Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-10-22
DEATH OF HON. THOMAS G.
SMITH. II u
Proceedings OF the Meeting OF
the Members or the Bar.

According to notice previously given
the members of the Bar OF Memphis me-
in the Criminal Court room att O'Clock
yesterday morning, to testify their res
D pect forthe memory OF, the late Thomas
q. Smith, Judge of the Law Court, Wild
died at Bells Station, on Friday evening
last.
L The meeting was largely attended, and
was called to order by l.. V. Dixon, Esq.
. On motion, Hon. Archibald Wright
was chosen Chairman, and q. Z. Foutel
Esq, Secretary.
on motion, a committee Of seven was
appointed to draft resolutions expressive
OF the sense Of the meeting. The Chair
. selected the following gentlemen as the
committee: Thomas II Smith, T. w,
: Brown, VIM. Wallace, F.. NJ. Lewis, l..
p V. Dixon, and l.. G. Haynes.
: In the absenceOf the Committee, Chas.
Kortrecht, Esq, arose and addressed the
meeting as follows;
REMARKso or cHAs. K%oRTRECHT, ESQ.
Gentlemen Of the Bar From my first
admission to the bar, now over nineteen
years ago, I have been familiar with the
name Of Thomas. G., Smith. i think
that for about half that time I had per-
ENrAAAN hntN ~ AAAAAAH AA4A a LIZA AN1A
from the people Of Haywood, and some
Of the adjoining counties in which he
prsctlced, and more from the warm at
taehmeut and esteem for him Of the
bench and bar Of West Tennessee, before
/ ever saw him, to respect and hOnOr his
name. he was not, perhaps, in the
OIden time, SO well known to Memphis
people as some other West Tennessee
lawyers, but among the substantial, in
telligent, rural people Of the three or four
counties in which he practiced, he stood
in the frOntrank Of successful practitlon-
ers, and Of kind, genial gentlemen, and
public spirited citizens.
It was only since Judge Smith moved
to Memphis, about the close Of the late
unhappy war, that 7 bad enjoyed the
pleasure and profit Of his intimate per-
sonsl acquaintance. Need I here, among
those who, for the last few years, had
seen him so constantly at the bar, and
on the bench, and had learned to esteem
him so dearly, speak Of his many virtues
and -excellencies? What practicing at
boruey or attendant at his court il there,
that he'd not admired mis- patient listen
ing to wearisome and often improbable
dehate9 Who Of US has not seen his in
dulgent encouragement 10 the young and
timid, alike with his kindness and respect
for the older and more experienced?
Who has not been impressed by his mod
estv and genial good nature on the bench,
tempered aud sustained by the firmuess
aud infexibility Of purpose with which
he discharged the duties Of his position ?
From the establishment Of a Law
Court in Memphis to the present time, j
have had some practice and experience
before each Of its successive Judges. The
successive occupants Of that position
have generally, and perhaps always,
been gentlemen of learning and ability,
and some OF them have been men Of
great eminence and character. But /
trust it viii not be deemed disrespectful
! TO former Judges Of the Court for me TO
express the opinion here, which while he.
was stil with us, l have heard from 9th
eTs, and have expressed myself-th2t IN
I that rare combination Of qualities which
1 constitute the model Judge and gentle
man, he was at least the peer Of all who
had held the position.
How unreleBting, hsw unexpected are
the inroads Of death Our excellent
friend has been taken from Us in the
midst Of his usefulness and labor. WHO
I Of us. few DAYS since, when for a short
( respite from the wearisOme labOrs Of his
/ summer term, he left us to visit the wife
Of his bosom, and was, in less han a
week, to return and enter upon the duties
of a heavier and longer sesslOn-WhO OF
us dreamed we should see hin no more?
I And how shall his place at the bar, on
the bench, and in this community, be
I iIled2
There is n idea I desire to express if
I can find fitting words as ] feel and
appreciate il in connection with him
whom we have lost. We sll know and
have felt Ia a greater or less extent, the
likes and disiikes, the passions and pTeju-
dices, that pervade society, and / fear, to
some extent, our own profession, grow
ing out ofthe differences of men, and their
different views Of duty In connection
with the late civil war. I am glad to
say that the bench and bar seem TO be,
and 7 hope and trust are, nearer free
from the likes and dislikes and petty
passions than most other men. Yet
LAWYERS are but men, with some OF the
passions and prejudices of other men.
Now, what wish TO say il, to ask
who Of the Memphis Bar, or outside the
Bar. ave saw IN Thomas q. Smith any
sign Of political like or dislike, or ever
hesTd from him any word or sOund OF
impatienoe or prejudice toward any msn
because OF his political views or opinions,
or differences with Others in convictions
OF duty? But his remRTk&Eis Tolerance
of the opinions Of others was Eoz from
I any want Of definite political views of
his own. These his intimste friends
knew he had deeper and more earnest
than R.ost men, and be had suffered fully
his share, fol his adherence to his oplu-
ions. But with q stfOAg attachment TOT
his opinions, Tennessee n h6s people
he schOoled himself to respect honest
convictions Of duty among men, both at
home and abroad and il was a rule OF
his life to constantly recognize the fact
that honest men can honestly differ on
almost any subject.
But, Gentlemen, our friend and brother
IS gone. He Is dead IL seems difficult,
nay impossible, a5 YET. 20 realize That he
has gone fOTeveU-that We shsai aeveT see
him mOre-that we shall never again
feel bis Kindly grasp OF hand, nor hear
his freak, cordial greeting. L feel, anu 4
believe that We Gl feel, thst our bar. our
bench, our city, and our part of the State
have suffered q great and irroparable
loss.
Yet, if We could draw back the curtain
and lookin upon his hesrt-broken widow
and fstherless home! OH il we could
feel and realize the desolation-the an
guish OF those hearts that have lost their
an What is our grief compared %
theirs May God deal geutly with his
wife and son, an So guide Us sll that
death may not End Us H~Ep-epsTed
Mr.. Rortrecht was 50 affected daring
the delivery Of his remarks as to be
hardly besrd at their close.
Thomas IS. Neon, Esq, next addressed
the meeting a. follows
REMARKS OF t. B. AncoV1 EsG.
Although I see here many whose ac-
.....t-ru.- Nth nlr IananInI Innmn WIS