USA > Tennessee > Old times in Tennessee, with historical, personal, and political scraps and sketches > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
337
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
1
XVII.
ABOUT A PORTRAIT-THE PRESENTATION CEREMONIES AND THE SPEECHES ON THE OCCASION.
The following account of the presentation to me of my portrait on behalf of members of the bar and officers of the Law Court, is copied from the Nashville American of January 23, 1876:
At 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon Judge Jo. C. Guild walked into the Law Library room of the Bar Association, surrounded by a score or more of gentlemen of the law, bent on witnessing a ceremony fraught with intense interest. As they filed into the room, each one glanced to the right where the venerable Judge's portrait hung in a gilt frame, a general murmur of approval spreading over the apartment. They all seemed to be of the one opinion-a singular circumstance among lawyers-that it was a magnificent portrait, a life-like representation of "Old Jo. Guild" himself. The perfect likeness was rendered more apparent from the fact that Judge Guild now wore the same garb he sported when the picture was taken, but instead of holding in his hand the familiar clay pipe, which appeared in the portrait, he car- ried a knotted hickory stick.
Congratulations were now in order, and the hand of the Judge was cordially shaken. until Chancellor Cooper, the President of the Association, called the meeting to order by a rap on the table. Every one then squared himself to hear something rich and rare.
WHAT THE CHANCELLOR SAID.
Chancellor Cooper said : Gentlemen, Members of the Bar- You are, doubtless, aware that we have come together upon this grave and solemn occasion for the purpose of having placed in a prominent position in our library room here, the figure of one of our pioneers in the law, our old war-horse of the law, who has tried more cases and a greater variety ; who, before he went upon the bench, acquitted more criminals, and since he went on the bench divorced more unhappy couples, than any other person in
1.
.
338
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
Tennessee. [Immense laughter.] In the course of human events, we shall lose him, but we hope not until a long-distant day. When we shall no more greet his personal presence, we will have the consolation of the next best thing in looking upon a most excellent likeness, and clothed in the ermine of the Law Court of Nashville [loud laughter], with nothing but the pipe to make it complete.
John Ruhm .- It is there.
Chancellor Cooper .- Then the painting is complete indeed. Gen. Thruston .- Everything but the smoke. [Laughter.]
Chancellor Cooper .- The ceremonies will now be opened by our distinguished fellow-citizen, Gen. Bate.
THE PRESENTATION ADDRESS.
Gen. Bate spoke as follows :
President and Gentlemen of the Bar of Nashville -- We are about to participate in ceremonies of a highly interesting charac- ter. We have received at the hands of the members of the bar of Nashville, associated with the officers of the court over which he presides, the picture of Judge Guild, which we are now about to present. It can certainly be said that in the line of his duty he has been successful as a pleader and as a judge, and has re- leased more unfortunate people from the bonds matrimonial than any other gentleman in the State. [Laughter.] But, perhaps, I , can't speak of that so feelingly as Chancellor Cooper [laughter], and I therefore make no illusion to official duties. I take pleasure in presenting this picture for various reasons. I take a personal pride in doing so. I have known Judge Guild from boyhood up, and heard him argue the first lawsuit I ever heard and the last charge he made-that went very much against me in the Law Court yesterday. [Laughter.] I am pleased to present this token of esteem, because I know that he is one of the historie characters of the State of Tennessee; he is a link that fastens the past with the present members of the bar. He is one of those legal mile-posts that direct us to our future destiny. Judge Guild is entirely a self-made man, and his success should be an encouragement to you younger members of the bar. He has struggled up through poverty and misfortune in early life. He was an eloquent and bold advocate of the bar and one of the best
.
339
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
men in the land. The picture speaks for itself. It is life-like. Mr. Dury has drawn a true representation of the original. He has painted it to the life, in accordance with the instructions the committee gave him-with his gown on, that familiar clay pipe in one hand and his court papers in the other, just as he presents himself upon the bench. As Cromwell said to his artist, we in- tended to have him painted, scars and all. It does credit to Dury, as it does to those who present it to Judge Guild. There is not one in this assembly that cannot at any time call to his mind Judge Guild's strong cast of features, his expression, his very walk and actions. There is not one of us that will not re- member these peculiarities; but we wanted one of the greatest of the historic characters of the bar of Middle Tennessee to go down to posterity as we behold him here to-day. When I spoke to Mr. Dury in praise of his work, he said: " I don't deserve to be complimented, for the simple reason that a man would not be an artist who could not paint the strong and characteristic fea- tures of Judge Guild."
