The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-05-11
DEATH OF COL. JOHN F0nsyTuE.

Col. FOrsythe, the veteran editor OF
the Mobile Register, died at his resi-
dencc in Mobile on the md. The Ala
bam:, Press Convention was ut the
time in session, and passed resolutions
of respect to the memory of the dcceas-
cl. Upon the motion to adopt, Col.
Chambers, u member of the Conven-
tion, paid the following eloquent tri-
butte to the virtues of the gifted, gallant
editor, q per,,sal of which will interest
tho reader and give hin, an idea o.
what manner of man the South has lost
Mr.. President-In rising to second
the resolutions which have just been
read, / find it difficult to repress
thoughts and emotions which would
not be appropriate to the occasion, for
while share in the common loss which
the Press of Alabama has sustained, in
the death of its most distinguished
representative, l have lost a friend in
the death of John Forsyth. l knew
him i'll days lang Svne; days which
seemed to be better than these, ana
when there was Il higher standard OF
worth among men. My acquaintance.
will, him began when L was Il boy, and
he WAS just III the bloom of his early
manhood. l remember we'll the hand
some person, tile cultivated manner,
tho military carriage of John Forsyth,
which then Won upon my youthful
fancy, and when, Il trw years after
wards, came to appreciate his bril-
liant genius, he seemed to me the
rnbodiment or all that was :du,ir,blc
and enviable.
My earliest distinct impressions o:
AIR. Forsyth as an editor, date back to
1913, when he conducted he Columbus
Times, Il Journal which, believe, he
established, and which, und"r his able
management, took the foremost place
among the newspapers Of the South.
But he won his most brilliant rrputa-
ton as editor during the years iSJD---ji,
i'll opposition to tho famous Clayton
Compromise. His editorials during
that exciting period sounded the key
note Of his party in the South and GAIN
cd for him the reputation OF one Of the
:.biest journalists in America. 1'cr-
haps no period in the history of Amer
lean politics presented !, more brilliant
:,rr:.y OF talent, in the halls OF the Ma
1in,lai Legislature, or in the public
press and among those master minds
which gave shape TO public opinion
and moulded the Legislation OF the
country, there Was none more inliucn-
,ia' than that Of Mr.. Forsyth.
Shortly after tlii>; canvass lie Iclt
Georgia and came to Mobile, where he
soon took charge OF the Mobile Regis
ter, in which position, with some hrici
intcrmtssions, he continued to labor
until death summoned him from his
post.
.Aucr his removal from Gcnrui:., !
l.:
Of 1869, when we me: in thH l.Hgisla-
lnre Of thi; Stale If that memorable.
session which Immediately preceded
the rupture of the Democratic party nj
Charleston, Mr.. Forsyth, though. rarely
taking part in the debate, WAS rccog
nizou as the leader of those who ea-
!t,t,std the cause ui stephen i. Dnug:.~;
and in the heated political contest
Whirl. followed, he devoted himself to
the fortunes of his f;tvoritc with all the
r;,rnestncss OF his nature, and with an
ability which commanded for bin. tho.
highest respect and admiration, alike.
Of friends and opponents. Though
opposing the policy Which ie;l to the
secession Of his State, he never waver-
ed for Il moment when Alabama had
chosen her course ; and through all the.
dark days which followed, not one OF
ff1t '''fffS " ihSft i.ttt'ftt 90 ftSt tsttst',
or stood more firmly by her fortunes.
True rs steel to his convictions of duty,
fearless in his advocacy of What he be-
lieved to be the right, Untiring in the
work OF his profession, he has lahorcd
and achieved for the people among
whom he lived as few other men have
laborcd and achieved in his day.
Mr.. Forsyth, inherited anamc already
illustrio,1s in the history of his country.
Among the great men which EcOrgi:,
t,:,s given to the Union, Crawford,
Troup, Cobb anu others, who lowered
amid the giants Of the better days Oi
the Republic, the elder John Forsyth
stood i>,in't,s inter i,tres. liz son,
whose death VIC lament to-day, was tho
worthy descendant of an illustriUls an
t.estor. Though hc never filled such
exalted official stations aS his father he
has perhaps done as much to form tho
public opinion of the age in which lie
lived, and has left upon the pages oi
his coun:ry's history, Il name ,s honor
able, and I fame as un,IyinG.
Russians and Turks, quite invctcrate
enemies, have fought together no less
than ten campaigns since the Czat
l'ctCr started his ambitious plan OF
Sec,iringa southern outlet to his empire
by way OF the Black and Neditcrr,nCar