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To the Memory of W m Clifton.
Editor Lyons Progress.—lt is
sad, yes, very sad, that the grim
reaper, death, that is no respector
of persons, has entered into the
house of the living and another
spirit lias been summoned to that
land where our fathers have gone
before us, and from whose bourne
no traveler returns. With sorrow
ing hearts and loving affection we
are called upon to mourn the un
timely death of Hon. VVm. C.
Clifton, and as a fitting tribute to
his memory and fame we are glad
to chronicle a few of his many vir
tues which he possessed which are
indelibly stamped upon the m«m
ory of the writer, who has known
him intimately and has enjoyed,
and recognized to the fullest ex
tend his confidence and friendship
for more than fifty years.
In 1860 it was my priviledge
and pleasure to become associated
with him while attending a pri
vate school, for no public school
systen was at that date in oppera
tion in Georgia, this is to say in
the rural districts. Prof. Sam An
ders was our instructor, who after
wards became Captain of a Con*
federate Company and lost his life
in battle. Col. Clifton was at that
time some seven or eight years my
junior, but not withstanding this
fact, he even then exhibited rare
and noble traits of character for a
youth of his tender years', which
was moreclearly developed and de
monstrated in after life. Soon after
the close of our civil conllict, he
completed his education in Liberty
county under the professorship of
Douse Brad Well, his brother-in
law, who was conducting a high
school at Hinesville in said county.
From thence he entered the law
offices of Gen. P. W. Meldrim,oue
of the most sucessful and practical
jurist perhaps in the state, and the
peer of his competitiors in his
chosen profession in Savannah the
city by the sea,where Bill Clifton,,
aB he waß familiarly known, pre
pared himself and was admitted j
to the bar under the most flatter
ing prospects. He located in
Savannah and entered into the
practice of his profession. His kind
courteous and symphatbetic dis
position soou won for him friends
by the score. He believed in the
principles of democracy, and ad
vocated and labored forthe success
of the democratic party long before
he reached his majority or could |
cast a vote himself in its interest,
or for the principal he espoused.
Yet he had done and was doing
valiant service for the success of
the principals. His generous and
loveable nature soon won from his
fellow citizens of Chatham county
their affection, confidence and es-!
teem, which prompted them to
nominate and elect him to the
legislature, if my memory serves i
me correct, for two successive
terms, an honor worthily bestowed
and which he filled in a states
manlike manner with honor and
credit to himself and with satis
faction. as he has in the past of-1
ten said, to his liberty-loving and
patriotic fellow citizens. At the |
close of the session of the legisla- (
ture he numbered his friends and j
admirers by the thousands all :
over Georgia, from Rabun’s Gap
to Tybee’s light., and his popular
ity had increased until he had be
come one of the most influential 1
political organizers in the state, I
for politics was his fort. He was
endowed by nature with the happy |
gift to remember the face and
name of each individual to whom
he was introduced and when or
where ever he met him again he
could call him by name, give his
hand a hearty shake and greet
him with the homage of his great
big heart, my patriotic and liber
ty-loving tellow citizen, a gift but
few poesesesjand none excel or sur
pass. To sav that he was am
bitious is hut to speak the truth.
Knowing the devotion of his close !
friends and his recognized ability
and popularity throughout the
state of Georgia , he was induced,
after serious consideration, to be
come a candidate for Secretary of
state. His opponant was the noble
old roman, Allen D. Chandler,
who himself was a member of a
large and influential family, with
laurels blooming on his brow;
who had defeated under the ban-,
ner of democracy, the young bril* <
liant, and gallant independent
candidate. Emery Sp°er, now
Judge of the United States Circuit
Court, who was at that time oc
cupying a seat in Congress as an
independent candidate. The
Campaign between the One-eyed
plough ooy of Pigeon Roost, and
the war horse of Mclntosh, as they
were dubbed by their friends and
' supporters, was conducted by
both on a high plan, but, it
raged fast and furious Yes, it
waged stupendous. Allen D
Chandler was successful, defeat
ing Bill Clifton in the state by
some thirty votes only. No bit
terness was injected in this cam
paign. They were both pastmast
ers in the art of politics and re
mained strong friends, and when
Chandler resigned to make the
race for Governor of tho state.
Gov. Atkinson appointed Clifton
to fill the unexpired term of Sec
retary of State, a just tribute to
his ability and worth. Bill Clif
ton was twice elected Secretary
of the Senate and performed the
duties of said office with zeal and
affability, always courteous and
kind and generous. He was also
nominated and elected Senator
from the second senatorial district
succeeding the writer to that posi
tion which he most honorable fill
ed to the satifsactioi: of his con
stituents.
But to the citizens of Toombs
county, which now embraces the
late home of Col. Wm. Clifton,
Sr., the home of his birth, the
hills over which he roamed and
played in his boyhood, recognize
more fully his worth and power
ful influence, when he was called
upon to lead the fight for the crea
tion of said county. How well he
succeeded is a matter of history,
and those who witnessed his crown
ing efforts when he appeared be
fore the committee chosen to name
the counties selected for creation,
and none will never forget the
beautiful tribute he paid to this
section of God’s moral vineyard.
His magnificent form, robust and
erect, his sentences well formed
and chosen, his logic reasonable
and convincing, and delivered with
I the eloquence that marked thn
statesman, conscious of the truth
jof the position for which he was
honestly contending, which
brought the committee us well as
the spectators to their feet, and he
was greeted with round after round
of applause.
This, so far as I know, was the
crowning effort of his political
career, and while the writer was
J opposed to the creation of said
county, he willingly joined in the
applause thus accorded nim by
| his friends whose cause he so elo
quently advocated While I am
j frank to state that his ability and i
usefulness has never been fully
recognized as in my judgement
they should have been, now when
.we are called upon with grief
'Stricken hearts to mourn his un
timely death, let’s throw around
his foibles, whatever they may
i have been, that broad sympathetic
charity that his virtures claim at
our hands. Perfection on earth has
never yet been attained, the wise
as well as the worst of men make
mistakes. Suffer me then to pay
| this feeble tribute to the lasting
; memory, to my departed friend,
iHe carried within his heart love
i for his fellowman and was true to
; his friends, kind and generous
jto aid the needy and distres
sed. Through his efforts thejsuffer
ingofhis people, when the At
lantic Coast several years ago, was
visited a destructive storm,
carrying destruction in its wake
! was speedily relieved by his per-
Isonal appeal to the authorities
at Washington City. Put alas 1 he
is at rest from his labors
C H. Mann.
John I listened to you for half
an hour last night while you were
talking in your sleep. Tanks, dear
for your self-restraint.—Ex.
Foley
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