Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-11-14
From the Memphis Appeal.
OUR C0NGRESsMES ELECT.

General G. u. Dibbreil, OF th
/ third district, is about forty years O
age. Before the war be served in til
State legislature, and proved mos
useful member. At the commence
ment of the war be entered the Con
federate army. and was promoted t,
the command Of a brigade. As. !:
/ soldier, General Dibbrell was brave ans
fearless, and did his duty well. He i,
a gentleman of fine education and en-
larged views, and has always been, We
believe, Democrat. He resides al
Smith county, and is successfully en-.
gagged in farming. General Dibbrell
J is warm hearted. genial, hospitabie
gentleman, and ENJOYS the esteem and
| good will of all who know him. True as
steel. and honest as the days are long
liberal in mind, but firm in principle,
he will make most excellent represen-
tatiye, and prove himself worthy Of the
great duties that await him in Congress.
Colonel John w. Head, who has
been elected in the fourth congression-
al district, resides at Gallatin, Sum
ner county, on the Louisville and
Nashville railroad. thirty miles from
the latter city. Colonel Head is about
fifty-fv years of age, and has been
staunch Democrat. He was educated
for the law, and has not only made
successful practitioner, but has won
merited distinction, and now stands
among the leading jurists in Tennessee,
Previous to the war-in 1855, we be-
lieye-he was elected attorneys general
and reporter, the dnties of which Office
he continued to discharge with marked
ability and diligence until succeeded
in 1851 or 1853 by Judge Sneed, now
of the supreme court of this State.
During the war he was has colonel of
Confederate regiment, and proved a
brave soldier. At the close of the
civil strife, Colonel Head returned
home and resumed the practice of the
profession which be fully understands
and SO successfully conducts. Devoid
of ostentation, he Is man of good
sense and most thorough research
one who has forced his mind into the
higher places of knowledge, by means
of persistent, indefatigable study and
execution of purpose rather than by
dint of that so-called talent, that gilt
ters and ornaments, but never makes
or elevates the man in personal worth |
or moral greatness. Colonel Head |
will be strong representative in con-
gress
Hon. John Morgan Bright, con-
gressman from the fifth district, was i
born at Fayetteville, Lincoln county,
January 20, 1917. He first attended |
school in his native town. and then en-
tered Bingham's school at Hillsboro,
North Carolina. In 1881, he gradua-
ted in the old Nashville university,
under the presidency of DIR. Philip |
Lindsley. After studying law twelve
months with Colonel James Fulton, at |
Fayetteville, he entered the law-de-
partment of Pennsylvania university,
Kentucky, and graduated in 1871. In
the fall of 1871 he obtained license
to practice law, and soon rose to a
high position at the bar. General
Bright has always been a Democrat,
and as volunteer-elector for Pope, in
lS4l, made his first public debate, his
opponent being Major Gustavus A.
Henry, of Clarksyille. In 1917 and
1913, he served one term in the State
legislature, and to his efforts was due
5he action of the general assembly in
establishing the present State lunatic
asylum. Speaking OF his earnest ef-
orts in the measure, an exchange:
'ays: 1.-The institution will stand as
of the greatness of his in
elect and the benevolencc of his heart,
ong after the selfish projects of vault
ng ambition are forgotten. -
In 1913 he made canvass for
Jass and Butler IN the Presidential
contest. Though urged by friends to
20 before the Democratic conventions
n 1S49, 1851 and 1852, he refused to
10 so, and yet advocated the claims of
he party's nominees in every Presi-
lential canvass from 1874 to 1860. AT
he commencement of the war Mr..
Bright was appointed to a position on
Governor Harris's staff, with the rank
IF general. During the war he served
With gallantry and engaged in the
1loodiest battles that were fought.
After the war he resumed the practice
If his profession at Fayetteville. and
continued in private life until 1870.
Speaking of him the Fayetteville Ex-
press says: In the fields of literature
Mr.. Bright has ever been at home,
md he is the author of numerous ele-
,ant addresses, delivered before differ
mt educational Institutions in the
south, which fully merit the high and
extravagant encomiums law
shed upon them by the southern press.
One of Observation-Disclosures be-
ore the Robertson association at
Nashville, in 1859, induced the Jour
nal of Medicine and Surgery to say of
him: We have never listened to an
orator who would so we'll stir the
hearts blood of his hearers. We hear
lim named the Everett of Tennessee.
For our part we say that we have heard
he original Everett, and never wish to
near him again; but to Bright we
could return many times. Mr. Bright
It first declined to become a candidate
'or the forty-secOnd congress but a
was called, and he was
nominated against his previous refusal
10 run. He took his seat in the house
,f representatives March, 4, 1871.
His first speech in the house was
against the kuklux bill, and dis
.inguished northern writer says of it:
He (Mr. Bright claims all the rights
MS section is entitled to, and pressed
hem with great force, and in such
temper, good sense and moderation as
10 excite no bitterness of feeling. 1t
was an argument and an appeal to JUS
ice and reason; not an inveetive.
His later speeches are before the coun-
.ry, having gained a national reputa-
ion, and so popular have some Of these
become, that the Democratic executive
committees of several States have or
lered thousands of them for campaign
documents. Mr. Bright has always
been man of great public spirit; ex-
,rcising his influence in favor of good
roads, schools, churches, and what
ever else would tend to the material
and moral elevation Of the people
In social life he is polite, urbane, of
generous and hospita BILE spirit, fond of
society, and contributing much to the
enjoyment of company. He united
himself with the Presbyterian church
when but boy, and has for many
years been an elder in the church. No
Durer man has ever entered the halls
Of congress. His public and private
life bear constant testimony to his
high character as christian gentle
man. No man has stronger hold on
he esteem and confidence of his con-
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