Judge Guild has been a part and parcel of the bar of Tennes- see for fifty years, and he is still as young as ever.
I am pleased, Judge Guild, on behalf of the bar of Tennes- see and the officers of the court over which you preside, to pre- sent that picture to you, leaving you to make what disposition of it you may see fit. We transmit you to the eyes of those who may never have had the pleasure of looking upon you in person.
RESPONSE OF JUDGE GUILD.
Judge Guild responded in the following characteristic speech :
Gentlemen of the Bar of Nashville and of the Bar Associa- tion-I feel like my friend Gen. Bate. I had made no prepara- tion, and had very little time to prepare myself for this interest- ing ceremony. But I am like the old Baptist preacher who was unprepared-he opened his mouth and trusted in God to fill it. [Laughter.] I feel greatly honored upon this occasion. Look- ing back upon my past life, it does not occur to me that I have done anything in the great battle of life that is worthy of the honor conferred upon me. I attribute it to your kindness, to your generosity, and to the happy relations existing between us from our first acquaintance. It would be a great pleasure to me
340
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
if, when we look back at the distinguished bar that Tennessee has ever been honored with, I could see upon these walls the portraits of the lamented Felix Grundy, of Ephraim H. Foster, William L. Brown, Balie Peyton, of Crab, of Hays, of John Bell, and that great galaxy of talent that has never been excelled at any bar in these United States. It would draw us closer to those of our worthy brothers that have gone down to the grave, and revive in our recollections the eloquence and collisions that took place at the bar long, long ago.
It is a great misfortune, I say, that we have not the portraits of such men. Gentlemen of the bar, while you are no better at heart than other men-for all men have the slumbering and latent fires of patriotism in their bosoms-you are greater, as the history of the world shows, in consequence of your training, in consequence of the eloquence that has aroused the heart of every people who have lived on the face of the earth. There never was a revolution, there never was a lick struck for liberty, for the cutting down of the prerogative of kingly power, the op- pression of the people, but the members of the bar were leaders in the great work. You belong to a noble avocation ; you have the example of those great men running down the tide of time to emulate, to admire. It was Cicero's great fire that burned on the forum and in the Senate at Rome; it was his fire that drove the traitor Cataline from Rome, and the infamous Claudius; it was the sacred fire of Demosthenes that aroused Athens; it was the eloquence of Philip that nerved Leonidas and his three hun- dred followers at Thermopyla for the salvation of their country ; it was a lawyer, when the Apostles became alarmed and dispersed in the garden and deserted the blessed Messiah, that stood firm, his heart swelling with indignation at the treatment of Christ on Calvary amidst the Roman bayonets, and that took down our Saviour, dressed him in linen, embalmed him in the sepulcher; it was the lawyers of England that rose up against the tyranny of the Tudors, the Stuarts, and the Lancasters, and aroused the English to arms; it was Shrewsbury and Lord Bolingbroke who put William and Mary upon the throne in 1688. When George the Third sought to oppress the colonies of America, James Otis rose up and made a great speech against the bill of assessments. Old John Adams caught the fire of Otis. The ball was set in
-
341
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
motion in Massachusetts, and brought out the celebrated speech of Patrick Henry, the great natural orator, in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
Otis was an argumentative man, and when he ceased to speak his hearers became dissatisfied. He could strike cords of the heart that moved his audience. It was a different kind of ora- tory from that of Henry. Otis was a beautiful, placid river, that ran along the lawns, kissing the grasses as its waters passed along ; but Patrick Henry was one of those mountain streams which come rushing, roaring, frothing, thundering down the mountain, and he just knocked them into a cocked hat every time. [Loud, prolonged, and convulsive laughter.]
And whenever I hear a man crying out against the profession of the lawyer, I regard him as worse than a sheep-killing dog. [Renewed laughter.] His mouth ought to be burned with hot eggs. [Laughter.] While I don't contend that lawyers are bet- ter than other men, yet, from their opportunities, from the whet- ting of their intellects, from their constant looking into the his- tory of the State, study of human nature, and rubbing up against men, I say that liberty is indebted to the lawyers in every coun- try. Their military fire burns slowly, but when the spirit is touched up with lightning you may expect the devil from them. [Laughter.]
