Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-12

Speeches, Resolutions, etc. r.
According 10 previous notice the mems
bers Of the Nashville Bar met in the Orimi-
nal Court Room at the Courthouse, ct IO4
O'Clock yesterday morning, TO pay a fitting
tribute to the lsIe William X. Turner,
Judge Of The Davidson County Court.
Ga motion Of Gel. Baxter Smith, Gen.
w. 3. BITE was called to the chair, and T..
@. Marry, E. appointed Secretary. On
taking the chair Gen. Bate spoke briefly
and substantially ss follows:
Gentlemen of the Nashville Bari am
profoundly impressed with the solemnity
of the occasion that has called Us together
My relation TO tie deceased, as friend and
former legal partner, ELECTS my warmest
sympathy for The object of this meeting
which is, to pay tribute of respect to the
memory of Judge William K. Turner.
This solemn q ,mSlage of the members
of our bar is q reminder that death has
again sent his arrows upon their mission
of destruction s1d found another victim in
our Temple Of Justice. He seems, of late,
to stand ever Eeady, with culver in hand,
upon cur Temple 8 vestibule, with no guard
to stay his intrusion. But yesterday we
assembled ss professional brothers to at
tend the posthumous ceremonies of two of
tbs youngest and most promising members
Of Que bar-John Marshall and Abbott L.
Robertson. The solemn earth to earth,
and dust 10 dust had scarce lost its echo
in the hollow grave, as the clods fell heavy
on the lids Of their coffias, ere We are sum
moned again 10 listen tothe voice of warn
ing from the ssne sacred eource as we
perform the last sad rites about the hi r of
one Of the most prominent and venerable
sctors in our legal forum On yesterday
afternoon, Judge Turner, our professional
brother and fderd, bowed submissivsly to
the Will Of our Eaker, snd was gathered
unto his fathers Born in Ber;is county,
North Carolina, 1904, he was brought BY
his father when quite lad to this part Of
Tennessee, where he was reared, educated
and died. He grew to manhood under
the guidance and influence of that race Of
hardy and adventurous pioneers, who held
sway in this locality in the early part of
the present century. He imbibed much of
his love Of personal aud political liberty,
much Of his generous impulse and manly
spirit from this brave srd high toned yeo-
many. EiUcsted in such day and among
such people-Tith his native talents and
force Of character, we could have exp cted
nothing else than full development of
those traits, which in sitter life led him to
prompt and direct action, graced with a
lotiy personal bes1ing, and an elegant dig
nifty. Having taste for our noble, though
much abused profession, he sought through
the usual labyrinth of perplex;ties, It's
classic haunts sld justice loving affairs
ar d once within It's precincts, his powers
Of Oratory, guided by discriminating in
teilect, and Iupelied by force of charac-
ter rarely equaled-and peculiarly his
OTn-soon secured to him a liberal prec-
tics ard meri:ed eminencs.
Save one term u tbs Legislature of the
State, his first official position was that of
Attorney General Cf the GAINESVILLE dis
trict, IN which he then lived, position
which he successfully filed, and the expe-
rience Of which contributed much to quail
ify him Is Judge of our Criminal Court.
Il was for this place, Judge Of the C;im-
lCai Court, that nature seemed TO have
selected her choicest material in making
up he man. Here IT was he SCENT most
at home, and ga ned his distinctive repu-
tRtioa Without inviting invidioas dis
uncdon-ma7 l not ssk-who ever
saw such a man for such a place?
Stern, dlgDiisd and decided-with less of
persuasion then Of cnmmsnd-he sal upon
the bench with the dignity of king npon
his throne-yet ss spprca ,hable,
through all ;he proper channels
which lead to the human heart,
~ is tie simp'ist rustic in his cot
taEe, Alike incorrup,isle as be was indie
pendent, he dehsd the criticism of the
Tabb.e, with the same spirit with which
be forbid he Improper approach OF the
Rrro8 ut and p7esumiug. Amid the mad
cening waves Of excitement, which pro-
fzsSioual s!Iife ofiea engerders, he sat as
Ncptyn ne EpGn the turbid sea, and at will,
such was bis dignity and power of com
Inand, could sire ch out his trit It Il
Office and calm Tie msddened fuzzy.
Faul az with the guiding principles Of
the criminal lsw-with its rules and prac-
tice-he delivered his opinions with an
ease and confidence that brought convic-
ton 10 the hearsr, and never allowed him
self to be nIispRjeTstood by the counsel OF
the Jury. lie IVES as fearless in moral as in
physical courage, aud never hesitatsd 10
carry out Lis convictions of right. Elected
once by ia Legislature and twice by the
people, 10 the delicate and responsible
position Of Jadge Of our Criminal Court,
he held It in us purity, independence
and dignity until the murky cloud
Of war set,lgd upon our laud
and exsinguishsd for a while the
torch o. justice lighted upon the
altar Of oar temple = When he
retired f. ON il without com promising bis
dignity or his principles. Upon the close
Of that wgr-drivAa by necessity, az his
advanced sce-he again, with the zeal and
hope Of you b, entered the lists in tbs
arena Of pr.f.ssioaal pTac.ice AID while
thus p;vilg a earnest of success, he re.
ceivs the first shock Of that disease which
Tor tbs time bent, but did not break, his
powg-s. With one side psTAly d, hs
would not yield, bat literally dragging him
self sluIg, ike 20 old but unconqaered
knight o. lhs arer Of his former glory,
he sunIed tire duios Of County Judge. 10
which h. people elac ed him, and held il
until the dsy Of bis dea.h Ia the social
relations of LIE, Jadge Turner was a man
81 Uegm attachments, si1gleness Of pur-
20 @ and OF positive character; hence be
had grdelt 2,i de7c'e cd friend He was
genial b. ne'u-e, social in bis habits and
domesiic-In his tas.e Caring but little fol
moEey, ne hyyd literally, INDUCED an
epou-hsI 4, / hos itel'iy, and therefore laid
aside bu h-lo Il thus worlds goods. A
deyO ed hTs1aud, kidd and aft -c.ionaie
bTogli.r rid uncle, AID a tue friend hst
beea ia,su tom amongst us. Receive
him, Noun; Oivet, into Shy oonsecrated
bosom g. give ptac 90 kis ash es
o. motna the following gentlem az
woke app0iEtsd . committee to draw III
suitable r.soiu ions:
Mid b. Q Thompson, Gov, Nell S
Blown, Gov Il S Foote, Col. Baxte
Smith, au1 Judge John @ Gsut.
Du.ine The absence of The committe
Judge j. .. Guild spoke IN sn appropriate
aud eloussnt manner Of the virtues of tn,
decs Sc Hoa. Nell, S Brown spok
brisfy slludirg in betting terms to tn
long and useful life Of the deceased.
InomE Smiley, Esq, paid brief sn'
eloquent ribute to the memory OF the de
cen ed. The speaker dw.lt upon the man,
,xsl!ed qualities If the Judge Gs fllustrate'
H. eli The walks e private and public f.
sd said that regretfuI and sad IS it was VI
must bow to tie inscrutable DEGREES q
4 evidence. .- tuFlz :
JCd3e A. l.. Delnoss ssid that he wa
5t much il tho habit Of speakiGg on sue