Year: 1872

DEATH OF Gel. JOHN W. DAWSON.


The announcement yesterday of the
death Of this well-knOwn citizen thrilled
with painful surprise and sorrOw the
hearts Of many i'm this community, by
whom he was known and loved. On
that sad occasion, nearly twelve months
ago, when Memphis was draped in
mourning for the death Of General
Robert f. Lee, Colonel Dawson was
Marshal of the day. Since that time
his life has been Pickering, like an eX-
piring taper, until yesterday morning,
when it went out at the residence Of his
father-in-law, Colonel Eugene Ma
gevney.


In recording the death of this estima-
ble citizen, we would not transcend the
bounds Of just eommendation, or gloss
by injudieious praise those imperfections
incident to our common humanity.
Colonel Dawson's many bright virtues
We're shaded by fraiIties, but his faults
were not Of the meaner, but the nobler
kind, for even his failings leaned to yir-
tues side. After an intimate acquaint-
ance with the deceased, for fifteen years
Of unbroken friendship, we have no
hesitancy in saying that we never
knew a Drawer man, a truer friend
or a more devoted patriot. He
was rash. impetuOus, and some
times violent when aroused, but
the impulses that aroused him, even
when in error, were always pure, unself-
ish and chivalrOus. There was neither
injustice, malignity nor an atom of
meanness of any sort in his character.
Although sometimes involved on ac-
count of his ardent temperament and
devotion to friends in personal difficult
ties, vet he never deliberately sought or
desired to do bodily harm or other
wrong to any man. We have seen OF
known his truth, his courage, his jus
tiee, his generosity, tested in more than
one way, both in peace and war. We
speak from knowledge derived from in
innate intercOurse-sometimes under
trying eircumstances-in the Ordi-
nary business Of life, in the
social circle, and amidst the rude
associations Of the bivOuac. We have
had the very best opportunity to feel
and to appreciate his generous, chival-
rOUs readiness in coming forward TO
testify to truth and to repel calumny in
the case of one who had, at the time,
none Of the claims Of intimate friend
ship upon him. Such rare instances
give evidence of lofty, heroic virtue,
enough TO outweigh a thOusand-fold
the faults that lay patent, open and un-
concealed from the eye of the world.


We presume Colonel Dawson was
near forty years Of age. He was born I
in Maryland and raised in Washington
city. He removed to Memphis in lS5s, |
ami formed = partnership with B. J.
Semmes in . wholesale liquor house,
and was engaged in a prosperous busi-
hess at the commencement of the war.
With all the ardOr Of his enthusiastic
nature he enlisted on the side of the
South. He received several wounds
during the war. Indeed, his person was
disfgured by many Every pulsation
Of his large and chivalrie heart
was for the South and the
people. He hated wrong and
oppression, and he dared to do what the |
brave and good ought to do to prevent 1
them. Colonel John w. Dawson was
no holiday soldier or sunshine patriot. /
He was brave, generous, noble, patriotic. !
In peace he was as the soft touch of \
woman. He had a heart always open 4
to the pleadings ofthe poor or distressed. l
On the battlefield he shrank I.
from no difficulty; and he knew
no danger. He loved his State as a
mother loves her child. The memory of
his eOuntry's heroes and her perils shed
a halo around his hearts best affections. [
He was noble and brave, for, Of truth,
he never turned his back on friend or
foe. For these qualities We hOnored
him. For these qualities We loved T.
him. And thus We mourn him,
because We sorrow for his little
family, his friends and his country. The
remains of Colonel Dawson will soon
be consigned to the land he loved so
well, and the South never took TO her
bosom a purer or more sincere friend.