The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-08-03
DEATH OF HON. JOHN @. BURoH.

fered disorders which finally InvolV-
ed the heart Though the announce
ment of this sad event struck us
with painful surprise, for the mo-
ment, we had not been wholly I'M
prepared for it. But a few days ago
we looked with feelings Of sadness
upon the once bright, beaming face
and vigorous, manly person, then
shrunken and emaciated by wasting
disease. Col. Burch was returning
from Tate's Spring, whittier he had
gone in the hope that it's curative
waters might afford him relief He
seemed much disheartened by his
disappointment in this regard, and
remarked that, inasmuch as official
duties demanded his presence in
Washington, he would return to the
charge of his physician and to the
quiet of his temporary home in that
city. AS we shook hands with him,
at the depot, we could not overcome
the feeling that we were bidding
him final adieu. He never rallied,
and, after much suffering, breathed
his last as above stated.
Aside from the personal bereave-
ment we feel in the death of life
long friend, we keenly realize the
loss that the profession of journal
ism and the country at large have
sustained. Col John c. Burch was
no common man, in the ordinary
sense of that term. We may say in
brief and truly, that in intellectual
stature he far outranked the great
mass of his contemporaries. Through
an acquaintance ripening into warm
friendship and covering period OF
more than quarter Of a century,
We had learned to regard him as one
of the foremost men in our State.
He has been SO long conspicuous in
public life in Tennessee that his rec
ord hardly needs reorganization, nor
is it our province to offer anything
like detailed biographical sketch.
Col. Burch was born in 1927 He
was, we believe, a native of Georgia,
and a graduate Of Yale College.
About 1852 or SO he came to Chat
tanooga, where he located and en-
tered upon the practice of law.
Twice, before the war, he was elect
ed to the Legislature-frst to the
House and next to the Senate, of
which body he was chosen speaker,
in which capacity, though yet COM
paratively young, he developed that
quietness and clearness of judgment
and decision of character which so
characterized him through
out after life. During the war he
served en- the staff of General Polk
with the rank of Colonel. After its
close, he returned to the practice OF
law in Nashville, but having had
a pleasing taste of newspaper life, it
was not long until, by an easy
he passed from the pro-
fession of law into that Of journal
SIN. For a number of years be
presided over the editorial depart
nent ofthe old Union and american,
which again unfurled the Demo
cratic flag. Upon the consolidation
If that paper with the old RepHbh- |
,an Banner in 1875, he became prin-
,ipal owner and editor-in-chief of |
be American-the resultant Of the |
and now one Of the |
Jest-established and most successful
in the country. By |
of Governor Brown,
JoL Burch became Comptroller of
he State Treasury in 1873, and, for
nearly two years, discharged the
luties of that office with sig
lal ability and success. Upon
he REORGANIZATION Of the United |
states Senate, during the session OF
1873, he was elected Sec
etary ofthat body,a position which
le graeed and honQred by his un-
ailing courtesy, dignity, fidelity and
bility. Had sthe Senate been in
ession when he died the ceremonial
ribute to the dead Secretary would
ave no doubt been commensurate
nth his recognized worth and as
and sincerely bestowed
Y Senators of the Republican faith I
5 by those of the Democratic house
old; for, by his urbanity and in
inctive regard for the prOprieties /
: his position, he had won the per I
nal regard of political opponents
nd friends alike. 9
Col. Burch was a man Of we'll +
llanced faculties. AS a ready, flu a
1t and impressive speaker, he had t
W superiOrs. His style was direct,
gical, incisiye, rather than diffuse +
ID ornate. WithaI, when occasion a
ose, he was one of the best post n
andial takers we ever listened to- b
is writingwas much like his speak =
2, full of strength and void of SUI n
fact, almost severe in Il
purity. He was a man Of schol is
" tastes and extended reading. N
u L / I,r, !