1sham G. Harris. AS such he
did his duty with energy and
fidelity. He followed the fortunes
of the war until its close, when he
returned home, submitting him
self, and counseling the people,
both privately and publicly, to
submit to the authority of the
government, and to apply all their
energy and industry to the resto-
ration of their wasted country.
AS soon as the courts of the
country were reorganized, he re-
sumed the practice of law with
unremitting industry and great
labor, having to surmount Difficult
ties rarely to be met with in the
career of any man.
Mr.. Bright at first declined to
become candidate for the Forty
second Congress; but the people,
apprehending some danger from
the number of Democratic candi-
dates, called a convention and
nominated him, against his pre-
vious refusal to run. He did not
feel at liberty to withstand the
expressed wishes of his friends,
and was elected by about ten
thousand majority over his Re-
publican competitor. He took his
seat in the House of Representa-
tives March 4, 1871. His first
speech in the House was against