The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-08

which they presented TO Congress chiefly from the
pen OF Thomas rutherford. They admitted TO be
the ablest papers presented to Congress during those
eventful times and amid the crowd OF similar papers
s up the ss
they opposed-he strongest evidence Of their power and
force hope that, In some FORM they have been pre-
among the records Of the city The transfer OF the
General Court from Williamsburg 70 Richmond brought
along with men of high emnence, and, among Others
Edmund Randolph He after followed by Charles
Copeland John Wckham and many Others who made this
city their place OF permanent abode. 1t my happ
have become acquainted with those have men
toned at early period TO which have referred was
admitted by Mr.. Randolph q law student in his office
and be too grateful for the instruction he a
forded He was the son Of Sir John Randolph, for
mery the Kings Attorney General who In his brief day.
(he died at the OF forty fve) filed large space in
the affairs OF the colony His monument is TO be on
the walls Of the chapel Of William and Mary College and
his remains along with those OF Peyton Randolph the
President OF Congress- and others of distinction en-
tombed in vaults connected with the chapel Edmund
Randolph entered upon life with every prestige sue
cess which his good fortune TO disappont He
most brilliant Under the colonial govern
the Attorney General Of the colony and attained the high
est emnence at the legal forum Clients ocked around
um in vast numbers and his opinions exerted great nnu
not only the courts but the people. When
he disturbances with Great Britain broke out he took MS
nd firmly the side Of the colony What offices he filled
nd what services he rendered. both before and after the
Decia olndcpendence recorded in history II is no
Part Of my purpose to give biographies Ny design the
humble Of presenting pencil sketches, in which
cquainted with Mr.. Randolph age had made its nroads
pom him, but he nevertheless had been gently dealt
with by time His person still bore its manly and maes
tic men, his full black eye still beaned with intelligence,
nd one left him in doubt which most to admire his
commanding person, his elegance OF manners, or his
parking and at the same time massive intellect lie
ured all these combined 10 restore him to his position at
the bar after having repeatedly abandoned for high
political station; and yet he achieved the difficult task,
and although surrounded by strong and powerful athe9
he maintained his footing firmly, and enjoyed large
share in the profits OF the profession Charles Copeland
remained in Williamsburg for some years after the trans
fer OF the General Court. That old city still furnished
large theatre for forensic labor and Mr. Copeland became
the leading counsel in all OF interest To receive
his services regarded equivalent 10 securing the
result OF the case About that time John Wickham quite
young man, appeared at the bar, and soon became
Of mark II was in my twenty first year that came
10 Richmond Is counsel in case which had been sent
from county below, and which had conducted in the
OF that county consented after much urgency,
here upon til, understanding with client that
should not be expected to do more than furnish Mr..
Wickham, who had been employed by my Client with
statement Of the case. Mr. Writ had been employed by
the defendant stated TO Mr.. Wckham the simple pur-
pose with which had followed the He drew me
without the court room to cxpostuate with me- Upon my
declaring to him my utter confusion at the idea Of speak
ing in a case wherein Mr.. Writ and himself
ployed, he said
That bugbear. When went to the bar became
s lion % a
the arrived for the trial Of the the terror increased
the reged that had on that day coming
IN having 10 encounter Mr. Copeland Pooh pooh SAID the
s c Of the ne Thus n on
the argument and ganed the cause 50 much for high sound
and trembling however and soon after los, myself in the
ingenious ses made during the rest of the day between the
two eminent counsel.