There was Alexander Hamilton, who probably did more to- ward carrying the constitution into effect than any other man. His deeds in the war for independence placed him high in the uiche of fame. Few, if any, rose higher; and when he fell, it was like the fall of a towering oak in the silence of the woods. It shocked the American heart. There was old John Adams, too; he was one of those lightning lawyers. And what about old Jackson ? Was not he a lawyer? Old Andy Jackson blazed his way with John Overton, McNairy, John Haywood, and oth- ers. They were the founders of the law in Tennessee. I maintain that there never was a greater military chieftain than Andrew Jackson. The speech of James Otis made old John Adams what he was; the speech of Patrick Henry made Jefferson what he was. William Pinckney, and a host of others of the profession, were of the best bred stock in the United States. [Laughter.] It is Lexington and Australian stock mixed.
342
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
The members of the bar have ever maintained the fame of their predecessors. Look what a galaxy we had here in 1820. There was old Jenkin Whiteside, Felix Grundy, Andrew Hays, Dickerson, and Ephraim H. Foster-he was a Saul of Tarsus. [Laughter.] He was a shoulder higher than any of them-a gallant, striding, peacock man. [Loud laughter.] I always ex- cept old Jackson. [Uproarious laughter.] Come along down, and I say we haven't depreciated. I say, gentlemen, that you can go all over these things and take the lawyers rough and tum- ble-now I'm a rough and tumble man myself [Laughter]- from the justice of a Police Court to the Supreme Court of Ten- nessee, and I maintain there is not a better bar in America than the Nashville bar. [Applause.]
Now, there were three or four speeches made before me yester- day. There was Bate, Ned Baxter, Williams, and Allison. I would say that these speeches would knock the tads out of any bar in the United States. [Loud and prolonged laugh- ter.] Although, General Bate, I charged the law against you on one pint, in the other I charged it for you. [ Uproarious applause and renewed laughter.] I think we are about even. [Contin- ned laughter.]
Here's my friend, the President of this Association. Gentle- men, I have always admired him. He is at the head of an insti- tution that keeps these tools all along up there (pointing to the law library), that ought to be used by all men, who ought not to lose sight of these great volumes opened to men. They ought to use these tools to peck their intellects. A man ought never ยป to idly while away his time. He ought not to be seen in a saloon, sacking down liquor to his detriment and injury-though once in a while he would take a dram. (Immense applause and laugh- ter.) But it gives him an opportunity to brush away vice and dis- sipation. Like the proud eagle, perched upon the loftiest cliffs, when the storm comes and the rain falls, with a little quiver in the pinion, it is as dry as a board. [More laughter and applause.]
I would prefer that this picture should remain in here, if it is the will of the Association. As for the President of this insti- tution-I never flatter, I'm a plain, blunt spoken man-he is what I call a commendious man; a man great in the law, and whose decisions are quoted with approbation by the Supreme
-
343
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
Court, and have very great influence. After awhile he will be quoted with approbation and favor at Westminster. He is a man of small stature and commendious parts. [Laughter.] He is a walking warehouse of the law. [Laughter.] When I had any difficulty about law, I would say, "Cooper, how about this thing ?" and when I checked upon his bank he never failed to honor it. The only thing is, he won't check on the bank of woman. [Laughter.] Woman would honor his checks, no doubt. [Re- newed laughter.] Though I may have divorced some infelicitous couples, if this young gentleman should lead some Tennessee damsel to the altar, I would be as tender on that thing as possi- ble. [Loud and prolonged laughter.]
Well, now, when a young man comes here to study, the old man in the picture will always look kindly and approvingly down upon him, and encourage him to go on. I might mention here the names of Hugh L. White, Gentry, James C. Jones, Polk, Aaron V. Brown, as men who have made their mark and deserve to be emulated. Yes, and I might mention in this con- nection my old friend Neill S. Brown, for he is one of the tight- est papers I have ever met with at the bar, and in politics you can't hold him, he will slip through your hands. He is a man with a good heart and fine talent.
