The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-10-07
TRIBJJTE OF RESPECT.

TRIBUTE OF RESPECT.
At meeting Of the bar Of East Tennessee
in attendance upon the Supreme Court AT
Knoxville, on Thursday, the Odd of Septem
Der, 1858, for the purpose Of expressing Their
appreciation and respect for the distinguished
public services and personal character Of tn.
Hon. Charles +. Keith, Judge of the third
judicial Circuit Of Tennessee, who is now
about tetiring, upon his voluntary retire.
ment from the bench, the following proceed.
ings were had:
On motion of Col. John C. Gaut, Thomas
c. Lyon, Esq, was elected Chairman Of the
meeting, and James NJ. Welcker, requested
to act us Secretary; whereupon Col. James A.
Whitesdes, presented to the meeting, and
moved the adoption Of the following pream-
bic and resolution, which being read and
seconded, were unanimously adopted.
The American citizen who loves his coun-
try, its constitution and laws, can, in contenl.
plation of our past history, reflect, with just
pride, upon the purity of the tribunals Of
justice and the incorruptibiity of our Judges.
Although every American constitution pro-
vides for the impeachment of those officers,
If they display partalty or corruption in the
discharge Of their official duties the instances
are rare, in our history, in which such prose-
cntions have been instituted and still more
rare in which they have been successful
Contrastcd with the tyranny which, for GEN.
tunes prevailed in England, where the Judges
held their offices at the pleasure OF the crown,
and were too often the myrmidons of power,
American Judges may be considered as hav.
ing approached perfection in the dispcnsation
rs 10 10 la fnr I'm, m
wisdom and human traity to attain it. So
long rs the judiciary shall continue to be pure
and without rcproach, so long will civil liber-
ty continue; but if ever the fountains Of JUS
lice are tainted and corrupted, We may bid
"iarcwrll- IA long farewell to the cherished
theory OF mans capacity for self government.
The American bar, from period coeval with
our revolution have been the steadiast friends
OF liberty. Lawyers were concerned in pre-
pairing and promulgatng the Declaration OF
Independence. Lawyers were CONSPICUOUS
IN forming the great charter OF our Liberties
the Constitution OF the United states-'nd
have been instrumental in framing every state
constitution; and as Judges and Legislators
have ever regarded, with watchiui Jealousy,
the rights OF the people. And It Is IN conse-
quence OF their nigh appreciation OF the indie
with The great cause OF human liberty, and OF
their anxiety to preserve untarnishcd, the
freedom We ENJOY, that the usage has long
prevailed among them OF expressing upon
the death, or retirement from the bench, OF
merltOrious Judicial officers, their opinions OF
the manner in which they have discharged |
their duties, not only because the plaudit, |
''well done thou good and faithful servant"
10 Oraff,,l in itsatf huf on mel,
OF respect arc calculated to excite in the pro-
fcssion, and especially among the junior
members Of the bar, M honorable and noble
ambition.
Awaiting ourselves of a time hOnOred Gus
tom, the members of the East Tennessee bar,
now in attendance upon the Supreme Court,
deem the retirement OF the Hon. Charles +.
Keith, from the bench Of the third judicial
circuit, an appropriate occasion upon which
very briefly to express their sense of the man.
Rer in which he has discharged his duty.
Born in the State of Virginia, on the 22nd
in 1899, and returning to his native State to
pursue the study of the law, he permanently |
settled in Tennessee, in the year 1904, ard
has-sssided here ever since. Twice a MEM
der Of our Legislature, he was elected in 1920,
1udse VI Tue Clrcu'I Couri, anu HIS "e'u
that office, with the exception of four years,
by various reflections for nearly thirty-three
years, being the Oldest judicial officer in the
State, and having passed his "three. score
years and ten" he has voluntarily resigned it.
This simple statement Of facts is his own
highest eulogy. No man could hold Office
thus long under the constitution OF this State
who was not cmnently worthy OF public con
fidence, and who did not, in high degree,
command the respect and veneration OF the
bar. Sharing, in good degree, the talents,
and possessing all the frmness and indepen-
dence Of bis distinguished relative, Chief
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