Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-15
Jim We. Humanity.

When james ". NvC was n very yOgng
man, not more than thirty years old. he was
appointed one of the Common Pleas Judges
for bis native county of Madison. New
York, and gave great satisfaction by his pop
ular manners. personal courage, and large
humauities. Nye was always a fayorite
with the old Democratic leaders Of the En-
uire state. especially with Martin Van Barren
and William /. Marcy. Although III ex-
treme Democratic partisan, his ready humor
and instructive generosity made him the
centre of n considerable following. Few
men surpassed him in private conversational or
public speaking, a. those who enjoyed his
society and heard his speeches during the
war need not be reminded. But 10 the in
cident intended toreate When he became
Judge of the Madison courts. he one day
visited the county prison in the character Of
an inspector. and was surprised to find
among the inmates lad Of twelve or thir-
teen years Of age, sent there TO await his
trial on charge Of theft Struck BY his
youthful appearance, he asked him whether
he was guilty Of the charge laidagainst him,
10 which the bly at 0ncerepied in the Affirm
atiye lie said bis father and mother We're
miseably poor, and that in desperation he
had broken into a c0rn-crib and supplied the
family with com. Believing from the lads
manner that he was worthy of being re-
claimed. he called on neighbor and had
him bailed out TO make his appearance at
court At the opening Of the sessions the
lad and his surety were on hand. and the
Young Judge appealed to the District At
t0rney TO enter q mol. pros, which that Oih-
Ger sternly declined on the ground that the
accused had confessed his guilt, and that the
ends Of Justice must be indicated " Well,
then" said Judge Nye, " | viii state the
facts to the Jury and take the responsibility"
The Jury was empaneled, and the case came
on. and the District Attorney presented the
facts with much feeling, after which the
Judge said that he would simply state what
he knew of the case. without calling coun-
sci for the defence. After relating what he
had heard in the Jail from the lips of the boy
land YOU may be sure be did his hest to cor
rect the emphatic presentation Of tie law)
he turned to the jury box and de Jared that
he did not believe there was a man of the
twelve that would coolly vote to send this
Young creature with blasted reputation
out upon a cold and heartless world. 1t Is
needless 90 say that an instantaneous acquit-
tai followed After the adjournment of the
court. the Judge sent for the boy and found
that he and his parents were very destitute.
but that he was naturally bright and intel
ligent. ambitious TO learn, in good health.
and had previously borne an excellent cha
racter. Gov. Marcy was at that time Secre-
tarv of War under President JAMES X. Polk.
To him. therefore. rs one of his closest
friends. whose lead he had followed in the
Democratic party from his first vote, Judge
Nve wrote a letter relatingthe story as have
| tried to tell it. and asking him TO secure for
| the lad the appointment Of cadet at the Mill
tarv Academy. In answer, Gov. Marcy
said that he regretted his inability to comply
with this request; that the possible vaean-
cies at West Point had been iilledin advance
| both bv the Congressmen and the PreSi-
dent from his list at large, bat that he had
| it in his mower to send him to the Naval Aca-
deny at Annapolis. The lad was according
" entered among the acolytes of that admi-
rable institution, and by good conduct and
close application rose rapidly in the service.
| During the war he was one of the ablest Of
| Admiral Farragut's captains, and it was al
ways very agreeable to sit by and hear Nye,
who himself grew rapidly in the esteem and
confidence Of his country, relate this simple
story, and especially the success which had
crowned his efforts to save his protege from
a life of shame and set him forward in the
path of honorable distinction. The rescued
boy became in after years brave and bril-
liant seaman, and Nye grew from County
Judge to be Governor of Nevada in 1861
and then a Senator in Congress when the
territory became a state, beginning his term
in 1865, and closing it in 1873. So that it
may be said in his case at least that the best
way to help oneself is to help our fellow
creatures.-JohR W. Fo1ney.