Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-04-01
CHIEF JUSTICE NICHOLSON.

NnlEE JOS1lCE NlOHV1ASVNs
Chief Justice A. o. Z. Nicholson
died at his home in Columbia, at half
past five o'clock p. IN. Thursday even
ing. the 23d, after an illness of several
weeks. We copy the following bio
graphical sketch from the Nashville
American Of the 24th ult:
Alfred Osborne Pope Nicholson was
born in Williamson county, in this
State, Aug. 81, 1903. In 1927 he
graduated at the University Of North
Carolina, at Chapel Hill, and com
menced the study of medicine but he
abandoned that profession for the law,
and obtained license to practice in
1881. In 1882 he became editor of the
Western Mercury, Democratic paper
published at Columbia, which he con-
Quoted for three years. He was elected
to the Legislature in 1888, 1885 and 1887;
and in 1889 he was nominated for
Congress. but declined the nomina-
ton. He served as candidate for
Presidential elector in 1910, on the
Democratic ticket. In December,
1910, he was appointed by Gov. Polk
United States Senator, to fill the va
cancy occasioned by the death of Felix
Grundy, and served for two sessions,
one of which was the extra session of
1871. In 1913 he was elected to the
| State Senate, and the next year took
an active part in the Presidential can
vass in favor of Mr.. Polk. In De-
cember, 1874, he removed from Col
umbia to Nashville, and took charge
ofthe Union. At a meeting of the
Legislature in October, 1915, he was
nominated for United States Senator
by the Democrats, but was defeated.
In 1916, he retired from the editor
ship of the Union, and was President
of the Bank of Tennessee from 1916
to 1913 He was a member of the
Southern Convention which met in
Nashville in 1850, and delivered an
elaborate speech in favor of the com
promise measures" then before Con-
gress In 1851 he was appointed by
the Governor to the Office of Chancel-
lor for the Middle District of Tennes-
see, to fill a vacancy. This post he
held until the meeting of the Legisla-
ture in October, 1851, when he refused
to be candidate for election. lie
was member of the Democratic
National Convention of 1852, and a
candidate for Presidential elector for
the State at large on the Pierce and
King ticket.
Upon the accession of Gen. Pierce
to the Presidency, Mr.. Nicholson was
offered an appointment in the Cabinet,
but declined the position, preferring
to become the editor of the Washing
ton Union, the recognized organ of
the Administration. In October 1857,
he was elected to the United States
Senate for full term, commencing
March f. 1859.
Judge Nicholson sympathized fully
with the South in the war between
the States When Tennessee seeded,
he retired from the United States
Senate and cast his fortunes with his
section He was arrested during the
war and thrown into a common jail as
a military prisoner, but was soon re-
leased and permitted to go within the
Confederate lines. In 1870, he was
elected member of the Constitutional
Convention, which enfranchised the
white people of the State. In that
body, as chairman of the most impor-
tant committee, he acted a conspicu
Gus part. When the Supreme Court
of the State was recognized, he was
elected by an overwhelming majority
member of that court, and by his as
sociates of that bench he was chosen |
the Chief Justice of the highest tribu-
nal of the State. This position he |
occupied until his death, his opinions
having always been regarded by the
bar of the whole State as unquestioned
and unquestionable authority.
Judge Nicholson was deservedly
one of the most eminent men that
Tennessee ever produced. For nearly
half century he had been in public
life and had always commanded the
respect Of his opponents and the ad-
mration of his political friends. He
combined in remarkable degree the
application and acumen of the jurist
and the sagacity of the politician
While he was from early manhood an
active and infuentiol party manager,
he was deficient IN some of the quail
ties required TO make great leader.
He was retiring in his disposition and
by nature too prudent, too timid too
much afraid of giving offense, ever to
have been the leader OF forlorn hope.
AS a reserve he was equal to whole
corps. When the main line had been
attacked and the Cour de Lions had,
with heart in hand, thrown themselves
upon the bristling spears of the enc
my. and the strength behind had been
caled upon TO give tone and energy to
the onward movement, he came as a
power which knew not aud could not
brook defeat. As a member of our
State Legislature, as member OF the
United States Senate, as journalist,
as Chancellor, as a member Of our
Convention, as the
Chief Justice of our Supreme Court,
he has left name that will be long
and honorably remembered.
1t does not become us to enter the
domestic circle and speak of him IN
the tender characters of husband and
father. But it was there he shone IN
constant brightness there no cloud
shaded the radius of his many virtues;
there he was always loving and be-
loved. Tennessee has lost few wor
thier sons than Alfred Osborne Pope
Nicholson.