Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-04
OUR CAPITOL.
A Memorable Event in Fourth Of July
Annals.
The Cornerstone That Was Laid
Thirty Years Ago To-Day.

On the Fourth of July, 1S45, thirty years
ago to-day, the corner stone Of the capitol
Of Tennessee was laid. In the files Of the
| local press Of that day we find the ceremO-
MES more graphically described than COM
pletely reported. One Of the best accounts
is that Of the old NdsbUille Wing, Of July
s, 1915, written by our present City Treas
urer aud fellOW-citiZeD, Arson Nelson.
Many of those who figured most prOmi-
nently in the demonstration, still live to
take a part in the leading public affairs Of
| the present altered times. Hon. Edwin II.
Ewing, for instance, was the orator Of the
day, aud John II. Bass and Samuel ID.
Morgan Building Commissioners. But
there still live hundreds of people who
were present in the obscure capacity Of
spectators. Our present Governor was one
Of a host of schOOl-bOys who proudly
joined in the procession at the start, but
whose patriotic enthusiasm was consumed
under the burning rays Of the sun before
the ceremonies were over.
The various associations in the city took
from early morn till II A. NJ. 70 celebrate
the GLORIOUS Fourth" in their usual man
ner. At the latter hour these, with legiOns
Of the ununifOrmed and Unhadged herd,
4
in procession to Capitol hill, which they
covered with one dense mass Of humanity.
The military companies preceded, then the
State officers, Building Commissioners, the
architect, (Wm. Slrickland) and the orator
of the day; next the MasOEs, ne faded by a
band Of music, and displaying three ban
ners, inscribed Beauty Strength" and
Wisdom" each stared on either side By
yited guests, distinguished citizens, Mayor
and Aldermen, (nOt Of Edgefeld), the Pro-
fessOrs and Societies Of the University Of
Nashville and Odd Fellows. As ever,
the rear was brought up by the noble fire.
men.
What the Wig says of the extremity Of
the procession is worth copying: IAN Ell
CINE and Miscarriage formed not the least
attractive part Of the spectacle. These
were drawn each by four horses, splendid.y
caparisOned, each horse led by a son Of AT
RIGA, habited in an Asiatic costume, and
four boys, superbly attired in oriental style
also, rode the horses haruessed to the hose
carriage. The carriage and engine were
tastefully decorated with wreaths and other
appliances Of pOmp, and, by their pictur-
esque appearance, contributed greatly to the
general effect
The duty Of laying the cornerstone was
assigned to the MasoHs. Rev. Mr.. Wheat,
Chaplain Of the Grand Lodge, offered
prayer, before Mr.. EEing's address. This
speech was published and commended with
unusual encOmiums at the time.
The regular Masonic ceremonies fOr such
an occasion, were then carried out, the usual
amount Of miscellaneous plumber be-
ing put out Of the sight Of man forever, by
disappearing in the memorial receptacle Of
the stone
The Building Commissioners were JnO.
n. Bass, Chairman, Samuel D. Morgan,
Morgan W. Brown, Jos. I. EllisJOn, Alien
A. Hall, and Jas. Woods.
The then State officers who were pres
ent and participated were James e. Jones,
Governor; John 5. Young, Secretary OF
State; Felix &. ZOllicOffe- Comptroller of
the Treasury; Matthew Nelson, Treasurer
West II. Humphreys, Attorney General;
and Gerard TrOOst, State GeOlOgist.
The writer, a reporter, who is not 50
much Of an antiquarian as one might sup
pose from this sketch, had not then made
his terrestrial debut, but be has a friend
and an associate who had just begun his
mundane career, and who was present al
the ceremony above described, and who
thinks that his faculty Of memory was
brought into action for the first time on
that day. His Renaissance Of the days
jubilee is a most interesting one. It seems
to him now, that it was 100 years ago,
that he was on a hill, where there was a
pile Of rocks and lots OF cedars, aud the
whole eminenCe was crowned with people
or rather variegated calico, as that feature
imprinted. its image on his little fancy
more permanently than anything else.
His recollection is the faintest mental state
imaginable, and he would still be in ignOr-
ance as 70 what event it related, if his
father had not informed him that he CHE
yOungster) was present and participated in
the laying Of the cornerstone Of the Capt.
tOl on the 4th Of July, 1915.