General William Cullom.

JAMES WALTER YOUNG, of Clinton.

The career of a man like Gen. William Cullom, being typical of a phase of life in this country, is interesting as typifying that phase; yet never was a man more individual and distinct, less similar to other men, less a type or cast in a less conventional mold. His career was typical, his character was strongly individual. The one was the outcome of somewhat primitive couditions and one which the country is rapidly escaping, but the man himself evinced the stamp of a rare and extraordinary originality. It is for this reason, the fact of the sheer power of intelligence, the native wealth of resources that his character stands out among the men of Tennessee in some respects, scarcely without a parallel. He was not a scholar in any exact sense. He owed little to the culture of the schools, and yet few men ever rose to prominence who possessed more the manner and speech and real native dignity of a scholar and cultivated gentleman. He had a rare suavity and stateliness, an unmatched courtesy, as native to the man as were the rugged strength and immense, personal force. Besides, he had an easy command of a copious diction, never inaccurate, never hesitating, remarkable for aptness, clearness and brilliancy of the figures of speech.

These qualities, with his splendid presence, added greatly to his popularity and power over men, and to the effectiveness of public discourses.

He was a man of such extraordinary grasp and discernment that he was able to combine, in a large measure, the results of culture with the powerful common sense which never for a mo

ment failed him. In this respect he is unique. Of men of the aboriginal type, Tennessee has produced many, but of men who combined culture, without having it, except what was gathered by observation and experience, with great common sense and herculean power, Gen. Cullom was perhaps the most notable example. For native powers of mind, he ranked with the remarkable men of this or any State. He was, indeed, a man of exceptional strength, a son of the soil, deserving far greater honors than he ever attained, and yet attaining all that he deserved in the esteem and estimation of those who were so fortunate as to know him.

Gen. Cullom was uncle to the present Senator from Illinois, Shelby M. Cullom. Called "General" by right of the title af fixed to the office of Prosecuting Attorney; and in his old days a local celebrity by virtue of the deference paid by all communities to strong individuality and decisive talent. He won a distinct reputation in that strenuous period preceding the rebellion, and yet political notoriety is such an ephemeral thing that at the time of his death, by none but the older generation were his political deeds remembered. Although at one time a commanding figure in national politics, he died not quite unhonored, but almost forgotten, having entirely passed the period of his usefulness. Yet his career has a unique interest, and in recounting it we shall have to return in imagination to that ampler time, when culture was less and ability more, when men met each other face to face with only the advantage which native talent gave and fought out the issues in the broad, open light of the public hustings.

Gen. William Cullom was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, on a farm, near the little town of Monticello, in 1809. His people emigrated from Scotland and settled along the banks of the Potomac, and in the early years of the century came into Wayne county, Kentucky. He lived on the farm, received a meager education, attended, however, law lectures in Lexington, and otherwise educated himself.

It was in 1833 that Richard Northcroft Cullom, father to the present Senator from Illinois, moved from his home, in Wayne county, Kentucky, to the State of Illinois. He moved in primi

tive style, in wagons and carry-alls. At this time Senator Cullom was a child only a few months old, and was one of a pair of twins. The other child was feeble and was carried by its mother in a carry-all, dying soon after reaching Illinois. Gen. William Cullom went with the family on horseback the first day and camped with them the first night, and carried young Shelby on a pillow in front of him on his saddle. In June, 1891, Senator Cullom came to Tennessee and visited his uncle William, who then lived near Clinton, in Anderson county. This was the first time he had met his uncle since he carried him on the pillow when the family were leaving Kentucky for the Wild West. As they approached each other Shelby said: "Is this Uncle William?" and the General said: "Is this Shelby?" Then the General took Shelby by the hand with both of his and looking the Senator full in the face, said: "Shelby, when I carried you on that scampering sorrel mare and looked down on your simlin' head I thought there was not much in you, but the God's truth is that you have outgrown your measure."

