Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-09-02
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OLUEN TINES

converse with "a intelligent chroncIer Of the past,
lone who has outlived the companions Of youth
and the associates even Of old age. aad yet retsns
. sprghtly intellect, active habits and q buoyant
flow Of spirits that ought to shame the tendency to
snaai that exhibits itself 90 strongly among our
young men.
desire to learn something of the past induced
ms 10 visit Chelsea the residence ef the Hon. Henry
Potter. where we found him embowered under the
foliage Of his own oaks, enjoying the "osivns cum
dignitate" Of long and wellspent life, surrounded
by those who kindly minister to his wants and an
ticipate his every wish. )
The venerable Judge was born in Granville coun.
ty in this State in 1895, and is consequently in his
92d year. In 1901 he was appointed by Thomas
Jefferson Judge of the us. District Court for the
State of North Carolina. The duties of this respon
sibe Office he has now discharged for period of Sc
years, in conjunction with Chief Justice Marshall,
Judge Daniel, and Judge Wayne. He was 10 years
old when the National Declaration of Independence
was made, and remembers the stirring times of our
Revolutionary struggle: was preseptand heard Ger.
Washington deliver his first message to the Con-
gress of the U. S., that convened in Philadelphia af
ter his election describes his enulciaton as being
clear and distinct but states that his voice did not
possess great volume or strength.
Gen. Washington was regular atten liant of Christ
Church in Philadelphia, where he had large square
pew in the middle aisle cushioned and covered with
velvet He was in the habit Of riding out on week
days, on large gray horse, richly though not gau-
Oily caparisoned, though in style that would pass
for livery at the present day. and that the eyes of
the multitude followed and revered his fine manly
presence. -.'-' .--
At one of Washington's Levees he was introduced
10 the General from North Carolina, when the
President in affable manner made inquire les re.
spectng that State. to which he responded. Onre-
firing he bowed, which the general retu ming, he
bowed again, and discovered that it was
point of etiquette with Washington to give the last
bow.
On one occasion a large ball was given, which
Washington and Vice President Adams honored
with their presence though neither participated in
the dance. On their entrance the crowd formed
right and left and made space for them to march to
the upper end OF the hall where seats provided
for them; but it was difficult to keep the crowd from
falling in after the tall form Of Washington and
thus separating the short chunky Adams from his
Chief
About that period of his life the Judge spent two
and half years in Philadelphia, aud was familiar
with the presence Of Hamilton, Madison, Adams,
Jefferson, Richd Henry Lee, Anthony Wayne, Chas.
Carroll, of Carrolton, Pinckney, Randolph, Rufus
King, and host of others whose names will be re-
vered by the American people through all time. At
subsequent periods he has met and heard most othe
distinguished men of the country speak, either in
Congress or at the bar and his descriptions Of them
are lively and interesting in the OF Chief
Justice Marshall, with whom he was so long associ
ated on the bench, he expresses those feelings of
friendship and admiration which his pure life wasso
well calculated to excite. Madison's voice he de-
scribes feeble but states that whenever he spoke
the audience maintained the silence of the grave so
that all he said was distinctly heard.
OF the Fathers of the Revolution in North Caro-
lima, he remembers to have once seen Richard Cas-
wei on horseback, and knew we'll Judge Iredsll
Governors Johnston, Nash, Burke, Spaight, Asbe
Davie, and all who have since presided over the
State.
With the judiciary and bar of North Carolina, no
has,
years he has presided in the U. s. District and Cir
cult Court, the pre- eminent talent of the bar has ap
pcared before him, as young men have acquired
fame and distinction, and become old, and descend.
ed 10 the grave before him, in the case Of Hen.
derson, Cameron, Daniel, Moore, Castor. Toomer,
Mesres Eccles, Henry, Haywood, Duffy and Strange.
After an hour or two spent with the venerable
Judge we took our leave; wishing that he might
long remain, oldest inhabtant and the oldestof
fetal in the administration of the laws under which
we live.
On leaving the hospitable Judge Potter, We could
not help feeling that we had left behind us one who
IN many respects was a remarkable man, one around
whom cluster association of ideas such is rare
ly presented in the history of one individual.
He was born subject Of George the Third, but
on the success Of our Revolution became his equal.
He witnessed the descent of three of the sover-
riod that DIR. Johnson the great English moralist,
was Law unto himself and the world on literary
topics: read the lays of Godimith and the tales Of
kIchai dson as they were issued beheld the stars
OF Burns, Ramsey, Hume. Gibbon Robertson,
Moore, Byron, Jeffrey and Scott, eliminate and de-
cline. He lived at period wh,n- Walpole was in
his zenith, and saw him in turn displaced by Pitt,
and was an anxious reader Of all his forensic efforts
elected by the combined powers Of Fox, Burke and
Sheridan.
In France, he has oulved the fall and rise of the
Orleans dynasty, and its ruins has witnessed the
ia md co NJ khoR g.
At home, he was old enough to remember the De-
caration of independence; to hear the first gun
fired in the Revolution to assist in the formation of
system Of government for the more perfect union
Of the people, and has beheld that people increase
from three to thirty millions and at his advanced
years. administers the U. S. laws in his native State
over population of nearly nine hundred thousand
Such man is daily to be seen in our midst, frail
OF body and walking with feeble step, but remarka.
bic for mind and spirits
TIE GROWING CKop-The corn crop in this re-.
gon. so far as We have had opportunity to see and
so far as We have been able TO hear promises most
abundant yield. Never within our recollection have
we seen better prospect. There can be little
doubt that If the season continues favorable for a
few weeks longer, heavier crop will be gathered
this fall than for many years past And what rem
ders it still more gratifying, is the fact that this
state OF things appears to be general hroue the
country. From all sections-East, West, North
ana oootn-tne intelligence respecting the grain
crops is OF the most favorable character, This.
taken in connection with the probable reduction Of
the foreign demand, renders it likely that the pres
ent will prove to be year Of prosperity and plenty.
In view Of the alarming scarcity prevalent in
many parts of the country during the last winter
and spring, causing. as it did, an amount of priva.
ton and suffering the hountiful wheat harvest of
the present year. and the encouraging prospect of
no less abundant crop Of corn afford the most am
pie cause for gratitude to kind and mercifol Prov
idence No one can tell the extent of the suffering
Which would have had Il. u |