Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-04-27
A Merited and Eloquent Tribute.

we regret our inaDlilty 70 puDilSn, Oh ac-
count Of its length, the admirable charge to
the Grand Jury Of Rockbridge, delivered BY
Judge II. W. Shefey, but give below the
eloquent tribute paid to that eminent jurist
and most upright Judge, Lucas 2. iTholnp-
son; 50 lately among us and whose death is
So. sincerely lamented by our entire commu-
nifty.
Gentlemen of the Grand Jaoy:
+ Before proceeding to.givc you such charge
tie law requires, / beg to be iindulged in as
saying few words which, trust, will not be
considered inappropriate to this occasion. |
cannot enter upon the discharge of my sdu-
ties in this Court without saying a word Of
him who preceded me in my office; and who,
by the choice Of the constituted authorities Of
the Commonwealth has, for his learning
and virtues, been prolaotcd to a higher post
of judicial usefulnes and honor.
4 am the successor of one. who for more
than thirty-ivc. years has expounded the laws
in this Circut--of one who has been to my
self judicial father, and to the people of
this Circuit the protector of the defenceless, a
tower of strength and refuge for the weak,
the prosecuted, the wronged and oppressed,
the guardian of the orphan and the defender
of the widow, and al~ays the fearless scourge
of wrong-doers Of every grade lin word,
Of one who is Virginia gentleman Of the
olden time and by universal consent con-
scientious, incorruptible, and unarproacha-
BY honest Judge! Lucas T: Thompson
has been Judge IN your midst for a period
during which a generation has been gathered
to their fathers and yet after all that long
| service, although he has pronounced many
thousand judgments, affecting the lives, the
liberties anu the rights of this: people, and
has passed thro' scenes and temptations Of
the most trying character. be lays aside the
robe of his Judicial Office as spotless and un-
stainedsas when, more than thirty five years
ago, in early manhood, he put it on.
Peace, gentlemen, has her victories as
we'll as war and often, in the fearless dis
charge ofjudicial functions has Judge Thomp-
son, animated by.a heroic purpose to do right,
achieved triumphs Of the law which. entitled
him to something better than the mere war
rior's crown / have myself seen him face
a fierce and angry crowd, which almost audi
bly, demanded sacrifice to the passions Of
the hour, and standing betweem the helpless
accused and the excited almost Infatuated
calmly expound the law, and
fearlessly uphold its shield ofprotection over
the rights Of all, thus threatened in the per-
son of the meanest citizen. Ihave seen him
again amidst the throes Of our recent strug-
gle, in which our people and leaders deemed
the most precious rights Of freemcn were i'm
perilled, and to which Virginia had solemnly
dedicated all her men and means-when
Early was retreating 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 sensitive, and motives
might be..suspected, i have seen him send
forth the Great Prerogativc Writ of Habeas
Corpus, and with force Of reasoning, ut
terly irresistible, and which afterwards other
distinguished Judges accepted as conclusive,
demonstrate that the order of the War Sec
rotary 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 self interest could affect, de-
liberately pronounce the Judgment Of the law
and discharge petitioners, taken from the
very lines Of the army!
To have had such Judge for so many
years welding silent but resistless influence
in favor of law and order, and justice and
right, has been blessing which | trust has
been appreciated by us ALL
Our bar, than which none in the Common
wealth stands higher for honor, integrity,
learning and marked abilities, have been ac-
customed 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
honor and character Our people, too, have
been educated and elevated in sentiment,
opinion and principles by his example and
influence; and the power Of these, | trust,
will remain with US and ours for generations,
to come, impelling us to reverence the law,
to yield willing obedience to its prccepts to
regard its ezpounders as those who ought to
be clothed with the pure ermine of Justice
as indeed the Vice gercnts of the Almighty
Judge in the visible affairs Of men!
And now this great and good man lies upon
bed of extreme sickness-it may prove to
be a bed Of death and as calmnly and Sc
renely 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 labors ended, at peace with all
men, full Of gentle sympathies and affections,
and with sure faith, openly proclaimed, in
the priceless atonement, his example comes
back to us, as from the borders Of the grave,
and its light shall shine with steady lustre
for our comfort and guidance for generations
to come 500 KS
When consider, gentlemen, not only the
inherent responsibilities of the sacred Office /
assume, but in whose pathway I tread, with
unequal steps, can only invoke revcrcntly
for my guidance and direction, that wisdom
which cometh from above and resolve to
consecrate all my powers to the discharge Of
it's duties!