Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-09-20
Death of Henry Watkins Miller.

Death OF Henry Watkins Miller.
We have never recorded any event with more sor-
SOW than we do that OF the death of HENRY W. MIL
LER, of this City. He expired at his residence, in
this City, on Wednesday night last, in the 4sth
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 rudments 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-
forwards he studied law and commenced the prac-
tice of the profession. The emnence he has since
attained 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-
markably 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 his death, he took 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 this, 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-
tbusiasm which carried his friends irresistably with
him, while his opponents regretted that they were
compelled to differ with such a 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
low-citizcns; and If his life had been spared, he
would have given abundant evidence, in his place
as legislator, that this confidence 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 honors. He had 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 as 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 was his instructive modesty, and such
his Difference for the claims and attainments of
others, that suggestion of this kind, even from
intimate friend, would have
"Oerspread his manly cheek with maiden tint"
And yet this modesty of disposition was no mped
iment to the displays of his master mind 1t rather
IL
deed, an orator. We have often thought when
listening to him. of those lines of Shakespeare, de-
scribing Coriolanus, in which he says:
al have seen
The dumb men throng see him, and the blind
To hear him speak: the matrons flung their gloves,
Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs,
Upon him as he passed: the mobiles bended
AS to JoEes statue and the commons made
shower, and thunder, with their caps and shouts.
1t may be truly said of him that he was 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
gushings filled others with its noble sentiments
and the tongue which gave to those sentiments
finished and so rich utterance, are both dumb in
death. Those who were near and dear to him are
not alone depressed and sorrowful at this event.
Our whole people will mourn the untipely depar-
ture oe 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
untitled What he would have been if his life had
been prolonged what greater intellectual heights
he would have scaled, and what new fields would
have been opened before him for the exercise of his
constantly improving faculties, is left only to
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 conquest of this conqueror,
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 Al o'clock.
His friends and the citizens generally respect
fully invited to attend. He will be buried with Ma
sonic honors.
Death OF Hon. VIM. s. Ashe.
1 Hon. VIM. S. Ashe died on Sunday night last in
Wilmington, of the wounds received on Friday eve
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