Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-09-24
Death of Henry Watkins Miller.


SOW than we do that OF the death of HENRY W. Mr..
1ER of this City. He expired at his residence in
this City, on Wednesday night last in the 4eth
year Of his age
Henry W. Miller was born in Goochland County,
Virginia, and would have been 40 years old if he
had lived until February next. He removed to this
place when about twelve years of age. He received
here the rudiments of his education and at the prop
er age entered the University of this State, where
he graduated in 1884, with high honors. Soon af.
terwards he studied law and commenced the prac
tice OF the profession. The eminence he has since
attained as lawyer orator. and statesman is known
to all our people The writer of this formed his &C.
quaintance in 1888. He had just made his appear
ance In the Courts as a practitioner. He was re-
markaoiy laborious, and found time frequently to
write for the press. His productions, even at that
time, were marked by unusual force clearness, and
ability. Subsequently, and indeed up to the period
OF MS death, ne took an active part in politics. al
ways making profound impression on the people
by his writings and his speeches. Through all the
mutations and heats of parties, whether with the
minority or the majority, he uniformly commanded
the respect of his opponents; and not only ths but
the enthusiastic admiration and confidence of his
Immediate neighbors and friends. 1t is fact, for
example, that he never addressed an audience here
where he was best known, without rousing an en-
tbusasm which carried his friends rresistably with
him, while his opponents regretted that they were
compelled to differ with such man and to range
themselves against him. The vote which he recent
ly received for the House of Commons in Wake, and
especially his vote in Raleigh, show the estimate
placed upon him by those who knew him best. We
happen to know that he was very proud of this ex-
preston of confidence in him by his immediate fel-
citizens; and, If his life had been spared, he
would have given abundant evidence, in his place
as legislator, that this confidence was not in any
respect misplaced.
With all his varied gifts, and with his deservedly
high reputation as scholar, jurist and orator. he
was one of the most modest men We ever knew.
He was never known to thrust himself forward for
offices or honors. He had no taste for contests for
place, and no turn for intrigue. Sincere, straight
forward, determined in his character and scorning
every thing ignoble or base, he stood forth if
modelled after the best of the Romans, or their
equals, the Pinckneys and Knoxes, and Shermans
of our Revolutionary days. He would have filled
and graced any position in these Confederate States
and yet such his instructive modesty, and such
his Difference for the claims and attainments of
Others that suggestion of this kind even from an
intimate friend would have
1 "O'erspread his manly check with maiden tint"
And yet this modesty of disposition. imped-
ment to the displays of his master mind 1t rather
in
decd an orator. We have often thought, when
listening to him, of those lines Of Shakespeare, de-
scribing Coriolanus, in which he says:
81 have seen
The dumb men throng TO see him, and the bliud
To bear him speak the matrons flung their gloves.
Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchefs,
Upon him as he passed the mobiles bended
As to Jove's statue: and the commons made
shower, and thunder, with their caps and shouts
1t may be truly said of him that he was a kind
neighbor and devoted friend. His hand was open
as the day in works of charity. Many of his most
attached friends were among the poor and humble
whose necessities he had relieved, or for whom,
without reward or the hope of it. he had raised his
voice in our Courts of Justice. In the throng of
those who pressed up to look Cor the last time upon
his noble face, were some of these; and the warm
tears that fell from their eyes attested their affection
for their departed friend.
But the orator, the scholar, the friend, and the
statesman is no more! The heart, whose out
eushings filled others with its noble sentiments,
and the tongue which gave to those sentiments so
finished and so rich utterance are both dumb in
death. Those who were near and dear to him are
4 not alone depressed and sorrowful at this event.
Our whole people will mourn the untimely depar-
ture of a great spirit from our midst He had his
faults as all others have but he was possessed OF
many, many virtues. The former will be buried
with him in his grave, but the recollection Of the
latter will survive him. and be kept fresh and green
) by his family and friends.
He has gone down to the grave in the meridian
of his usefulness and with the measure of his fame
q untitled What he would have been if his life had
been prolonged, what greater intellectual heights
q he would have scaled, and what new fields would
have been opened before him for the exercise of bis
constantly improving faculties is left only to con-
: lecture But, Judging his future by his past, his
career would have more than realized the expecta-
tions of his most ardent friends But this could not
be; yet
Death makes no conquest of this conqusror,
For now he lives in fame, though not in life"
{ The funeral of Mr. Miller will take place from his
late residence this afternoon Friday at A o'clock.
His friends and the citizens generally are respect
fully invited to attend He will be buried with Ma.
sonic honors
< Death of Hon. VIM. 8. Ashe.
Hon. VIM s. Ashe died on Sunday night last, in
ming from the collision of the mail train with the
hand-car which he was in He had represented
New Hanover County in the Senate the Whining
ton District IN Congress, and was President of the
Wilmington & Weldon Railroad Company at the
time of his death. He was in his 5eth year. He
was genial, kindhearted gentleman, and his death
is deplored by large circle Of friends.