The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-08-12
THE DEAD SENATOR.
Addresses by Hon. II. NJ. Spot
ford and Hon. JnO. V. Wright
at a Public W Getting in Pulas-
Xxi last Saturday.


ford and Hon. JnO. V. Wright
at Public w Getting in Pulas-
Xxi last Saturday.
ADDRESS O. JUDGE sPo FORD.
Mr.. CHARMAN, IND GENTLEMEN OF GILES
CoUNTY:- Perhaps no man ever rose To much
political distinction in the United States WI no
made more enemies, or WAS the OBJECT gilmore
bitter anim1dversiOn in his life time, than
the late President johnson. But "the angel,
Death" is Il potent peace maker. Few are
the men wAo care to pursue their resent ments
beyond the portals of the tomb. And so the
time has come, suddenly and sooner than
was expected, when more just, because more
dispassionate, estimates will begin TO be
formed Of the "Gregt Commoner-"
II is not altogether inappropriate 30 to
style him. SpTinging tram the people, Gle
waited By the people, and acting for the most
part fOT the people, lie early became, and for
more than quarter Of II century continued
TO be, one Of the most conspicuous figures on
the public stage. Village Alderman. County
Representative, State Senator. Rcpresen ia
tive in Congress. Governor, United States
senator, Vice President, President-thrOugh
all these ascending grades he moved, ever
Out-spOkcn. defiant, cUmbative, aggressive,
yet protesting all the while that it was not
his own battles lie was lighting, but those of
the people whom he loved, aud the latchet
Of whose shoes he WIS ready 70 stoop down
and unlOOse. II vas the singulHTiJy Of his
lot TO fall into controversy with pers rs and
parties OF the most conflicting sentiments.
lie was hnng IN etHgy here IL Tennessee by
those (sOme OF them previously his admirers
who condemned him TOR not being ready TO
secede from the Union when they were: he
was hunted down at Washington by the as
sassIn AtzerOC, because the attempt to dis
sever the Union had failed, and he was sup
posed to have contributed to the failure; he
was i'm oeached by the House OF Representa-
tINes because he proclaimed, and had in some
respects acted in accord with the pTCcama-
ton, that the Union never was dissolved, and
the constitution was still the supreme law
II happened to him repeatedly, and at vari-
Gus periods in his career, that those who had
been his political friends became all at once
his enemies, ard that those who had been his
political enemies, were Just rs suddenly, con
veTted into friends. Assuredly, Mr. Chair
man and Gentlemen, there was something
out Of the common in the man, as well as in
the times, that led TO such strange exhibitions
of seeming Inconsistency. Was it he. or was
il ctbeyS, who faced about and adopted new
principles Of action: II not unbecoming, it
certainly would be lrUitless TO discuss that
question here and now. Perhaps it win be
premature fer the present generation to at
tempt to solve IL. IN the august tribunal
Of History, parties are not permitted to sit
in Judgment upon their own causes.
But there are grounds upon which most
Epbtl tlllLtilS CALL tN-la now, uulJC III DCEJOW-
ing upon his memory "a tribute of praise
One Of these. probably the chief of these
may be found in his devotion to the estab-
lished Constitution of his country. He
never looked upon the ,CJttteH calstituti0l of
this great union of Republics as an impTac-
ticsblc conceit, OF mere verbal Formally
or a parchment lie. On the contrary to him
il was always holy testament of the faith
ers; bond that detied death and the grave;
a true covenant by which this people, one
Z NJ a
al d II Gniou Of hands now and evermore.
