Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-05
THE LATE GOV. TROUsDALE.
Speech OF Judge Guild at the Bar
Meeting in GalIatin.

Speech OF Judge Guild at the Bar
Meeting in GaIIatin.
Judge 10. c. Guild presided at the meet
ing of the bar and citizens of Sumner
county, to pay tribute of respect to the
memory of their late fellow-citizen, Gov.
VIM. Trousdale, and spoke as follows:
! That the death of such man made a
most profound sensation of grief upon the
entire community. The deceased was his
| senior in years, but, his association and in
| timacy with him had existed for nearly
! sixty years-it commenced when the speak
! er was a boy, in the years 1S15-1Sl6
and he then manifested those manly traits
Of character which he so brilliantly display
ed through a long life of eighty years.
| While but hoy, the deceased had followed
and upheld the flag of our country under
The great chieftain, Jackson, throughout the
| Greek War, revenging the terrible massacre
of Fort Minis; making hurried marches
from Alabama to New Orleans to meet the
enemy; was pTe-eminent in repelling the
attack of the British Oh the night of the 23d
December, and covered himself with
glory in the final onslaught of Jan. s,
1915. Peace being re-establshed, Lieut..
Trousdale returned under our beloved
preceptOr, John Hall. At this time
L first became acquainted with him.
Out of this acquaintance sprung a
warm friendship, and from that day to this
l have loved him and respected him. Gen.
Trousdale was no less distinguished as a
civilian than as a soldier-having filed with
marked ability seversl important positions
Of honor and trust. He served through the
Seminole war; was then the commander of
a regiment in the Florida war of 1886, to
which belonged; was commissioned Colo
mel in the regular service, went to Mexico
in 1917, where he displayed signal cour-
age at the head of his brigade
in the great battles of MOlinO del Rey-
COntreTas-Chepultepe and in stOrming
the heights of Chepultepec he was twice
wounded, and though bleeding and exhaust
ed from loss of blood, he refused to be car
ried from that ensanguined field, and carried
those heights with bis brave comrades. !
His chiyalry and daring conduct was no
ticed and highly cOmplimented in
the report of Gen. Scott, the Gem
manderin-cmef. After peace was made
with Mexico he returned again to his
native State; having previously represented !
his Senatorial district in the Legislature
with ability, he was in 1919, elected Gov
ernOT Of this proud commonwealth; and
his administration was marked with diScre-
ton and ability. From long exposure in |
the tented field, he was, more or less, af- |
fected by rheumatism. In 1858, he !
was appointed Minister TO Brazil, in |
which capacity he served the country
for four years; he was induced to |
accept that position by the hope that |
a Southern climate would prove bene- |
fetal and relieve him from this disease, then |
in its incipienCy; he did recover partially, |
but on his return home, he took Europe in /
his route, and was, it is thought, by this, |
subjected again to the tolls of this dreaded |
disease, aud returned to his home an in- |
Valid-ShOrtly became confined to his room |
then to his cOuch-and now, our hearts |
are stricken with grief by the announce
ment Of his death.
Gen. VIM. Trousdale was a worthy de-
scendant of Capt. James TrouSdale, who
fought calamity in the revolutionary war;
he met TarltOn and his troop, and in
bloody reuCOuuter with them, he received
two dangerous wounds; recovering from
these wounds, he was again found at the
head Of his company, fighting to the close
Of The war.
grave two honorable wounds, received
while in defence Of his country. We were
friends and associates at this bar for more
than thirty yeaTs-and no one living as
had better opportunity of studying and
knowing the character Of the deceased. |
have this morning, with eyes bedimmed
with tears, looked upon his noble
form sleeping in death, and l here
declare, that, there were developed in
him more high traits and more of
the genuine virtues that adorn human
character, than any man now living; while,
in his intercourse with the world, he was
kind and gentle-cOnsideTate of rights and
feelings of others-never aggressiye-but,
always exhibiting manly firmness and
candor, love of fairness and a scrupulous
honesty; yet, in matter involving
his feelings, rights, or honor, he was
as terrific as lion in the path. His
native courage, on all occasions,
would stand forth and control his action.
He never saw the dav that he would not
have sooner surrendered his life than to
have forfeited his honor. He was one of
the most remarkable men l ever knew.
He had less of the counterfeit, and more of
The virtues which ennOble man, than almost
anyone l ever knew
'His life was gentle and the clements
So mixed in him that nature might stand up,
And say to all the world,
This was a MANI"
The great poet, Shakespeare, describes
him exactly in these lines:
His nature is too noble for the world,
He would not hatter Neptune for his trident,
)r JOve, for his power to thunder: :
lis heart, his mouth
What his breast FORCES, that his tongue must i
utter;
And being angry, does forget that ever
lie heard the name of DEATH"
1t is highly appropriate and proper that
his assembly should take suitable action
ouching the death ofOur distinguished dead.