Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-09

Bar, the Bench, the Clinique, the Press,
each furnishes to the biOgrapher theme Of
unsurpaSsing interest. Some grateful cOan-
tryman has, indeed, in some Of these sever
al Departments Of biographical literature.
occasionally illustrated the character of a
deceased contemporary; but comparatively
how few Of our great men, and Of our pub
lie benefactOrs, have received this tribute
of affection and respect. How many OF
OR worthless still repOse in neglected
graves, unknown and almost forgotten,
We hear every day Of the hidden mineral
wealth of Tennessee, and of her undevel-
Oped resources, and appeals are made to
our cupidity to utilize and improve them.
This is laudable and proper; but shall the
mad passion for money and for the mate
rial improvement only Of the country, re-
press the nObler duty of developing the
richer treasures Of Tennessee history and
Tennessee biography wealth Of fame
and character and distinctiOn-uOw OBJ
Scured from the view Of pOSterity, whose
apathy OF Incidence allows it to remain in
hopeless oblivion and neglect-gems of the
past in our State, which should sparkle
and illuminate the pages Of biography, and
illustrate the virtues of our ancestors. Let
these mines remain no longer UndeyelOped,
and then Tennessee, like the mother of the
Gracchi, when asked for her jewels, may
point TO her sons
And in this labor of love, let there be no
DELAY. Whatever belongs or relates TO the
rapidly receding past Of Tennessee must be
col ected, preserved and prepared al once
for history and biography. BIS dat qUi
c;to dat. He gives twice who gives prompt
w. One bv one our older citizens are
leaving this stage of actiOn-One by one
some of them every year are leaving their
native State and emigratinS further and
further into the great Western interior, and
carrying with them abroad the valuable
and rich recOllectiOns OF the settlements
and history of Their native homes. May
we not hope from the aged citizens, and
especially from the students and teachers
of all our institutions Of learning, that q
new impulse shall now he given to the
duty of cultiyatinS these fields Of research.
And we especi tally appeal TO the enliehten-
ell and liberal Press Of Tennessee to assist
us with It's inappreciable strength and eff
fectiveness. The Press has already become
not only power in the land, but the great
leading poorer in all it, efficiency in
achieving whatever is good, excellent and
desirable in this behalf. It's Potentially
is admitted. We are pOwerieSS without
its assistance, and DO no, hesitate to invoke
its genius, its spilit and its influence to
come at once to our rescue, and to the sup
port Of our efforts. TennesseeanS, we in
woke your flial piety. We appeal to your
State preferences, and to Your ancestral
pride.
j. G. VI. RAMSEY, NJ. D.,
Il. e. FOSTER, 4th, VI. D.,
JOIN VI. LEA,
Committee.
Donations to the Society may be sent to
either of the following gentlemen If sent
to the Recording Secretary. at Nashville,
express charges will be Iaid by him. All
donations will Be deposited in the Capitol,
where the Society holds its regular meet
ings. Papers throughout the State will
please copy the above circular:
DIR. J. G.. VI. RAMSEY, PreS't,
Knoxville.
ANsON NELSON, Rec. Secy,
Nashville.
ALBERT T. MCNEAI., Esq,
Bolivar.
Hon. W. II. STEPHENS,
Memphis.