Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-08-16

springs of human conduct, and then sum up
and act UPON, almost infallibly, the 'ar""s
ramiied motives of his fellow men. ....
About the year 1876 he removed 10 liie .ota.e
of Missouri; with the intention OF permanent!
| residing there; but, regrett!ng 'nat NE nau lei'
! tho State of his birth and his associations III i
short time returned to Virginia, and rcsulaIne
his profession, again resided IN the county oil
The county of Powhatan had been, for several
years preceding, represented i'll the Legislature
iy the politicians of the Wing party. Their
majority had so greatly increased about this pc
Rod that many thought any opposition utterly
unavailing. In the spring Of 1913, the Demo
cratic party made an earnest appeal to Mr.. Nash
to permit them to use his name as their candi-
date, to which he yielded, and, although all the
odds were against him, and his opponent was n
gentleman in every respect qualified toreprcSent
the county crcditablv, his personal popularity
and weight Of character was such, that after an
animated and active canvass, he was elected.
His political life here ended. He never took
his seat in the General Assembly; but. in n few
weeks afterwards, he was appointed, by Gov.
Smith, Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit,
to supply the vacancy ocra>ioncd by the death
of Judge Gholson. Although he did not re-
side within the limits Of the Circuit, the next
ensuing session Of the Legislature unanimous
" confirmed his appointment, and a special act
was passed Mncxing Powhatan, the county ot
his residence, to the Circuit, for his especial
accommodation; which facts show, IN a bright
or light than any others could do, his great
popularity in all parts Of the State. In the
year 1852. after the adoption Of the new Con
stitution. the bounds OF the Circuit were some
what altered: some new counties added and
others omitted. The people in many Of the
counties, III primary meetings, irrespective oil
party, passed resolutions approving OF his for
ner discharge OF his duties. and declaring their
intention TO continue him in the occupancy OF
the position. Al the ensuing Judicial election
be was elected by large majority over Hon.
Il. kidder Meade, who was, at the time, the
representative in Congress from the Congress
sional District. nearly the same in extent with
the Judicial Circuit. And TO show the apprc-
CATION OF his merits by those who knew him
best. we record the fact. that in the county OF
his residence, he received every vote cast save
six. and IN the county of Amelia, formerly his
residence, every vote save twenty.
After the adoption Of the present Constitu-
ton and election Of the Judiciary, the LcgiSla.
ta.e created 4 Special Court Of Appeals, for the
purpose Of relieving the regular Court from
the accumulation of unfinished business. In
der the organization oi this Court, Judge Nash
became one of its members, and for the manner
in which he discharged these duties, in adii-
ton To those OF his large and labo!iolIs circuit,
we refer tn the members of the bar who prac-
tired before him. Many cases have been de-
.tl,l - ,,:. l'n,,.f inr,lyip, Tia. S,ttlntnspf az
tie most ditlicui, and important questions. On
request, the opinion OF the Court; and I'LL the
decisions r:dc by him and reported. we find
marked hy that cicarnc>S. rcrSpicuitv and ac-
curacy Of expression which always charactrriz'
Cd him.
As 4 specimen Of hi> judicial style, We refer
to the opinion Of the Court i'll the cascof Rob
er;S y. Kelly, reported in I'd Patton and
llcaih's reports. in which that cardinal rule ol
Equity, requiring two witnesses. or one Wit
ness and strong coIroboratin. circumstances.
20 outweigh the answer of the defendant, re-
spor>ivc 10 TIE plaintiffs bills examined.
discussed aid ,ieiiaci. In this important tri-
auual. composed Of the most experienced Of
t!.t Circuit judges Of the Commonwealth,
Judge Nash ranked "Primw inter la!tS, y
anl ~cnioyc,! the confidence and respect Of the
Court and the Bar. The Circuit OYER
which he presided contained some OF the
largest, most p~opulOuS and wealthy counties OF
the State. and, in addition TO them, = thriving
commercial city; and. consequently, 10 Judge
in Virginia was oCtcncr called on TO decide in
tricate questions Of criminal and maratlme lu-
1iSprudrncc. In conclusion, we say that he
wore the errnine Of Z Virginia Judge i'll a man
ner worthy Of the dignity, the intellect, the in
tecri,y AMI spirit Of the Old Dominion.
Ills labors are now over. He continued i'll
dcfa,igably to discharge them. although his
hcaltl! had been delicate for some years, up 10
a comparatively recent period, when he was
arrested in the midst OF one of his most aidu-
ous ntsi prius terms. lie FASTENED home, and
although when relieved from fatigue his case
seemed more favorable. hc assured his friends
that he was near his end. His mental energy
and "yivacity never iorSooG him. and up TO the
period Of his death, in tones scarcely audible.
he continued in his characteristic manner 10
converse with his family and 4 few friends
lie died at his residence in Powhatan, Oh tlie
morning Of the 18th Of July. in the 9th year
Of his aye; and his remains were, at his >pc.
cial request, inferred hy the Masonic fraternity.
of which nc was 4 member. lie wis followed
10 his grave by one Of the largest professions
ever seen in the county, in which were seen
persons of all ages and conditions. not only
from his ncishborhood, but also from adjoining
countics-all desiring to pay the last tribute Of
respect to the memory Of such a risi.
Judge Nash possessed more Of those emo
bling traits Of character, which cndcar one To
his fellows. than ordinarily falls TO tic 10, oI
man. In the private walks of life, as well As
in the performance OF public duties, he exhibit
ed ,i.cm in strong relief. He had a devotion
to truth aud justice. lie was Il lover OF his
whole race. lie possessed 4 generous syinpa'
thy for the fricnllcS> and unprotected. lie was
a sincere friend, n Kind ncighbor, 4 humane
master, a devoted husband, and Il most alice
Tomato father.
Although removed from ON midst. We, vino
knew him best, have some satisfaction in the
belief. that his memory will cndurc-,lat his
example will continue TO he tclt-hiS virtues
still ,uryiyc-snd that lac viii talk. hi, place
among
..Il,e nue.. hut sc,Iirei -oycrr.sns. who ,I rule
oar spirits frcIu their uTEs. J.
WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE.
We indulge the hope land not without ionn-
da,ionJ that the ensuing session of William and
Mary, will prove fur more ilattcring to her nu-
,nerouS friends. as the product Of their lcgiti-
mate efforts, than have been realized for many
past wears. The college now stands redeemed,
u,r,t.l .rd J,~.nuihr,IIcd y r,ul in new In.