Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-04-24
HIS THANKS-HIS HOPES.
Judge Lucas P. Thompson.

Judge Lucas P. Thompson.
At the Circuit Court in Rockbridge, Judge
H w. Shelley prefaced his charge to the Grand
Jury with a reference to his worthy predecessor
in ofice-Hon Lucas 2. Thompson-to whom
he paid the following just and eloquent tribute !:
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JURY:
Before proceeding to give you such charge as
the law requires, [ beg to be INDUCED IN saying
few words which, I trust, will not be consider
ed inappropriate to this occasion cannot en-
ter upon the discharge of my duties IN this
Court without saying word OF him who pre-
coded me in my Office and who, by the choice
Of the constituted authorities of the Common
wealth, has, for his learning and virtues, been
promoted to higher post Of judicial usefulness
and honour.
[ am the successor of one who for more than
thirty five years has expounded the laws in this
Circuit-of one who has been to myself judi
cial father and to the people of this Circuit the
protector of the defenceless, tower of strength
and refuge for the weak, the prosecuted, the
wronged and the oppressed, the guardian Of the
orphan and the defender Of the widow, and al
rags the fearless scourge of wrongdoers of eT-
cry grade in word, of one who is a Virginia
gentleman Of the olden time and by universal
consent, conscientious, incoTuptible and I'M
!
son has been Judge in your midst for period
| during which a generation has been gathered to
their fathers: and yet after all that long service,
| although he has pronounced many thousands
/ judgments. affecting the lives the liberties and
! the rights of this people, and has passed thro'
scenes and temptations Of the most trying char
acter he lays aside the robe Of his judicial Of
| fee as spotless and unstained as when, more
| than thirty-hve years ago, IN early manhood, he
| put it on.
Peace. gentlemen, has her victories as well as
war: and often, in the fearless discharge Of his
! judicial functions has Judge Thompson, ANNA
ted by heroic purpose. to do right, achieved
| triumphs of the law which entitled him to some
thing better than the mere warrior crown /
| have myself seen him face a fierce and angry
crowd, which almost audibly demanded a sacrl-
flee to the passions of the hour, and standing
betageen the helpless accused and the excited
almost infuriated- multitude, calmly expound
the law and fearlessly uphold cts shield OF pro-
lection over the rights of all, thus threatened IN
the person of the meanest citizen. l have seen
! him again amidst the throes of our recent strug-
| gle, in which our people and leaders deemed the
most precious rights of freemen were imperilled,
and to which Virginia had soienlnly dedicated
| all her men and means-when Early was retreat
| ing up the Valley-when military leaders were
calling for more men-when the Secretary OF
! War sternly revoked all details, including those
Of the bonded farmers and ordered all to be
hurried to the front-when his own home was
threatened, and his own people were about to
| be over-run-when loyalty was sehslttue, and
motives might be suspected,-I have seen him
send forth the Great Prerogatiye Writ OF Ha-
| beas Corpus and with force of reasoning, ut
| terly irresistible, and which afterwards other
distinguished Judges accepted as conclusive, de-
monstrate that the order Of the War Secretary
was illegal and void and then, with a moral
courage, which no intimidation could daunt-
which no apprehension of personal consequences
could lessen-which no feeling Of patriotism or
selfinterest could affect, deliberately pronounce
! the judgment of the law and discharge petition
ers, taken from the very lines Of the army
To have had such Judge for so many years
welding silent but resistless influence in favour
of law and order, and justice and right, has been
blessing which, I trust, has been appreciated
! by us all.
! Our bar, than which none in the Common
wealth stands higher for honour, integrity learn
| ing and marked abilities, have been accustomed
| to see in their judge the manifest spirit of the
great lawyers and jurists of the past; and before
them he has always kept high uplifted, the
standard Of professional honour and character.
Our people, too, have been educated and ele-
waited in sentiment, opinion and principles by
| HIS CAduIp anu IiluucLcS. dHu luC power OF
these, [ trust, will remain with us and ours for
generations to come, impeIling us to reverence
the law, to yield willing obedience to its pre-
cepts: to regard its expounders as those who
ought to be clothed with the pure ermine of
justice-as indeed the Vice gerents of the Al
mighty Judge in the visible affairs ofmen!
And now this great and good man lies upon
bed of extreme sickness-it may prove to be a
bed of death; and as calmly and sereneIy does
he turn his eyes upon the Valley of the Shadow
of Death, as he has been wont to look upon
danger and duty in his high office. His abours
ended, at peace with all men, full of gentle sym
pathies and affections, and with a sure faith,
openly proclaimed, in the priceless atonement,
his example comes back to us, as from the Dor
ders of the grave, and it's light shall shine with
steady Iustre for our comfort and guidance for
generations to come
When | consider, gentlemen, not only the in
herent responsibilities of the sacred office | a.
sumo, but in whose pathway tread, with I'M
equal steps, [ can only invoke reyerently for my
guidance and direction, that wisdom which
cometh from above, y and resolve to consecrate
/ all my powers to the discharge Of its duties!