The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-15

And yet Just because his gentleness was also
the gentleness of high breeding, 1t would have
been great error to have mistaken his sweet
ness Of temper for weakness OF character. 1t
would soon have been discovered how earn
est, firm and unflnching he could be in the
discharge of duty. And any one who had ven
tured on the experiment, would have sc, soon on
found BY the peculiar glance Of his eye, which
his frleDds can remember, by the lowering OF bis
brow and the steadiness of every feature, that
he would not brook for an instant either a
liberty or an insinuation. For there wes with
in him weighty reserve Of just Indignation
and resentment, without which do not think
there can be any real earnestness, and which
was ready TO make Itself felt upon occasion.
Truthful, faithful, gentle and strong What
more precious epftaph could we write We
write 1t thankfully, because he was our BROTH
er We write 1t sadly, because he has been
taken away. May l be PERMITTED to add,
Mr. Chairman, we write 1t hopefully, because
we look for his joyful resurrection. -taa
THE Hon. W. D. Porter then rose aRd dellv-
cred the following eloquent address: sag "A
Mfr. Chairman-Before these proceedings
are closed, feel 1t Duty as well as an i'm
pulse, to say few words in relation to this
double bereavement. My way OF life brought
me into intimate communion with both Of our
departed brothers. One was my kinsman and
friend Of later years; the other was my college
companion and lifelong personal friend. Both
Of them were men whom you could not know
TO lay upon the new made grave of each gar
land Of afectlOnate remembrance.
William Mlkell died In his early prime; he
was not over thirty-three years OF age. A
broken column q shattered vase, an opening
flower snapped of at the stem-these are the
emblems that naturally come to the mind IN
contemplating death seemingly 80 untlmely
as this. How much OF hopeful promise Is laid
low in this early grave! How much OF talent,
attainment, caUactty for usefulness and unper-
lected achieve ment Is hore cut short In mid
career These things are Of Gods wondrous
mysteries, and 1t is only our hereafter that can
solve them for us. In youth and In manhood,
and to the latest moment of his life, William
Mikell was distinguished for bis flial piety
In this beautiful and most admirable at
tribute of character he was not excelled.
He was all that widowed mothers heart
could desire-all that her ambition could
hope for. This prop of her declining years
has been taken from under her arm. Such
son could not be other than on excellent
husband and father; and accordingly ne dis
played In the home circle those playful graces
and attractive qualities that entwine them
selves round surviving hearts, and soften the
sharpness Of grief by the remembrance Of
looks and words, acts that are stored away
for life, as precious Images and pictures, In
the galleries of memory. His professional and
public character was recognized BY his peers
as of very high stamp. He had made DIS
mark and taken his stand, and was second to
no one of his years. His genial temperament,
aud frank, manly bearing. won him troops or
friends and admirers; while the acuteness Of
his apprehension and vigor OF Intellect, ind
Ing expression In q bold, sustained and
fearless coplousness of dlction, made. him
q powerful debater, whether IN the forum
or the public assembly. He had already
won the confidence Of the community, and
was still making rapid advances in popular
favor, for he had been faithful to duty in the
days of the great peril, and he possessed The
readiness of resource, decision Of character,
and promptitude of action chat are s!;eed to
the times In which we live. dis death Is q
public as we'll as a private bereavement
Those who knew him Intimately, mourn him
and those who knew him more at distance,
mourn him because they had come to look TO
him with pride as one of the bright hopes OF
the State in the troublous days that surround
her.
william Jervey, my other and older friend,
The friend OF my youth, approached far more
nearly to the allotted term OF human exis.
istence AS man and Christian, he had
rIpened for the reaper. His career Is one which
his friends can always contemplate Win ua,
mixed delight. They can always hold up TO
their minds eye the picture ofa good man, doing
Justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly;
loving all virtue for its own sake, and pEac-
ticlng 1t as an lnfexible rule OF conduct; en-
wing no man, jostling no man, trespassing
upon no man; as husband and father, fulfil.
Ing In letter and spirit all the beautiful
ot,- aF, thot odn tho q nNti1-
ary OF home; as friend, giving and taking the
counsel and communion that bind the souls ol
men together with the closest ofhuman chords
as citizen, doing his duty In all emergencies,
without parade or ostentation, and not asking
or accepting the honors that are the usual
reward Of toll and selt-sacrihce. lt has not
fallen to my lot to know purer man--purer
In thought, word and deed. He was without
reproach. No shadow OF suspicion ever rested
on him. No one ever heard the imputation OF
a doubtful act or doubtful motive connected
with his maine. He had ambition, but 1t was
the ambition of excellence, not That OF station.
II he perslstenty refused political service
and he did so refuse after repeated soliclta-
tions-lt was not from any want OF sympathy
with his fellow-men or the public interests.
He was most charitable in feeling, and most
clear and decided in hs opinions; oqt sN1s ne was
extremely jealous Of his personal tndepend-
ence, and he thought that political life In
volved compliances and concessions which ne
was unwilling to make. In his profession, the
Irdcial fairness of his mind, the solidity OF MS
Judgment and the accuracy and extent OF his
learning, made him counsellor IN whom any
one could securely condde. He did not affect
the role of the advocate any more tnan tnal
OF the politician.
He lived in the daily habit Of virtue, and
died at the mature age OF three-score years, at
peace with his conscience, the divine monitor
within, and in charity with all mankind. There
was no seeming violence to the order OF ma
tlre. He was like spike of corn, full and
rlpe, that falls naturally and easily from the
parent stalk.
Goods fingers touched him and he slept"
Mr.. Chairman, this Brotherhood of the Bar
is like an old tree Of the foreSt-some strong
oak that has struck Its roots deep and broad ~
the earth. Years roll round and fae Tree alei
not, but one after another, in Constant success
sion, It's leaves fall &c the ground aud are re.
placed by others ofa new and more vigorous
growth. We are the leaves, and like those o
the forest, we haze all of US our time to fall
Many, unusually many, have fallen within few
years; and some few, sere and yellow, which
mingle with the dust from which they sprung.
But the tree will survive In the wealth and
glory of its renewed and ever renewing foil
age.
Let US heed the lesson, and be ready, ere
our time shall come to fall.
Mr.. Edward McCrady followed Mr. Porter in
a few remarks.
The preamble and resolutions we're then
unanimously adopted, and on motion of Judge
Manrath, the meeting adjourned.