I am gratified to see the bar of Nashville lending its influence to the building up of this institution. It will be a great means of developing the intellect. It is an enterprise that ought to be endowed by some rich gentleman. "Whosoever thirsteth, let him come and drink of the water of life freely"-so it is said somewhere else. The library ought to be encouraged and sus- tained. I have detained you long enough. I return the bar my heart-felt thanks, and then I thank the President of the Associa- tion. I think I have said enough. I can only thank you, gen- tlemen, and I will just stop right here.
The room rang with laughter and shouts of approval as the Judge concluded his extraordinary speech.
REMARKS OF PRESIDENT COOPER.
President Cooper said, when order had been restored, for every one was in a " high old way :"
We are most happy to accept your valuable present. I am
344
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE. .
certain I express the sentiments of every one that we will look at it with feelings of reverence, respect, and proper affection. I purposely say affection as last in the climax. No one can over- come the kindly and genial feeling that lies under a rather stern exterior, nor the humor and wit that have so often enlivened us. I think, Judge, we are complimented in having your picture here. We accept it with due gratitude and esteem. The occa- sion is one to which we may ever revert with pleasure. There is a distinguished gentleman present with whom we have long been associated, one from whom we would be delighted to hear- Judge Peter Turney.
THE SUPREME BENCH HEARD FROM.
Judge Turney said: This is entirely unexpected to me. I am here as an invited guest, to witness the presentation of the por- trait of the venerable and esteemed gentleman who has just taken his seat. I have felt a deep interest in it, and the more so because of my long acquaintance with Judge Guild. I have, as a member of the profession, fought with him many hard battles. I cannot undertake, after what you have heard, to extend my re- marks. I cordially endorse what has been said. I approve every word that has fallen from the gentlemen who have spoken, and especially the high compliment that Judge Guild paid to the profession of the law. It is to it that the people and the country look for safety. I will merely be content to recite one of the lessons which Judge Green, one of the pioneer fathers of the law, instilled into my heart. He said, "I am happy to be a Chris- tian; I attend service regularly. You have heard me, in the absence of preachers, exhort. You know my feelings with re- gard to Christians and Christianity. One good lawyer in a community, one lawyer who has educated himself properly, i- worth three or four ministers of the gospel. His influence is better; he is controlled always by the best moral guide. Law is based on religion. It teaches moral ideas. You cannot put your finger where a lawyer has led a mob; you can where preachers have led or been in a mob. You cannot point your finger where a preacher has stopped a mob, but lawyers have stopped them. I mean no disrespect to the preachers; but be- cause there are differences in life there are different relations.
---
345
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
The principle of this is better understood by lawyers, because they have the advantage of knowing human nature."
The meeting was wound up by Judge Baxter telling an amus- ing anecdote on Judge Guild, and a recital of the celebrated bull speech made at Gallatin by Judge Guild, which brought down the house with tremendous applause.
Almost every member of the Nashville bar was present. There were also a great many other representative citizens, and the room was packed. On no occasion had the reporter ever witnessed more general enthusiasm and genuine good humor.
23
346
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
XVIII.
THE GOLDEN WEDDING OF JUDGE AND MRS. GUILD-REMIN- ISCENCES OF HALF A CENTURY.
. On the 19th of December, 1876, myself and wife celebrated our golden wedding, and the graphic description of the affair fur- nished the Nashville Commercial by our friend Judge Jackson B. White, a Nashville lawyer of large experience and a fine writer, is here given in full, as follows:
: Supposing your readers will be interested in a description of the golden wedding of Judge Guild and lady, which was cele- brated at their residence in Edgefield on the evening of the 19th of December, 1876, I now attempt to give them an impression of that interesting event.
The guests were invited to be present at 6 o'clock in the even- ing. Your correspondent arrived promptly at the hour desig- nated in his card of invitation. I found the Judge dressed in an elegant suit of black, white satin vest, white kid gloves, and an elaborately embroidered cravat, plain shirt bosom and standing collar, the whole constituting the outfit of a bridegroom of fifty years ago. The Judge was seated in the parlor engaged in an animated conversation with Gen. J. M. Quarles, who seemed to listen attentively to what the Judge was saying. When the Judge saw me approaching, he arose and received me with great cordi- ality, seated me beside the General, and then resumed his conver- sation, giving some of his reminiscences of the lawyers and the practice of the law during his earlier career at the bar. His con- versational powers are unsurpassed ; his talk is pointed ; his illus- trations unique; his memory is clear and minute ; his language is sparkling and humorous, and flows with a smooth current to the end of his sentences. Persons who have heard him in his public speeches know his power over his audience, and the pecu liar faculty he possesses of fascinating his hearers, and detaining them for hours listening to his address, whatever may be the subject. But his powers of conversation are, in my opinion, far superior to his gifts as a public speaker.
