Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-11
From the Raleigh Sentinel.
The Late Hon. ID. l.. Swain.
CHAPEL HILL, Aug. 20, 1868.


CHAPEL HILL, Aug. 20, 1868.
lessrs Editors Il this morning atten-
ded the funeral services of the late David
Lowry Swain, Ex-Governor of the State,
and for thirty three years President of the
University. The hour named was 9 o'clock,
and the services were conducted by Prof.
Phillips, at Gov. SWANS late residence
Every class of the citizens of Chapel Hill
was represented in the gathering, and there
were quite as many negroes as whites
thronging the wide piazzas, or standing in
the yard under the shadow of the oak
trees I remember we'll when Gov. Swain g
predecessor, DIR. Caldwell, was buried from
the same house, and the long procession
filing out of the yard as they carried his
remains to the spot he himself had select
ed and prepared in the exact centre of the
village graveyard. That stately old house
and It's ample and beautiful yard have been
the scene of many interesting gatherings
in 1853, when Gov. Swain gave compli-
mentary dinner, at Commencement, to the
of the day in 1859, when President Bu-
chanan, and in 1867, when President John
son attended the annual festival, and were
Gov. Swain's guests F.; but there has never
been an assemblage there or elsewhere In
Chapel Hill, of more general, or deeper,
or sadder interest than met this morning
to pay the last honors to him who has so
long been the centre of Chapel Hill life
I thought the preacher might we'll have
taken for his text the words of the great
Judge, who Judged Israel all the days
of his life," and at parting could say,
Behold. here I am witness against
me before the Lord and before his anoint-
ed, whose OK have I taken, or whose
ko1r 7 4
frauded, or whom have [ oppressed ? or of
whose hand have I received any bribe to
blind mine eyes Herewith ?" There was
probably not person there to-day who
had not had personal experience of Gov.
SWANS Justice, and kindness, and honesty !;
of his gentle, genial humor of his wide
and hearty sympathy with his neighbors,
in all that concerned them, whether of Joy
or sorrow of his promptness to assist, re-
lieve and help-hardly even a child, who
had not received some evidence of his be-
nightly and good will. When great man
dies, the public prints of the day call at
tention to his public services and all that
made him great among men ; but those
who knew and loved him in his private ca
pacity, think most of his goodness and
dwell almost entirely upon the gentler
home virtues that endeared him to them.
It is the goodness that makes fragrant the
memory of the dead-instinctively we turn
to thoughts of that for our comfort.
"Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in the dust"
Prof. Phillips dwelt upon the words,
"Thy will be done, pointing to entire and
unreserved submission and acquiescence
in the Divine order, as the only rational
source of comfort or support in attiiction.
He had been with Gov. Swain, daily, ever
since the accident had occurred, on the
11th of August-had held morning and
evening prayers by his bedside. and, per-
haps, conversed with him more confden-
italy than eyer before. on the great to-