Evening star., 1907-07-28
Sketch of His Career.

Although Senator Pettus was of aI-
vanced age. the announcement of his death
at Hot Springs, N. c., came as great
surprise and shock to his friends here. He
had just passed his eighty-sixth birthday,
having reached that milepost of his life on
the 9Th of the present month. He retained
such vigorous appearance, however, that
in the opinion of many of his friends he
was Likely to live several years, as he took
the best of care of his health and was
careful not to overtax his strength.
Last winter during the sessions Of the
Senate the senator experienced an Illness
that caused alarming reports concerning his
condition. but after several weeks of good
nursing he returned to the Senate and con-
tinued to occupy his place with great reg,i-
larity until adjournment. He was mem-
ber of the committee military affairs
and after that body began the investigat on
into the Brownsville affair he was of
the most faithful among the members of the
committee In his attendance upon the ses-
sions. He from the first protested against
the investigation. claiming that it could
not be fruitful Of any important result. and
declared that the Senate would be placed in
an embarr ssing position in case the inVes
tigation should be followed by further
action. He frequently pointed out that
such an investigation should be carried on
by the House of Representatives. II at all,
as the House wos constitutionally the body
to bring an Indictment against the Pres
OeNt, the senate DelnS cFdTSeu Win the
duty of Impeachment proceedings. 1t was
this line of argument that caused the modi-
fication of the Senate resolution excepting
the question of the right of the President
to take the action he did la the dismissal
Of the troops from the scope of the investi
cation. Before he left the city for the last
time, a short Ome before the adjournment
of the committee, he left memorandum
with Senator Overman stating that In his
Judgment the action of the President In
dsmiss.ng the colored troops was jnstifiea.
Entered Senatorial Race.
The story Of how Senator Pcttus entered
the senatorial race in his state is well
known among his friends. He had appar-
entity never aspired TO a seat in the Senate
until he went to Senator Pugh, his prede-
cessor, and stated that he would IKE TO
have his support for appointment as a
federal judge. Senator Pugh later re-
marked to some of Mr. Pettus' friends that
'Pettus is too old" This was repeated to
Mr. Pettus, who was then screnty-iivc
years old. but he drily retorted that II he
was too Old to be judge he was not too
old to be a United States senator. He
promptly announced his candidacy for the
Senate, and he recc.?cd the nominal ton at
a primary election. His reelection for
second term was without opposition. After
his election to the Senate he was often
visited on the floor by his predecessor
(Pugh), who never harbo-ed any III feeling
because of being displaced by the man he
thought too old to be a federal Judge.
From the first OF his service In the Senate
Mr. Pettus was a favorite on both sides of
the chamber. His recollection OF events In
American history covered such \ long
period and his Views generally on legal
matters were so sound. that he inspired the
highest respect He presided over the
Senate on several occasions, and insisted
upon a strict adherence to parlia nent tary
rules, lie having been thoroughly trained as
a presiding officer In the Legislature Of mis-
state He and Senator Morgan had been
lifelong friends. having begun the prac-
ticc of law in the same town about sixty
years ago. They were eminently congenial
and Mr.. Pettus strong admrer Of
his Old friend. He always seized every oc-
casion to pay tribute to the great ability.
and especially to the legal attachments, of
Senator Morgan. He was a regular attend
ant upon the sessions of the Senate. and
WAS often distressed because MS hearing
was SO poor that ii was difficult for him to
accurately follow the proceedings.
First to Discover Morgan's Condition.
Senator Pettus was OF the first to
discover that Senator Morgan's condition
would not permit even a partial recovery.
He was outspoken, when the senator's
friends were insisting that he. would get
better. in telling those with whoIfl he talked
that Mr. Morgan was king down per
ceptibly. and that III his Judgment he could
not live long.
Senator Pettus was born in Limestone
county, Ala, and was proud of tracing his
ancestors to revolutionary stock. He was
educated in the common schools of his
state and at Clinton College. Tennessee He
studied law and began the practice of his
(Con tinued on Fifth Page)