Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-11-28
he Early Bar q Riehmona

very EE1FEE44HN-
c. KORTRECHT.
The Early Bar q Richmond.
Ex-President JoHS TYLER delivered, a few
days since, in Richmond, Va, before the Ne
chanics' Institute, an address Of great int. est
and beauty, from which we take an extract,
descriptive Of The early bar Of that city. It
will please all readers:
The transfer Of the General Court from VIII
mington TO Richmond brought along with il
men Of high eminence-and amOng oilers Ed
mund Randolph. He was soon after followed
bV Charles Copeland, John Wiekhsm and many
others, Who made the city their place OF perna-
nent abode. 1t was ny happiness TO have be-
come acquainted with those | have mentioned.
at the early period 10 which Ibavs referred. ]
was admitted by Mr.. Randolph, as a Law stu
dent, In bis Office and can never be too CRATE
fol for the instruction be afforded me. He was
the son Of SiTJohn Randolph, formerly the
Kings ATTORNEY General, who, iBhis briefdaY,
(be died at the early age Of forty fVe,) filed a
large space in the affairs Of the Colony. His
monument is to be seen on the walls Of the
chapel Of William and Mary College; and his
remains, along with those of Peyton Randolph,
the first President of Congress, and others Of
distinction, are entombed IN vaults conzected
with the chapel. Edmand Randolph entered
upon life with every prestige Of success, which
Il was bis good fortune not to ~dissppOint. He
I ran a most brilliant career. Under the Colo
nial Government be succeeded his father, or
soon sfterWard became the Attorney-G General
Of the Colony, and attained the highest emf
nence Of the legal forum. Clients focked
around HIN in vast numbers, and bis opinion
exsrted great influence, not only over the
Courts, but over the people. When the dis
tuTbsnces with Great Britain broke out, he
took bis stand firmly on the side Of the Colony.
What once be filled, and what services be rem
dsrea both before and after the Declaration Of
Independence, are recorded in history. Il is
ny 'cssIsuf Is Dire awe mnDIe one OF present
ing pencil sketches, in which the mere outline
Is exhibited. When / became eIsonslly ac-
cuaiuted with Mr.. Randolph, age had made its
inrOad5 upon bin ; but he, nevertheless, had
been gently dealt with BY time. His person
still bore Its manly and msiestic mien-his
full, black eye, still bsamed With intelligence
and ore left hin in doubt which most to ad-
mire, bis commanding person, his elegance Of
manners, or bis sparkling, and, at the same
TINE, massive intellect. He required all these
combined to restore him 70 bis position at the
bar, after having repeatedly abandoned It for
high political station and vet be achieved The
difficult task and, although surrounded bv
strong and powerful GthletGe, be maintained
bis footing firmly, and enjoyed a large share in
he profits of bis profession.
Charles Copeland remained in Williamsburg
for som years after the transfer OF the Gen
eTal Court. That old city still furnished a
large theatre for forensic labors, and Mr..
Copeland became the leading counsel ia all
cases # Interest To secure his services was
equivalent to securing the result Of the case.
About that time John Wiekham, quite a young
man, appeared at the bar, and soon became a
man OF mark. It was IN nv tWeutv-frst wear
that ] came to Richmond, as counsel in a
case which bad been sent from a county below.
aud which | had conducted in the court Of that
county. consented, after much urgency, 20
come here, upon The understanding with nv
client that ] should not be expected 10 do more
than furnish Mr.. Wickhsm, who had been en-
ployed BY ny client, with a statement Of the
case. br. Writ bad been employed bv the
defendant. stated to Mr.. Wickhsm the sim
pie purpose with which / had followed the
case. He drew ne without the courtroom to
eXpostulate with me. Upon my declaring to
him my utter confusion at the idea Of speak
ing in a case wherein Mr.. Writ and himself
were employed, be said:
"That is q mere bugbear. When I went TO
the bar, (said be- / became engaged in a case
10 which ny fee, dependent on success, was a
large one. HE lion in nv way was Charles
Copeland. When the day arrived for the trial
Of the case, the terror increased upon me. and
30 continued until I fell in with your father.
who was one OF the Judges Of the court, who
inquired az to my success at the bar. re-
piled that | had on that day : case coming on
Which would yield ne a good fee, but that I
was terrified 10 having to encounter Mr.. Cone
land. 'Peoh, pooh said the Judge, salI non
sense; If the law is With you, the court will
take care Of the bslsBce.' Thus encouraged.
