The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-03-22
From the Columbia Telegraph.
TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO JUDGE
WETHERS.

In accordance with the proceedings OF mce-
tinu held by the gentlemen ofthe Columbia Bar,
of which William F. DeSaussure, Esqr. was
Chairman, and E. J. Arthur, Esqr Secretary,
and for The presentation of resolutions offered
by James d. Tradewell, Esqr. and unanimous.
" adopted, Mr.. DeSaussure, on the last day of
the term, rose in Court, and addressed the Judge
as follows:
lam charged sir, by my brethren Of the Bar
of Columbia, with a grateful duty. am in
sructed 10 present TO your honor the resolutions
| hold in my hand in which the Bar have en-
deavored to express, with one voice, their high
appreciation of your judicial conduct, and their
firm conviction that the best hopes of those who
desired your elevation 10 the Bench will he
| realized.
1t is important not only that justice be well
administered. but that the public should be sa-
ts6ed, it is so: and the Bar of Columbia who
have mnistered with you at the altar of JUS
tce, have the high satisfaction of proclaiming
to the country that under your auspices, may be
expected the able administrator Of pure and
impartial justice, by a clear head and firm
hand.
The power of the Stale at last resides in the
Judiciary department. The Legislature can
only frame general rules for the government Of
the citizens, but it belongs to the Judiciary to
apply them to individuals. Life, liberty and
property, are all subject to the control of this
department. Where none are so high as to be
beyond the reach of its power, and none so low
but may need its protection. Hence the ankle
ty of the public at the accession OF new ma
gstrate to the Bench, and hence our profound
qualification at being able to give to the public
the assurance that "all is we'll"
But there are other sources of satisfaction
personal 10 ourselves, in which, nevertheless,
the public have indirectly an interest. Tha,
high courtesy which ought to distinguish the in.
tercourse of gentlemen, which gives dignity and
grace to judicial proceedings. has marked the
administration Of justice by your Honor; and
the duties of the forum have been lig htened by
the urbani,y and polieness of the presiding Of
| fcer.
Itis high qualification to one who has so long
enioyed the honor of your friendship, 10 be the
organ OF this communication, and on behalf Of
nv brethren to request that the following reso-
luiions be entered upon the journals OF tho
Court:
Resolved, That the Columbia Bar, unani.
mouslv accord to his Honor L. ]. WETHERs,
the merits Of a great Magistrate, who presdes
in the halls of Justice with marked ability,
courtesy, dignity and patience, all which quail.
ties have been emincntly displayed during the
present Term OF the Court for Richland District.
Resolved, That we rejoice in the opportunity
which is now presented, Of his first holding this
Court, TO express to his Honor, our grateful and
respectful appreciation ofhis judicial conduct.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Bar, all
the hopes of the State which made him Judge,
will be abundantly realized.
Resolved, That these Resolutions be commu-
nicate | 10 his Honor, by the chairman Of this
meeting, and that they be entered on the Min.
ules of the Court, ifhe shall consent thereto.
Mr.. DeSaussure having resumed his seat, his
Honor Judge We,hers, made the following ad.
dress in reply:
Gentlemen of the Bar: While cannot dis
avow the qualification derive from the favora.
bic Judgment you have been pleased to pro-
nounce upon my official demcanor, declare my
embarrassment in unaffected sincerity. Ii is
the offspring of deep consciousness, that am
unworthy Of the strong appreciation which your
language conveys. There cannot be man
within the limits of the State to whom my in.
sufficiencies arc so we'll known as they are to
myself How often has this conviction been
forced upon me by the developments ofthis term!
have felt it constantly in the doubtful judgments
have been compelled to render, even after the
luminous arguments of able counsel. While,
therefore, may not question the candor in
which you speak, fear that the bias OF a cor.
dial personal regard may have swervcd you
from the severity Of a just criticism ! appre.
hcnd this the more, inasmuch as may boast
warm personal friendship with each and every
of you, with whom opportunity has given me
the pleasure Of an intimacy.
And here, gentlemen, permit to me remin.
iscence that may serve, hope, to testify the
peculiar value | ain boand TO place upon the
appreciation of this Bar. In this community
my lot was cast, from an unriPe period OF life
to the maturity of manhood. Here, if any.
where, obtained the elements of my education
however impcrfectly, from negligence of my
own. Here, if anywhere, sought to incorpo.
rate into my own little intellectual stock, some
elements of a wisdom that abounded. Here. [
certainly learned to love morality; hope, also,
in some reasonable degree to practice it. From
members Of this Bar, some Of whom arc now
before me, and one Of them is your organ, |
learned a never fading lesson. which taught me
to admire whatever enters into the dignity, the
propriety, the answering integrity of an hon.
orable professional life. stand before my
masters in the law, and surely if there really be
anything in my behavior to commend, to them
it must be traced. Nor can it be expected that
should receive, unmoved, tribute such as
this, from my preceptors and exemplars.
In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to say,
that while dare not appropriate all that your
generosity would grant, feel that it inspires me