Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-08
The Late Judge Williams.
SUPREME CouRr.
Tribute Of rs.pec, TO he memory Of the HO'
THOMAS L. WILLIAMS

SUPREME CoURT.
Tribute Of respect TO The memory Of the HOx.
THOMAS L. WILLIAMS
At the meeting of the Court on Friday morn
ing, +. B. Fogg, Esq, addressed the Court as fol-
lows:
May it please the court: The members Of the
bar now in attendance upon this court have as
signed me the melancholy task of announcing the
death of Hon. THoM.s L. WILLIAMS, of Knoxville,
which took place in this vicinity on the night OF
the Bird inst. and of presenting series of rssolu-
tons adopted by them in public meeting this
morning. expressive of their deep regret at an
event by which the State is bereaved of one Of its
most valuable citizens More thar thirty years ago
the deceased was Judge of the Supreme Court of
his State, and for more than twenty years be held
The position o! Chancellor for the eastern division
of this State. Throughout his long career as
practitioner and judge, he maintained a character
for great ability and learning, and possessed in an
eminent degree, the public admiration and esteem
for the sterling qualities which adorned his persons
a. character. l am requested to ask that these
resolutions be entered upon the minutes of the
court and also that this court do ADJOURN that
:he members of the bar may attend the obsequies
Of the deceased, this day at II O'clock
The resolutions were then read as follows:
! Al a meeting o: The members of the bar attend
ing the Supreme Court in session at the Cspi7o in
Nashville on the 9th of December, 1856, the fol,
loving proceedings were had touching The death of
Hon. Thomas l.. Williams late one of the Chan
ceIlors of this State, and formerly Judge Of the
Supreme Court. Francis &. Fogg, Esq, was call
ed to the Chair, and Slmue' NJ. Fife, Esq, APP
pointed Secretary. The chairman appointed Thorn
as Washington, john Trmble and Return J. Meigs,
Esq, committee 10 propose resolutions express
sive o. the feelings of The meeting or the Occa.
sion. The committee reported tue following
Resolpca, That the members o. the bar and off
GERS of the court wear the usual badge of mourn
ing during the remainder Of The present term OF
the coart in testimony of the respect for the de-
ceased, who learned and able lawyer, and
excellent, useful and honorable citizen,
ReSolutd That we offer our sincere sympathy to
the family Of the deceased in their bereavement.
Resol0ed, That the chairman request the court
TO cause these proceedings to be spread upon the
minutes Of the court aud to adjourn for the pur-
pose OF attending the funeral to-day.
! Resoucd, That the secretary communicate copy
of these proceedings to the family of the deceased.
Upon the reading OF the resolutions, Judge
McKINSEY responded from the bench as follows;
Tie court has heard, with emotions Of the deep
est sorrow, the anuouncem ent from the bar of the
death of the Hon. Thomas L. Williams. Few men
have ever lived or died in Tennessee elsewhere,
whose private and public virtues more richly de-
serve the tribute Of a respectful and afectionate
remembrance by his fellow citizens. Il dis,
tingushed as lawyer and advocate, distinguished
as Judge, and what is brighter than all, dstins
guished as an honorable, Dure-miuded christian
gentleman He lived the lie ofthe righteous man,
and those of US who knew his virtues fee assured
that his last end was that of the righteous, and
ihat he has exchanged ,he theatre of al honorable
and useful career IN ihis world, but 10 reap a rich
reward in the world 20 come. The memories Of
an ancient friendship, aud of long and intimate
association at the bar, r which had opportunities
to test MS sterling merit a man, and appreciate
his worth as q iawyer ii me at his moment with
emotions OF regret at as loss, which l have no
bower of language to otter. The proceedings Of
the bar will be entered upon tine minutes Of the
court, and the court will now adjourn until o.
clock, P NJ, to-day, to attend the funeral of the de
ceased.
Thereupon the court adjourned, and the mems
bars Of the bench aud ba- proceeded in a body to
attend the obseques
Popular Vote o. TerCessse-gHiciaI.