The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-01
COURT or EQUITY.
LAST DAY-oLosING SCENES.
Addresses by Chancellor Lesesne, General
James Simons, General w. q. DcSaus-
sure and Non. y Il mes IL, Campbell.

| James Simons, General w. q. DcSaus-
sure Ind Non. gn1nos IL. Campbell.
Yesterday was the last day of the Court Of Equity
his Honor Chancellor Lesesne presiding After the
| business the court had been disposed Of there
was large meeting OF the bar to testify their appre-
citation OF the services of the Chancellor during his
official term he venerable ex-Chief Justice Dun
kin, who has adorned the equity bench for thirty
years, by invitation sat the of The presiding
Chancellor while the seat his left was occupied by
James w. Gray, Esq who has held his commission
as,Alaster in Equity since 1929 period of than
| thirty-nine years, during which time he has dis
charged the onerous aud responsible duties of his
high Office with an energy, intelligence and integrity
| which have justly received the CONNIE ndation not
only of the bench and bar, but of all who have had
business relations with him.
To the right OF the ex-Chief Justice sat James L
CAN'T Esq, Register in Equity. who succeeded his
father in 1851, and has since discharged his duties
most acceptably and efficiently, as did his predeces
sor, who filled the Office tor thirty six years with
honor to himself and without having been OPP
posed by rival candidate, 80 ereditably his
official labers and courtesies performed.
Hon. James simons, on behalf OF the Bar, address
ed the Chancellor as follows:
Nay IL please your Honor-It cannot be matter
of surprise to you that there should be ai ge an
assemblage of the bar They are present on Il most
solemn occasion. We're even str niger to enter
into this temple, at tho present moment, he would
naturally infer that some very grave event bad
their avocatons and engagement ts TO appear before
you Indeed, 1t is q solemn and grave occasion.
We have assembled to bid farewell to this
great institu ion the High Cour5 OF Chancery-as
separate anI independence forum i'll this State.
When you look a. the venerable personages who
are deprived Of their honors and places as wen as
yourself, you will see the personal eff OF the
great changes we are suffering But how much more
is the whole community affected by the catastrophe
which this day brings upon usl
| This great institution has had its origin history
and celebrity In the wisdom and experience Of the
most learned and best men OF past and of pres
ent day. The Court of Equity, as heretofore admin
istered in this atc has not only boon a means of
arbitramens by which the contestaons betwecn cit
1zens as man and man have been adjud:cate and de-
termlned but from its peculiar forerls c modes ana
measures for dispensing justice, 1t has been also
great moral engine. Other courts merely deci dis
putes and give remedies in tho ordinary way, by
paration in damages In this court The modes of u-
dicia redress and the means OF enforcing it have
tended themselves to every hcarhstone, into the in
cial relations Of fe providing for domc tic nccossi-
ties, repI essing and restraung the comnss ion of
injuries and enforcing the PEI formance Of moral and
| legal duties and obligations.
| These great ends cannot be cffectually accom-
rlished by other cour,s, which. from the dry and
technical modes of their procedure. cannot adapt
| themselves to the pecuiarities and distinctions of
each case that shall be brought before them-and
hence their nsufciency for the compile of c-
| gal and social relations.
ind who have BEEN engaged in this great workp
On the bench, he most learned, elevated and erudite
judges, and at the bar the most accomplishe aud
experienced solicitors, who have devote their abors
and spent their livos in tho service Of the court.
| see a. my side somo of my brethren distinguished
for Their learning and virtues who have becn
tors in this tempe and at this bar for forty
years: + myself although somewhat their junior,
have labored to the best of my ability this spot
tor four and thirty years 1t is but reasonable them
that we should feel ourselves Identified with this
BILE institution. For myself confess it has been q
school of instruction and has, in very eat degree
shaped my character, my habit of Thought, and my
modes OF dealing with my fellows
But, may it please your Honor we painfully part
with the court and its esteemed and revered officers
this day. and the further administration justice
those cases which formerly were considered in this
! forum must be guided and gov-rned by those fresh
| in the State and have brought down this sacred
! temple in crumnling ruins over heads.
hold IN my hand paper which will ask your
Honors permission to read, as expressive Of the
t.Inens OF The Bar OF Charleston on this OCCASION and
VIII submit to your Honor for such disposition you
| my be pleas d to make of #
he then read the following preamble and reso.u-
| t'ons
| The Bar of Charleston have been assembled this
day upon which, according to tho present ar
1taansement 1an Gne Ct the government Of this State
organizaiion. is to terminate its existence--an
organization that has subsisted since the first
and derived Its history from that country from
which our system OF Jurisprudence has sprung. q
|
trated bv the lofuest character, the accurate
| and extensive eru1iion. aud has in the course of
| time Impressed itself upon the respect and con-
slderption of the people Of South Carolina will now
| give way to those fresh notions of proaress that
have overturned the dosmas and teachings of wig
dom and exi ierience 1t is therefore not matter Of
surprise that the Bar of Charles on participating with
the largest portion of the intelligence OF the State
cannot part with this ancient ana time honored In
sitution without expressing their regret at Its depart
ure and tcstity,ng their veneaon for the departed
judges who once here presided and their esteem
nj 1,NH tn oa
Gated. The Bar OF Charleston have therefore,
ResoIred, That the foregoing preamble expresses
their views and sentiments on this occasion.
EsSetred nat IN taking leave OF the Hon Henry
Deas LeSesne, now presiding in this court the Bar
OF Charleston hereby testify thcir CT his char
acer ard integrity as man, hi' ability and learning
as judge. and his uniform courtesy and kiudress as
Iresi5ing magistrate with thoir best wishes for his
tuture prosperity.
The Hon. Wi:mos G.. Desauss,re seconded the
preamble and resolution. and spoke in eloquent
terms Of the character of tho court and the dis tin
gushed gentlemen who had adorned it, and ex.
pressed deep regret that the temple erected cenu-
r1es ago was to be destroyed. He cheerfully en-
dorsed tho preamble and resolution.
chancellor Lescsne said that he could not find
words to express the qualification which he felt at
this evidence Of appreciation of his services He
would bear to the end Of life grateful recollection
OF the occasion; and he felt deep friendship for the
members of the bar, who had ell exterded to him
every courtesy. With earnestness and in eloquent
terms he referred to the court and expressed re-
gret that he had not been able to Ale decrees in all
the causes which he had heard, in consequence of
press Of business aad want of health.
The touching arks OF the Chancellor drew forth
from the Hon. JaWes B. Campbell few words Of
parting, in which He referrol 10 the high character
and the great antiquity Of the court which lie hoped
would be revived.
The Chancellor thon adjourned the court.
Throughout the whole proceedings profound ST.
lence reigned and the bar generally seemed greatly
affected
This is but an imperfect sketch OF tho eedings
which we hope to lay before the pubic in erenso be-
fore long.