The southern press., 1851-09-20
From the Richmoad Enquirer.
Judge Beverly Tucker.

III tuOtHtT COluHill tub tcaucf VIII hih tiiV
resolutions OF the Tau Chi Society of William
AID Mary College, in Inemory OF Judge Beverly
TIcker--ihe laye aud celebrated Professor Of
Law in that ancient institution. The dcali' OF
the distinguished gentleIneiito 10 whom they refer,
was announced in the last Examiner Judge
Tucker ceased to exist at Winchester, in the
67th year Of his age. Tie imnelite cause OF
his death i, not exactly kn ,wn. II is suid a.
have been a general breaking up OF the vital
powers, ulready wasted by disea .e, toll, and a
sensibil;ty too powerful for the material upon
which it subsistcl His was one of those eager
minds and sleep!e-s souls, that cannot rest
that are forever driven by the spirit into the
W lderness OF strifr, enterprise, energy, ard
ceaseless labor B,fore his Intellect the current
of events never passed like the stream before
the rock His heart was never iTpassiye The
How of thought and i,assion from his busy
brain never Stacked. TO those who knew him,
il was only matter of wonder how a delicate
and highly-wrought physical system sustained
its load for many years, in SO many scenes,
under the pressure of circumstances in them
selves unusually exciting and absorbing
Judge Tucker was the offspring Of 0 race re-
nowned for several generations in Virginia
His father, who also held the position OF Pro-
fessor of law in William and Mary, was long
the President Of the court Of appeals. He is
remembered as the first commentator on the
common law, as applicable to our government
and his edition of Blackstone though snperss-
ded by that of his SON, is still read with interest
and pleasure by every student. The mother OF
Beverly Tucker was the mother of John
Randolph The elder Tucker was her second
husband From this celebrated lady, Randolph
is supposed to have derived his peculiar talents;
and his halEbrother, Judge Beverly Tucker,
resembled him in everything save his wild &C.
centricities and unusual selfishness. He was
educated at William and Mary, and commenced
life as legal practitioner in Charlotte county.
Afterwards he pursued his profession in Au.
gusta, and lived for some time in Staunton.
Thence he removed TO Missouri. The bar of
that State was then very brilliant one. 1t
was adorned by some of the most powerful
and learned men of the nation, and he rose with
unparalleled rapidity to the head Of the pro-
fession. At an early period he was made
Judge of their superior court, and for many
years discharged The duties of his Office to the
satisfaction Of both bar and people. Desiring,
however, a return to the State of his nativity,
and the circle of friends and relatives which it
held, he resigned his judgeship in Missouri, and
was made professor of law in William and
Mary. Here he passed the rest of his days, in
the house which his father inhibited before him,
engrossei with literature, politics, and circle
of acquaintance comprising majority Of the
energetic and intellectual in both the Eastern
and Western divisions of Virginia.
During the latter portion Of. his life, his elias
tic and powerful pen was never idle. His con-
tributions 10 the newspaper press were innu-
merable and multifarious. He wrote on every
subject of the day which involved the rights of
the States His literary essays, poems, plays,
and novellettes, were for many years the main
support of the Literary Messenger. Besides
these, he published many volumes Of romance,
law, and politics, all Of which were full of thought
and originality. aGeorge Bacombe" is the best
novel that has been written by any citizen Of
the South. Both in plan and execution il is very
powerful and exciting His next most cele-
brated work Of that character, was the @Partizan
Leader" This was political romance, in which
the scenes attendant on an attempt at consolida-
ton by the federal government, and The conse-
quent civil tumult in the States, were detailed In
anticipation. The conception is darin-, and
every page Of the book displays the most vigor.
ous capacity and startling Imagination. Judge
Tucker also published a volumnious work OF
fiction entitled "Gertrude," which we never
read, but which enjoyed a considerable popu.
lsrity in It's day. His volume on pleading Is a
monument Of clear thought and legal learning.
As such, il has received the highest praise from
Greenleaf from Story. and others, the great
names Of onr jurisprudence. But the best of
all Judge Tuckef's productions are his Lee
lures on Government That volume IL pclti.
cal text book without rival. The chapter ON
State sovereignty is, without exception, the most
mastery, powerful, and overwhelming discourse
with which we are acquainted on any public topic,
and from any hand.
His political career from first 10 last has been
defence Of the grand principle Of State indie
penien,e and sovereignty. Believing what is
undoubtedly q truth, that all the dangers TO
American institutions aud 10 the American peo.
pie have their only source in the encroachments
OF federal power, he never tired or ialtered in an
inveterate opposition to all that tended that way.
His general theory Of politics was that of the
old republican school in whic he was born and
reared; but he never stood for n moment with
any party that did not uphold in practice as well
as principle his grand idea. From his fearless
and uncom1romising action in this respect, and
from his unconcealed and inveterate hatred to all
that was low, base and mean in individuals, he
made himself some enemies. He never would,
under any circumstances, aconsort' Ito use his
own phrase,) with people whom he did not re
spcct. Hence, although possessed of nature
the kindest, gentlest, most loving and lovabe.
he. has been sometimes the object OF bitter ami
mostly. But he was neuter in nothing. IL he
was fierce and open foe Of those whom he des
pissed, he was the most faithful, enduring and
ardent Of friends 10 those in whom he saw the
elements Of good; and few men are at this hour
incurred with more sincerity.
His style OF conversation was like that Of his
wings,-elastic, pointed. flowing and overflow
ing with illustration. He was the only mau Of
our acquaintance who could make law aud gov.
ernment interesting 10 those who knew nothing
about them. Hence his success as lecturer
and professor. His place in the ancient colleges,
as well as every where else, will be difficult to
fl. Long will IL be before we see such another
man. Few are found who unite 10 his genius,
energy. and knowledge, affections so profound
sensibility 80 qnick, aud impulses so generous.
The resolutions which have called forth these
hasty remsfks, are the uttersnees Of those who
knew him well, knew him long. and loved him
much but they fall below the mark demanded
by au expression Of his worth.