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

me best manner possible, whatever hr undertook
n's ever been one OF the must distinguishing fca-
lures Of his character. " III, such ,lGuati,r Lr
entered ~ 1916, NJ ON thr practice Of his profess
SION, "i'h prospects pr,nlmrl, auspicions ior one
"i l1s yearS. Ever punctm,l IN all his cnpaoe-
mens, and faithful Ia all his trusts he soon ar
CURED n standing for i,ldus,ry Enterprise. hipl.
minded honesty, md mental ability, which earl,
marked HIM out MS a man Ia whom the public in.
tereSis might sarl, he entrusted. This con-
hdrhee so early acquired and always conferred
"lhonf solltiiniIon, was ne,or In single instance
"hh"""h-a noble tribute ~ r,allcd worth, oi
winch lew statesmen can boast. And the present
rn,iable position in Which he stands To the people
o tins great nation, proves that his confidence as
never ,nlndiciouSlv bestowed.
For the five succeeding wears, Jnlpa White
devoted himself unrem,inpy To the duties OF hi,
profession, and rapidly rose to high and lonnfa-
bio distinction At the bar. Tho science ol nri,-
prudence was his especial study and with sncl,
zeal and ability did hc enter into the investigations
That he was selected N the early age Of twenty
eight, from body oi able and experienced Law
,ers, 10 Gil the office of judge OF the Supc,iat
toott-ai TINT tune the highest judicial tribunal
N the Statc.-'ThiS seat lc held al 1907. when
/ hc resigned.
Asa lawyer, Judge White WAS one of the most
distinguished IN the early histor, of Tennessee.
ting IN men of the dsl order in legal al,ainmrnt,
Such men aS Jackson, aud " hitcsidc, and Over
ton, aud g. W. Campbell, wcrr then IN the prime
OF Their legal celebrity, and with such men WIS he
associated upon the Bench. In legal nrplimcnta-
tailon, Judge W nr had hut few Supefinis Vel
hr was always rs talr and homes, IN debate, is he
was eogent. lie never turned aside To take adj
vantage Of quibhrs. and aurks, and srnsrlcss
tccn'eall'lcS, but built hi, premises upon the
PLAIN and ob,Iou meaning Of the law aud will
abstract truth rs his guide he seldom failed to ear
~ ms point. Tie viewed t>crv thing like cunning
and suhllc,y, in the plcadinps of the bar, with a.
much dc'csta,on as he always has the tricks and
man9uvrcs and ntrigncs OF party politicians II
Isl hard 10 speak in usl terms of hrs LEGAL attain
ments without the appearance of cxarprfaiion
but il'cle arc Vet those living who can attest that
culogN has no part IN thus dcscrption-T
need be no better evidence thai Judge " hite pos
Srssrd every qualification of the able, profound
and enlightened iuris, tlan thai ne wa, afterwards
appointed (or would have been appointed, On con
dltlon OF his accepting 10 seat on the Supreme
bench OF the Nn'trd States, which distinguished
posi- oi honor e. declined. Nhcn he WIS ele,a-I
ted from the bar 10 the bench, he brought 10 III.
discharge OF It's difficult functions, All tine qualities
already enumerated, aud supcraddcd To the cssen-
Ilal attributes Of judicial nnrhor. sroai .,Ila..r
and Saavltt of manncrS--yet was he always finn
and dgnlhrd, and nncompromsing, when duty
demanded. II Is Superlnous IN say, that ~ MAIN
tam such an office with popularity and respect
both from the people and the bar the surrst test
OF 10 ordinary merit Spurious talents or super
hclal learning cannot be played OF, undetcced
upon the bench. The strict integrity of Judge
White provcrbial aud no partiaIilies Of
friendship or affection, no irnwns Of Dissatisfaction
ever gave cooring to his decisions. lis opinions
generally n far MT MI
strength, and many OF them able specimens of
judicial acnmcn and research. His long services
IN his judicial capacity acquired for him the rrrn-
est respect and esteem from the gentlemen of the
profession, and conferred lasting honor on the bar
of Tennessee. Such ample opportunities rs
we're presented during Twelve wears experience on
the bench. and especially, when arcrwarl, prac-
Used upon and enlarged III the course of his polli-
Ical experience, must have rendered Judge
White thoroughly acquainted with the spirit and
character OF the laws vi his country.
An interesting anccdorc is told OF this period OF
his life, quite characteristic of his republican sim
picity. student OF law came u considerable dis
iancc 10 be examined by Inn, in order Ia obtain
license. The Noung man had heard much al his
ability and learning asa lprst, and expected to be-
mn bcmbarrasScd in his presence but he MUSTER
ed COURAGE, visited his residence and ON beine
informed tina, the Judge was on his farm went on
and intercepted a man ploughine, and asked for
Judge White. am the man." was the reply
" wish In get license 10 practice law, and ha,r
come 10 be examined" We'll, sir, if You will
be GOOD enough to come down into the shade,
Will attend !" II with great deal Of pleasure"
lie secured his plough horse, GOT over in the cool
shad', and took the Young man through a n,oSl
learned and rigid cxaminaiion-fund that he was
well qualified, and after inviting him To his house.
showing him every marx ofho>pilaliry and po-
likeness, gave him u license.
In the wear 1907 he resigned his Undressing
and retired, in n great measure, to his farm Ar
rlcnnra pursuits had always been a livorire occl-
patton, even in the midst of laborious studies
and he wond be frequently found in the intervals
OF his engagements, plonohng in his fields.
l here appears always 10 llavc BEEN Congcnialty
between great and good mind in the pursuits OF
agriculture. We pretend not to divine the ho-
soplN Of ii, or to determine has often been
commended, why 1t is that patriotism exists, in SO
much more elevated and iervcnt DEVOTION in the
retirement of the farm than in the busy throne of
crowded cities. Nhcier the fact be so or not
certain il is that the noblesi instances of STERLING
patriotism and high soulcd principle that have ev-
or injured IN the drama of human actions have
been found among those NEST devoted to nprcultu.
raj pursuits. II Spocrlsv aud intrigue, hich are
the elements OF contracted minds, have noueht 10
do IN the retirement Of the farm but far removed
cc>, with winch they are So painfully conversant
IN public life, the good and the great are grailcd
WIN the view of the brghler side of humanity,