Soon after the removal of the family from Kentucky, Gen. Cullom came into Tennessee, just as he was entering upon his career, and settled at Carthage. He attained success at the bar speedily and was sent to the Legislature. Thenceforth his rise was sure and steady. He went to the State Senate, thence to Congress and was returned. He made enemies because he was bold and uncompromising. The politicians hated and feared him-and that was, indeed, the final cause of his defeat. His district was gerrymandered. John H. Savage was placed in opposition and the politicians supported him with vehemence. All the aspirants for Congress conceived that there was no hope for them until he was defeated. He had a national reputation, and was, at this time, prominently mentioned for Vice President on the Whig ticket. He stood high in his own district, but the politicians decreed that he should be defeated. A veteran politician told me it was the fiercest contest he had ever known. Cullom never seemed so superb, so commanding, so brilliant as in this debate.

"I recall," he said, "very distinctly the day Cullom and Sav

age met at Carthage. Cullom was a much abler man than Savage, though the latter made up with fierceness what he lacked in ability. He was as bitter as gall. They were both fearless. Compared to anyone, Savage was no weakling. Cullom's speech was strong and scathing, great in logic and bold in statement, a very weighty utterance. Savage was bitter and telling. They both had a throng of clamoring adherents. Cullom was a Whig, Savage a Democrat, and, of course, the issues were political, not personal. This was, since the district was Democratic, a disadvantage for Cullom. I have heard many contests-that was the most stirring. Cullom bore himself grandly. It was the supreme effort of his life, yet he was defeated by a majority of seventy-two.

"I was also with him frequently previous to this, when he ran for State Senator.

"I saw him on one occasion when he was at Cookville, where he met his opponent. During the course of the debate his opponent turned facing him and accused him of a false statement. He had scarcely uttered it when Cullom knocked him down. A number of his friends attempted to attack Cullom. He sprang to the table, denounced and defied them. This was the sort of man he was. He had no sense of fear. I have heard it said of his eye that it was a mixture of eagle and rattlesnake. So was his temper."

After his defeat he was elected Clerk of the House of Representatives, by a simple resolution, a thing never known before, and after serving two terms returned to Carthage, where he resided until the war closed and where he had a fine estate. Afterward he was appointed Attorney General of the Tenth Cir cuit and removed to East Tennessee. In 1876 he ran for Congress against Col. J. M. Thornburg, and was defeated. He then retired to his home, at Clinton, seeking no further political honors, where he resided until the day of his death.

In his active years Gen. Cullom was a distinguished figure. His appearance was striking and impressive. He had the presence and aplomb of the orator. There was that about him, perhaps it was magnetism-a certain reserve strength, the conviction that there was much back of all that was said. He

had personal force, the strength of immense self-reliance. There was, indeed, perhaps more in the manner than in the matter of his speeches. Yet he knew how to deal sledge-hammer blows with tremendous effect.

Perhaps no man ever rose to such a height in public favor as did Gen. Cullom in the Thirty-second Congress. It was his first term. He came late, some little time after the session had opened, unknown and with not a friend in Washington. He took his seat on the outskirts, feeling friendless, as he expressed it, and marveling at the turn of fortune which sent him there. Congress convened in December, 1851. This was the time of the national excitement over the advent of Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot. The "jingo" spirit manifested itself in loud clamors against the Emperor of Austria for deposing and banishing Kossuth from the Governorship of Hungary. The latter was a republican, and desired to set up a republican government there. He came to America asking for active assistance. He was welcomed and received an ovation in the principal cities.

A resolution was introduced in Congress tendering him the freedom of the country. For this resolution Gen. Cullom voted. A small minority opposed it. Another resolution was introduced, far more radical, expressing the indignation of Congress and looking toward aid from the United States. The sentiment in favor of Kossuth had grown intense. Congress seemed overwhelmingly in favor of this radical measure.

The original opposition seemed hushed. It was the popular and politic thing to do, to favor the measure. No one ventured to utter a protest.

Gen. Cullom, a new and untried member, sat in an obscure seat. He sent a note to the Speaker, the Hon. Lynn Boyd, asking to be recognized upon the floor in opposition. The Speaker responded that he would gladly recognize him, requesting that he should come to the central aisle. Cullom stood up and faced the zealous and clamoring majority who favored the resolution. His voice was sufficiently strong to be heard clearly in the remotest part of the hall.

The galleries were filled with an eager and excited crowd.