Nor WAS it, in his view, ''plan of uHiO7l'
only; but, still better, Charter OJ GOyeTH-
Htent, conveying 10 each branch of that gov
eminent all the powers it could righttully
exercise, and hedging them round about
with sacred and invIoable limitations. lie
felt in his Utmost soul, that, AS the Constitu-
ton was the source and parent of both un-
ion and government, no department Of the
government could lay violent hands on the
constitution without committing u crime
akin to parricide-
True it is he believed and acted severe
ly Oh the belief, that 1Chere war ragged. and
whtte war ragged, this supreme law of the
land, ike other laws, Eilenced ana sus-
pended; out he also believed that its com
handing tongue was loOsed and that 1t
spake again with moro than imperial author
iJy, upon the full return of peace. In this,
lie had the misfortune to differ from q pow
ertul section of the party that had raised
him to the III Ost eminent position in Amer
lea. POSSIBLY installing hostility to this con-
stitution, toward which many OF these peO-
pie felt contempt long antedating the war,
but largely increased By the war, for hostil-
ity to himself personally, he INDUCED in an
lmmoderauOn Of speech, which, no matter
how justly provoked, hardly glaced the high
station he filled. This ImpTudence lOmplI-
Gated the impeachment struggle that ensued,
the bottom issue of which, however inge-
niOusly masked, really was 1ChetAer tie CoH-
St5tuttOH sh0uld he coUsjdered US any ioHger
ergsttDg. But, in spite of some defects in
tact and taste, so mantully had he borne
himself, and 80 solid was the rock on which
he stood, that he vanquished those who
made the onslaught; from that moment the
ancient land marks that had been submerged
began TO appear again; Ind, as Daniel Web
ster was, by common consent, styled the
''DetendeT,' SO andrew johnson may yet be
known to the coming generations as the
"Restorcr of the Constitution >. If so. be as
suTed, gentlemen, there is outstanding no
better title TO lasting fame.
Mr.. Chairman, / hang my head in shame
to observe, that, among other grounds of
commentator, it has every where been re
marked, as ii it were special distinction
OF the deceased statesman, that his hands
were unsoied by bribery and corruption and
that he rejected costly presents, from pfi-
waite individuals, whilst in the paid en-
ployment of the United States a. their
Chief Magistrate. Unhappy the times,
when the mere absence OF vice in public
man Is magnifed into virtue
President Johnsou's place in history will
depend on no such negative excellence as this.
That lac viii have place Ia history, and
prominent one, there IL little doubt. That he
coveted it, and with an intense longing, Il
certain. Though he had a narrow education
he had broad brain lie was aware of both
and strove, with persistent energy and rare
success, TO supply the deficiencies OF early
ID " IA RrF
IL was directed to the accompaniment of
great ends, and, generally, by worthy means.
Though his death seems to have been sud
den, there Is reason TO tuppose that it was
not without occasI onHl preInOnitions. There
was, in some Of his later utterances before
popular assemblies IN Tennessee. an express
ION, almost plhintivc in its tone, Of yearn-
ing for KINDLY remembrance hereafter rs
faithful servant of his country. Hence his
desire SO soon accomplished. that his shroud
might be the flag of the Union; that his strug-
giles in behalf of the Constitution might
not be ignored, but that he mfg hit 90 down
to posterIty, as he did 20 his grave, with
copy OF that Great Charter in his hand; that
his couuJrymen might not let his memory
perish from the earth, but might rather
choose to keep it fresh ana green, when his
voice should be mite, and his stalwart arm
should Crumbie beneath the sod. He had.
perhaps n Uvcr-mcasure, THAT last mfr
nifty OF noble mIud.' With his expiring
breath iiG could nave Salus As JrulhiuIlY rs
the youngest uspirant for lame VINO survives
him could now SAY
But II 10 spun at noble praise
BE the pass port to thy Heaven.
Follow thou those gloomy ways!
No such law to M was given;
Nor, think, shall dcplOre me
Earring lIkcm friends before me,
Nor higher heaven desire
Than TlmOleou's arms require.
Ana Iully curule chair and Millions gOl-
den Tyre.
ADDRESS OF JUDGE WRIGHT.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN:-After
hearing the remarks of the eloquent and dis
tinguiehed gentleman who has just taken his
seat, feel that l can add nothing. But, sir,
having been more or less associated with the
Distinguished dead in the public councils of
the country, ! deem II not Inappropriate
though not citizen of your county, to com
ply with the request Of the committee and
make few remarks.
We meet irrespective of party or of for
mer political opinions to give = proper ex-
preston Of our sentiments touching the re-
cent death of Senator johnson. 1t is not
the purpose OF meetings like this to give our
individual sanction or collective appreciation
to the political OF personal views of the re
"a In oft 4. h.