editor politician prohibitionist
Edward Ward Carmack was born on November 5, 1858; the son of F. M. Catherine Carmack, was a native of Sumner County, Tennessee, United States. His father, a minister of the Christian or Campbellite Church, who lived near Castalian Springs, died when his son was a small boy, leaving the family entirely without means. Edward worked on farms and at a brick yard, helping to support the family.
He attended The Webb School, then at Culleoka, Tennessee. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1878 and began practicing in Columbia, Tennessee.
Carmack read law at home and in a lawyer's office, and, after a short law practise in Columbia, he entered the state legislature in 1884. He next became editor of the Columbia Herald, and later of the Nashville American (1888).
Throughout his career, Carmack was known to use his newspapers to attack rivals. During Carmack's tenure with the Appeal, his editorials began an interesting dialogue with another famous Tennessee journalist, Ida B. Wells. Wells, known as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement", was also not one to withhold her opinions and spoke out about the plight of African-Americans in Post-Reconstruction era in the South. Memphis in the 1890s was a hotbed of racial tension, and lynching crimes were commonplace. Wells launched an anti-lynching campaign in her newspaper, the Free Speech.
In 1897 he was elected to Congress and served two terms, after which he was elected United States senator. In 1906 he contested the governorship of Tennessee with M. R. Patterson, Carmack standing for state-wide prohibition. Defeated he again became editor of the Nashville American and carried the prohibition fight to the Democratic state convention, in which many of his adherents were unseated. He then planned to carry the contest to the state legislature in 1908. The struggle was bitter and it was clear that a majority would support Carmack's views. Gov. Patterson strongly opposed the prohibition policy. Bitter animosities were aroused and before the legislature met Carmack was killed on the street in Nashville by Duncan B. Cooper and his son Robin, both supporters of Gov. Patterson's policies. They were sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment but Patterson immediately pardoned the older man, and his son, granted a new trial, was not further prosecuted. The legislature, however, two months later, passed over the governor's veto the state-wide prohibition law for which Carmack had struggled.
Carmack's remains were returned to Columbia, and he was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery there.
Throughout his editorial career he fought for good government and for the prohibition of the liquor traffic. He became known as an able editor who excelled in the use of ridicule and invective. During his brief and restless political career, he was one of the most influential men the state of Tennessee has produced. Perhaps in large measure because of the spectacular and violent nature of his death, a large bronze statue of Carmack was erected on the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol building. The bronze statue was designed by Nancy Cox-McCormack in 1924 (dedicated in 1927), and engraved with several quotes from Carmack on its surroundings and pedestal. Only four monuments have been erected on the grounds of the state capitol in Nashville: to Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, Sam Davis, and Edward Ward Carmack. For many years the public library on Hartsville Pike in Gallatin, Tennessee was named in his honor. A new public library was opened in 2008 in downtown Gallatin and local authorities decided not to use his name.
He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee; a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
In political campaigns and in Congress Carmack was known as a popular orator and ready debater. His manner and style were those of John Randolph but Carmack possessed greater versatility. His course in public affairs always commanded enthusiastic followers and developed bitter enemies. What he decided was right he supported with all the vigor at his command and what he thought was wrong he condemned with vitriolic ridicule and wit. Few men cared to meet him in debate. He was a good writer, a brilliant speaker, a great editor of the old-fashioned type.
In April 1890 he was married to Elizabeth Cobey Dunnington of Columbia, Tennessee.
