The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-10


same line in this country or in London.
MEMOIR OF JAMES LOUIS PKTTIdEU. By w. J.
Grayson. Harper Brothers, New York.
Agents, j. B. lLippincott u Co., Nos. 7l5 and III
Market street.
When a moral epidemic, whether religious or
political in its nature, sezes upon community,
and hurries it along in the wild rush of mad
enthusiasts; when the whole social torrent
aasbes with seemingly irresistible force in cer-
tain direction, for one man to stem that
current, and bravely battle against the stream,
is sign of heroism which the world has never
failed to appreciate and applaud. II is out of
such that the lemi-gods of history have been
made. 1t is out OF such clay that the almost
deifed leaders of the past have been ere.
ated. Cicero, when he stood alone among the
copspirators, and opposed their schemes, was
such man. Luther when he dared the power
of the Church Of Rome, unaided and uusupport-
ed, was SUCH a man. And in our land and time,
the man whose actions approach nearest to this
exalted position was James L. Pettigru, of South
Carolina. When the mad torrent of secession
engulfed the reason of the Southern people
beneath the waves of passion, Pettigru breasted
those waves, forfeited popularity, lost position,
AboASN liz ohV DlOOh pOIOlu tilO biuC hou tulhCub
in the cause OF the Union-in the cause which
his conscience told him was the right one.
The life of such man is of interest to the
nation. The people are too apt to forget, in
their universal hatred of the Southern leaders,
that there was man who never yielded, never
temporized, never wavered in the cause of the
natienal unity. Had the life of Mr.. Pettigru
been spared until to-day, he would have been
the most popular man in the entire country
He would have been beloved by the North be-
cause of his unadulterated Unionism, by the
South, because even in the midst Of the widest
secession excitement he was ever esteemed and
honered. But dying before the day dawned, 1t
is necessary that some memoir keep his name
before postenty, The needed work has been
furnished by hjs old friend, Mr.. W. J. Grayson,
who also to-day lies with his schoolfellow be-
meath the sod. Let us trace the life Of the
hero of the sketch before as.
James Louis Pettigru was born of an aristo.
cratic though extremely INDECENT family, on
the 10th of May, 1889. His parents were ex-
tremely poor, living on small farm, and
without resources or prospects. His father
appears to have been an easy-going, unenergetic
sort of man, who lived, and that was all he
cared for. His death left his eldest son James
with the care of large family, with little
funds, and great promise of ability He imme-
mediately proceeded to work on the farm, and
labored with all his strength to support his
relatives.
AT the age of thirteen, a family council was
called, and it was decided that the boy should
be sent to school, The matter was grave one,
and to raise the necessary funds mortgage was
resorted to. He accordingly went to the AGA
DENY of DR.. Waddel, on leaving which he
went to Columbia College, supporting himselt
by teaching school during his course of study.
Upon graduating, first Of his class, he taught a
country school, meanwhile studying law. AT
the age of twenty-five he was elected tutor OF
Beaufort College. On the death of the President
he tried to secure that post. BY his defeat the
cause of education lost an able leader, but the
state gained a most faithful public servant.
Admitted TO the bar, he removed in 1919 to
Charleston. In 1922 he was elected Attorney
General OF the State. When the Modification
schism of 1880 swept over the State, Pettigru
came out boldly with Drayton and other Union
ists, and fought the Nullifers on their own
ground His biographer well says of him
There could be no hesitation on his part. The
disruption oil the Federal Union was to him an
evil without remedy, and without measure" In
1881 he ran tor the position OF State Senator, in
opposition to Colonel Cunningham, the Nulli6
cation candidate. BY bribery, force, fraud
and every political contagion he was de
ieated. From that time until the announcement
of Secession, he continually held legal positions
of honor under the State. In 1887 he lost all o
his fortune in ruinous speculation, besides IN
curing q debt which it took years to liquidate
But by devotion to the bar he finally came GU
unharmed, free, and finally an opulent man
From the first breath OF Secession he was opel
in his bitter denunciation. We lind he measures
No words in his opposition. 1t was the bite
and relentless war of the right upon the ever
increasing force of wrong. Yet, strange to say
although he dared the popular fury, stemme
the popular tide, called the people traitors. AM
never hesitated to avow his contempt and oppc
ton TO their conduct they continued to hav
faith in him. In 1862, after having for thre
years abused each member of the Legislator
and their views, he was elected by them Z
eodlfy the laws of the State. 1t was because c
his great legal attainments, and not politica
iavoritism, that he was chosen, from that tim
until the day Of his death, on the 9th OF March
1863 in the seventy fifth year OF his age, haWn