The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1872-06-26

Cer.q ne . OlsctiargeQ ,nth6i duties
with ability, fidelity and impartial.
ity, For many years. he was an
active member of the Board, sof
Trustees Of his limo Mater. Dur.
ing the war, be espoused tile canse
OF his native State, though a Union
man. When South Carolina Sc.
ceded, he admitted the sacred
rights solelnhly proclaimed in our
Declaration of Independence -
"We' right of self goUeymment," !"
After the close ofthe war, Judge
Dawkins was elected q member of
the State Convention under the
Proclamation of the President for
re organizing the State Govern
ment. He was an active member
Of that body, and { participated
largely in its. discussions. Whiist
Provisional Governor Of South
Carolina, l was requested by Pres.
ident y ohnson, to nominate q suit
able person for District Judge ot
this State. I rendered tie ap
pointment to Judge Dawkins. He
hesitated, aid said sheawould de-
eide when 'he returned home
Shortly afterwards, lie, wrote me
declining the office, as it would
necessarily compel him to reside
permanently in Charleston. Ithen
nominated Judge Bryan, who ac-
cepted the nomination, and re.
ceived the appointment. , -,
ls The people OF Union District,
in 1865, elected him again to the
Legislature, and he was appointed
Chairman of the Judiciary Com.
mittee. This was most impor.
tant position at that time, when
our laws were undergoing the most
important changes. With great
assiduity, ability and learning, he
discharged the duties OF his posi-
ton. Soon after this, there were
two vacancies OH the law bench,
and Dawkins was elected to fill
one OF them. | rode the circuit
with him whilst on the bench, and
was very much pleased with him
as a Judge. He was prompt in
dispatching and deciding all matt
ters before him, and at the same
time he was pleasant and cour.
teous. Had he remained on the
bench any length OF time, he would
have acquired a reputation as a
Judge. But Congress required
South Carolina to be reconstruct-
ed over again, and a new Consti-
tuition was adopted bs the carpet.
baggers, negroes and scalawags,
Which vacated all offices in the
State. Judge Dawkins had to
give place to those who had sac.
ceeded in gaining the confidence
of the Radical party. He return
ed to the bar and resumed his
practice a short time before his
death.
Whilst Judge Dawkins was on
the Western Circuit, | insisted
that he should stay with me whilst
holding Court at Greenville. l
had spent a week at his house
whilst / was attending Union
Court the summer preceding. He
said, no, most emphatically, and
assie ned. as a reason, that Judge
should not only he honest and i'm
partial, but that he should never
subject himself to a position in
which base mind might suspect
his fairness and ilnpartiality. He
said it q Judge was staying with
a practicing lawyer, and decided
a case in his favor, rhe opposite
party, unless pure and honorable
themselves, would think he had
been influenced in his decision by
something said in private. The
same sentiment had been express
ed by Judge David johnson, and
acted on through life ] ....,
Judge Dawkins was twice mar.
ried, but left no children by either
marriage. His first wife was the
belle of Greenville for several
years, and greatly admired by all
who knew her, for her beauty,
amiability and pleasant manners.
His second wife was q yonng En-
glish lady. handsome, intellectual,
accomplished and learned, cordial
in her manners, and devoted in her
friendship. Judge Dawkins met
me once at Spartanburg, aud said
Mrs. Dawkins lad understood that
was to be at Union Court, and
insisted that I should stay with
them, and consider myself her
guest. / did SO, Ind was charmed
with hers and tie Judges elegant
hospitality. The Judge attracted
my attention to his beautiful lawn
in front of his house, and the eur.
rounding shrubbery, with tasteful
walks, &c. He said it was origi-
nally an old field, and one spring.
whilst he was on the circuit, Mrs.
pawkins had it laid out and plant