Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-07-14
MORNING, JULY IA, 1912

mentS under such circumstances as those
which have brought us together. Not
that am so presumptuous as to believe
that have been the occasion solely OF
collecting this vast multitude. Among
the Inducements, canno: help thinking
that the fat white virgin Durham Heifer
Of my friend Mr.. BERGMAN, that cost
5000, which has been just served up, and
the other good things which have been so
literally spread before US, exerted some
influence in swelling this unprecedentedly
large meeting. [Great laughler.l
| cannot but feel, Mr.. President, in of.
fering my respectful Acknowledgements for
the honor done me, in the eloquen, address
which you have Just delivered, and in the
sentiment with which you concluded it,
that your warm partiality, and the fervent
friendship which has so long existed be-
tween US, and the kindness of my neigh.
bors and friends around me, have prompt.
ed an exaggerated description in too glow
ing colors, Of my public services and my
poor abilities.
! seize the opportunity TO present my
heartfelt thanks to the whole people Of
Kentucky, for all the high honors and dis
tingushed favors which have received,
during q long residence with them, ut
their hands; for the liberal patronage
which received from them in my pro.
fesslonal pursuit for the eminent places
in which they have put me, or enabled me
to reach for the generous and unbound.
ed confidence which they have bestowed
upon me, at all times; for the gallant and
answering fidelity and attachment with
which they stood by me, throughout all
the trials and v,cisstudes of an eventfu
and arduous life ; and, above oil, for the
scornful Indignation with which they re-
PEELED an Infamous calumny directed a.
gainst my name and fame at momentous
period of my public career. In recalling
to our memory the circumstances of that
period, one cannot but be filled with as
tonishment at the indefatigability with
which the calumny was propagaied and
the jealous partizan use 10 which It was
applied, not only without evidence, but in
the face of full and complete refutation.
Under whatever deception, delusion, or
ignorance, it was received elsewhere, with
you, my friends and neighbors, and with
the good people Of Kentucky, it received
no countenance but in proportion 10 the
venom and maleyoence of its circulation,
was the vigor and magnanimity with which
! was generously supported. Upheld by
consciousness Of the injustice Of the
charge, should have borne myself with
becoming fortitude, If | had been a5an.
doned by you as ! was by so large por.
ton Of my countrymen but to have been
sustained and indicated as was by the
people of my own State, by you who knew
me best, and whom had so many rea.
sons to love and esteem, greatly cheered
and encouraged me IN my onward pro.
gress. Eternal gratitude and thanks are
due from me.
thank you, friends and fellow citizens,
for your distinguished and enthusiastic re.
cep,ion Of me this day; and for the ex.
cellence and abundance Of the Barbecue
that has been prepared for our entertain
mcnt. And thank from the bottom Of
my heart, my lair country women for hon
orng and gracing and adding briliancy
to this occasion by their numerous attend
ance. If the delicacy ard refinement OF
their sex will not allow them to mix in the
rougher scenes of human life, we may be
sure that whenever, by their presence,
their smiles and appreciation are bestowed,
it is no ordinary occurrence. That pre-
sence is always an absolute guaranty OF
order, decorum and respect. | take the
greatest pleasure IN bearing testimony to
their value and their virtue. have ever
found in them true and steadfast friends,
generously sympa,hizIug in distress, and
by their courageous fortitude in bearing
it themselves, encouraging US to initiate
their example. And we all know and re-
member how, as in 1910, they can pow
erfully aid great and good cause, with.
out any departure from the proPriety or
dignity of their sex.
In looking back upon my origin and
progress through life, have great 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
endearmen,s. My surviving parent re.
moved 10 this State in 1892, leaving me,
boy Of fifteen years Of age, in the office
of tie High Court Of Chancery, in the city
of Richmond, without guardian, without
pecuu:ary means OF support, to steer my
course as might or could. A neglected
education was imoroved by my own ir.
regular exertions, without the benefit Of
systematic instruction. studied law prin-
clpalIy in the Office Of lamented friend,
the late Gov. BROOKE, then Attorney
General of Virginia, and also under the
auspices of the venerable and lamented
Chancellor WyTnE, for whom acted as
an amanuensis. | obtained a license to
practice the profession from the Judges Of
the Court of Appeals Of Virginia, and es.
.ablIshed myself in Lexington, in 1907,
without patrons, without the favor or coun.
tenance Of the great and opulent, without
the means Of paying my weekly board,
and in the midst Of bar uncommonly dis
tinguished by eminent members. re.
member how comfortable | thought
should be if could make flO0 Virginia
money per year, and with what delight |
received the first fifteen shilling fee. My
hopes were more than realized. imme-
diately rushed into successful and Iucra.
tive practice.
',ono = ,.,han I ,vae nhsant from,