The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-03
IN MEMORIAM.


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E.mHrs. 81 Hos. T.. A. socrHwosra II Carroll
10 The House Of Representative, Weiues,la
night February %, commemorative Of JrpoF J
s JoHSs1s, uefli-'r Of fhe Legislature af . s..,
Mr.. SPEAKER: II is meet that ",
should pause for moment amid the
busy tolls and cares # our lab0rs tl
give thought To the conduct and charac
ter of the departed, 20 contemplate al
that was beautiful and good in his life
and to pay some tribute To his virtues,
% keep fresh bis memory. We should
DO this, Mr. Speaker, through respect
and esteem for the dead, and as an
example and ii warning 70 the living.
Mr.. Speaker, 10 is NOT my purpose To
attempt formal euiygy upOn the life
and character OF Judge johnson. my
distinguished predecessor iu this body.
jOr that has been 30 ably, attiuglv and
appropriately done 10y my colleague, who
has preceded me: bat a. his death II
matter which touches with tenderest
sorrow so many hearts iu the county
which bonDr- me with its confidence.
that ! ask the Indulgence of the House
To- second the resolutions Just offered
and 20 add "a tew words 90 what has
already been so feeliuely and iruthf0liy
said. Mr.. Speaker, since thi, Legisla
tuTe last assembled, one Of It's hOuOred
members, Judge Johnson, has passed
away, and dunug rs Irescu, session the
grim messenger ot death has entered |
the other end Of this Capitol and called
from that Chamber, one Of its nOblest !
members 20 try the sad realities of another /
shore. Unexpected and uuweic0me was /
his visit. Mr. Speaker on the morning |
after that sad event in Columbus when
the gentleman from jefferson came to
my seat in this House and told me that
Senator \crtncr-that man. whom in
"a short time / had learned to honor and
love, was dead, ! arose and bowed my
head my heart wa. filled with grief and
sorrow. That announcement, Mr.
Speaker, sent q thrill Of agony through
the hearts Of all those around me. As
the falling staiWart oak causes a tremb-
ing in the surrounding forest, so the
fall OF Senator Nertuer caused the ten
der chords Of the hearts Of the people all
over the State To yibrate with the ten
der touch of sorrow. Well might his
friends weep at their own as well as
states loss Indeed he WAS man Of
whom all may speak ia praise and
upon whose bier all may drop their tear
jf sympathy. When earth took him
nto her bosom, she took one Of her
loblest sons, and when Paradise badei
lim come, pure spirit entered therein
Nay the flowers of spring bloom over
ais newly made grave, and the feathered
Messengers sing Weetlv above his tomb
.Ir 1 4 e g !
House TO pay feeble uibute to Judge
ions, but know il viii pardon Il
ne forthe allu-iOn to Senator j
.ertner, tor ! would have been un-
rue to the promTtings Of my .
wn heart, had / not, during the course
Il these memorial exercises, have said
hus much. Mr. Speaker, my colleague a
ias spoken more fully of Judge John a
on's life and public career than can be
Npectcd from me; bat o. his iuteliec- V
ual strength, his honest heart, and his q
earless convictions, have aeep and last =
ne impressions. BY close attention TO
usiness, and an uutlinchiug devotion ~
D duty, Judge johnson had made q sue
ess in every department of life in o.
'hich he embarked. As q farmer, law a
er and politician, he was emiuently s.
uccessfui. As "a private citizen, stain b.
ass, dcfraudlug nor dealing hardly with ~
ny man. prosperous and successful IN q
very eHdeavor, may not say his y
ie WAS 4 success? But, sir, could I say m
othIng more than this, it would seem ",
, me but the cold praise exacted by ii
.rict Justice. My heart would give no,
asponse; my friendship pay no tribute. "a
mans life lived for self alone Is at
allure. Judge johnson lived another, b
higher a purer, uobler life than that u'
self interest TIE stream which turns =.
he wheel of the mill and drives the .,
olndle, does It's duty; bat never this ci
lone All along its course from its tI
)uree TO It. mouth, it continually pl
lakes green the grass, waters the VI
overs, and gives lie 10 the trees. =,
o Judge johnson, all through his or
ing, active and successful career, never C
n one moment, when Oyertaking and "
assing by his less fortunate fellow-man, OF
,rgot him, but stretched out TO him =
elping hand and gave him words of y
bod cheer. Without pretension, he ~
as industrious, earnest and able: with NJ
nc obstiuacy, he was firm; without OF
Righteousness, he was scrupulousiy G
Onest and conscientious in all things %
uthful TO his friends, vet Just TO his u
ppOuents; true to his convictions, vet ~
yer ready to receive suggestions and
iyice. ScOrning deceit, he diligently sl
,ught for truth fearless in action, and dI
] the expressions of his own opinions, In
ct attentive and respectful to those rs
ith whom he differed; public-spirited a.
; a citizen, kind and sympathetic TO oi
ne suffering. A good husband, an in y
ulgeut father, genial as au associate, el
e was q man 10 be houored and loved n
5 he was in life and sincerely mourned I'll
: he is in death. To those, Mr.. Speaker, n,
no knew Judge johnson IS did the ii
eOple of his own county, no words of :,
'ine can add anything to the incense G
hiCh envelopes his memory or increase OF
he respect which in life his high char
,ter challenged from all with whom 70
e came in contact. Judge Johnson ~
ad his Weaknesses as all men have, -
ut for every thing that could dignity, n,
nnoble and elevate the human charac pl
err, he was the peer of any man who 81
YER lived or died He walked the solid a.
8rth as if he spurned beneath his n
'et every base and unmaniy consider =
ton; but this good man has passed and 4,
he world is poorer for his loss, but II
cner and better because he once lived. OF
hus, Mr.. Speaker, has closed life not ii
D brilliant indeed as sone that fash 81
heir lights across the age in which they
We, but 50 useful, so practical, so ~
eyoted to everything tnat could aid, =,
rosper aud foster the best interests of Il
he community in which he lived, that OF
is more than doubted whether a bet II
er model Of life we'll spent and duty n
'ell done can be held up for the closest =
of those who are to come after Z
hem. And now, Mr.. Speaker, rs Repre- a,
entative of that people who have honor O.
q him so often, and of that county he
eryed so faithfully and loved so well, s.
second the resolutions offered by my col z
eague and ask that they be unanimous :
Y adopted. Il
4 D.