Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-20
RECOLLECTIoNs OF PROMINENT
GEORG1ANS.
Scenes, Incidents and Anecdotes Re
called After Many Years.

ulLlGIn6oS bGACNc RAbtNA hSSS9 SAAN WV 'fAN
is governed by partisan feeling is by no
means complimentary when reviewing
the men, measures or means OF the OPP
posing party.
While Mr.. johnson was Governor the
writer, as Wing partisan, talked wrote
and felt as q partisan towards Gov.
johnson. OF course there could be no
great cordiality between u.s. THE seces-
sion of the State in 1861 threw Gov. John
son and the writer into the same ranks
politically. We both opposed secession.
Our feelings were changed towards each
other; and after the war, when happen
ing to be travelling together on the cars,
the writer said to him, Governor l have
seen what fool l have been in being
strong partisan, and how / have talked
and written against those l now esteem
and admire"
"Ahp' said Gov. johnson, ga great
many OF us have been fools. When trou-
BILE came we found each other out. We
are all one big family of brothers and
friends"
He was truly great and good man in
the best sense of the word. He was a
thinker and scholar.
AN OFFICER WHO KNEW HIS BUSINESS.
Mai. Joel Crawford was man of mark
in his day. and was beaten for Governor
by Hon. Wilson Lumpkin. He served in
Congress with distinction. He was fine
cOnversationalist, we'll read. an extensive
traveller, and an aristocrat In his feelings
when it came down to flattering the peO-
pie or making promises. There was moth
ing of the demagogue about him, and he
never courted popularity. He was man
of means and an extensive planter.
While living in Hancock county, on one
occasion, through neglect or forgettul-
ness, he failed to pay his taxes. The Tax
Collector gave notice that he would close
his books on certain day, and those fail
ing to pay their taxes would have execu-
lions issued against them. One day while
standing on the street in Sparta, the Sheriff
SAID to him; "Maj. Crawford have an
execution against you for failing to pay
your taxes"
The Major was taken by surprise, but
said, "who is the Tax Collector; l don't
know him, but must go and see him, for
have found one public officer who knows
how to discharge his duty as an officer
without fear or favor." Some men in his
position would have felt that they had
been insulted by the Collector.
On another occasion, during Political
campaign, when in Macon at the Lanier
House, a number of gentlemen were ex-
pressing their opinions about the mteili-
gence and virtue Of the mass Of the people.
The Major did not take much stock in the
compliments paid the masses, for he well
knew the people We're swaved by their
party feelings. passions or admiration for
certain party leaders. TGOmbs, Stephens,
Cobb, Colquitt and others were in their
glory as party leaders. Maj. Crawford
listened until he got tired of the eulogy
on the people, when he said: "Gentle-
men, have heard great deal about the
virtue and intelligence of the mass CT the
people, but allow me to say after 40 years
OF pretty good acquaintance with the
mass OF the people, | consider them a set
of d--n FOOLS"
''That is decidedly, Major, a left-handed
compliment to the people" said gentle
man.
cit is true, gentlemen,'' observed the
Major, ''the masses do not think, but are
swayed by the public speakers who tiatter
them"
THE HOsPITALITIEs OF THE OCCASION
Gen. John w. "A. Sanford, of Milledge-
vile, Ca, a man Of some note in his day'
was elected to the Legislature from Bald
win county by one vote oyer his opponent
Col. BriscOe. 1t was an exciting cam
paign for the county, for both candidates
were free with their money, and treating
was the order Of the day, as everything
seemed to depend upon the floating vote,
of which the county had its share of such
voters.
AS stated Gen. Sanford was elected by
vote.
The next morning after the election the
General appeared upon the streets, but
there was no smile upon his face and no
expression of victory In his manner. he
looked troubled and so felt. and told his
fVianda fhnf ha fr.fo Z n v4offfxy Tho Lou
ernor that he would not serve, ami to Or
der another election. His friends could
not persuade him from his fixed purposes,
and in letter to the people Of Baldwin
county. he said: "The election was holly
contested, great exertiOns were made by
my friends, / dispensed the usual hospi-
talities on such occasions, and l cannot
conscientiously take the oath as Iegisa-
tor on account Of the manner in which /
secured my election"
A new election wac held and Col. Bris-
coe was elected. Gen. Sanford had re-
markable conversational powers, and was
choice and elegant in his expressions.
TIRED-so TIRED.
Or. Benjamin A. White, Of Milledge-
Vile, was a noted physician, and stood
high among bis professional brethren.
Be bad an Investigating mind, and was
.SAfoN OpoSA FGl Vhu FiSAb tNeRtANtf tAy htAh
stood time and again at the bedside Of the
dying. and had a great desire to know
how the dying felt. The time atlast came
when he would lave 10 experience for
himself the sensations Of the dying. He
said 10 bis son, DR.. S. q. White, an emil
nent man himself in the profession:
samuel, you know ] have often eX-
pressed desire 10 know how the dying
telt in their last moments II conscious. !
have but a few days longer 10 live, and
wish you, when you know / am dying, 20
ask me how feel. My pulse viii proba-
bly, beat few seconds after | am dead"
The time came. and when DIR. Samuel
White saw that his father was sinking,
aroused him, and asked: "Father, how do
you feel?"
The old doctor opened his eyes, and
said: "Tired, tired-so tired" aud in a
short time closed bis eyes in death. II
there be q rest for the rood after death,
then DR.. b. A. White ceased IN be tired,
and entered upon his eternal rest and
greeted the joyful forever.
THEY WILL HANG THAT MAN.
IL has always been customary 70 preach
30 the lunatics in the State Lunatic Asy-
lum, near Milledgeville. on sunday. DIFF
ferent ministers would oniciate. N 80
happened on one occasion that tne Rev.
Dr.. Samuel x. TalWage, President Of
Oglethorpe University. was asked by DR..
Green, the Superintendent, TO ofhciate.
DR.. Talmage consented.
In the course Of the sermon Dr.