Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-05
r. l.. CARUTHERS,
The Jurist. Statesman and Publicist,
Dead-The Author of s'The History
OF Lawsuit" No More.
sketch OF His Career-ResOlutiOn of the
Nashville Bar DeplOring a Great
Loss to the State.

NASHVILLE, October -3.-Announcement
il made by the American OF the death oil the
Hon. Robert Looney CarOthers, at Lebanon
on Monday. after protracted illness. Judge
Caruthers was born in Smi' county, IN this
State, on the 31sI OF July, 1900. He was
distinguished for years in the profession OF
the law and in the politics OF the State. de
was educated at Greenville Il ist Iennessee)
College, studied law, and commenced prac-
ice at Carthage a few years after obtaining
his majority. In 1924 he edited a newsPa-
Der al Csrthage, published by John s. Roul-
stone. He was elected clerk OF the House
of Representatives at an early period oil his
life and at the next session, was elected
member OF the General Assembly, the late
President James K. Polk serving hat seselon
as clerk of the House. Judge Caruihers
wassalso elected general oil the state ma
liiia. A few years later he removed 10 LED
anon. and married Miss Sallie Saunders, |
daughter of James Saunders, OF Sumner
county, and was shortly afterward
elected attorney for the Lebanon district.
In 1886, together with the late Hon. A. U
P Nicholsen, he complied CdTuthers 6
NiehoLson's DIGEST. In 184l he was elected
10 Congress, and served with marked distinc-
ton. He declined reelection, preterrlng
| 10 resume his professional work at home.
| Dnrino his service in Congress he was one
| of the members who voted for the appropri-
| alton for Morse's electric telegraph system
| He not only voted for the Morse bill, but he
\ WAS made chairman oil the Commttee on
| TELEGRAPH Lines, and as such superiutended
or overlooked the building Of the hrst line
| built in the United States, being from Wash
| iugton 10 Baltimore, and himself sent the
| frat message ever sent over the wires from
one city to another.
In lS44 he was chosen a Clay elector and
made a memorable canvass, and was one oil
Mr. Clay's warmest personal friends. sew
eral times, subsequently,, he declined
nomination for governor when a nomination
was equivalent 10 an election. In 1882 he
was appointed BY Gov. Campbell Judge oil
Ithe Supreme Court, to fill a vacancy occa-
stoned by the resignation of Judge Nathan
Green. He was elected afterward by the
Legislature, and served full term on the
Supreme bench, afterward elected by popu-
lar vote, and served down to the breaking
:. | out of the late war when be voluntarily re-
| tired. In 1861 he was chosen and served as
a Peace Commissioner in the Peace Con-
eress. and labored Eealously TO preserve the
Union and avert the Threatened civil war,
, but when his efforts failt d and the war en-
sued, he took his place with the people oil
his State and section, and cast his destinies
, | with them to the end OF the struggle.
He was a member of the Provisional Con-
gress at Montgomery, and declined re-elec-
e ton. but was afterward chosen governor oil
D Tennessee 10 succeed Gov. Harris by the
| army and citizens OF the State In 1900, ou'
declined to qualify, as the State capital wai
: in the hands of the Federal army, and when
1 he subsequently, returned TO the State, alter
4 the war, he found Gov. Brownlow filling the
chair to which he had been called. lie came
| to Nashville when the war ended, and re
II : sumed the practice of law with Judge W. r
2 Cooper, of the present Supreme bench OF tht
State, and later with the Hon. John
Gaut. He sfterward returned to his hom'
in Lebanon, where he served president o
= | the Board of Trustees of Cumberland uni
versity, and became professor In the Law
school Of that university, in which capacity
lie he served until last year, when old age ant
[: infrmity caused him to retire TO private lie
= He was indeed a successful, active ant
valuable man 10 the people OF his State AM
u community. An admirable advocate,
II shrewd lawyer, a wise politician, he was ye
lie more a man of charity and humanity, an
spent with extraordinary hberallty hi
means in advancing the cause of educatio
es and morality. He was for long years a
earnest faithful member OF the Cumberlar
Presbyterian Church, and made large cor
w tributions to the university of that demon
10 nation. Truly we can say great and us'
- full man has run his race and hlled h
" course. Many hearts will mourn his depa
'n ture. Peace to his ashes.
a ResOIutiOns by the lssr of Nashville.
NASHVILLE, October 3.-The Banner r.
VI ports a meeting of the Nashville bar In th
as Circuit Court room at 10 o'clock this morI
u ing to take action with reference to the deaf
M | of Judge r. L. Caruthers, of Lebanon
Judge j. C. Guild was called to the cha
" and Neil S. Brown, jr., and the members
e. the city press were elected secretaries.
MI Ind lNQr tharo 90
remarkable man. He believed he was Ii
Il. most dangerous man in law suit he ha
,s ever known. He was a man of great abilit
in any court. He was the very soul OF homo
II He was a great iurist aud very distii
en- euished statesman He lived till he W:
a eighty-two years of age. He knew no ma
ay living in Tennessee who had done more goo
as a lawyer and as statesman fer his Stat
10 He would 90 down to his grave honored. d
ed was genial and kind. His example was
ss glorious one for the young men OF the Sta
40 to follow.
as On motion of E. l. Golladay, commits
II. consisting of FIVE was appointed on resol
TIC tons.
- mittee: Col. Edward 1. Golladay, Ex.Go
Neil S. Brown, Col. Stubblef=ld, Col. B1xt
Smith and Judge East as such committee.
The committee reported the following res
tions, which were adopted:
at WHEREAS. 1t has pleased God in His providen
~ tn remove from our midst the Hon. Robert
III Caruthers SO long known and recognized by
rs. who knew him as q LAWYER aud judge OF the ing
les SL statesman. and as worthy, exemplary CT
a | zen and Christian, who, full OF years and homo
has left an example worthy OF all eommend,a .ii
a therefore, we, the members OF the oar anu cltne
in Resore, That in the death of the Hon. Robert
Csruthers the State Tennessee has lost one OF
abiest, pu,est and most upright citizens; the
ms an advocate and sound lawyer nnsur passed IN
Ids aa anna or neSiod of sixty years Illustrating
o. great a6es 4 aTb1na OF the State for nu
'e Rssoired, That in the death OF the Hon; Rob
az. L. Caruthers profession has lost an able "a
mt, YER is moSs re co9bined exceiiences OF mo
lp- and Intellectual qualities than any other in
- State. .,,o ;,,o,,;,at,o
tact ri age upon the duration of human life, 9
that our distinguished TREND mas Dnt met S ,he
W. was one of the most eminent men VINO mas pas
over the stage OF action IN M
u heart He was kind in all the relations OF
lne charitable, amiable and religious.
I've rtioDs be- communicated to the family of the
ed ceased with the tender of sincere condolen
OIL o' E l. GOLLADAY, Chairman
for Col. Golladay, Judge Brien, Judge e.
du- Iudpe Abraham Csruthers and Exc
her Neiil s. Brown addressed the meeting, spes
:, inc in eloquent terms of the deceased jul
and statesman.
by A special train conveyed a number
re- LAWYERS aud others to Lebanon this mo
nh ing TO attend the funeral of Judge caru
ger e's' ---,
,oa r. l. Caruthers.
Nashville Banner (Editorial)
In the death of the Hon. Robert l.
ruthers Tennessee has lost one OF her abl'