! entered on the argument and gained the
causs-so much, (said be- for high sounding
names at the bar. You must Ope1 the CASE,
did so in fear and trembling, however, and
soon after lost myself in the ingenious salliss
made during The rest Of the day, between the
two eminent counsel. The success in he case
which be had mentioned to me was followed
shortly after By theTenoval Of Mr.. Wickhamt 10
Richmond. Here be found q fOemen worthy of
bis steel" At the time to which nv narrative
chiefly relates, The Richmond bar Yves equal to
any other in the Union. Il consisted, without
4 metaphor. Of a constellation Of talent. Mr.
Randolph, Mr.. Wiekhsm, Mr.. Writ, Mr.. HAY,
Mr.. Call, Mr.. WardeH, along with others scarce
ly inferior in abilities. Chief-Justice Marshall
had, years before, pat on the robes Of TIE Chief
Justice. How be wore them is too well known
to require me to cay. Mr.. Wickham occupied
the foremost rank in the profession. The accom-
~piishments Of bic mind, great as they were, were
fully squailed BY the accomplishments Of his
person. His form was light, airy and elastic.
manners highly cultivated, bis address ad-
bis conversational powers rarely eur
bis wiz rsey and sparkling, while his
l~asirous eyes, accompanied By the smile
that played on bis lips, seemed to Light up all
] never knew q man who was better
70 all the purposes Of exalted station. 1
mean not merely those accomplishments 80
necessary 70 be cultivated BY all in order TO
make the social circle Of Oue's neighborhood
agreeable, but something more. As diplomatic
would have been sdmiTabis-as a Secretary
Of State uusarpasssble. Ihsvs no reference 70
party politics-Dohe whatever; I speak only
Of men, and their capacity for asefelness.
William Wiz was, az the time, In the hight
OF his fame. he had rendered himself ccnspie-
uous, as well By bis writings ss BY bis dis
PLAYS at the baE. His speech some time be-
fore, at the trial Of Aaron Burr, will long be
cited as one of the choicest gems Of American
sl0quence. he was he antagonist counsel Of
Dir. Wickbsm inthaE celebrated trial, as well
IN other Important cases, from time 10 time
occurring in the courts, and It was difficult to
decide which most to admire, the splendid i'm
sgery o. the one, or the keen and cutting satire
Of the other. The idea almost universally
that high and brilliant elOQuence fs
rarely associated with great reasoning power.
| think there is much error IN this. Tbs gar
den Of the mind is rendered more attractive
and beautiful BY the many flowers that adom
L; and where they grow without being srtih
,iaiiy forced, they not only give lustre to the
reasoning faculty, and tighten the whole path
way, and make that faculty more clear and
nay, often a metaphor eondeuses into
/ single sentence the entire argument. I might
Illustrate this In the most fOrcible manner bv
the words Of Patrick Henry in the
,onveniion Of l7SS, upon The subject Of adopt.
ng The constitution, without previously amend.
defects which all admitted 10 exist eWhat I
II, " said be, viii you go into a dungeon? {
nd for zbat? to get out again? Beware, lest q
be 6oits and bsrs Of federal authority shall
but Won IN when you are once in" Ia that 7
rief sentences be surrounds You with an the 1
Of the federal goveTnment-its forts I
/ the mouths Of all principal riVers-its ar \
N. its nevy, it's power to lay and collect du-
e, taxes and imposts- You see, you feel, Z