Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-08
HON. cONNALLY TRIGG.


three weeks, holding the United States
District and Circuit Courts for the Eastern
District of Tennessee, in this city. Liti-
| CATION in the Federal Court was enorm-
ously increased by reason of the war.
! The criminal docket presented cases
hitherto unknown; and was swelled be.
yond all precedent; while the ''ciyil side"
showed Enthusiastically, that the people
both at home and abroad, reposed the
highest confidence in the court. This
vast increase of business was sudden and
to many unexpected Most of this litiga-
ton, both civil and criminal, was prompted
by the fierce feeling of revenge. Parti-
Fans rushed into the court to aVenge, not
to redress wrongs, both fancied and real.
They thought the court was created for
their especial benefit, belonged to them,
and would on ''mere motion" execute
those they denominated traitors, or, at
least, mulct them in just such damages as
they might suggest.
This was the state of feeling, this the
condition of the court when the Hon.
Connally f. Trigg, with calm dignity
seated himself in the chair judicial AS
his tall, slender form assembled the emf
nence where justice was TO be admins
tered, and his silvery head penetrated the
dark, angry clouds that were lowering
about the court, their deadly charges were
conducted down, as along lightning rod,
innoxous to the ground. The hopes of
the country were realized. The storm
that had been, and was still raging, had
thrown to the surface those whose native
and most genial place was the Sentimental
strata. The political elements, like the
troubled sea that cannot rest, casting up
mire and dirt, had besmeared the high
places round with material and matter
which is inoffensive only when concealed
from sight. Pardon was at its most de-
structive pitch. Reason was deposed her
throne. F0Iadness ruled the hour"
Amidst this conflict good men stood pow
erless, and there seemed no one ''mighty to
save" There 9DdS one hope that ami
mated the good, one hdUen where shelter
and safe anchorage might be obtained.
That hope was lodged in the well-known
probity and integrity of COnnally F. Trigg;
that haven where the waves rolled not,
was the courts of justice. The real peo-
pie, the peace loving, looked with long
ing eyes to the coming of the Judge.
Their hearts hoped that his voice would
speak peace to the troubled waters, and
bring the shattered ship of State into calm
seas and to the dry land. How they were
not disappointed, the prosperity of the
people sttests; the diminished docket
proves. The peculating spirit of confis-
cation was rebuked. Espionage, with its
train of perjury, perfdy and pillage, was
scourged as with lash, and driven from
the temple of justice. Men breathed ca
sier Women and children slept sweeter
and sounder, because Trigg had come, the
court was open, law was again supreme,
and the storm was overpassed.
Is it wonderful, in view of such happy
changes, such beneficent results, that a
whole people of both sexes, of all ages,
and of all parties, should rise up and call
him blessed?
Is it not passing strange, that while the
people are thus pleased with the admins
tration of justice by that honorable gen.
tleman, that there are some so lost to
shame, so sunken in themselves, so bent
on mischief, so determined to 'tTule or
ruin," so jaundiced with prejudice, so
filled with revenge, and malice, and hatred, |
and envy, so destitute of love of law and
order, and their neighbor, so entirely re-
gardless of the peace, quiet and prosperi- |
ty of the country, as to propose and urge |
that this good MAJ and upright Judge |
shall be impeached? We are aware that |
there is danger in our noticing the official |
character of Judge Trigg, fayorably, as
it will give opportunity to the ghOuls that |
hover around him, 10 chatter all the more. |
We remember that when PLATE said, |
''Why punish him, what evil hath he |
done ~ the mob cried out all the more |
Cruelty him, cruelty him !
They may cruelty him between tlgO or
more thieves that are bounding him, but |
his good deeds will survive. Counsel and |
clients will not forget his urbanity of
bearing, his patient hearing of their
causes, his kindness to young lawyers, his
slow ness to inflict punishment where his |
duty is not clear; and one prominent fea-
ture of his religion, love for his neigh
Dor, though that neighbor may |
have despitefully used or abused
him in days gone by. We have spoken of |
the Judge alone, for of his politics we |
could not speak with patience. The con-
tradiction astounds US when we think |
that such man and such Judge could |
vote for William b. Stokes. They |
may get a man who Will, rddicdIize the |
courts and the law, but it viii always be |
said of Connally F. Trigg, that he was
an honest, upright Judge. There is no
blood upon his hands; and he will hand
down the judicial ermine to his successor,
inspected. ''The past at least, is Sc
cure. '-HnOrTiUe Wig