The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1842-07-28

Kentucky. for al die high honors and
distinguished fssors which / have receive
ed during . long residence with lhem, al
iheir hands; for the liberal patronage
which received from hem m my pro-
fessional pursuit; Cor The eminent places in
which they have put me. or enabled me
10 reachi for the generous and unbounded
conhdenre which ihey have bestowed up
on me. Al all times; Cor the gallant and
unwsvering fidelity and attachment with
which they stood By me, throughout all the
trials and Vieissiludes Of an eventful and
arduous life; and above all, Tor the srornfnl
indignation with which iheyrepelIed an in.
famous calumny directed against my name
and fame atamomeniousp period Of my pub
lic career. In recalling 70 our memory the
circumstances OF that period, one cannot
but be filed with establishment al The in
deiasigaSiilly with which the calumny was
propagaied and the jealous partisan use
10 which il was applied. no, only without
evidence, but in The face OF full and
complete rsfuialion. Under whatever
deception, delusion or ignorance, il was
received elsewhere, with sou, my friends
and neighbors, and with the good people
Of Kentucky. !, received no countenance;
but in proportion 20 the venom and the ma
levolence Of lis circulation was The vigor
and the magnanimiiy with which | was
generously supported. Upheld by con-
siousness oflhe injustice OF the charge,
| should have borne myself with beeom-
ing forliiude. II had been abandoned By
you Is was BY so large portion Of my
counirymen; but TO have been sustained
and vindica.ed as was by the people Of
my own State, by you who knew me best.
and whom had 50 many reasons 10 lore
and esteem, greatly cheered and encou-
ragged me in my onward progress. Eter-
nal gratitude and thanks are due from
me.
THANK you. friends and fellow citizens,
for your distinguished and enthusiastic
reception Of me this day, and for the ex-
eellence and abundance Of the Barbecue
that has been provided for our entertain
mrnt. And | thank, from the bottom
Of my heart, my fair country women, for
honoring and grazing and adding bril-
liancy 10 the occasion by their numerous
attendance. If The delicacy and refine
ment &c their ser will not allow them 10
mix in The rougher scenes Of human life,
we may be sure that whenever. by their
presence, their smiles and appropriations
are bestowed, il is no ordinary occurrence.
Their presence is always an absolute qua
raniy OF order. decorum and respect. /
take the greatest pleasure in bearing iesli-
mony TO their value and their virtue. |
have ever found in them true and steadfast
friends, generously sympalhizing in dis
ircss, and, by their courageous fortitude
in bearing il themselves, encouraging Us
TO initiate their examples. And we all
know and remember how As in 1870, they
can powerfully aid a great and good cause,
without any departure from the proprieiy
or dignity Of their sex.
| In looking back upon my origin and
progress through life, | have grea, reason
to be thankful. My father died in 1881.
leaving me an infant Of too tender years
to retain any recollection Of his smiles or
endearments. My surviving parent re-
moved TO this State in 1892, leaving me,
a boy OF fifteen years Of age, in the Office
Of the Hight Court of Chancery, in the
city Of Richmond. without guardian,
without pecuniary means Of support, to
steer my course as might or could. A
neglected education was improved by my
own irregular exertions, without the be-
nefit Of systematic instructions. / studi>
ed law principally in the Office Of la
men,ed friend. the late Gov. Brooke.
then Attorney General Of Virginia, and
also under the auspices Of the vener-
J able and lamented Chancellor Wythe,
for whom had acted as an amanuensis.
obtained license to practise the pro-
fession from the Judges Of the Court oil
Appeals Of Virginia, and established my
self in Lexington in 1897, without pat
, rons, without the favor or countenance
Of the great or opulent, without the means
Of paying my weekly board, and in the
/ midst Of Bar uncommonly distinguished
by eminent members. | remember how
comfortable | thought | should be If ]
could make .el00 Virginia money per
/ year, and with what delight | received
the first fifteen shilling fee. My hopes
were more than realized. Immediately
| rushed into successful and lucrative prac'
! tice.
In 1893 or 4, when I was absent from
, the county Of Fayette, at the olymplan
, Springs, without any knowledge or pre-
vious consent, I was brought forward as
, candidate and elected TO the General As
sembly Of this State. Iserved in that body
several years, and was then transferred To
. the Senate, and afterwards to the House
, of Representatives Of the United States
/ | will not dwell on the subsequent events
Of my political life, or enumerate the Of
! fees which have filled. During my
public career, l have had bitter. implaca'
, BILE. reckless enemies. But I'll have been
the object of Misrepresentation and un'