Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-12-10

-r-T---T-S TTT7sTTr-S G alJsrl q. -,
-CoI4MBIA,, WRusHsDAY oDeDember2 o. HAt ttis
opening Of the United States Court this morning,
his Honor Judge Bryan presiding, United States
District Attorney Cor6n rose and said: =. .,s,r
Mya pzsass yolr b. IN is is, H paintal auty
this marniag, as on Court, TO an
neunce tofhel Coure the ssdden and bdaunexpecte4
death of Hon. George W. Williams, an attorney
of this Court Yesterday he was with us. His
pleasant and genial eothitdnahGeaas seen IN this
Court and upen the street greeting Us eyelywhele
To-day he Aesia Heless oorpses most Wondef.ai
exempH6cation Of the truth that IN the Hndse OF
life we are in death" He expired between the
hours of fpaand six thYmorning: y have no ex-
tended remarks to, make upon this sad occasion.
His death has beer, 50 suddea and 80 unexpected
to ms iSl, there has been no 0ppoishuty OF ame TO
express ,ouxseavesl ,inektsuded Sul6gE: As Lam
informed, Mr.. Williams has been long an honoted
member of the bar and of this court He has a.
chievea thai s6E6eS IN ithiS ipfofessiou which 1t
would berthe hiahest pride ofany lawyer 10 attain.
As man, yheias been most pure and GRATED m
hissmbit6Rs and 10 his pfi6cietes A * sadsI t "a
his profession, as wen as q Christian and gentle
man in private life be his occ1pied many ~ high
positous In The State and IN the State government,
and I believe he has Left us without an enemy
His name will alwayib honoged 90 long as the
name of South Carolina lives, and his character
win always BE cherished as an example TO othe
young His Success IN life win always be sought
to be achieved BY others But to those who have
known him longer and more intimately than my
self, leave, more fitting tribute shB memory
Major s.; P. Hamilton then rose, aud :,,M a;S1'
Mau Il please yoa4r HaaDrr7It becomes my dnty;
upon the announcement just made byathe6 Distrlct
Attorney, to offer to the court q pReamble and ress
olutieBsy expressive Of todr great sorroW at the
death ofSar dfistingu T. 9eoree
Williams, Of York. I do SO. because believe I
am the only member Of the Bar, from his own cir
cult, present in the court. would that the task
had been giHen to those who can speak with more
knowledge and sppreciatimsof the virtues, ability
and services of our deceased brother. 1. would
like that his eulogiume puld come from those
nearer his own times; from the lawyers Of his day,
and that from the Bench Of the State; from those
judges before Eham be, so leng praetieed his pro
fession, might come more fitting tribute to his
memory. In truth 7 asked my friend Judge
Munro, to come with me before your Honor, and
to say something Of bis Life, his merit and his
worth; but.he said, with the ElisteniBg IN hs
eye that he had known him long, and loved Nm
too well to trust himself to give expression t6 his
feelings.
George w. Williams, may it please your Honor,
was native of Lancaster Distriet-from that To-
cality which gave to eur country Andrew Jackson.
He was entered as student ut the university Of
this State earlyin life; but, believe, did not grad
nate. He Immediately came 30 the bar after teav7
ing college, and at once took rank asone OF thefrst
men of the profession. ..
As a lawyer, may say, for accuracy of rknowl-
edge he had few equals, and no superiors., His
profession was his first love, and time even never
abated the srler with which hewooed his mistress.
Of him might be said, what can be said of but fea
of onr brotherhood, that. he worked With intense
zeal and great labor as well without any pecupiar
sion, and to the community where be resided it is
irreparable" had only known Mr. Williams three
wears, but had been connected with him profes-
siousllS and had jeafleate admire bis gfeSf abI-
ties,as q lawyer, snd TO love him as p man for the
truthfulness simplicity and kindness Of his nature.
I see, however, that some Of Dir. W Villains more
intimate friends, and indeed his classmates, ore
now present, and / win commit to them the task
of speaking more appropriately OF their departed
friend. Before closing, would Ike to make q
statement concerning an event connected with his
life, for which, perhaps he may have received a
portion of ;il-wal As your Honor knows, last
ting, as one of the Circuit Judges Of the State,
which, upon deEberaion, he declined. The par
ties who were most jealous for his election we're
confident of his acceptance of the Office, and were
hurt at his declhation, after the representations
made by his friends. I had from his own Lips,
not long since his reasons for his action he said
ssthat there were certain enactments in the consti
tuition under which he was elected which would be
prominently before the courts M ia every shape and
form, and that inaeoephng the Jadseship It might night
enactnents by his judicial decisions when they did
not have the sanction Of his Judgment as lawyer.
His declination therefore, was not the capnee O
the moment, but caused by the spirit OF truth and
by the promptings of sensitive honor. :.
MI. Hamilton then read the following preamble
and resolutions: ..- 80 ,Hia, .
We have received this morning the monrnfu
intelligence of the death Of George W: Williams s
Esq. one of the oldest and most prominent mem
hers ' Of the Bar of South Carolina In the mids
Of his usefulness, in the full tide Of Large psao
tice, whilst in actual attendance on this court tht
message Of death cane To- him us suddenly Der Ss T'il
the profession, and in the State, has been madt