Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-17
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III naOclOH' 0u'4se JOHN ~ Gaut, Esq,
was called to the chair and r. L. Caruth-
ers, IT., Esq, requested tc, act as Secretary.
Judge A. l.. Demoss moved that a com
mittee OF three, consisting of Col. John G..
Burch, ex-GoE. Foote, ard ex-Gov. NeilI S.
Brown be appointed to draft resolutions
suitable to the occasion, which motion was
carried.
After retiring for a few moments, the
COMMITTEES returned, and submitted the fol-
lowing: 800
Col. Granville @. 'Torbett. a member of
the legal profession, for time practition-
er in the courts of this city. an old and es-
teemed citizen, havin e, after a lingering i'll
ness, departed this life, the members of the
Nashville bar feel it due and proper that
they should give expression to their regret
at his demise. Col. Torbett was a native
of Monroe county, East Tennessee. He
represented his naive county in the
lower House of our State Legis-
lature, and was twice member
Of the Senate from the same district Sub
| sequently he removed to jackson, in West
Tennessee, where he for few years fol-
lowed the practice of the law. In 1852 he
removed to this city, where he continued to
reside until his death, on the 18th inst,
aged sixty-two years. Ee was several years
connected with the press. He was for a
time the Treasurer of the State, and from
1860 to the close of the war, the President
Of the Bank of Tennessee. He performed
| all of his official duties with fidelity, and
| in such manner as to give
entire satisfaction to those he served and to
gain honor for himself. In private as in
| public life he was above reproach, and SO
discharged all the duties of a citizen as to
win the lasting regard of all who knew him.
He was an honest man, just and generous.
| Therefore
Resolved, That in the death of Col.
Torbett, the legal profession has lost an
honest member, the State devoted servant,
and society bright exemplar of all the
virtues and amnities which adorn the
| highest civilization.
Resolved, that we tender to his afflicted
family our sincerest sympathy in their great
bereavement.
Resolved, that in further token of our re-
sp5ct for the deceased, that we will attend
his funeral this afternoon; that the proceed
ings of this meeting be presented by per-
sons appointed by the court to the several
courts of record in this city, with the re-
| quest that they be entered upon their re-
| spective minutes that copy be furnished
to the family of the deceased and to the
press Of the city for publication.
After reading the preamble and resolu-
| tons, Col. John G. Burch addressed the
chair, and stated that he had known Gran
vile G.. Torbett long and intimately, but he
deemed it unnecessary to present anything
like his history to the members of the bar,
! all of whom were familiar with his manly
| qualities and distinguished virtues. He
knew it was customary on such occasions
| to utter the sentiments contained in the
resolutions just read, but in all sincerity,
| he could state that he had never known a
man of whom such sentiments could be
more appropriately spoken than the deceased.
/ And he did not doubt but that every one
present most heartily and cheerfully en-
| dorsed this statement. 1t is true, he said,
! that their views always corresponded, and
| this may, perhaps. to certain extent, make
| him partial judge, but even those who diff
| fered widely, on all political questions grow
| ing out Of the late unfortunate struggle,
| with the deceased, had always acknowledged
| him just, honest, faithful in the discharge of
all his trusts, and generous to friend and
/ foe.
| He was not brilliant mar, but possess
! ed Of the finest practical sense, united with
/ a sound discreet judgment. His mind was
! eminently sound and healthy and he was
earnest and energetic in the prosecution of
! a cause he espoused. He has gone where
this tribute to his worth can never reach
! him, but his manly virtues and his noble
| deeds will live as treasures to his bereft
! family and admiring friends.
! Granville C.. Torbett was one of the
! truest and best men we ever knew, and no
one outside of his family, can deplore his
| loss more than we.
Maj. John G. Thompson next addressed
the chair. He said he concurred in every
word that had been said. The deceased
was true representative of the old system
Of government. He was one of the best
men of the old style, and in his loss, the COM
munity was bereayed of good citizen and
an honest man.
Ex-Gov. Neil S. Brown remarked that he
could add nothing to what had already been
said. He had known the decease for more
than twenty years. He became acquainted
with him first as a legislator, but knew
him better in modern years as an editor and
treasurer of the State. Since the war he
had been quite familiar with him, and he
could testify to the fact that he was man
eminently useful, of clear sound sense, and
pIoCGlCdl II SfSI LulLiS' hS utu uls5u
quality Of mind, was selEsacrifcing and
strong in his devotion to principle. He
was, however, a modest man., and never
thrust himself forward to accomplish what
might have been to his benefit. He was also
charitable man, and those who approached
him were never turned away. Gov.
Brown said that take him all in all, he
did not know better man than Col. Ter
bett was. During his remarks the speaker
alluded to the fidelity of the deceased while
sent South during the war with the assets
of the Bank of Tennessee. During that
long night of trouble, he guarded faithfully
the trust reposed in him, and when he turn
ed over the bank 10 the authorities at the |
close Of the war, it was found that not
dollar had been lost. The State owed it to |
his ceaseless watchfulness that the assets of !
the bank had been saved. He did the ser
vice that was imposed on him at immense |
sacrifice, and he would have stood at his !
post, guarding the interests of the State, if |
it had cost him his life. That chapter |
of his life, in which were dis |
played so much honesty of purpose and |
firmness of character, he thought it appro- |
pirate to recall. In going down to his grave, |
it could be said of him that he had hever |
wronged anybody. 1t was but just to such |
a man that his memory should be perpetu
ated.
Col E. B. McClanahan was the next |
speaker. He said that one of the resolu- |
tions referred to the previous residence of |
the deceased in jackson, and he deemed it |
appropriate to say cut word for the peo-
pie of West Tennessee. He remembered |
well the deceased when he was resident Of |
Jackson, and knew something of the high |
esteem in which he was held by the citizens |
of that place, and however much the emo
tions of sorrow may be at his present home, |
the intelligence of his death would be as |
mournfully received among his host of |
friends in his former place of residence.
L. G. Silver Perkins, Esq, said that he |
had had personal relations with the deceased |
since 1841. He became intimately &C
quainted with him as a Legislator. From |
his knowledge of the deceased, he could say
that the resolutions offered expressed the |
proper sentiment.
Judge A. L. Demoss said he had known |
the deceased for period of twenty years.
He was man of strong, clear mind and |
excellent judgment, Two prominent traits |