Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-10-10


our system, ri land law--ior Which Tennc..e-ans.
wa" f"colect tho frauds and controversies Of tho
! "'d system, will ever he grateful. The speech in
/ winch he atvocaied the measure, one Of the
hrN' winch h'' made ~ politician, aud was said
! I" have been ono OF unusual power and oogcncyi
/ In 1900 tho judiciary oi Tennessee was rccop-
/ nlzcd, and Supreme Court instituted. In this
| highest appellate tribunal he Was appointed iu
preside, although he not u candidate, and was
absent from the scat o government TWO hundred
miles, when ilc Legislature conlorrcd the appoinis
mcnt lie held tins office for six years, during
whch time he MAS associated with such men as
John Overion and &. ". Campbell and from his
ialthiulnrss and ability, acquired the utmost re-
-, spcct and popularity from the people, by whose
delegated authority hc had beef appointed. Pre-
tlouS 10 his resignation in 1878, he was elected
President of the State Bank. Under his auspices
the institution 1onri>hrd in a high degree, and
acquired much character io' the prudence and n
hlnv oi It's administration, and the stability Of its
operations. II obtained a standing III the west -
qnallN honorable 10 the State aud beneficial to its
financial concerns. lie continued twelve years
al tue head Of tins institution: including the peri
od ct the late witt period which will be long re-
mrmhrrod IN thu political history OF tho United
States for fiscal d,s,ru>t, confusion mud difficulty,
and which, hu, Tor the energies ot one man, would
have rendered hank'up, the credit Of the whole
nation.
But while engaged in the douolr duties Of
Judge and President of the Bank, he did NOT for
get hlS roun,ly.-Duriuc the darkest period OF the
Creek campaign, when General Jackson was sur
rounded with difficulties, such rs would have
crushed any other man, his brave men contending
not only with saSaeeS. hu, with famine and want,
and sustaining lie roots md acorns, Hugh J..
White l'll thu bench, and with single c"mpan-
ION, the lion. Luke Lea, started for the wilder
ness, hired Indian Guide, and after sc,cral DAYS
and nights OF rerllotI~ adventure, found the Grnr-
ialS cncampmeni. liz told the old veteran that ha~
wing heard nj his difficulties, hc had1citlns business,
and come 10 share his toll, and dangers. II vas
determined, after consultations, that the
Judge should return. through the wilderness, 10
Tennessee. and exert his influence in raising vol
untecrs, aud procuring provisions for the distress
Scd and iunSllng army. hile absent, on tins
expedition, le missed several terms oi his court,
and hv the laws Of Tennessee, the Judges
paid only in proportion 20 the duty performed. The
Legislature, consideration OF the great services
hc had rendered General Jackson, passed an or
der, that tlere should bc deduction OF his saba
~. But, with characteristic uagnanlmiy he de-
chn"d the offer, and would receive no more than
that for whic, he rendered actual service. He
said that his country was IN distress, that the aid
I" i'I ...1e,o1 "ni'""t 'i,v nope oi reward.
and that he would receive none.
In 1917, HUGH l.. hltc WAS again elected Sc
nator bv a naIoit, approaching uhanlniiv, and
served with accustomed distinction, the period for
which hr had been elected
Bot the abilities al Hugh l.. White were too dis
tngulshcd, and TOO well appreciated by his conn-
If, men, to be confined within the limits OF a single
State. lie was appointed, in 1870. by President
Monroe, one oi the Commissioners under the
Spanish Treaty, in conjunction with Luilr,on W.
Tazrwrll and Coy X my. Previous 10 this time,
his attention bad been confined, chiefly, 10 the
laws affecting individual rights, nnd private proper
". The rights aud laws OF nations had little CON
mex ION with the admlni.r ion OF justice, III in
terror State. Bun the sphere OF lns Operations
w'dsned, hr WIS found 10 possess mental rrS'u-
COS corresponding 10 the increased demand. Wu1
such success did hc apply himself 10 The details Of
Commercial, Maritime, and International Law.
that III. won the esteem and confidence OF his able
colIcavuts-nen who had been experienced, and
prolouudl, ,erscd IN tho science of Public Law
He held this appointment until 1924 at which
,in,c the Commission expired. In the same year,
he was. npain, unanimously, appointed "A Judge OF
the Cour of Appeals, hu he declined the app"'nt-
mrnt. In 1928, General Jackson resigned his
scat in t,c United States Senate, and Hugh l..
" hc was unanimously elected 10 I'LL on the term.
In 1927. he was again unanimously elected TO
serve the term of six years. And yet again, amidst
llr hottest party rancor, the Legislature bestowed
thcr undivided suffrage upon HIM, Tor another
term OF six years, in 1888.
We are now 10 review the life Of Hugh l..
hltr, IN the most important and Interesting
cents, of the MANY in which le las taken par
Hitherto, we have viewed him chiefly asa jurst
and a local politician. But his acts become now
identical with national history and national nIet-
rsS. And from the character which he has acqni-
red in this political capacity, and from the ability
and iailhlnnr>S with which he has discharged the
functions of The high stations Which he has Occur
pied, must lie stand or fall to the people of this
ton. Ten years ago Hugh l.. White brought in
t" our national councils, great wcght Of character.
lias he sustained il 7 At that timc he had the I'M
limited confidence of every party II the Govern
mcnt Has he forfeited it : During this era Of
great achievements in our political hstory-mem-
orahlc for the rryouionizng of our national pol
icy--for the demolishng long established instr
tutions, and the building up of new--for bod AMI
unrricd adventure in the theory and practice OF
Governments period portcnonsy pregnant
with doubtful aud strange doctrines, which viii
distinguish this of our political history for ages
to comc-dpfng all this mighty conflict OF primer
pie. Hugh l.. " hite las been constantly upon inc
ground. lie bore his part in them ALL as trend or
foe. lie has icatlessly carried The standard mi"
the thickos ranks, or che kcd the saiits OF DAN
grrous rashness by the voice OF wisdom and The
weight of years. And now, at the close Of tho
drama, when the conflict is over, and the elements
of strife are composed into harmony, and the hor-
ZION is Frightening NJ, he stands up before tho