347
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
The invited guests began to arrive rapidly, as I thought, from the frequent interruptions of the conversation by his reception of the different persons on their entrance. Col. Baxter Smith soon entered with his lady, Mrs. Betty Smith-the eldest daughter of Judge Guild-and his children; next came Capt. T. L. Dodd and his lady, Mrs. Florence Dodd-the second daughter-with their children ; his two sons, George B. and Walter J. Guild, with their families, and his youngest daughter, Kitty, with her hus- band, Mr. John M. McKee, Jr., and their two children, were already there before my arrival. The Judge said he had five children living, all married, and that he had seventeen grand- children, all present, except one-Guild Smith, the eldest son of Col. Baxter Smith-who was absent at some university in Ger- many, but they had just received a photograph of him, and he would show that and the sixteen living grandchildren present against any other family in the State for smartness and good looks. I believe the Judge was right, for, taking the family altogether, they are remarkable for their good looks and fine appearance.
But amid the flow of animated conversation, we received the announcement that the bride was ready to make her appearance. The Judge arose and marched with a stately step towards the door to receive her, and with all the gallantry of a young knight, he bowed and extended his arm to the bride of fifty years ago. All eyes were turned upon her as she walked across the room, resting on the arm of the stately bridegroom. The bride was dressed with all the elegance and taste her handsome daughters and daughters-in-law could display upon her elaborate toilet .* She reminded me of the picture of Martha Washington, the wife of our revolutionary hero. A bride of fifty years, she could also, with the Roman mother, when asked for her jewels, point to her children and grandchildren, by whom she was surrounded on this joyous occasion. The Judge seated his bride and returned to his reminiscences. Col. Smith asked him who amongst all the great orators he had heard in his long experience at the bar, and . in the political campaigns that had passed under his review, did he consider the greatest. He replied promptly, Henry Clay.
* Mrs. Guild was attired in an elegant black silk, with a flowing polonaise, a beautiful cap and bridal veil, with pearl ear-rings and breast-pin, the same she wore at her marriage, and white neck-tie and white kid gloves.
348
OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
" It was in the year 1825," said the Judge, "we heard he was to speak at Hopkinsville, Ky. Some dozen or more of us young men from Tennessee concluded we would go over to Hopkinsville and hear him. We were all ardent Jackson men. We rode horseback seventy-five miles to hear him defend himself against the charge of bargain, intrigue and corruption, and to see what he could say for himself, for we had no idea that he would dare to say aught against the old hero, who, we supposed, would call any man to account that would say aught against him. After we ar- rived at Hopkinsville," continued Judge Guild, "I suggested that we go over to the tavern where Mr. Clay was stopping, and call upon him; and we accordingly called and were introduced as gentlemen from Tennessee, who had come over to hear him speak. Mr. Clay was evidently pleased with our visit, and re- marked, in his blandest and most complacent manner, that he hoped we would take no exceptions to anything he might say during his address, as he was only defending himself and vindicat- ing his own reputation. An immense crowd had assembled from all parts of Southern Kentucky, and hundreds from the State of Tennessee. An extensive platform had been erected in a grove of forest trees, near the town, around which the assembled thou- sands congregated, eager to see and hear the great orator. He began his address with pleasing reminiscences of a former visit to that part of the State; the tone of his voice was soft and gentle, his language smooth and flowing, his manners graceful and ele- gant, his countenance radiant with smiles, charming and fascinat- ing every beholder in that vast audience. After having com- pletely mesmerized his hearers, taking captive all their feelings and sympathies, be launched out in the defense of himself against the charge of bargain, intrigue, and corruption. His clarion voice rang out like the notes of a war trumpet; his vehemence resembled a storm rushing through the forest, prostrating every- thing in its path. He said he had been charged with having given the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, for President, for the sake of office ; that the charge was a slander and a falsehood, and . that he had denounced it as such, coming, as it did, from Gen. Jackson, and when he had an opportunity of making good his charge he skulked from the responsibility, and gave as his au- thority a distinguished member of Congress from Pennsylvania,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.