Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-05-29

through the future ages. The
mingled blood Of two races ran
in his veins and impaired to his ma
ture some of the best characteristics
of both. When aroused he was as
terrible as a tornado, but in the
social circle with his friends as mild
and gentle as a woman. His devo-
ton and fidelity to his wife comes
out as a rainbow, to span with its
beauty AMI promise every storm
cloud that rises on the horizon OF
his life. He was a man of strong
passions, and when acting under
their impulse not, perhaps, always
just-nO man is. But it was not in
his nature to do conscious or inten-
tional injustice to anyone. he was
positive and imperious-aH great
leaders of man are. He was not
learned in books he never studied
them he studied men, and no
student ever more thoroughly mas
tered his subject. The slow and
painful processes by which many
men of books and culture reach
their conclusions were unknown to
him. His mind acted with the
rapidity of lightning and an intul-
tive sagacity conducted him to con-
illusions with Geographic speed. He
had reached conclusions and stood
ready to act on them before hest
tating prudence had adjusted her
spectacles to examine the subject or
tfmid conservative had taken up
her scales to weigh probabilities.
Not that he was rash or incOnSid-
crate in matters of moment far
from il. No man ever looked at all
the bearings of subject with closer
scrutiny or balanced the chances of
success or failure with keener. dis
elimination. His chief object was
to ascertain the path of duty-when
he saw that, he was ready to travel
it, whatever dangers might environ
it. No array of learning or brilliancy
of reputation in an opponent ever
dwarfed or absorbed his individual
ity. He was born to lead, and he
always led. Those who wished to
Join the expedition were welcome !;
those who feared to embark might
stay behind, and those who chose
to face him might take the con-
sequences. He never deserted
friends or enemies until they first
deserted him. For the one, there
was no sacrifice he was not willing
to make; in respect to the other,
there was no gage of battle he was
not ready to take up. He never
allowed his friends to go forward
and assume responsibilities for him
in great emergencies, that he might,
in the event of disaster, throw the
burden of failure upon them. III
risks were to be taken, if populari-
ty was to be hazarded, if response
bility was to be assumed, if danger
was to be met, he took his place at
the front, and the word of command
rolled down the line.
His fame is in the custody of his
country. There ii will remain Sc
cure forever. No friend of his need
fear or doubt the verdict of pOsterity
or the judgment of history upon his
greatness as a soldier or his wisdom
as n statesman. Full of years and
full of hOnOrs, he closed his eyes in
peace among the people who took
him by the hand in his youth and
loved him to the last. When Ten
nesseans cease to honor his name
and revere his memory, they will
be unworthy descendants of those
whom he led to victory. A few of
the old soldiers who followed him
through the storm of battle still
linger with us upon this side the
river. May the hand of time deal
gently with their declining years,
and the evening of their days be as
fnll of peace and happiness as their
morning was of storms and dangers.
Oh, honored be each silvered hair,
Each furrOw trenched by toll and care;
And sacred each old bending form
That brayed with him the battle-stOrm.
Here where tree and rock and
rivulet and river are vocal with the
traditions of his past, we inaugurate
his statue to-day. / rejoice that the
venerable sculptor who has given to
us this life-like image of the man
has been spared to be present on
this occasion, to receive the tribute
this day paid to his genius by the
descendants of those who knew and
loved and hOnored his illustrious
subject while he moved amid the
walks of men.
Tennesseans, the honor of the
state upon whose name Andrew
jackson has shed such imperishable
renOwn is in your keeping. As we
gaze upon this stOried form to-day,
AtL AA9 oNCsll Altdl uO dCL VI ulSA1OlOT
shall ever stain her proud eScutch-
con or sully her spOtless name.
Since he closed his eyes upon "a
peaceful and happy country our
land has been drenched in fraternal
blood. The earthquake shock of
cOntending armies was felt around
the very tomb where he sleeps. But
these unhappy days are past, and il
is to the interest of all that the pas
siOns and animOsities that marked
them should also pass away.
Tennessee has no future, no aspi-
rations, no hopes save in restored
Union, and to-day within the shad-
Ow of Jackson's. statue, without
mental reservation or purpose of
evasion, but in sincerity and truth,
she can repeat to her sister states
the immortal words of her immor-
tai sOn-"TIE FEDERAL UNION-IT
MUST BE PRESERyED." so &