The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-11-09
From aou. Ps+4y's "Reminiscences Of Grssnvslzs
Sketch Of Judge Earle.
EcoNT1NUED FROM LAST WEEK

Sketch OF Judge Earle.
Il coNT1NUED FROM LAST WEEK.
;. Judge Baylis j. Earle was a proud man, and
q an ambitious man; but without. that fenetgy of
character, perseverance, and indoItitabls viii
(which are necessary TO crown ambition with
success. In fact, he was too conscientious, too
! modest and too proud ftf. ordinary ,siteess in
j life, He deapissa thu uhsttupultas, and had .
contempt fol, ishbtaite which hs eohld not
\ conceal, and did not wish to c0hcsal No man
Il ever lived who had less Of the tricks ahd arts
1.of the. .demagogue about hifi. he, Eoufted no
popularity, and Was TOD sineere and pf5nd to d.
so. His talents; learning, probity, and SINGER
ity Of character gafe him ali the popularity he
ever pussessed: The 6ise ahd viftuoas re-
quired nothing more, the base and vulgar had
to seek their idol in some less deserving favor
ite. That he was not suited for political life,
he we'll knew. In the first place, he was not
calculated to win the popularity of the masses,
and he was too honest and sincere to struggle
with the art and EthhiIg Of politicians.
know, however; he wodld have liked to have
been iii Congress; and he said that d seat III the
Senate of the United States was the height of
his ambition. ..3;ia .ioi9 m ~
The human heart must have something to
love-wife, child, horse, dog, honor or riches
Judge Earle had neither wife nor child to share
his affections, and the love of money seemed to
occupy their place. j The love Of money is ID
strange passion in the human heart, and can
not be accounted for on any philosophical prin-
lciples. Men who have no children; and no
yerysgreat love for any DIE iii particular, Will
often toll and strive through life to accumulate
wealth. They do very often deny themselves
all the pleasure and comforts of living, to make
money and hoard it up. Why they will do
i II. L.. - 10 hon go
to leave their riches, is very strange and unae:
countable. They know they cannot take their
wealth with them to another world; and they
know, too, that no one Is left behind for whom
they have the slightest affection, tf f6f whom
they would put themselves to the slightest in
convenience to serve whilst living. 1t seems
that it is an absolute pleasure to accumulate
riches without any reference to the use or ben-
eft they may be to themselves or any one else:
That man should love to make money to graf
ify his own wants or the wants of his family Is
Hmost natural and laudable! That he should
love the possession of wealth for the purpose
of making display of it, is easily understood
That he should desire to make money for the
purpose of doing good with it, assisting the
poor and needy, and improving his country, Is
noble and worthy all praise. But that any
sensible man should love to make money to
hide and conceal from the world, and live IN
poverty and want whilst doing so, without any
purpose of using that money for himself OF
! others, Is what the human mind is hardly able
to comprehend.
In the latter part of his life, Judge Earle was
attacked with paralysis, and threatened with a
renewal of the stroke. knew that he had
1 long desired to make the tour of Europe, and I
urged him to resign his seat on the bench, and
take a trip across the Atlantic, which might
possibly restore his health, He replied that he
/ could hot afford the expense of such ttip. l
said to him very earnestly, "Your life is OF
more importance to you than your money"
! knew that he had the control of unlimited
means. But he declined to make the trip on
1 that ground solely, and afterwards fell dead on
the floor of the Mansion House, in Greehville.
He had large fortune, but left no will, which
showed that there was no one, in particular, for
A whom be cared to have his fortune. 81
II In the character of Judge Earle, there was
i another weakness more inexcusable than hss
4 love of money, and far more injurious to his
i health and happiness He was, as have ale
ready said, man of high character, pure and
conscientious in discharge of every duty to his
i fellow-men He was proud man, an accom-
4 plished gentleman, exceedingly handsome per:
i son. with talents and requirements which would
have adorned any station: He was ambitious,
n and as sentative as woman to his honor and
4 reputation: And yet with all those high and
noble qualities of head, heart and persons he
could not restrain himself in the nse OF spirit
nous liquun, from gross exposure: Hs Ess
II not like some men, whom have seen, ana VINO
i Nlr. Pehgew said had their gauge, and Who M
\ cyuld drink q great deal and keep up. The
4 JudRe Nss mot an habitual drinker, but when
4 he did drink he exercised no prudence or con-
i oealment. It seemed be was too honest to
Conceal bis faults and foibles Governor VIII
Il son once preferred charges against him 10 tile
Legislature for intemperance, in order to grati-
fy bis revenge for supposed insult in court.
was at that time member of the House OF
Representatives; and, with the assistance of
Major Henry, of spartanburg, had ths ehSfge
laid ON the table. I went Immediately TO the
Court of Appeals, to inform Judge Earle OF the
result I found him an1iously pacing the por-
tico. and after telling the fate of the charges
against him, / cautiored him as to the future
in very strong terms, / said to him that it was
q scandal to see gentleman Of his character
and position, go into grog shop or bar,room
and call for drink. His friends would always
be glad to join him in q social glass at their
houses; and when at home he could drink as ne
pleased. knew that at his own house ne
never iffdulged to excess. He promised most
solemnly that be would do so. But like all
such promises, they were soon forgotten. =
Appeals When Judge Earle died. Judges
Richardson and Butler came to my room i'm,
mediately after hearing the intelligence, md
requested me to draft suitable resolutions for
the adoption of the bar, and have them pre-
setited to the court the next morning. Col.
4 William c. Preston presided at our bar meet
ing, and on presenting the resolutions to the
court, they were ordered to be copied on their
minutes. Judge Earle was greatly esteemed
by his brethren of the bench and the bar OF
South Carolina, as we'll as all who knew hin:
In politics, Judge Earle was States rights
man Of the Crawford and Smith school, and
was opposed to Mr.. Calhoun and his National
doctrines whilst Secretary of War; The Judge
! afterwards hecama Nullifer and identified