The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1848-01-05
GENERAL SHIELDS.

GENERAL SHIELDS.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HIM.
Genaral Shields was born in ireland but
came TO this country at Il very early ave
Having enjoyed the advantages of a finish.
cd education, he determined on the great
West rs the scene Of his future usefulness
and labor, and took up his residence at Kas
kaskia, in the State Of Illinois, about the
year 1884, and entered upon the pracic,
OF law. His great and varied at,ainmcnts
soon met their Ist reward at lhelhandS of
The generous people among whom he had
cast his lot, and he quickly rose TO an emi
ncncc in his profession. Fle also took an
active part in the politics Of the State, be-
came distinguished leader in the democra-
tic ranks, and was called to fill several high
offices by his iel'ow-ciliZcns lie first ser.
ved in the Legislature, where he gained
great reputation by his talents and industry
lie afterwards filled the Office Of Auditor,
IN which station he contributed by sue.
cesslon OF very many vigorous measures
to place the bank in IA State of liquidation,
and reformed the dcrangcd finances of the
State. In the year l845, General Shields
was appointed Commissioner Of the Gene
raj Land Office by the President, the duties
OF which he continued with great zeal and
ability to perform until the summer of SAG,
when he was appointed Brigadicr General
IN the army ofthe United States, and which
position hc now occupies. Il career so full
ofsuccess for SO young a man is rcmarka-
be.
But II is the result of rare abilities, cult
waited by unwearied application. From his
earliest youth, General Shields has been an
untIring student, cndeavoriny to qualify
himself worthily 10 till the most elevated
stations. HIS scholastic attainmcnts are of
the highest character. Well vcrscd in the
classics and the great writer's Of antiquity,
he Is also master OF several MI dern lanuua
GtS.
Amid the labors of his professional pur-
suits and the turmoil Of politics, the studies
of his earlier years have not been forgotten;
but when time and opportunity have offered
he has turned aside to cultivate his taste for
letters
AS an advocate, his standing at the bar
was OF the first class, and his practice when
he was called TO the bench was among the
most extensive and lucrative in the State
With brilliant imagination, and great
command Of language, he combines an init
mate acquaintance with the learning ofthc
law and the principles on which it rests
tlc had fully appreciated, in his
researches into the ancient au.hori.
ties of his profession, the remark of Coke ::
" That the reason of the law; for though a
man can tell the law, yet if he know 10,
the reason thereof, he shall soon forget his
rfic Il ,ulo W
qualifications of lawyer arc added grace
fiIlncss and case of clocution vouchsafed to
but few.
In ls43, General Shields was elevated
20 the bench of the Supreme Court of his
State. Here his previous habits ofthought
and study made him completely at home.
He brough, to the discharge OF his duties all
the requisites and love Of the
law, judgement, integrity, and cvenness Of
temper. No Judge ever felt his responsible
lity more deeply, and that it was his duty to
weigh his decisions calmly and deliberately
as they were not only TO determine the cause
before him, but 10 form rule for the future.
Hence, both in the Circuit Court and the
Court of Errors, all his judgements were
we'll considered, and such as are reported
are distinguished for their precision and
their singular application to the points in is
sue. His best praise as Judge was, tha,
he had the confidence Of his brethren of the
bench and the bar, and the people of bis
State.
This brief rsvicw Of the life of General
Shields as civilian has been deemed pro
per to the Introduction Of short notice OF hi:
recent military career. The State Of Hin
ois, in which General Shields claims, ant
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