The success in the which he had mentioned to
followed shortly AFTER by the removal of Mr. Wick
ham to Richmond Here he found sfoemen worthy of his
steel" At the time to which my narrative chiefly re-
lates the Richmond bar equal TO any other in the
Union. 1t consisted without metaphor, OF constella
81 NJ ntnh Mr. fel ham, NJ WtrN
Mr. Hay Mr.. Call Mr.. Warden along with others scarcely
inferior n abilities. Chief Justice Marshall had years be
fore put on the robes of the Chief Justice How he
them well known to requre me tosay. Mr.. Wckham
occupied the foremost rank III the profession The
piishnents OF his mind great a. they were, were fully
equaed By the mpshmenis OF his person His form
was light airy and elastic; his highly cultivated
his address admirable his conversational powers rarely
surpassed; his wit racy and sparkling while his large
ustrous eyes accompanied by the smile that played
his lips seemed TO light up all around. never knew
man who better suited all the purposes Of exalted
station. mean not merely those accomplishments
cessary be cultivated by all order 70 make the social
circle OF ones ncghborhood agreeable but something
AS diplomat he would have been admrable as
Secretary OF State indispensable. have no reference
10 party politcs-none whatever. speak only OF men
and their capacity for usefulness William Writ at
the time in the height OF his fame lie had rendered him
self conspicuous, as well by his writings as by his dis
plays the bar HIS speech, some years before, at the
trial Of Aaron Burr, will long be cited as one Of the
choicest gems of American cloquence. lie the
tagonst counsel Of Mr. Wckham in that celebrated trial
a. well as in other important from time to time
n
TO admire, the splendid imagery Of the one or the
Keen and cutting OF the other. The idea almost uni
yersay prevails that high and brilliant coqncnce Is
IL associated with great reasoning powers think there
IL much N this The garden OF the mind IL render
ed more attractive and beautiful by the many flowers
that adorn H. and where they grow wihoA being arth
cay forced they not only give lusTc the reasoning
faculty but lgten the whole pathway, and make that
faculty cea! and brghi-nay often metaphor con
dcuscs into a single sentence the entire argument might
Illustrate this the most forcble manner by quoting the
words Of Patrick Henry in the Convention Of lIss upon
the subject Of adopting the constitution without previous
is amending defects which all admitted 10 exst'What
sir T. said he, s'w you 20 into dungeony-And for WHAT
To get again Beware lest the bolts and bars Of fede
raj authority shall shut you Ia when you are once in
In that brief he surrounds you with all the pow
ers OF the federal govcrnment forts al the mouths OF
all principal rivers it, army it, navy ts power to levy
aud collect dutes taxes and mpos,s You see you feel
you touch the power are parting with and the hazard
sou run in concedng H. before surrounding yourself with
guarantees and securities. While Mr.. Wnts style was
classc ngurat.ye aud flowing bis reasoning was power
full, and often overwhelming. AZ an after day he
changed his residence 10 baltimore, where he
measured swords with William Pnkney, Of Mary
land aud Il IA praise enough TO say that he lost
nothing BY the conflict " George Hay and Daniel Call
can scak but briefly Mr. hays manner Of speaking
was Ike himself stately and studied. His style In writing
gives just idea Of his style 10 speaking His letters, pub
Nhed the Enquirer about the time 70 which refer,
der the signature ~ Horensus universally read and
much admired. As the United states District Attorney
he prosecuted Aaron Burr with marked ability. Mr.. Call
pretended 70 no dispay,o 10 trick of oratory He &C
compshcd everything by his extensive aud well dgested
legal learning which constituted him On all occasions, an
adversary Of great power. John woricn cannot be
hurredy parted with. Nature generally beautiful IN
al. her productions, Sometimes apparently distorts and
dshgures II for the sole purpose u rendering to
be admired her more perfect handiwork 80 had she
acted In the of John worden-Oid jock. as he
familiarity called AT the bar. HIS structure seemingly
reversed and everything out u place. His mouth
enormously large and yet his tongue large FOR his
mouth which rendered bis articulation muddy and inds
tnct Any could sketch his likeness. II all
the walls o. the CAPITOL remember one sketch IN part
cular, which exceedingly striking, and had written
over Il what purpored 70 BE- bis epaph The last lines
only retain in my memory
Reader. tread tightly 'er hs snf,
For II b. gspcs you are gone. BY -.
He often flcetousy declared that his parents had twelve
children and that BE- the hsndsoest of the set aud
yet nature had In freak lily made up his person she
fully compensated for q In the formation a his mind
That gem Of much value, and caused forget
the defects Of the setting PROFESSIONALLY the best con-
veyancer the state possessing much wit profoundly
versed the law and adding TO all these pleasantly and
good humor, every liked him, and he was accord.
ngly surrounded with clients These brilliant lights Of the
bar have all passed away They have been succeeded by
athars these others have had their