The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-08-27
.gcI.i EsrstOn es-Xcall.

! NN,~,l WIS yrhl.''..i :: III" ''o!umhi:
! South CAroniIn 'l>: a!r; ISIS drAth. We
feel sure that We 10 our reader: l. serrice G
in rcpubishns it Il: this time III the >'ew-
berry HERALD. OI.r among Tie last and best
OF the ilIus.riOaS Oil time Jurists OF South
Carolina, the peopI- OF NewGerry will, with
out doubt, ever he proud Of his name aud
fame, and iondly cherish his memory.
The author Of the following sketch is sup
posed to have been Mr.. DeSaussure, Of
| Columbia:
The Hon. JOHN BELToN ONEALL.-The
Chief Justice Of South Carolina has been
! gathered to his fathers, full of years and
houors. The State has reason to hold his
memory in grateful remembrance. Prompt
to engage in every useful work, all the ell
ergics OF his vigorous intellect were devoted
| 10 the discharge Of his duties, whether in
public or private life lie courted labor,
and Shrunk from no task which duty de-
manded.
Judge O'NeaIrs talents were Of high Or
der. he Was not prmuS inter pares, yet
hi! great success in lie, from early man
hood TO the close of his career, demonstrate
the vigol Of his intellect, his untiring indus
try, and his devotion TO duty; the more eS-
pcciaily when it is remembered THAT this
cmncnce was attained amidst the scvercst
| competition with the ablcSt men Of Il bril-
| liant age.
His mind was marked by this peculiarity,
that he arrived at his conclusions with cX.
traordinary rapidity, however complicated
the question. The moment 4 proposition
was distinctly stated, his Judgment was
formed; almost always right, and rarely
shaken when wrong by the most elaborate
argument. In this prompt judgment he re.
Sembcd those rare individuals Of whom it
is related, that such was their remarkable
aptitude for mathematics, that they were
ray OF figures at a glance, without, appA.
rently, pausing to compute the values. 1t
seemed to be rather an intuitive process
than the exercise Of the reasoning faculty.
| Ills apprehension was quick, and his deter
mined will carried itself into I'll his intel
loctual processes. His convictions were so
absolute, and his temperament so nervous,
that it may be inferred he was somewhat
impatient of any difference Of opinion.
lie was a successful lawyer, an admirable
Speaker of the House Of Representatives,
~ able and upright Judge, who dispatched
business with Il facility without parallel.
! His c,ocution WAS not ornate, but earnest
and impctous, sometimes boi$tcrous. His
learning did not extend beyond his proIHs-
! sion, but Of this he Was master.
Lord Campbell, speaking Of Sir Edward
Coke, says: "Althoush he rcce we'd an
academica! education, his mind was wholly
u"il:.bucd with literature or science, yet he
WAS very considerable parsonage III the
history Of his country. Belonging to an
age o' gigantic Intellect and gigantic at
tainmcntS, he was admired by his cotrmpo-
raricS, and time has in no degree impaired
his fame. For a profound knowledge OF
the common law OF England lie stands un-
rivalIcd. AS Judge lie was not only
above all suspicion Of corruption, but II
every risk he displayed an independence
and dignity of department which would
have deserved the highest credit, ii nc had
held his Office during good behavior, aud
could have de6ed the diSpleaSure OF the
! Government" Although soHnc Ray regard
il all exaggcration TO apply the whole Of
this extract to Chief Justice ONca!l, yet
it will not bc deh;ea that he is justly
entitled to nearly all the praise hestowcd
upon Coke, and certainly to ali contained
in the latter part Of the above passage. And
it may be added, that although he held his
Office during good behavior he did not defy
with impunity the displeasrrc Of the
! Government. His holiness upon a memo
rable occasion cost the life OF the Court of
which he was member; but let it be re-
! corded to the honor Of Carolina, that she
did not choose to remember TO his disad-
vantage this honest error ofjudgHent upon
a political question at future day, but that
he retained the public esteem, and was nd'
vanced 10 the highest honors Of the State.
He was devoted friend Of the South
Carolina College, from whc!l lie graduated
with high distinction in 1872, and being in
his official capacity grustce, he watched
over its Interests with patcr:;a! @erc.
But it was as an advocate Of the tempcrauce
cause that he most especially attracted the
public attention for many years. lie labor
ed in season cpd ont Of season to effect the
reform of "a crying evil, viii 81 energy and
perseverance that would hage wQra down
any other mali; hopeful under ali dis
eouragemcnts, l:a pressed on until he
achieved great triumpiis, and E:irl; earned
the title Of The Father Matthew Of South
Carolina
This eminent citizen was born on the 10th
April, 1893, i'll Newberry District, and was
therefore, in his list year at the period oi
his death.
JuRISCONSr Its