Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-23

Lawyers, IN every part vi Tue ou'eu
States, know that, ginning with the close
Of the Revolution, with John Marshall, Ed
mund Psndle:on, and George Wythe, down
L, the present hour, the Beech and the Bar
of Richmond have beea pre-eminently dis
tinguished, as well for the learning and aoi'.
inv uf their numerous members, as br their
vi,iaut and scrupulous maintenanco oil the
dignity, aud honor, Of their profession.
| believe there was scarcely ever time,
when that bar COMMANDED more general
respect and veneratiCn, than at the part!cG-
| lar time, to which | refer.
| will make no Determinations among the
living-of the dead may speak. Benjamin
Watkins Leigh, Chapman Johnson, Robert
Stanurd, John L Cooke, and Samuel Taylor
we're then the leaders OF the Richmond bar,
and were in the z,nith of thei. extensive aud
we'll merited famo.
! NV i'm pression Is that Mr.. Patton. at the
time be came to Richmond, had few or no
cases 10 the Court OF Appoals,-uone, L
| think 10 that or in any other Court OF Rich-
mon5 | sm not positively certain az to this
fact, though lived with him, in bis own
! house, during his first winter 10 Richmond
being then myself member of the Laslsla-
| ture.
How soon be got footing in that Court,
we all know--with how quick and hrni
step be marched right onward and upward,
until we saw him, sereneiy perched, oa the
very highest pinnacle Of professional emil
nence--enj lying without vanity, or ostenta-
ton, as he had acquired without envy or I'll
will, the high position, of the undispnted and
ndlsputabie championship, of the bar Of Nir-
ginia, all Virginia knows, As to the man.
ner 10 which he bore him SELF in that high
calling" let the Richmond bar DO heard. LIS
resolutions 90 tho occasion OF his death,
have embodied 10 those propose TO submit.
But, sir, heis gone. Never again shall we
| feel bis cordial grasp, or meet his genial smile
when 10 his annual visits, he came amongst
us-layiug of bis ponderOus armor, and COM
| ing, TOR season, to recover his wasted
strength, and refresh bis fatigued faculties,
10 the balmy breezes Of his mountain home
with early hours and long, sweet sleep, ur-
startled by tho tttul sounds of city life, to be
ready for the peep Of dawn"-snd brush
ing with hasty steps the dews away" eater
with aYidIty and glee, into the business, or re-
creations OF rural lite.
The breezy call OF incense breathing morn;
| The swallow twltterIng from the straw. built
shed,
The cocks shrIl clarion, or the echong horn,
No mere shall rouse him from that Peaceful
bed"
The voice Of ccnsure, or applause, is the
same to him, in the endless sleep, OF that
cold and silent trmb. the uproar of The &C.
tive and busy city--the great struggles Of
that high theatre, on the boards OF which be
was 80 distinguished performer-the shouts
and plaudits OF the assembled multliudes--
tho roar OF festive artillety--wiil no more be
heard nor Needed by him, than will the pious,
AMI silent flow Of that tribute OF tears, which
devoted affection pours upon his grave.
"Can stored urn or animated bust
Back 10 It's mansion call the teetlng breath;
Can honors voice provoke the silent dust,
Or tlattery sJothc the dull cold ear OF death.
"Human'la est incidet e1rGrc'-I do not
doubt the truth Of that maxlm-coeval wiki
the dawn, and lying at tae foundation OF
that sublime faith, which in its benignant in
huences upon the character and condition vi
the world stands in the annals OF that world
subordinate only to that other, and earlier,
prOcess--when the Almighty Author of the
Gniyerse, speaking chaos into form. accom-
plished Crestion--and said ''let there be
light, aod there was light"
do not doubt it, and therefore cannot
doubt that John NJ. Patton had bis faults, bis
iu6rmities and bis weaknesses; but | am
bound to say, that however conspicuous they
may have been to the view of otbers-how-
ever palpable they must have been, TO that
omuiscient eye which secs to, and sees
through all things, they were ever invisible
to me.
Ii it is permitted to believe, tina. before
that dread tribunal TO which he precedes you,
sir, and me, but by very brlet space at
most, his faults, and n6rmities, shall De estI-
mated and measured, with his great virtues,
his generous nature, his noble acts, his sp1tless
life; then, Sir may adopt the beautiful con-
ception of an eminent British classic, who
was also all eminent divine. and hope-that
when the small scroll Of his impeachment,
was forwarded to Heavens Chancery, the ac-
cusing spirit blushed as he gave 1t in, and the
recording angel 81 be set it down, dropped Il
tear upon the record, and bl)tted it out for
ever.