Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-24
IN MEMORIAM.
Duncan II. meRae's EuIogiun Upon
Edwin l.. Hamlfn.

Edwin l.. Hnmifn.
The following speech was delivered
yesterday in the Federal Courtroom, by
Colonel Duncan McRae:
May II Please Your Honor;
II the gentlemen Of the bar have fin
ished the business Of the morning, | will
avail myself Of your Honor permission
to bring TO the attention Of the court a
matter Of which ! gave notice on yester-
day.
A few weeks since this whole commu-
nifty, and especially the members of the
legal profession, were greatly shocked
and appalled, by the sudden death of an
estimable and valued brother, Ed. l..
Hamlin. A meeting Of the bar, numer-
ously attended, and composed Of its best
material was held to take into considera-
ton the death OF our companion. A
preamble and resolutions were adopted,
which have been charged to present to
this honorable court.
Perhaps your Honor is not aware, but
the occasions of death in our professional
circle within the past few years have been
frequent and disproportionate, and very
often has the dread summons come with
sudden surprise to those eminently dis
tinguished for merit and excellence.
On all these occasions We have been
called in spirit of affectionate brother
hood to give expression to our respect
for the departed and our sympathy with
the bereaved. 1t is not the habit of the
profession to indulge in overweening ut
terances Of poignant grief. Our noble
profession teaches in its maxims and III
its practice the essential lessons of the
philosophy of life, and those who follow
its teachings with loyal fidelity will as
suredly be aided how to die with manly
fortitude, as also how to bear the loss of
those most cherished with resignation
and dignity, for the law is the handmade
of religion, which, in the supreme mo-
ment, is the Divine supporter of us all.
But in the utterances which we do use
we mean to be sincere. The condolences
which we offer we declare to be heartfelt
aud the relations which we purpose to
establish with the living representatives
of those whom we are called to mourn
are intended to be those of an abiding
and affectionate sympathy, for we claim
that every brotherhood is union of
honor and truth, consummated at the
altar of justice by the ministration of
law; and we believe that this union re-
suits everywhere in the conservation of
the rights and the advancement of the
interests of communities and govern
ments and peoples.
1t ought, therefore, to be held as a
most valuable testimonial to worth and
merit, to be rendered only when de-
served, and to be cherished when rem
dered, by the united brotherhood of the
profession
1t is doubtless within the knowledge of
your Honor that the manner OF this
death has not been ordinary and natu
raj but premature and violent, and the
more lamentable fact is doubtless also
within the same knowledge that it has
TRANSFERRED outside the pale of legal
sanction, and in opposition to the legal
prohibition.
But am not instructed by my brethren
to enter upon discussion of the manner
of this death. The profession does not
conceive that the interests of society are
to be promoted by nervous vigor against
specific case, but rather by uniform
and genuine and sincere current of pub
lie sentiment ever flowing steadily and
calmly toward the enforcement of all
law and the punishment Of its violation.
Still less am expected to ohtrude before
this tribunal the unhappy controversy of
which this death has been the deplorable
result. And least of all so to offer our
homage of affection to our departed
brother as to be wanting in proper
commisseration for his less fortunate
survivor. believe l shall fulfill their
wishes most acceptably if carefully re-
framing from whatsoever may infict a
wound. / con6ne myself to the earnest
expression of that profound sorrow
which we all feel for the loss of a young
life, full of hope, and full of promise,
persisted suddenly in its very prime,
when maturing into usefulness and
honor.
will now read to your Honor the pro-
ceedings to which l have referred.
THESE have already been published by
us and are therefore omitted. have
now, may it please your Honor, per-
formed the duty allotted to me.
The resolutions and their preamble
are tenderly expressive of the senti-
ments of the Bar, and they have my cor
dial concurrence. They convey the re-
quest for their transcription on the min
utes of this Court. If it shall please
your Honor to accede to the request,
they will remain in the judicial archives a
solemn and mournful tribute to our COM
panion who but little while since in
the vigor of manly health and pride trod
the green paths which we now pursue,
and who at last has only by short
period preceded all the rest of us beyond
the mysterious boundary, where the
human eye may not penetrate nor the
human mind explore.
But the time which hath come for him
will ere long arrive for us, when our pill
grimage and sojourn being past, we shall
enter on the dread ordeal of death, to
confront, face to face, the awful realities
beyond the grave. 1t is not my province
to point the moral of this thought
The sacred volume, the foundation of
governments and law, and now, 70 all en-
lightened and civilized minds, the book
of undoubted revelation, through all its
illumined pages, in letters of living light,
presents the admonition, BE We also
ready, for it is appointed unto all men
once to die, and after death, the judg-
ment
Tue Dollar Farmer is the name of