Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-12-24
3. CRATE BROWN.

Estimates of His Character BY Men Whs
Knew Him Best--A Man True to Himself
His Friends, His Convictions and to Hi
Country--A Conspicuous Figure In Mis-
souri, History, to Whose Best Interest,"
He Was Firmly Welded.
ST. Louis, Mo-, December 15.-At .
meeting of the bar, to take action on the
death of Ex-Governor B. Gratz Brown,
the following were among the sentiments
expressed by distinguished members
present:
Ex-Governor T. C. Fletcher said.
in Jq 9sis thirty aIsy ago ey
party which should be devoted to the inter
esss OF freedom The leading man Of that
man of the first committee appointed in IL.
And when, afterward, they met for the pur-
tionai. Mr. Brown was chairman OF that
convention-the first of the kind ever held
in a slave State. AZ the outbreak of the war
stoned a Colonel. and led out =
ranks. Afterward the Legislature re- Of
this State selected him to represent Mis-
souri, in the United States Senate. There he
was considered not only a man Of learning.
but was one of the leaders In that body.
After returning from Washington he once
citizen, until he was called by the people to
be Governor of the State, and in performing
denoe Of the Cd e peopie Of the Whole state
Looking back now on the scenes of activity
before and Immediately succeeding the war,
in them. it must be said that Missouri has. in
the death of Mr.. Brown, suffered loss that
Is almost rreparable.
Judge Cullen arose to second Gov
ernor Fletcher's motion, saying that
while he had differed with Mr.. Brown
or, tho uuac fion of State ri uhtS and other
political questions, he had always adj
mired the noble manner in which he up
held his principles:
.He was always a gentleman, both in his
debates on the political platform and in
his acts at the bar. But more especially
count Of the fact that at the stormy pc.
Rod succeeding the war, when passion
e aed When we os smarn
under the realization of defeat, he came
forward with the olive branch in his hand,
proclaiming peace and good will among
men,"
Colonel d. P. Dyer said:
THAT Governor Brown. was a lawyer OF
great learning and ripe scholar, no one
his character were his boldness and courage
In carrying out his convictions. He would
stand by his convictions were he solitary
and alone. 1t Is an easy matter to drift
It is different thing to lead it. After new
your belief in them Governor Browns
character is interviewer with the
e esaory he OF has Sesn n m in be.
convictions. At times he stood almost alone,
but lived to see the adoption. OF nearly all the
acquaintance with him dates back to that
period in Missouris history which tried
mems souls: 1t was my honor at that time
to be member of the State Legislature and
my pleasure to cast my ballot for Mr.. Brown
for United States Senator. Then was asso
for Governor in 1870. IN ali the Relations 81
life have found him a true man."
Ex-Lieutenant Thomas C. Reynolds,
the man who wounded Mr.. Brown in
duel growing out of political differences,
said:
my motives If did not take this opportuni.
ty of paying tribute to the memory of the
deceased. For thelast fifteen years we have
been intimate personal friends, and especial
ly so the last year, during which we have
been members of the same court feel that
no
one who has at various times occupied the
highest position in the gift of the people,
and 'ea candidate Candle e Of one Of the 's great
parties for Vice -President The courage
of his convictions was backed -, by
he was self sacrificing and always conscien-
tious: A few years ago his fortune was
life were occupied in an effort to pay his
debts. He was laboring for this purpose at
the time that death overlook him. As look
around and compare him with other men of
our community and of our Nation, think
Lean well say that st; Louis. Missouri, yes.
the UnfOn-has suffered a loss which they
are seldom called upon to sustain.
One of the most eloquent speeches was
that of General John w Noble. He said:
poor man, without friends and without
Browns office was then in the block Just OPP
posite here, and went and applied to him
for to his library He had meyer Yer
H lie frequentlY CAME a and eneourased me-,
and he has been my friend evsi
others ut heart His sympathes were broad
and deep. He taught US the lesson of assist,
ing those beneath us His was wonderful
mightiest acts. He was hero, the champion
of liberty, the advocate of freedom, and was
tors a native Of Kentucky and himself the
owner of slaves; He had at heart the welfare are
to to stand alone, if Needle, in asserting what
he believed was right. When the wa
came on he went out as a soldier to bat
m ar Regimens reserved corps. since the
war was over he has walked in the presence
OF the common people hero, but 1t has
been as the SILENT modest, unaSSuming citi-
was a true leader of men on the broad field
of truth. History will not record of him that
he left his millions, nor that he achieved In
high positions great victories and a glorious
name, but it will say of him that he was the
earliest as he was the latest advocate of the
freedom of all citizens.
Governor Robert Camp
bell said:
Although not an active member of the bar
/ feel that ought to add something com
mending the virtues of Governor Brown.
Thirty years ago last month he was sent to
the Legislature at Jefferson City. As clerk oil
that body had an opportunity to watch his
movements as well as those Of others. That
was l think, the most distinguished Legis
Iature that has ever sat in our State, and Mr.
Brown, although then only about twenty
seven or twenty eight years of age, was the
equal of them all, either in eioquence or In
a general acquaintance with his duties. He
frequently had a contest with men who
afterward became distinguished. The
grandest sight l ever saw was when in 1857
he stood up in the House of Representatives
solitary and alone, representing but a frac
ton of the people and proclaimed his oppo.
sition to slavery. 1t was the finest effort,
think that have ever had the fortune to
hear Many had held these sentiments, but
none vet had dared to proclaim them in pub
lie And afterwards, when the blood OF til,
Nation began to boil, lie stepped to the fore
front and took his position among the troop
of the Union. In all conflicts he led rather
than followed. Since he has withdraw
from National politics. his decisive. nature